Ticket to Ride is a series of railway-themed Eurogames designed by Alan R. Moon, the first of which was released in 2004 by Days of Wonder. The game has sold over 10 million copies, amounting to a total estimated revenue of over $400 million (USD). Days of Wonder has released electronic versions of the board games in the series, as well as "Ticket to Ride"-themed card games and puzzles.

Gateway game

The introductory nature of the "Ticket to Ride" has been noted. Alan R. Moon, wrote "The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket – each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route or get more destination tickets". Chris Heindenriecht (Gameology), when listing notable gateway games, "those games striking a balance between simplicity and depth, making them perfect for beginners and seasoned gamers alike", argued that "Ticket to Ride is a classic gateway game that combines strategy, route-building, and a touch of luck". With respect to the game's ability to get new players into board gaming, "Ticket to Ride" scored second in a 2019 Meeple Mountain survey of over 800 people, in the critical ability of bringing new people into the market and by capturing more spending of existing gamers.

Reception

The reception to the Ticket to Ride series as a whole has been positive. Giving the series an 8.6 out of 10, Board Game Halv wrote "Ticket to Ride is one of the most popular games in the world, period. They have painstakingly earned that distinction over several years and sever iterations of the game so it is all well deserved."

Gameplay

Set-up

At the beginning of each version of the game:

• Each player selects a prescribed number of coloured train pieces specified for that version, with a matching scoring marker.
• Players are usually dealt 4 train car cards. The exception are the cities' versions (2 train cards); France (8 train cards); World (3 cards, with 7 ship cards); Great Lakes (2 cards with 2 ship cards); United Kingdom (an additional wild card); and Africa (an additional terrain card).
• Players are also dealt a prescribed number of destination ticket cards which show a route between specified destination cities, the numbers of which are specified in that version's rules. Each player must keep a prescribed number of those assigned ticket cards, but can discard any other unwanted tickets. Retained destination tickets may not be discarded for the rest of the game.

Play

Each turn, the player chooses from one of three options:

• Draw two railway car cards in various colours from the face-up 5 draw cards or the pack (the "Rails and Sails" versions use two draw piles of 3 ships and 3 trains instead), with the restriction that drawing a face-up wild Locomotive card forfeits drawing another card for that turn (this restriction does not exist in the Switzerland map of the "India/Switzerland" version). Any removed face-up draw cards are automatically replaced, with all five face-up draw cards being completely replaced if three or more wild locomotive cards are face-up (this later rule does not exist for the "Rails and Sails" version); or
• Draw a number of additional destination ticket cards, specified by the version being played, keeping a specified minimum number in that version; or
• Play their collected railway car cards from their hand to claim a route on the board and place the corresponding number of train pieces from their store on the claimed route. The routes are of varied lengths, and only one player can claim each discrete route marked on the board. Some cities are connected by two parallel routes that can be claimed by two different players (unless the game is played with a number of players lower than a stated threshold of players, in which case only one of the routes can be claimed). A single player may not claim both parallel routes between two cities. On their turn, a player can claim any route on the board that has not already been claimed, regardless of whether the route helps to complete their destination tickets.

The game ends when one player possesses a number of their remaining coloured train pieces which falls below three trains (except for the "Rails and Sails" version, which is ended when the combined number of any player's own trains/ships falls below 7). Every player then takes one additional turn (two turns in the "Rails and Sails" version) and then reveals their previously hidden retained ticket cards.

Scoring

Players can earn points by:

• Routes – The points awarded for a route are based on the number of wagons required for that route, using a standard point value for every version.
• Tickets – The combined prescribed points on the ticket cards whose objectives have been completed, i.e. by connecting specified cities in one of their ticket cards (occasional in a specific order), once the combined prescribed points of any ticket cards with uncompleted objectives have been subtracted.
• Longest Road – A 10 point bonus for the player, or each player for those tied in length, who has built the longest continuous route. In some versions, there is a "globetrotter" instead, i.e. a road from one end of the board to the other, with each player potentially obtaining the points if they build it. Some versions do not have this bonus.
• Most Completed Tickets – A point bonus for the player, or each player for those that tied in number, who completed the most tickets (10 or 15 points depending on the version). Some versions do not have this bonus.

Some versions have additional special rules.

