Comparison

Rail Baron Tools vs Power Grid Boardgame

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Rail Baron Tools

Enhance your railroad empire strategy game experience. Quickly access crucial game data like destinations, payoffs, and region information to optimize your decisions and speed up gameplay. This reference tool is designed to complement the physical board game.

Highlights
  • Look up destination regions by dice roll
  • Look up destination cities by dice roll
  • View payoffs for destinations and city routes
  • Store player information
  • View detailed region and city information
  • Access railroad prices and connected cities
Features
Read full description

Rail Baron, the game of Building Railroad Empires, is an entertaining strategy game, where you are a Railroad mogul, buying up Rail Lines across America, attempting to become the ultimate Rail Baron. The game is a lot of fun to play, with the only frustration being, the time that it takes to look up information (Destinations, Payoffs, etc.) on the provided charts; which really slows down the game. Rail Baron Tools, is an Rail Baron reference app that takes the drudgery out of this, by allowing you to quickly look up the data you need, and helping you to optimize your decision making and strategies. Rail Baron Tools does not replace the game (i.e. you still play on the game board, using the actual playing pieces, money, dice etc.), but is meant to enhance it. The app provides data based on the 1977 edition Game published by The Avalon Hill Game Co. Features - Look up your destination Region based on a Dice Roll - Look up your destination City based on a Dice Roll - Look up a Payoff for completing a Destination - Look up a Payoff between any two Cities - Use an optional scaling factor, when calculating Payoffs - Store Player information including Name and Home City - View detailed Region information, including odds of rolling the Region - View detailed City information, including odds of rolling the City - View detailed Railroad information, including Price, Cities along the Railroad, and odds of rolling a City on the Railroad

About

Power Grid Boardgame

Engage in a strategic simulation of the energy industry, managing power grids across diverse global maps. Challenge AI or friends in real-time or turn-based matches, with a comprehensive tutorial and helpful in-game assistance for all skill levels.

Highlights
  • Global energy market simulation
  • Multiple map variants for diverse gameplay
  • AI and real-time/turn-based multiplayer
  • In-depth tutorial and context-sensitive help
  • Achievement system for challenges
  • Includes Recharged version with variants
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Dive into the world of the energy industry with the Power Grid app, designed by award-winning author Friedemann Friese. Global Domination: Conquer energy markets worldwide on maps such as USA, Germany, France, Benelux, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Italy and the Middle East. Each map brings unique gameplay that will put your strategic skills to the test. Tutorial & Help: Whether you're an experienced Power Grid player or a beginner, the game features a detailed tutorial that walks you through the basics step-by-step. And if you have any questions while playing, context-sensitive help is available to make sure you're always on the right track. Achievements: Challenge yourself by unlocking a variety of achievements. These achievements range from strategic feats to special challenges. Recharged Version: The app includes the Recharged version with Against the Trust and MAGA variants that make the gameplay even more diverse and challenging. Exciting Gameplay: Challenge AI opponents or play against friends in real-time or turn-based. Online Domination: The Power Grid app allows you to compete against friends or rivals from around the world. The app gives you the opportunity to compete with players from all over the world. Choose your path: a variety of maps and map variants are available to customize and refine your strategy. Adapt to the specifics of each and outsmart your opponents to get to the top of the power industry. The Power Grid app has been carefully designed to seamlessly bring the charm of the board game to your smartphone or tablet. The intuitive interface ensures a smooth gaming experience for both experienced players and novices. Don't miss out on the electrifying fun and challenges offered by the Power Grid app! Download the app now and embark on a journey to conquer the power market one move at a time. Whether you're playing alone and looking for a challenge or you're a player looking to engage in epic duels with friends, the Power Grid app offers all that and more.

Screenshots

Rail Baron Tools4 screens
Power Grid Boardgame4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rail Baron Tools at 100% against Power Grid Boardgame's 33%. Rail Baron Tools also leads on price (Free vs $8.99) and rating (5.0 vs 2.5). Power Grid Boardgame's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months) and chart position (#189 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Rail Baron Tools is free to download; Power Grid Boardgame costs $8.99 up front. Power Grid Boardgame sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Rail Baron Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rail Baron Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Rail Baron Tools's written reviews are positive against 33% of Power Grid Boardgame's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rail Baron Tools ships an update every 11 months, Power Grid Boardgame monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Rail Baron Tools versus Power Grid Boardgame: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRail Baron ToolsPower Grid Boardgame
PriceFree — better$8.99
Rating5.0 (18 ratings) — better2.5 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better32.6% of reviews
Number of ratings1826 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#189 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB141 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperEwert TechnologiesBrettspielwelt GmbH

Customer experience

Rail Baron Tools

All ratings18 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Power Grid Boardgame

All ratings26 ratings
Positive30.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative61.5%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive32.6%
Neutral11.6%
Negative55.8%

Bugs and requests

Rail Baron Tools

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Power Grid Boardgame

Reported bugs

47 issues
  • Achievements disappear
  • Cannot build houses
  • Game cards difficult to recall when minimized
  • Movable mini-window UI is buggy
  • Requires force restart
Show 42 more
  • Automatic next action clipboard issues
  • BeNeLux 5th ecoplant "extended market" doesn't work
  • Blocks PiP and Music player
  • Game crashes when starting
  • Cannot return to saved games
  • UI broken, unplayable
  • Unresponsive menus and interface
  • Does not progress or explain rules
  • AI is buggy (invisible buildings/powerplants)
  • Fatal bug: cannot overbid in auction
  • Separate save system, no iCloud syncing
  • Info board scaling and drag broken
  • Game doesn't work, crashes on start
  • Cannot confirm city choice
  • Unstable UI, can lose map display
  • Crashes in phase III of online games
  • Online play unstable
  • Doesn't work half the time
  • Cannot resume saved local game
  • Cannot edit local profile name
  • Crashes randomly when starting game
  • AI players do funny things
  • Power plant auction window not displayed
  • Bugs fixed, but still issues
  • Gameplay is awful
  • GUI is non-standard but intuitive
  • Initial screen in German
  • Crashing issues resolved, but UI irritating
  • No music or sound effects during game
  • Poor instructions
  • Third player when selecting 2 player game
  • Tutorial is limited
  • App crashes when accessing help
  • Crashes frequently
  • Parts in English and German
  • Lost games
  • Screens flash, unclear round/phase
  • Crashes after pressing help
  • Cannot reload game
  • No games in online lobbies
  • Untranslated German text in menus
  • Online connection not available

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add a proper tutorial for gameplay
  • Include music and sound effects during gameplay
  • Allow saving and resuming local games
  • Enable editing of local profile names
  • Add iCloud syncing for save games
Show 2 more
  • Improve UI dismiss functionality
  • Add a clear indicator for round/phase

In-app purchases

None

Rail Baron Tools

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Power Grid Boardgame

One-time1
  • 1. Expansion$5.99

Questions

Is Rail Baron Tools free?
Rail Baron Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Power Grid Boardgame free?
Power Grid Boardgame costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Rail Baron Tools or Power Grid Boardgame?
Rail Baron Tools is rated higher. Rail Baron Tools averages 5.0 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Power Grid Boardgame averages 2.5 from 26 ratings.
Do Rail Baron Tools or Power Grid Boardgame have ads?
Neither Rail Baron Tools nor Power Grid Boardgame shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rail Baron Tools or Power Grid Boardgame?
Rail Baron Tools ships an update every 11 months, and Power Grid Boardgame monthly. Most recently, Rail Baron Tools was updated on November 8, 2026 and Power Grid Boardgame on November 11, 2026.

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