Mississippi Queen is a good old-fashioned race game. A little short on innovation perhaps, but scoring highly on amusement. Certainly a game that can be played by all the family.

The basic idea of the game is a paddle steamer race along the Mississippi River. Three to five players can play, generally the more players the greater the fun. Each steamer has two ‘wheels’, which are used to indicate current speed and coal remaining. You can increase and decrease speed by one per turn up to 6, and make one sixty degree turn on the hexagonal grid. Any additional speed changes or manoeuvres will cost you coal, of which you have a very little, only 6 such activities per race. If you run out of coal then you are effectively out of the race. The idea is to navigate the river, conserving coal, increasing and decreasing speed as required and be the first boat to the finishing point.

Sounds easy, but the Mississippi is an unpredictable river. In the game the river consists of a set of tiles that are not laid until a boat approaches, and then a dice roll dictates their orientation. So each race the river changes course. Also the tiles contain islands, narrow channels and, importantly, sometimes landing stages where passengers await a gallant river captain. Each player must collect two passengers to finish. There are only two passengers at each landing stage and picking them up requires a great reduction in speed. So do you slow up for a passenger or race on and hope to find one later?? But wait you slowed down nicely ready to embark a lady of distinction, when Bang that scoundrel rams you on one hex. Yes ramming is allowed, and almost inevitable on a narrow river.

This game is definitely fun and can be quite deceptive. A player may be last by a mile on the river, but with two passengers and no further stops to make, he could win. Even better if he has conserved his coal to some game winning manoeuvres. Then again a steamer could sail rapidly past the waving ladies and be a mile ahead, but he will still need to make two stops, and manoeuvre into the finish.

Generally this game comes down to a tight finish between the players who have not made any large errors. A game we played recently had four players who all have the potential to win on the last round.

Personally I’m not bitter, but revenge will be oh so sweet so keep a good look out to stern next time Paul. Pile on the coal lads!!