Trans Europa

Subject: Geography
Category: World
Ages: 8 and up
# of players: 2 to 6
Time to play: 30 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: Track Building

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 1
Gaming value: 4
Aesthetic value: 3
Price value: 3
Ease of play: 4
Younger adaptability: 3

My comments:
Trans Europa is a fun game that can be played in rounds because it is so quick to play. My 10yo enjoys playing it often and in fact I imagine any child who is able to read could catch on fairly quickly so don't take the age guide too seriously. To win a round you must build railroad tracks connecting five cities that are randomly dealt out at the beginning of the game. Those who are unable to complete their line must tally points and move their locomotive down the scoring track on the right side of the board.

Unfortunately, if you are buying this game for educational purposes, you will be dissappointed. The board map has little to no detail. It's one redeeming quality is in the cards. Each card has a city and an accompanying landmark pictured on it so you could potentially get some good review in by using the cards as flashcards.

Aside from the lackluster gameboard, TransEuropa is made well, does not have an oversized box (which is one of my personal pet peeves) and best of all it has wooden playing pieces. Gotta love wooden pieces, they just have a quality that you cannot match with manmade materials.

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/16267