Super Trains Board Game Review
A few years ago we had the pleasure of reviewing a fantastic kids game called The Quest Kids. The base game, along with the expansions, took kids gaming to the next level, and provided something that was not only fun for the young ones in our house, but for the adults as well. Treasure Falls Games is back with another fantastic kids experience, this time with trains! Is Super Trains as good as we think it should be based on the company’s track record? Let’s take a look.
In Super Trains, each player will be controlling a unique locomotive traveling around the world, stopping threats, delivering cargo and passengers, and aiming to earn the most points. Watch this fun (and catchy) video to learn the basics of Super Trains!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD7Sck0nbbw
I dare you to get this song out of your head!
Super Trains takes kids gaming to the next level, preparing kids for harder, more “adult” games in the future. There are lots of things to consider in Super Trains, all of which take a fair amount of thought and strategy, but nothing that would be too complicated for a seven or eight year old. Plus, Super Trains is fun for adults too.
This is still a competitive game, though. As you make your way across the city delivering passengers and gears, you will also need to take down threats. Threats impede progress and dealing with them will help other players, but will also net you points. While semi-cooperative, the player with the most stars will win the game, so doing your utmost to help others is a good path to victory.
https://youtu.be/YOYG9i8_x7M?si=q_j726wDywZaS7Kn
Enjoy this detailed “HOW TO PLAY” video for Super Trains!
And that’s what makes this kids game from Treasure Falls Games so much like The Quest Kids – that game also rewarded helping others, a good worldview to teach kids in my opinion. And there is no shame in helping someone else and getting something in return yourself, either.
I think the key board game building block kids can learn from Super Trains is the idea of upgrading and improving your engine, both literally and figuratively. Your train only has so much space, and you’ll need to upgrade it to add more. What space you need is yet another decision that will impact how well you do at the game. Do you need more green storage? Or perhaps more blue storage? The act of upgrading isn’t overly complicated here, but watching my kids make those decisions was such a blast.
I really enjoy the flexibility build into the game. While players are limited to 5 spaces of movement on their turn, they can do any of the game’s five actions in any order, and as many times as they are able to. It’s nice to not limit a child’s imagination and strategic development. Watching my kids think through how they could maximize actions within their five movement points was phenomenal – yet again I was in awe at how this game was teaching so many valuable board game strategies in a friendly, safe space.
Super Trains is easily one of my favourite kids games ever released, and to me is a must own for anyone with kids. There are so many good ideas packed into this box. It’s not only a fun game to play – for kids and adults – but it also teaches so many great concepts and ideas. While lots of games do teach some type of gameplay mechanic, few do it this well, or do it this often, as Super Trains. Semi-cooperative play, upgrading your engine, resources management, using powers (super gears), and more. Very few games do this, and even less games do it well.Super Trains is something special, and although we don’t score board games on GamesReviews, I would easily give this a 10/10 – this is our favourite kids game this year, and that likely isn’t going to change.
Article By Adam
