Steam Works

Players take the roles of Victorian-era inventors and place workers to collect component tiles and power sources (clockwork, steam, or electrical). They assemble those tiles into modular devices by connecting a source tile to one or more component tiles, creating new action spaces that other players can use. Each inventor has a unique starting setup or special ability that affects play. Devices grant effects such as resource gains, prestige points, or additional components, and larger devices enable more powerful actions. The game emphasizes tactical worker placement and emergent action-space building as the shared board evolves through players’ constructed devices.

Players: 2–5 best 3
Playing time: 90–120 min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 3.1 / 5

7.1 on LudoyaIndustry / ManufacturingVariable Player PowersWorker PlacementTile Placement

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About the game

Design: Alex Churchill
Art: Adam P. McIver
Oliver Meinerding
Publisher: Tasty Minstrel Games

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Full stats in Ludoya

16
Plays logged: 25
Players: 1h 38m
Average play: 5
In collections: 2
On wishlists

7.1/10

from 3 Ludoya reviews

Andy7.2
Solid worker placement game, you get to build your own machines and work towards upgrading or expanding them to ultimately have the most appealing machine(s). Points are earned by getting others to use your machines or making machines that get you points. This game is all about reacting and trying to best use your opponents contraptions. Medium weighted game, relatively easy to learn takes about 20 min to teach. It scratches an odd itch, one that you don't normally think you have.

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