| 👨👩👧👦 | Players: 1-4 |
| ⏳ | Time: 60-90 minutes |
| 🎂 | Ages: 12+ |
| ⚙️ | Mechanisms: Deck building, set collection, variable set-up, track movement |
Howdy pardner! It’s time to pony up because Great Western Trail: El Paso from Lookout Games is here, and we’ve got some cattle to sell!
On the trail to El Paso, players buy and sell cattle, and hire workers who will help them sell cattle, build new buildings (which become locations they can visit), and take the train to gain bonuses. At El Paso, players must stop and sell their cattle, and gain points based on their breeding value. Players can use certificates to increase their cattle’s breeding value or swap out cows with a lower value in hopes of gaining a higher value cow. The player with the most victory points (from cattle, workers, buildings, objectives, bonuses, and coin) at the end of the game is the winner.
GWT: El Paso is a much less complicated and more approachable game compared to the original GWT. It provides plenty of options for point scoring strategies without overwhelming you with choices and things to remember. El Paso works well at all player counts (1-4), though personally, I enjoy it best with 3 players. At that player count, competition for resources (e.g. buildings) and the race around the trail provides the perfect amount of challenge.
Build a path to victory with these buildings
Coming in at a cheaper price point, GWT: EL Paso doesn’t have wooden components (with the exception of the herder) or thick player boards like other versions of GWT. The main board is a folded linen mat that definitely needs an iron before playing. Players who prefer premium components may not find this game appealing; however, I haven’t found the component quality to decrease my enjoyment of the game. My only issue so far has been the component containers; if closed completely, they tear very easily when trying to reopen them.
Overall, Great Western Trail: El Paso is a great introductory game for the series for those who have been interested but too intimidated to try. Its cheaper price point makes it more accessible for gamers who may not have lots of cash to spend. And though its component quality isn’t on par with other GWT’s, it doesn’t detract from the quality of the gameplay.
You can see this post on Instagram here. Check out the publisher’s website for further information about Great Western Trail: El Paso.
The copy of Great Western Trail: El Paso used for this review was provided to Board All The Time by Games Australia.
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