SEED GAME#1655 BGG all-time

Trains: Rising Sun(2014)

★ 7.4 BGG2–4 players45 minWeight 2.43
Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementNetwork and Route Building

Games like Trains: Rising Sun

Looking for games like Trains: Rising Sun? It's a strategy game with real decisions on every turn — built on building an engine card by card as the game unfolds and carving out routes before your rivals box you in. This page rounds up 12 of the closest alternatives, scored on mechanical overlap with the original (45%), complexity match (35%), and player-count fit (20%), then weighted by BoardGameGeek community ratings so every pick is one players genuinely rate. The strongest matches come first; the further down you go, the more a game trades exact overlap for a fresh take on the same core appeal.

How ISO scores this list:Mechanic overlap 45%·Complexity proximity 35%·Player-count fit 20%·BGG quality multiplier applied

12 recommendations · scored by ISO

Trains(2012)

★ 7.12–4 players45 minWeight 2.4
ISO Match
88/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 2 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementNetwork and Route Building

Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin(2012)

★ 7.31–5 players45 minWeight 2.8
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Ascension: Deckbuilding Game(2010)

★ 7.01–4 players30 minWeight 2.1
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Ascension: Storm of Souls(2011)

★ 7.31–4 players30 minWeight 2.3
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Ascension: Return of the Fallen(2011)

★ 7.31–2 players30 minWeight 2.2
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Core Worlds(2011)

★ 7.12–5 players60 minWeight 2.9
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Thunderstone: Dragonspire(2011)

★ 7.31–5 players45 minWeight 2.7
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Automobiles(2016)

★ 7.22–5 players45 minWeight 2.2
ISO Match
70/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementRace

Thunderstone Advance: Worlds Collide(2014)

★ 7.71–5 playersWeight 2.8
ISO Match
69/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Ascension: Realms Unraveled(2014)

★ 7.51–4 playersWeight 2.2
ISO Match
69/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

Cube Express(2024)

★ 7.02–4 players40 minWeight 2.8
ISO Match
69/100

Shares Hand Management + 1 more

Hand ManagementNetwork and Route BuildingPick-up and Deliver

Ascension: Immortal Heroes(2012)

★ 7.31–2 playersWeight 2.1
ISO Match
69/100

Shares Deck, Bag, and Pool Building + 1 more

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen Drafting

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