Furnace

Furnace is a streamlined engine-building board game for 2–4 players aged 12 and up, set during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution. Over four rounds, players take on the roles of ambitious capitalists, bidding on company cards using numbered discs. The highest bidder acquires the company, while others receive compensation based on their disc's value, introducing a unique twist where losing a bid can still be beneficial. In the production phase, players activate their acquired companies to generate and convert resources like coal, iron, and oil into profits. The game emphasizes strategic planning, resource management, and optimization, as players must decide the order of operations to maximize efficiency. With its elegant mechanics and quick playtime of 30–60 minutes, Furnace offers both accessibility for newcomers and depth for seasoned gamers.