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How to play Railroad Ink (2026): Railroad Ink is a roll-and-write game where every player draws railways and highways on their own dry-erase board, using the same dice results. You connect exits around the edge of the board into networks, and the bigger the network, the more points it scores. A game lasts seven rounds and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. This guide follows the official Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition rulebook for setup, drawing routes, special routes and scoring.
The game you need: Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
The box includes dry-erase boards and markers, four route dice and the Deep Blue expansion dice for lakes and rivers. It plays one to six players, and more with a second box.
Price band: $20–$30 (about $26) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Railroad Ink setup
- Give each player a board and a marker.
- Set out the four route dice: three regular dice and one special die with overpasses and stations.
- Leave the expansion dice in the box for your first game.
- Choose someone to roll for the table.
A round of Railroad Ink
Each round, roll the four route dice once. Every player draws all four of those routes onto their own board in any empty squares, rotated or mirrored as they like. Each new route must connect to an exit on the edge of the board or to a route you have already drawn, and highway ends must meet highway ends while railway ends meet railway ends. Write the round number in each square you fill so you can check your board later.
Stations and overpasses
Some route faces show a station, which joins a highway to a railway in the same square. The overpass lets a highway and a railway cross without connecting. Stations are the only way to link the two types of route, so plan where they go.
Special routes
Your board shows six special routes, such as complex junctions and double stations. You may add one special route per round on top of the four dice routes, up to three special routes per game. Each special route can be used once, so cross it off when you draw it.
Scoring after round seven
| Scoring category | Points |
|---|---|
| Each network by exits connected (2 to 12 exits) | 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 45 |
| Longest railway | 1 point per square |
| Longest highway | 1 point per square |
| Each filled central square | 1 point |
| Each error (an open route end not at the board edge) | −1 point |
A network is a group of connected routes. It scores only by the number of edge exits it links. The player with the highest total wins, and ties go to the player with fewer errors.
A sample scoring example
Say your board ends with one big network linking 6 exits, a second network linking 3 exits and a lonely route touching 1 exit. The big network scores 20 points and the second scores 8; a network with a single exit scores nothing. Your longest railway runs 9 squares and your longest highway 7, adding 16 points. You filled 6 of the 9 central squares for 6 more points, and you left 3 open ends for minus 3. Your total is 47.
Adding the Deep Blue expansion
Once you know the basics, add the blue expansion dice. They let you draw lakes and rivers, which score their own points for size and length. The expansion is optional and stays separate from the core scoring above.
Railroad Ink strategy tips
- Connect exits early. Big networks score far more than several small ones.
- Fill the central squares. They are easy points that most new players miss.
- Save special routes for tough rolls. A junction can rescue a round where the dice do not fit.
- Avoid open ends in the middle. Each one costs a point at the end.
- Plan two rounds ahead. Leave room near busy exits so next round's dice have somewhere useful to go.
Who will enjoy Railroad Ink
Railroad Ink is a great choice for families, travel and quiet nights because everyone plays at once and there is no waiting. It also works solo: roll the dice, draw and try to beat your best score. For more games you can play on your own, see our best solo board games.
Railroad Ink rules questions
How many rounds are in Railroad Ink?
Seven. You roll the route dice once per round and draw all four routes.
How many special routes can you use?
Up to three per game, with at most one per round.
How many players can play Railroad Ink?
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition includes boards for one to six players, and boxes can be combined for more.
