Momotarou Dentetsu (Japan)

Momotarou Dentetsu on the NES is a railway business simulation game combined with board game elements, where players compete to become the wealthiest person in Japan. The primary objective is to accumulate assets, mainly through purchasing and managing properties across the game map.

The game takes place on a map simulating the geography of Japan, divided into squares much like a board game. Each turn, players "roll a die" (in essence, choose the number of steps to move) to advance along the railway lines. When landing on a square, various events can occur:

• Station Squares: These are the most crucial squares. When landing on a station, players can purchase local properties such as shops, hotels, or other businesses. These properties generate periodic income.
• Event Squares: Trigger random events, which can be positive (gain money, move faster) or negative (lose money, get cursed by Binbōgami).
• Money Squares: Gain or lose a specific amount of money.

One of the distinctive elements of Momotarou Dentetsu is the appearance of various gods. The most prominent is Binbōgami (God of Poverty), a character who latches onto the last player to reach a certain station and causes all sorts of trouble, depleting their assets. Conversely, there are also lucky gods who assist players. Players can also use various "cards" with different effects, ranging from increasing movement speed, gaining money, to sabotaging opponents.

Winning in Momotarou Dentetsu relies not only on luck but also on strategy. Players need to consider which properties to buy, manage their finances to avoid bankruptcy, and use cards wisely to outmaneuver opponents. The game concludes after a set number of in-game years, and the player with the largest total assets wins.