Board Game Review: Ticket to Ride

Developer Alan R. Moon
Publisher Days of Wonder
Distributor Board Games SA
Where we got our copy Board Games SA
Table top type Board Games

PartyPanda5

Published June 7, 2016

Ticket to Ride is a board game for the entire family. It’s quick and easily to learn, as well as fun and exciting to play. In the original Ticket to Ride, there can be between 2 – 5 players. The game takes about 30-60 minutes to play. Every player starts off with a pack of 45 trains with a specific colour (these colours include black, blue, green, red and yellow). The players place their trains onto the train tracks that connect cities on the map. The more cities you connect, the more routes you finish. The more routes you finish, the more points you earn to win the game.

How to Play

At the beginning of the game, each player picks a colour and places their point token, which corresponds with their colour, on the number 100, which is around the border of the map. This border counts from 0 to 100 (100 and 0 being the same number on the board) and will be used to count up points at the end of the game.

Objective

The objective of the game is to be the player that has the most points at the end of the game. There are two ways that you can earn points throughout the game:

Complete Destination Cards.

Have the longest, continuous train track with your colour on the board.

Train Cards

Shu ffle the train cards and deal four of them to each player. These cards will have different trains with different colours on them. The colours on the train cards correspond with the colour of the train track on the map. If the player wants to place their trains, they must have the same amount of train cards with a specific colour, as indicated by the train track on the map. For example, if a player wanted to connect Montreal and New York in the top right hand corner of the map, they would need three blue train cards in order to place their trains.

Place five train cards; face up, next to the deck. Players can choose to pick up one of these face up cards, or two unknown cards from the deck. If a player picks one card from the face-up cards, replace it with one from the deck.

Destination Cards

Take the deck of the destination cards and shuffle them. Give each player three destination cards. The players can choose to discard one of them, but they must keep at least two. The discarded cards are placed at the bottom of the deck. Players should keep their destination cards a secret, so as to avoid others from blocking their routes.

Turns

On each player’s turn, they may choose to do one of three actions:

Place trains on a route.

Pick up train cards.

Pick up destination cards.

If the players choose to pick up train cards, they can either take two from the deck or one from the face-up row. If a player picks up a rainbow locomotive card, this card acts as a wild card, which can take on any colour. So, for example, if a player has three blue cards, but needs a forth, they can use the rainbow card to act at the fourth blue card.

Alternatively, a player can choose to pick a new destination card. The player must draw three cards and keep at least one of them. The number on the card depicts how many points the player will receive if they complete that route. Be careful though, if you are unable to complete destination cards, the points that are indicated on the card will be deducted from your points at the end of the game.

End Game

The game comes to an end when one player has 0, 1 or 2 plastic trains left in their pile. Each player, including that player, completes a round of turns and the game comes to an end. Players then count up their points to see who is the winner.

Positive Nodes

Simple rules which make it quick to get started.

Planning routes as well as taking risks with destination cards make the players think and strategize.

Fantastic player interaction, especially when someone takes over one of your routes.

The expansions of the game add more mechanics, maps and destination cards – allowing for a variety so that players don’t get bored with the same game.

A game for the entire family to play.

Negative Nodes

If you don’t get the right coloured train cards, you can be stuck for a while.

The small plastic trains can be a bit finicky – DON’T BUMP THE TABLE when playing this game.

Toot toot! All aboard! It’s time to review one of the most classic board games of all time; where you’ll travel to places you’ve always wanted to go. Through the multiple expansions of the game, you’ll be able to travel through the entire world, connecting cities together and earning points as you go. Ticket to Ride is a board game for the entire family. It’s quick and easily to learn, as well as fun and exciting to play. In the original Ticket to Ride, there can be between 2 – 5 players. The game takes about 30-60 minutes to play. Every player starts off with a pack of 45 trains with a specific colour (these colours include black, blue, green, red and yellow). The players place their trains onto the train tracks that connect cities on the map. The more cities you connect, the more routes you finish. The more routes you finish, the more points you earn to win the game. How to Play At the beginning of the game, each player picks a colour and places their point token, which corresponds with their colour, on the number 100, which is around the border of the map. This border counts from 0 to 100 (100 and 0 being the same number on the board) and will be used to count up points at the end of the game. Objective The objective of the game is to be the player that has the most points at the end of the game. There are two ways that you can earn points throughout the game: Complete Destination Cards. Have the longest, continuous train track with your colour on the board. Train Cards Shuffle the train cards and deal four of them to each player. These cards will have different trains with different colours on them. The colours on the train cards correspond with the colour of the train track on the map. If the player wants to place their trains, they must have the same amount of train cards with a specific colour, as indicated by the train track on the map. For example, if a player wanted to connect Montreal and New York in the top right hand corner of the map, they would need three blue train cards in order to place their trains. Place five train cards; face up, next to the deck. Players can choose to pick up one of these face up cards, or two unknown cards from the deck. If a player picks one card from the face-up cards, replace it with one from the deck. Destination Cards Take the deck of the destination cards and shuffle them. Give each player three destination cards. The players can choose to discard one of them, but they must keep at least two. The discarded cards are placed at the bottom of the deck. Players should keep their destination cards a secret, so as to avoid others from blocking their routes. Turns On each player’s turn, they…

Tabletop Game Review: Board Game Review: Ticket to Ride

2016-06-07

PartyPanda5

A Classic!

Total - 9

90 9

Ticket to Ride is a classic board game. Every avid board gamer should have a copy on his/her shelf!

User Rating: 4.4 ( 1 votes)

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Tabletop Author at Geek Node

Andrea is a game designer with a passion for creative writing as well as cats. She is in her 4th year of study at Wits and is all about that academic life. Andrea spends the majority of her time trying to balance out playing really cool games and trying to make really cool games.