Suggested borders for cities with good public transit. Go bigger than you think: my Boston border is the whole T, and that's still a small game. A good border should contain at least a few dozen stops. Check local service and agree on your setup before playing.
Boston
United States · MBTA subway
| Game size | Border |
|---|---|
| Small | The whole T subway network, minus the southern split of the Red Line to Ashmont and Braintree. This is the border I play on. |
| Medium | The whole subway network, including both Red Line branches and the Mattapan trolley. |
| Large | Add the Commuter Rail stations inside Route 128. |
Check the MBTA maps and current service before heading out.
New York City
United States · MTA subway
| Game size | Border |
|---|---|
| Small | All of Manhattan, plus the subway in Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Long Island City and Astoria. |
| Medium | Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn and Queens out to the end of the subway lines. |
| Large | The whole subway network, plus the Staten Island Ferry and Staten Island Railway. |
Check the MTA maps and current service before heading out.
London
United Kingdom · Underground, Overground & Elizabeth line
| Game size | Border |
|---|---|
| Small | Zones 1 and 2 on the Underground, Overground and DLR. |
| Medium | Zones 1 to 3, including the Elizabeth line. |
| Large | The whole Underground network, Zones 1 to 6. |
Check the TfL maps and current service before heading out.
Chicago
United States · CTA 'L' & Metra
| Game size | Border |
|---|---|
| Small | Every 'L' line inside the city, leaving out the far ends of the Blue Line to O'Hare and Forest Park. |
| Medium | The whole 'L' network. |
| Large | The whole 'L' network, plus Metra stations inside the city limits. |
Check the CTA maps and current service before heading out.
Berlin
Germany · S-Bahn & U-Bahn
| Game size | Border |
|---|---|
| Small | Everything inside the Ringbahn, plus the U-Bahn just outside it. |
| Medium | The whole U-Bahn network and the Ringbahn. |
| Large | Fare zones A and B on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, which is all of Berlin. |
Check the S-Bahn Berlin route map and current service before heading out.
Tokyo
Japan · JR, Tokyo Metro & Toei
| Game size | Border |
|---|---|
| Small | The Yamanote loop and every subway station inside it. |
| Medium | All Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines. |
| Large | The 23 special wards, including JR lines. |
Check the Tokyo Metro map and current service before heading out.
Borders in Near
You don't have to draw a border from scratch in Near. You can reuse one you saved or pick one another player shared in Public Borders. Near shows the stations and rail lines inside it and gives walking and transit directions during the game.
Question board
Can we play in a city that isn't listed?
Yes. Draw your own border. Check that maps, place results and transit directions cover the area you choose.
What transit rules should we follow?
The local ones. Pay your fares, stay in public areas, and never cross tracks or jump onto a train that's about to leave.