Ticket to Ride is one of the best-known modern board games, and for good reason. The rules fit on a couple of pages, a game takes about an hour, and it works for families, couples and groups of friends alike. Designed by Alan R. Moon and published by Days of Wonder in 2004, it won Germany’s Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) award that same year and has stayed in print ever since. If someone at your holiday table has never played a “modern” board game, this is one of the easiest places to start.
What is Ticket to Ride?
Ticket to Ride is a route-building game for 2 to 5 players, recommended for ages 8 and up. The board shows a map of cities connected by colored routes. Players collect train car cards and spend them to claim routes, placing their plastic trains on the board. Each player also holds secret destination tickets that name two cities. Connect those cities with your own trains by the end of the game and you score the ticket; fail, and you lose those points.
That mix of open building and hidden goals is what makes it fun. Everyone can see the map filling up, but nobody knows exactly where the others are trying to go.
How to play
Setup
Each player takes a set of trains in one color and is dealt four train car cards and three destination tickets. Players must keep at least two of their tickets. Five train cards are laid face up next to the deck.
Your turn
On each turn you do exactly one of three things:
- Draw train cards. Take two cards from the face-up row or the deck. A face-up locomotive (a wild card) counts as your whole draw.
- Claim a route. Play a set of cards matching the color and length of a route, then place your trains on it. Gray routes can be claimed with any single color.
- Draw destination tickets. Draw three new tickets and keep at least one.
Scoring and the end of the game
Longer routes score more points, so a six-space route is worth far more than two short ones. When any player is down to two or fewer trains, everyone gets one final turn. Players then add points for completed tickets, subtract points for unfinished ones, and the player with the longest continuous path earns a bonus.
Tips for new players
- Claim key routes early. If a single route is the only way into a city you need, take it before someone else does.
- Don’t hoard forever. Collecting cards feels safe, but the board fills up faster than new players expect.
- Be careful drawing more tickets late. A ticket you can’t finish costs you points at the end.
- Watch the train supply. When someone is running low, the game is almost over.
- With 2 or 3 players, only one lane of each double route can be used, which makes blocking more of a factor.
Which version should you buy?
The original Ticket to Ride uses a map of the United States and southern Canada and is still the usual starting point. Ticket to Ride: Europe adds tunnels, ferries and train stations, which give players a little more flexibility, and many fans prefer it once they know the basics. Days of Wonder also publishes Ticket to Ride: First Journey, a simplified version for younger children, plus a long series of map expansions that reuse the trains and cards from a base game. Some maps are built for specific player counts, so check the box before buying one as a gift.
Who will enjoy it?
Ticket to Ride shines with families and mixed groups because turns are quick and the choices are easy to understand. It plays well with two, which makes it a popular pick for couples (see our guide to board games for two players). Players who want more trading and negotiation often move on to Catan, while groups who would rather laugh than plan can try a party game like Codenames.
Ticket to Ride as a holiday gift
Because it’s easy to teach and suits ages 8 and up, Ticket to Ride is a classic holiday gift for a family that wants a new tradition. Pair it with a card holder or sleeves for younger players, or with a map expansion for someone who already owns the base game. For more ideas, see our guide to board game gifts for the gamer in your life.
FAQ
How many people can play Ticket to Ride?
The original game is for 2 to 5 players. Some versions and map expansions support different counts, so check the box.
How long does a game take?
Most games run about 30 to 60 minutes, a little longer while players are learning.
Is Ticket to Ride good for kids?
The standard game is recommended for ages 8 and up. For younger children, Ticket to Ride: First Journey is a simpler version.
What’s the difference between Ticket to Ride and Ticket to Ride: Europe?
Europe uses a different map and adds tunnels, ferries and stations. The core rules are the same.
Top image: “Ticket to Ride at JunaCon 2020” by JIP, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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