# Railroad Ink Challenge — The route-planning dice game.

> Route-planning dice game for building transportation networks and scoring points. (iPhone/iPad app by Horrible Guild.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railroad-ink-challenge/id1549914827 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Horrible Guild](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460296043)
- Category: Games, Board, Strategy
- Price: $3.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 197 App Store ratings · 125 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 283 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2021-06-16
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railroad-ink-challenge/id1549914827/reviews.md

## What is Railroad Ink Challenge?

In Railroad Ink Challenge, you have 7 rounds to make as many points as possible. Roll the dice and draw the routes to connect the exits around your board. Expand your network with railways, highways, and stations to collect points, but you will be penalized for any open connections, so plan carefully! Play solo to improve your best score, or challenge players from all over the world!

HOW TO PLAY

Each round you will have to roll the dice and use the available routes to build your transportation network and connect as many exits as possible. Expand your network to collect points. You’ll also score bonus points for your longest highway and railway, for building into the central spaces of your map, and for completing optional, time-dependent goals before they expire.
You can also connect special structures to your network to trigger their special effects, such as duplicating routes, unlocking powerful special routes, and more. But beware: Try to not leave any open connections, as each one will cost you points at the end of the game.

EXPANSIONS

Forest and Desert expansions add special dice and rules to create even more intricate landscapes for your highways and railways.

MODES

Play solo with random objectives and join the online rankings or challenge players from all over the world with custom game configurations! The online leaderboards (Daily, Monthly, and All-Time) are completely cross-platform!

• The wonderful art of the roll and write game by Marta Tranquilli, fleshed out and digitally enhanced
• Network planning gameplay: try to make the best use of the available routes each round to create the perfect transportation network
• Try to conquer the top of the online leaderboards (Daily, Monthly, and All-Time)!
• Cross-platform, asynchronous multiplayer challenges with your friends!

100% Asynchronous multiplayer challenges
Don’t like to wait while your opponents complete their turn? Fear not! With the 100% asynchronous multiplayer challenges, that is an issue of the past! Play a full game on your own, then post the challenge online! Players from all over the world will be able to play with the same dice and goals you had and try to beat your score! Who’s gonna get the best score?

Railroad Ink Challenge is the official adaptation of the critically acclaimed roll and write game created by award-winning designers Hjalmar Hach & Lorenzo Silva and illustrated by artist Marta Tranquilli.
To find more information about Horrible Guild, please go to https://www.horribleguild.com

Having an issue? Looking for support? Please contact us: https://www.horribleguild.com/customercare/

You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horribleguild/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/horribleguild
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horribleguild/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@horribleguild
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/horribleguild
Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/horribleguild

*IMPORTANT* Railroad Ink Challenge requires iPhone 6s, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, iPad (2017) or later.

## Key features

- Dice rolling and route drawing
- Network building with railways and highways
- Connecting exits for points
- Avoiding open connections for penalties
- Solo play for high scores
- Online multiplayer challenges
- Leaderboards

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $3.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forest Expansion | $1.99 | one-time |
| Desert Expansion | $1.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #180 in Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

## What do users think of Railroad Ink Challenge?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and animations
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 📱 Intuitive user interface during play
- ⚡ Quick games perfect for short breaks
- 🏆 Daily challenge feature
- 🌍 Multiple language support
- 💰 Fair pricing with no ads
- 🎯 Faithful adaptation of board game
- 🤝 Asynchronous multiplayer gameplay

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Excessive battery consumption
- 🌐 Server connectivity issues
- ❌ Resume game feature broken
- 🔐 Apple ID login problems
- 📱 iPad orientation and scaling issues
- 🔥 Device overheating during play
- ⚠️ Inconsistent scoring calculations
- 🚫 Missing base game content (rivers/lakes)

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Resume game feature freezes app
- Apple ID login loop and authentication errors
- App crashes during gameplay and tutorial
- Game locks up after iOS updates
- Crashes on older devices (iPad Mini 2)
- Desert expansion white screen on purchase
- In-app purchase restoration not working
- Server connection errors during scoring
- Game Center account sync issues
- Daily Challenge timeout and crashes
- Scoring not saved to server
- Exit scoring bug deletes game from history
- Friend list navigation broken
- Mountains challenge unplayable
- Tutorial freezes at first dice placement
- Crashes when using too many factories
- Offline game results interfere with leaderboard
- Password recovery impossible on iPad

**Most requested features**

- Local pass-and-play multiplayer mode
- All expansion dice sets (Rivers, Lakes, Future, Engineers, Lava, Meteor)
- Optional tile placement mechanic
- Personal score history and ranking
- Larger maps with more turns
- Offline play without server dependency
- Timer option for rounds
- Randomized special square placement
- View opponent boards after game completion
- Better expansion rules reference in-game
- Russian language support

## Recent user reviews (10 of 125)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railroad-ink-challenge/id1549914827/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Used to love it but it will not run anymore

*2026-06-27*

I used to love this game, but lately it has been freezing and crashing every time I start a new game. Very disappointing as the game is addicting and fun. I have tried re installing the app on my phone but that doesn’t fix the issue. Hopefully soon it will
Be fixed.

