Which Great Western Trail expansion after the base game?

1-4 players (2nd edition) Deck-building / delivery About 75-150 min

The game

Already own Great Western Trail? Only one true expansion exists per edition. Argentina, New Zealand and El Paso are complete games that borrow the engine.

1-4 players with the current 2nd edition, solo included. Rails to the North (2nd edition) needs that base game.

Two editions again. Rails to the North exists for both editions and the boards differ. Match the expansion to your base edition.

Argentina and New Zealand are not expansions. They are full games with their own boards and twists. Nothing in them plugs into the original trail.

El Paso is the compact one. A smaller, faster game in the same family, about half the length.

Which boxes do you already own?

Put on the table what you already have, and how many of you play.

You usually play with

1-4

Release timeline

Original 2016, Rails to the North 2018, 2nd edition 2021, Rails to the North 2nd edition and Argentina 2022, New Zealand 2023, El Paso 2025.

The graph

How the Great Western Trail boxes connect, plus the mechanics. An arrow starts at the expansion and points to the box it needs.

needs another box
contains this box
part of the line
game mechanic

Depending on what you want

You want	Get
Expand the game I own	Rails to the North
Grain and farmers	Argentina
Sheep and shearing	New Zealand
The same feel, shorter	El Paso

Tick your boxes at the top and the answer follows.

At the table

Box	What it brings
Great Western Trail (2nd edition)	1-4 players. Drive cattle to Kansas City, ship them east.
Rails to the North (2nd edition)	A northern branch board and new cities.
Great Western Trail: Argentina	Standalone: farmers, grain and Buenos Aires.
Great Western Trail: New Zealand	Standalone: sheep, wool and exploration.
Great Western Trail: El Paso	Standalone compact version, about half the length.

Compatibility

Box	Needs	Players
Great Western Trail (2nd edition)	standalone base	1-4
Rails to the North (2nd edition)	needs base + GWT 2nd ed.	1-4
Great Western Trail: Argentina	plays on its own	1-4
Great Western Trail: New Zealand	plays on its own	1-4
Great Western Trail: El Paso	plays on its own	1-4

The 1st edition and its Rails to the North are out of print and outside the picker.

FAQ

What is the Great Western Trail expansion?

Rails to the North: a northern branch board with new delivery cities. Match it to your edition.

Is Argentina an expansion?

No. Argentina and New Zealand are standalone games in a trilogy with the original.

Which edition should I buy?

The 2nd edition: it is the one in shops, with solo mode and revised boards.

Who publishes Great Western Trail in English?

eggertspiele / Plan B. Designer: Alexander Pfister.