Connections
OpenDefinition
Players are trying to form connections between different points on the board. Essentially, this is a specialized kind of Set Collection in which the sets collected represent ties between nodes, often represented as routes between destinations.
Top games using this mechanism
By BGG bayes rating, top 50.
| Game | Year | Rating | Wt | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galactic Cruise#125 | 2025 | 7.53 | 4.0 | 150m |
| Tigris & Euphrates#131 | 1997 | 7.51 | 3.5 | 120m |
| Age of Steam#139 | 2002 | 7.49 | 3.9 | 120m |
| Tyrants of the Underdark#164 | 2016 | 7.42 | 2.5 | 60m |
| Rajas of the Ganges#166 | 2017 | 7.41 | 2.9 | 75m |
| Ticket to Ride: Europe#178 | 2005 | 7.40 | 1.9 | 60m |
| Endeavor: Age of Sail#206 | 2018 | 7.36 | 2.9 | 90m |
| Railways of the World#241 | 2005 | 7.30 | 3.0 | 120m |
| Ticket to Ride#256 | 2004 | 7.26 | 1.8 | 60m |
| Acquire#359 | 1963 | 7.13 | 2.5 | 90m |
| Neuroshima Hex#411 | 2006 | 7.08 | 2.6 | 30m |
| Arboretum#432 | 2015 | 7.06 | 2.1 | 30m |
| Through the Desert#537 | 1998 | 6.97 | 2.2 | 45m |
| Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition#626 | 2018 | 6.89 | 1.5 | 30m |
| Karuba#665 | 2015 | 6.86 | 1.4 | 40m |
| Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails#805 | 2016 | 6.76 | 2.5 | 120m |
| Blue Lagoon#906 | 2018 | 6.70 | 2.0 | 45m |
| Railroad Ink: Blazing Red Edition#946 | 2018 | 6.68 | 1.5 | 30m |
| Via Nebula#1300 | 2016 | 6.51 | 2.3 | 60m |
| On Tour#1505 | 2019 | 6.43 | 1.4 | 20m |
| Copenhagen#1528 | 2019 | 6.42 | 1.7 | 40m |
| TransAmerica#1533 | 2001 | 6.41 | 1.3 | 30m |
| Quoridor#1675 | 1997 | 6.36 | 1.8 | 15m |
| NEOM#1706 | 2018 | 6.35 | 2.6 | 45m |
| Iberian Gauge#1905 | 2017 | 6.29 | 2.5 | 90m |
| Empire Builder#1960 | 1982 | 6.27 | 2.6 | 180m |
| Android#1996 | 2008 | 6.26 | 4.0 | 180m |
| Trans Europa#2300 | 2005 | 6.18 | 1.4 | 20m |
| SNCF: France & Germany#2305 | 2010 | 6.18 | 1.8 | 30m |
| Eurorails#2373 | 1990 | 6.16 | 2.7 | 240m |
| Ragusa#2489 | 2019 | 6.14 | 2.8 | 80m |
| Zug um Zug: Deutschland#2738 | 2012 | 6.08 | 1.9 | 60m |
| Ta Yü#2766 | 1999 | 6.08 | 2.1 | 45m |
| Kokoro: Avenue of the Kodama#2848 | 2017 | 6.06 | 1.5 | 15m |
| Twixt#2875 | 1962 | 6.06 | 2.5 | 30m |
| Avenue#2950 | 2016 | 6.04 | 1.4 | 15m |
| Expeditions: Around the World#3003 | 1996 | 6.03 | 2.0 | 45m |
| 10 Days in Europe#3048 | 2002 | 6.02 | 1.4 | 30m |
| 10 Days in the USA#3160 | 2003 | 6.00 | 1.4 | 30m |
| Unanimo#3216 | 1990 | 5.99 | 1.2 | 30m |
| 10 Days in Africa#3320 | 2003 | 5.98 | 1.4 | 30m |
| Nyakuza#3636 | 2014 | 5.93 | 2.3 | 40m |
| Santa Cruz#3655 | 2012 | 5.93 | 2.2 | 45m |
| Cable Car#3708 | 2009 | 5.92 | 1.8 | 45m |
| 10 Days in Asia#3915 | 2007 | 5.89 | 1.4 | 25m |
| Gulf, Mobile & Ohio#4491 | 2008 | 5.83 | 2.8 | 60m |
| Hex#4675 | 1942 | 5.81 | 3.0 | 20m |
| City Tycoon#4895 | 2011 | 5.79 | 2.8 | 120m |
| U.S. Telegraph#5228 | 2018 | 5.76 | 1.7 | 60m |
| Passtally#5571 | 2018 | 5.74 | 2.4 | 40m |
Frequently combined with
Other mechanisms that show up in the same games. Click to drill in.
Related deep dives
Long-form design analysis on games using this mechanism.
Tigris & Euphrates
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *Tigris & Euphrates* (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Glück, 1997) into a single-player iOS roguelite. The "Dominion -> Slay the Spire" pattern, but for Knizia's tile-laying / area-control / lowest-of-N masterpiece. The Codito iOS port was delis…
Tyrants of the Underdark
Deep Dive for an iOS Roguelite Translation
Project context: Translate the core loop of *Tyrants of the Underdark* (Andrew Veen, Peter Lee, Rodney Thompson; Gale Force Nine, 2016; *Aberrations & Undead* expansion 2017; *Updated Edition* / *Refreshed* re-release with the *Drow & Demons* / *Elemental Evil & Drow Houses* half…