Nucleum: Australia (Expansion)^*

Australia expands the heavy economic game Nucleum with a new map, shipping lanes and player-built coal mines, plus a bidding variant for experienced groups.

What's it about?

After Saxony's energy revolution, entrepreneurs head for Australia and its huge uranium deposits. The continent is vast, and rail alone won't cut it. Ships link the coastlines and even reach Tasmania. In Hobart, a mad scientist has built his own experimental power plant, and you can put it to use.

What's new

• A new map of Australia and Tasmania
• Shipping lanes that move resources faster than trains
• Coal mines you build yourself
• An expert variant where you bid for the experiments

How it plays

1. You still lay track and build cities and power plants.
2. On top of that, you plan sea routes to cut across long distances.
3. If you like, you auction the experiments instead of simply taking them.

It plays with 1 to 4 people in 60 to 150 minutes. You need the base game.

Conclusion

Australia feels less like an add-on and more like a second world for Nucleum. Shipping changes your planning in a real way, and the bidding variant gives experts more control. Fans of the base game get plenty of fresh decisions. If Nucleum is still new to you, play the original map first.