The game that started it all…
Arkwright is an economic board game designed by Stefan Risthaus, where players take on the roles of entrepreneurs in 18th-century England, building and managing factories. In this new anniversary edition, the game has been streamlined and updated with a new rulebook and artwork. The game offers different play experiences through various modules, including “Spinning Mule” and “Waterframe” variants, as well as an East India module. It also features a solo mode, known as “Automa,” which allows a single player to compete against artificial opponents.
Over the course of several decades, players produce and sell goods such as cloth, cutlery, lamps, and bread in various markets. In typical gameplay of Arkwright, players are entrepreneurs striving to build up to four successful factories which require the careful management of workers and machines. At the end of each decade, different events will provide opportunities and pitfalls to the players. Players make strategic decisions regarding their factories, aiming to outmaneuver their competitors in the markets at home and abroad. Arkwright players attempt to accumulate wealth and increase their company’s share value, but be careful not to be in debt by the end of the game as you will automatically lose due to your poor management. Excel in the early days of the Industrial Revolution and set the pace for the growth of England and your company.