Mississippi Queen is a classic racing board game in which players become captains of paddle steamers on the Mississippi River. They compete in a speed race down the river while picking up passengers and carefully managing their limited coal supply. The historical setting (paddleboat racing in the 19th century) gives the game a special charm and a sense of lighthearted adventure through the American South.

The game is designed as nautical racing with a modular river that is revealed gradually.
The river is built from hex tiles that are only revealed when a boat moves forward — the direction of the next tile is determined by rolling a special die (straight, left, right).
A player may change speed by +1 or –1 for free. Larger adjustments cost coal. The same applies to extra changes of direction. Coal is limited, so efficient management is essential.
A boat must slow down to speed 1 in order to pick up a passenger — the goal is to collect two passengers before reaching the finish.
Boats can collide, and such impacts affect both sides, adding tactical tension on narrow sections of the river.

The winner is the first player to reach the final dock at speed 1 with two passengers on board.

Mississippi Queen is an elegant and entertaining racing game that blends tactics, luck, and the charm of paddleboat adventures along the Mississippi River. 🚢