There are many staple board games that the friend group or family will instantly reach for on those special game nights huddled around the table, but few of them have as many options nowadays as the Ticket to Ride series. The base Ticket to Ride gam🦩e was published by Days of Wonder in 2004, and has proven to be extremely popular even to this day.

It is a simple board game to pick up and learn, but has the depth and complexity to make it interesting in the long run after multiple plays. The steady release of e🍌xpansions and alternate editions can be tough for even a Ticket to Ride frequent rider to keep up on, so here is a breakdown of the best Ticket to Ride editions and expansions in 2024.

Updated on June 30, 2024, by Vaspaan Dastoor: Trains are globally agreed upon as the best mode of transport. Don't look it up, just trust me! Who doesn't like sitting in a box that's being pulled by a locomotive along with other boxes? However, if you want to do so while sitting at home, Ticket to Ride is the best possible way. We've updated this list with a few more editions and expansions of everyone's favourite train-based board game.

Best Ticket To Ride Editions And Expansions

The original edition of Ticket to Ride launched in 2004 is the best place to start for anyone unfamiliar with the concept of Ticket to Ride. It will teach you the basics of building train lines, how to keep score, general strategy, and general flow of the game. It is the best way to get a grasp on the core ideas of the board game before jumping into the interesting twists each expansion or edition adds. Days of Wonder even launched a free 'Stay at Home' edition of the game during the p༒andemic for people to try☂.

The Ticket to Ride: Europe edition was released shortly after the base game in 2005. Instead of the cramped and more restricted North America map of the original, Ticket to Ride Europe features a turn of the 20th century European map that spans from Sochi to Lisbon. The addition of ferry and tunnel routes can be claimed via locomotive cards, but comes with the risk of not having the necessary locomotive cards to complete a route. Perhaps the most important addition are 'stations'. These stations allow players to use other players' routes to complete their goals, which is an interesting addition that can ease the competitive nature just a bit.

If just building and riding train lines is getting a little stale, then Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails has you covered. As the name suggests, Rails & Sails adds ship pieces in addition to the train pieces. Players will simultaneously manage land and sea routes across the new 'The World' map on a double-sided board, with the alternate 'Great Lakes' region occupying the other side.

A new ship deck is used to claim water routes and each player starts with three harbor tokens that grant bonus points for each line leading into them. This is a great edition for players looking for either an interesting game mechanic tweak, or a frওeℱsh map to play on.

Ticket to Ride First Journey's map is a greatly simplified one compared to the base North America map, featuring cities across the United States from San Francisco to New York. The lines are shorter and easier to complete from city to city, and the main goal of the game has been changed from getting the most points to being the first to finish six destination cards. The shorter routes, more detailed map (each city has a fun drawing attached to it), and objective-based goals make the game far more engaging for children who want to learn Ticket to Ride.

Anyone familiar with Ticket to Ride usually thinks of it as a board game where one plays solo against other players to get the most points and win. The Ticket to Ride Asia expansion changes that aspect of the game by introducing teams of two to the mix. No longer will only one person decide and plan out the winning routes. The twist? Players cꦐannot outright speak to thei♛r partner, which leads to moments of pure joy in knowing you were in silent sync with your partner, or despair as your opposite plans lead to the loss of the game.

The world-famous Shinkansen, or bullet train, makes its debut in the Ticket to Ride: Japan expansion to the base game. Physical bullet train pieces can be collaboratively built and utilized by any player🌌, but only the biggest contributor to the bullet train will reap its bonus points at the end of the game. This new mechanic adds an interesting wrinkle to working together on the bullet train to benefit all, while still trying to outscore everyone. The expansion also features a double-sided map board with the region of Italy on the other side with a ferry route mechanic similar to the Rails & Sails edition.

The United Kingdom side of this expansion is perhaps the most complex part of Ticket to Ride to date. A new technology system has been added to the game that deter🐬mines where players can build and what they are able to do. This creates⛄ extra steps in trying to achieve goals or adding requirements to be able to complete a route.

The Pennsylvania side of the board introduces a stock market system that attaches different companies and values to train lines, which can then be turned in for extra points at the end of a game. Players who are very familiar with the base edition of Ticket to Ride should try the United Kingꦿdom + Penns♉ylvania expansion solely for the added difficulty it offers.

Rather than being a horror game that's actually scary, Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train gives off a spooky aesthetic, perfect for Halloween season with the kids. The geocraphic locations are swapped out for spooky locales, but the rules and overall gameplay remains the same. A nice twist for fans of the orifinal game.

If you can get over the fact that it's set in the British era of the country, Ticket to Ride: India is a great expansion. One of its key features is that the railway network will be quite dense, leading to players having to use a different approach from the base game. Unfortunately, it uses the old names of many cities, so you'll have to get used to that.

The great race to the West Coast has come to Ticket to Ride, as would be railway tycoons explore the frontiers. Each frontier town comes with its own set of rules, keeping things interesting. You'll have to adapt your play style as you progress across the continent, making Legends of the West one of the most replayable editions of the classic game.

Berlin is ꦅone of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With so many historical and cultural landmarks to visitꦛ, it only makes sense that there are multiple routes and modes of transport to reach them. Ticket to Ride: Berlin will make you choose your route carefully and strategically.

FAQ

Is Ticket to Ride easy to play?

Ticket to Ride base edition is very easy to learn, pick up, and play. At the beginning of the game, players will draw two cards that l🌳et them know their optimal goal and will then work towards that over the course of play. Each player then siꦦmply takes turns drawing, placing train cars, and completing lines. The nice thing about Ticket to Ride is there is no direct interference or conflict with other players besides the end when comparing scores.

Why is Ticket to Ride so popular?

Ticket to Ride's popularity can be attributed to how easy the game is to learn, how deep it can be to master, and how quickly the action moves. Ticket to Ride is often a fast-paced game with each player's turn going by quickly, so there is always something happening and not a lot of time to get bored between hands. The briskness and variety in how each game plays out makes replaying Ticket to Ride a popular choice.