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Ticket to Ride box image

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a strategic board game where players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes across North America, completing destination tickets for points while blocking opponents' routes.

7.39 / 10
BGG Rating
8+
age
2004
published year
2 - 5
player count
2 - 5
Recommended player count
30 - 60 mins
play time

How Complex is Ticket to Ride?

1.83 / 5

Ticket to Ride is easy to learn and play, with simple rules and mechanics that can be grasped quickly by players of all skill levels.

How much Luck is involved in the gameplay of Ticket to Ride?

3 / 5

Luck plays an important role in the game as players rely on drawing train cards and destination tickets, but strategic planning and decision-making are crucial for success.

How much Player Interaction does Ticket to Ride offer?

3 / 5

Ticket to Ride offers moderate player interaction as players compete for routes and block opponents, but there is limited direct interaction beyond this.

How much Replayability does Ticket to Ride offer?

2.5 / 5

Ticket to Ride offers moderate replayability due to the randomization of destination tickets and train card draws, as well as the ability to play with different numbers of players and expansions.

Why you should play Ticket to Ride

Easy to Learn

Ticket to Ride is a simple game to learn and play, making it a great choice for both casual and serious gamers.

Strategic Gameplay

The game requires players to think strategically about their moves and plan ahead, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a challenge.

Replayability

With different routes and strategies to explore, Ticket to Ride offers a moderate level of replayability, ensuring that each game is unique.

Family-Friendly

The game is suitable for players of all ages, making it a great choice for family game night.

Engaging Theme

The game's theme of building train routes across North America is engaging and immersive, making it a fun and exciting experience for players.

Why you should avoid Ticket to Ride

Luck-Based

While the game requires strategic thinking, luck also plays a significant role in determining the outcome of the game, which may be frustrating for some players.

Limited Interaction

The game does not offer a lot of player interaction, as players are primarily focused on building their own train routes.

Repetitive Gameplay

Some players may find the gameplay to be repetitive after multiple plays, as the objective remains the same throughout the game.

Limited depth & complexity

Players who prefer heavy strategic games with depth will feel it is a lightweight game and won't enjoy it much.

Where to find the Rules of Ticket to Ride

Check the rules of Ticket to Ride in a PDF file.

You can also find the community-driven rules summary, player aid, etc., in the Ticket to Ride files section on the BoardGameGeek website. You need an account on BGG to download files.

Beginner Strategies for Ticket to Ride

These strategies are for players who have either not played or played one or two games of Ticket to Ride.

Focus on completing your routes

The main objective of the game is to complete your routes. Failing to complete your routes will earn you negative points. So, make sure you focus on completing them as soon as possible. This will help you earn more points and prevent your opponents from blocking your routes.

Try to claim the longest route

At the end of the game, if you have the longest continuous route, you will get 10 additional points. But, don't forget to complete your destination tickets in search of the longest route.

Block your opponents

Try to block your opponents' routes by claiming the routes they need. This will slow them down and give you an advantage in completing your own routes.

Collect & use locomotive strategically

Locomotive cards are wild cards that can be used as any color train card, so try to collect them when needed. They can be very useful when you need a specific color to claim a route.

Plan ahead

Ticket to Ride is a game of strategy, so make sure you plan ahead and think about your moves carefully. Try to anticipate your opponents' moves and plan accordingly.

I hope these strategies help you in your first game of Ticket to Ride!

Advanced Strategies for Ticket to Ride

Keep an eye on your opponents' routes

Pay attention to your opponents' routes and try to block them if possible. Also, keep in mind that your opponents may try to block your routes, so be prepared to find alternative routes.

Try not to hoard train cards

Hoarding cards can give you options in the game. But, it will keep you away from completing the objective and your opponents may take the route you need. Hence, it is important to find a balance between collecting train cards & claiming routes.

Don't draw new destination cards near the end game

If you know that the game is going to end soon, don't take the risk of drawing new destination cards. If you don't get lucky, you will get negative points for a newly drawn destination card. Instead, you can try to claim the longest continuous route if you had already completed your destination tickets.

Pay attention to the discard pile

The discard pile can give you valuable information about which color train cards are likely to be revealed from the draw pile. If you see a lot of red cards in the discard pile, it may be a sign that you won't get that many red cards soon and you have to adapt your strategy accordingly.

Keep an eye on the endgame

As the game nears its end, make sure you're keeping track of how many trains you have left and how many points you need to win. You may need to adjust your strategy in the final turns to maximize your points.

Be flexible

Finally, remember that the game can be unpredictable, and you may need to adjust your strategy on the fly. Don't be afraid to change your plans if a better opportunity presents itself.

Mechanics

Set Collection
Hand Management
Open Drafting
Network and Route Building
Push Your Luck
End Game Bonuses
Connections
Contracts

Categories

Trains