It's speed dating for the railway-tycoon monopolist robber baron! To obliterate your competition, you must marry a suitable partner before time runs out.

"Gilded Rails" is a 340,000-word interactive dating-management novel by Anaea Lay, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

Some kids get a model train set from their parents—your daddy gave you his railroad line. Find a spouse and you’ll win control of the family business, but fail to marry and you could lose it all! Can you lead the company to greatness and get hitched before time runs out?

Blaze through an epic tale of business expansion, family life, and love in a time when everyone wants more and many wind up with less. How will you choose to run your business? Will you honor contracts and commitments, or betray your enemies and your principles? Are you a natural-born leader, or will your workers laugh at you behind your back? Blow the whistle on corruption in your industry, or unleash your hidden tycoon and rule the railroads!

Just make sure you find a marriage partner along the way, or Daddy might push you out of the company!

• Play as male, female, or non-binary, pursuing men, women, or both.

• Triumph over strikes, sabotage, and social scandal.

• Sharpen your business acumen and connections.

• Choose from eleven romance options! Court everyone from your childhood best friend to the villainous head of a rival company.

• Become the poster child for modern reform, or the bootheel that needs reforming.

• Discover your father's checkered past.

• Embrace your inner robber baron—or Robin Hood.

• Choose between romance and business partnership.

• Pet your kitty.

Gilded Rails is a captivating strategy game that transports players to the golden age of railroading in the United States. Set in the late 19th century, the game invites players to become railroad tycoons, building their own rail networks and competing for dominance in a rapidly expanding industry.

Gameplay and Objectives

The core gameplay revolves around acquiring resources, constructing railroads, and transporting goods across the vast American landscape. Players must carefully plan their routes, manage their resources, and adapt to the changing demands of the market. The ultimate goal is to become the most successful railroad company, with the largest network, the highest profits, and the most prestigious reputation.

Resource Management and Railroad Construction

Players begin with a small sum of money and a limited number of resources. They must use these resources wisely to purchase land, lay tracks, and build stations. Each type of resource has its own unique properties, such as iron for tracks and wood for stations. As players expand their railroads, they gain access to new resources and technologies, enabling them to build more efficient and profitable routes.

Transportation and Trade

Once their railroads are in place, players can begin transporting goods across the country. Different goods have different values and demand, and players must adjust their transportation strategies accordingly. They can also establish trade agreements with other players, exchanging goods to meet the needs of their respective markets.

Competition and Alliances

Gilded Rails is a competitive game, and players must constantly outmaneuver their opponents to succeed. They can sabotage each other's railroads, steal their resources, and form alliances to gain an advantage. However, cooperation can also be beneficial, as players may choose to work together to build shared infrastructure or establish joint ventures.

Historical Authenticity and Detail

Gilded Rails is meticulously researched and captures the historical atmosphere of the railroad era. The game features authentic locomotives, rolling stock, and historical events that influence the gameplay. Players can experience the challenges and rewards of building a railroad empire in the turbulent and transformative time of the late 19th century.

Conclusion

Gilded Rails is a highly engaging and immersive strategy game that offers a unique and challenging experience. Its blend of resource management, railroad construction, transportation, and competition creates a compelling and rewarding gameplay loop. With its historical authenticity and attention to detail, Gilded Rails transports players to the golden age of railroading, inviting them to forge their own destinies as railroad tycoons.