### 5/5 — Große Empfehlung

*2026-06-23*

Ich liebe dieses Spiel! Es ist sehr entspannend und trotzdem anspruchsvoll. Je nachdem welche Erweiterung oder welche Challenges man sich vor nimmt kann man das Stresslevel beliebig erhöhen oder senken. Ich hoffe sehr es werden bald die anderen Erweiterungen auch noch umgesetzt! Es ist jetzt schon ein Dauerbrenner zum abschalten und runter kommen, für zwischendurch oder um eine Zugfahrt angenehmer zu gestalten;-).
Darum nochmals: Bitte bringt bald die anderen Erweiterungen heraus!! Danke!!!

### 3/5 — Desperately needs bug fixes

*2026-06-10*

Love this game, used to play it daily, but as of a few weeks ago it crashes mid game every few games so you lose your progress. Just fix it team, I want to buy the upgrades but won’t until it’s fixed

### 1/5 — For some reason i have to log in 3 times every time i open the app

*2026-05-31*

why?

### 2/5 — Resume games?

*2026-02-27, version 3.4.2*

The resume game feature is faulty. It never works. It freezes the app. Please fix this. And add more expansion dice!!’

### 2/5 — Stop asking for my apple id login

*2026-02-26, version 3.4.2*

Game constantly asks for my apple id login on startup, and then tells me it's wrong (it's not). Especially weird since I'm already logged into games center with my apple ID

### 2/5 — Was really nice implementation, now it locks up after iOS update

*2026-02-01*

The Good:  Nice implementation of the board game which is one of my favorites, when it works.  The Bad:  Bummed no more expansions have been developed. Also, The ‘restart a game from where you left’ feature never worked.  Would usually lock up the app and need a restart.  Not a huge deal because the game is so quick to play.
The Ugly:  Now with latest iOS updates, app locks up in the middle of game play constantly making this basically unplayable.

### 3/5 — Tolles Spiel aber…

*2026-01-24*

Das Spiel an sich ist super und macht mega Spaß! Ich finde super, dass man sich die Modi aussuchen kann und auch die Erweiterungen sehen gut aus. 
Tolles Design und generell sehr ansprechend. Komischerweise muss ich mich aber bei jedem Neustart der App drei mal! in meinem Apple Account anmelden? Das ist mittlerweile ziemlich nervig. In letzter Zeit stürzt die App bei mir auch zusätzlich noch regelmäßig ab bzw. bleibt hängen, sodass ich teilweise nichtmal durch ein Spiel komme. Beide Probleme in Kombination sind entsprechend noch doofer, sehr schade!
Ich hoffe sehr, dass sich das lösen lässt damit ich auch die Erweiterungen ausprobieren kann!

### 1/5 — Keeps freezing

*2025-12-24, version 3.4.2*

I would like to play this game but during the dice play on the first turn it freezes and the app needs to be forced quit. Hope the devs can fix this problem

### 4/5 — Would be 5 stars except no rivers or lakes

*2025-10-14, version 3.2.7*

Excellent animations and beautiful art brings the physical game to life. But how could there be no option for river or lake dice??

## Frequently asked questions about Railroad Ink Challenge

### What is Railroad Ink Challenge?

Railroad Ink Challenge is a digital adaptation of a critically acclaimed roll and write board game. Players roll dice and draw routes on their board to create a transportation network, aiming to connect exits and score points over seven rounds.

### How do I score points in Railroad Ink Challenge?

You score points by connecting exits on your board with railways and highways. Additional points are awarded for building into central spaces, achieving the longest highway and railway, and completing optional goals. Penalties are incurred for any open connections at the end of the game.

### Is Railroad Ink Challenge free to play?

The application is free to download and play, but it does offer in-app purchases and may display advertisements, aligning with a 'free with in-app purchases' monetization model.

### Can I play Railroad Ink Challenge with friends?

Yes, the game features 100% asynchronous multiplayer challenges. You can play solo and then challenge players from around the world to beat your score using the same dice and goals.

### What are the expansions for Railroad Ink Challenge?

The game offers Forest and Desert expansions, which introduce special dice and new rules. These expansions allow for the creation of even more intricate landscapes and gameplay variations for your highways and railways.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.4.2 — 2025-12-17

- security update

### 3.2.7 — 2025-01-11

- fixed daily challenge pre-placed routes
- fixed tutorial

### 3.2.5 — 2024-12-19

- New IAP restore failsafe

### 3.2.4 — 2024-10-21

- Fixed Desert IAP purchase/restore issues

### 3.2.1 — 2024-10-11

- fixed IAP restore

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All apps by Horrible Guild: https://appshunter.io/developer/1460296043

## Related topics

[railroad ink](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/railroad-ink) · [railroad ink challenge](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/railroad-ink-challenge) · [road games rail](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/road-games-rail)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*