Ticket to Ride

Finally bit the bullet and joined the Ticket to Ride gamers. Really fun game for the family. It's easy to learn and you even get to learn some geography. We wish the game had some cut-throat elements, but I guess the makers wanted to make a game that's family friendly and didn't stir up any heated arguments (like Catan). We're still beginners to the game so we're slow, but I can see even with a few games under our belt, game play does go faster. Great educational and strategy game!

This is an excellent board game, with a reasonable mix of skill and luck involved. Depending on how many people are playing, and how quickly they take their turns, this game can take anywhere between thirty minutes and two hours. The rules are simple, and while experienced players have an advantage against beginners, people can get up to speed after a few turns of their first game. Strategies for winning consistently can be gained after only one or two games. There are many versions and expansions for this game, all of which are fun and interesting and worth looking at to see which best suits your group of players. But, this is the most basic form of the game and has the most straight-forward set of rules: - You have "tickets" telling you which cities your trains need to connect in order to earn points, if at the end of the game, the connection isn't completed, you get a negative point value for that "ticket". - You have colored "train car" cards, which you combine to build connections between cities. If a connection is colored, you need that color to make the connection and if it is grey, then you can use any one color to make the connection. - On each turn, you can either: build a connection between two cities; select a new "ticket"; draw two "train car" cards from 5 visible possibilities or from the face down deck. - There are "locomotive train car" cards, which are wild, but are more expensive to draw from the visible cards (only get one). - The longer the set of train cars used to make a connection, the more points you earn (1=1, 2=2, 3=4, 4=7, etc.) - Whoever has the longest connection at the end, by train car length, gets additional points. The expansion versions add other possibilities, depending on the map (tunnels that can take more than one card to complete; ferries that require at least one locomotive; etc.). Some of the maps/expansions are better suited to more players and others are limited to just two or three players. You can probably find a version of this game that is best suited for your group, but this basic version is a good version to start with. I would also highly recommend the PC or mobile version of this game, which can provide access to many of the maps and give you an idea as to which version of the game you would prefer, without buying all of them. Overall, this is one of the best board games out there, well suited to beginning players or more advanced board gamers.

We got this for family night. It was a fun game to play. I don’t like games that are difficult to learn, so this was a great game for me. We had a blast!

This game is great. It is fun and challenging at the same time. The trains are small, but if you keep them in something, they are durable. It takes a while to play, but not super long. Good value.

Love this game! Also bought the 1910 game which is played on the original game board! Like that as well! Strategy is important but very do able!

Bought for a gift but have played it in the past, super fun and a great family game.

With all the great reviews already out there, I’m probably beating a dead horse but they’re right. My wife and I enjoy strategy games, but sometimes learning them (and remembering all the rules) can feel like a part-time job. Ticket to Ride hits the sweet spot perfectly. It’s easy to learn, intuitive to play, and a full game takes about an hour. You can play it straight and just focus on completing your routes or you can get a little sneaky and block your opponent at just the wrong time. Both approaches are fun, and the game stays engaging without becoming overwhelming. It’s quick, easy fun and a great way to spend time together instead of endlessly scrolling on social media. Highly recommended for casual strategy fans and couples looking for a solid game night choice.

This is a great game! We have played it so many times since we got it. Our 10 year old loves it. Our 8 year old somewhat grasps it but it is a littler harder for her. For age range, I’d say it is a game for 10 year olds and up. It is pretty easy to understand and set up. Each game has its unique based on the strategy and what cards are picked so it feels like you are playing a new game every time. The game fits well on a table. As far as challenge level, it is something that beginners and advanced players can all play well. It is pretty easy for new people to pick up the game. It is easily moved over to a new location. It is a great game for the price. Games go pretty quick. It takes about an hour to play depending on the number or players. It is easy to teach and people can rely on pictures so they aren’t dependent on their ability to read.