For years, every time someone asked me what my favorite game was, or more specifically board game, I could not provide an answer. It was not because I played no board games, rather none of them fascinated me all too much that it could be considered a favorite.
Now, I can. And the answer is, Ticket to Ride.
"Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure where players collect cards of various types of train cars that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities in various countries around the world."
"The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket – each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route, or get additional Destination Tickets," says Ticket to Ride author, Alan R. Moon. "The tension comes from being forced to balance greed – adding more cards to your hand, and fear – losing a critical route to a competitor."Ticket to Ride collected dust in our board game cabinet for a few years because younger us did not understand the instruction sheet.
Until a few weeks ago.
My cousin, C, played Ticket to Ride with a friend of hers and learnt how to play the game. So, when we went to C's house, we brought along Ticket to Ride, learnt the rules, and entered a competitive level of stress and pressure. We racked our brains as we figured out new routes, sabotaged each other, and collected various colored cards, in hope of emerging the champion. I won that first game 🥳
Ticket to Ride is a pretty lengthy game (not as long and dreary as Monopoly though). If you play it as often as my family, which is 2 to 3 times a week, it takes at least 45 minutes to complete the game. If you are playing it with excellent strategists or are slightly new to the game, there is a high chance that it will take close to 2 hours before the game ends.
Few things I like about Ticket to Ride:
Once you understand how to play the game, it is fairly easy to excel in it. Getting the hang of all the rules is a quick process as well because of the flexibility in the game. Like that, it will be easier to explain the rules/processes to a new player.
You can keep as many cards as you would like, something rarely seen in most board/card games. And these cards usually always come in handy!
Ticket to Ride is not just a strategy game, but it is also a game filled with risks. Risk yourself wasting a turn (you'll find out when you play the game 😉) and risk your train tracks being stolen by others if you do not claim your spot fast enough.
Younger children can play it too! My sister who is a tween, loves the game as much as I do. "It is super fun, and I will never get bored of it!"
It raises tensions. But the good and competitive kind, of course.
Few things I do not like about Ticket to Ride (STILL MY FAVORITE):
The shades of colors of the train tracks and colored cards were slightly hard to differentiate from especially between blue and black and red and pink.
The instruction sheet can be pretty hard to understand.
You have to thoroughly understand the basic information about the game, otherwise you lose out.
If I am not wrong, the maximum number of players who can play Ticket to Ride is 5.
Much to my delight, we own 3 types of Ticket to Ride, Europe, India, and Switzerland. Each Ticket to Ride board game is based on countries with their respective cities in their "ancient" names. Ticket to Ride Europe is similar to the "original" board game, while India and Switzerland are part of extension packs. Just like Saboteur 1 and 2, you need Europe's cards and trains in order to play India and Switzerland. India and Switzerland are part of the same extension pack, with their different boards on each side.
🚂 Ticket to Ride Europe:
Best for 4 - 5 players
Biggest map compared to India and Switzerland
Has double routes, locomotives, and tunnels
🚂 Ticket to Ride India:
Best for 2 - 4 players
Only has double routes and locomotives
Has extra bonus points for Mandala
🚂 Ticket to Ride Switzerland:
Best for 2 - 3 players
Only has double routes and WAY TOO MANY tunnels
Can draw more than one locomotive card (wild) from the open deck
Ending thoughts: I absolutely love Ticket to Ride and enjoy entirely the feeling of knowing that I had succeeded in completing my destination card goals. I hope that through this review I have written, you will also purchase this board game. It is an exhilarating experience that I hope all of you get to try out!
Until next time!
Erika, signing off 🎈