Metro

Designed by: Dirk Henn

Metro is a game of track building where you are trying to make your own tracks as long as possible whilst ensuring everyone else’s stay short.

The board is a grid around which each player is assigned stations – starting positions for their track. Each player draws a tile and on your turn, you’ll be adding a tile to the board. The tiles show a jumble of track and where you put them is entirely up to you – you can lengthen your own track (which is wise) or you can deliberately target other players and interfere with their plans (which might be wise, but equally might not). As soon as a track reaches another station, it is scored depending on it’s length and whether it returned to the edge of the board or made it to a terminus in the middle (which is allegedly Paris).

Metro is a very simple game that plays fast and loose.

Sam says

For all it's simple rules Metro still feels chaotic, because of how much information you need to 'read' from the board as it gets busier and busier. It's also (see Take That above) quite a snarky game, feeling somewhat at odds with it's theme. Some people may love it for these things; I didn't feel that enamored.

The guru's verdict

  • Take That!

    Take That!

    It can be very Take That-y - sometimes even when you don't mean it to!

  • Fidget Factor!

    Fidget Factor!

    Low, unless someone is really having trouble placing a tile.

  • Brain Burn!

    Brain Burn!

    As the game closes out there are less options, but whilst that makes harder choices at least there are less of them!

  • Again Again!

    Again Again!

    If you have a group of players who enjoy a game that is deceptively combative, Metro's ease and speed will appeal.