Stand alone versions

The game's original version is played on a board depicting a railway map of the United States and southern Canada, however, localised editions have subsequently been published depicting maps of other countries, cities, and regions, many of which have been positively received by critics. The wild cards are Steam locomotive. The transport cards are based on various models of train carriages:

Ticket to Ride (Original)

The original game was released in late February 2004 in Europe and in late March 2004 in Korea and North America, where it had a suggested retail price of $US 39.95. It features "railway routes connecting cities throughout North America", and was released in 2004, published by Days of Wonder. The recommendation is that it is played with only 2–5 players, who are aged 8 or older, for a game lasting between 30–60 minutes. In 2008, Days of Wonder released USA 1910, a card expansion that contains additional destination tickets and larger decks for both routes and railway cards to replace the much smaller ones included in the original game.

The box of the original version of Ticket to Ride is 30 cm × 30 cm × 8 cm. Influenced in part by the game's popularity, these dimensions have become a very popular standard for medium-size games, and are commonly referred to as "standard TtR size".

• 10th Anniversary Edition – After the official announcement of its release on 13 February 2014, in May 2014 in Europe and in June 2014 globally (including the United States), the company released Ticket to Ride: 10th Anniversary at a suggested retail price of €80 and $100 respectively. Whilst there were no rule changes to the original game (USA), the edition had a larger (50%) newly illustrated map, large format playing cards, and metal boxes for its 5 sets of uniquely-designed train pieces. The USA 1910 expansion is also included in this version.
• Ticket to Ride: 15th Anniversary – A 15th Anniversary edition was released in August 2019 with translucent train cars and a special booklet detailing the history of the game. The card borders and backs were updated and are clearer and more vibrant than in earlier editions. There are no rule changes to the game and no expansions are included in this edition.

Reception – Board Gaming, when giving the game a 7.8 out of 10, wrote "A game almost everyone loves to play. It's easy to learn and quick to play, which makes it ideal for introducing you, your friends and your family to board games." "Ticket To Ride is a classic game and there is a reason why it has won so many awards. Its accessibility for those not accustomed to the modern era of board gaming means everyone will enjoy it. Giving the game a 4.7 out of 10, "Board Game Review" wrote, "Those in the board game community call games like these ‘Entry Level’. Ticket To Ride epitomises this term and is one of the best entry level games."

The original Ticket to Ride version won the following awards:

As of August 2008, over 750,000 copies of the game had been sold according to the publisher. As of October 2014, over three million copies were reported sold, with retail sales of over $150 million.

Mike Fitzgerald called Ticket to Ride "a game that I never tire of, one that lends itself well to the many expansions that Days of Wonder have released. The design principles it uses are all simple and have been done before, but they have never been put together in a game as compelling as Ticket to Ride." Board Game Quest mentioned that it is "one of the greatest gateway games ever made", and Board Games Land described it as "one of the best family board games ever made".

Ticket to Ride: Europe

A Europe version was released in 2005. Ticket to Ride: Europe takes place on a map of Europe as it was at the turn of the 20th century. Two new types of routes were introduced: Ferry routes that require locomotive cards to be played when claiming them, and tunnel routes which add the risk that additional train cards may be necessary to complete the route. The game includes "stations" which allow the player to use a route owned by another player and thus complete their destination ticket. In 2009, DOW released Europe 1912, a card expansion for the European game. It contains additional destination tickets, and an additional play mechanic— Warehouses. In 2015, DOW released a mini extension Orient Express, containing eight destination tickets featuring a route of the Orient Express.

• 15th Anniversary Edition – Similar to the original's 10th-anniversary edition, a larger map of Europe was released in late spring (8 July 2021) in North America and Europe at a suggested retail price of $99.95/€99.99 respectively. While this edition had the same rules as "Ticket to Ride – Europe", this edition included a larger newly designed board and custom train/station playing pieces in metal tin boxes, with the green train being replaced by pink ones. It also featured the destination cards from the original game, Europe 1912, Orient Express, and a promo card, bringing the count to 108.

Reception – The Ticket to Ride: Europe version won the following awards:

Ticket to Ride: Märklin

A German version, Ticket to Ride: Märklin, was released in 2006 by Märklin, a German toy company best known for model railways and technical toys. Whereas railway car cards of each type in the previous games were identical, the cards in Ticket to Ride: Märklin each show a different image of Märklin rolling stock. This edition features a passenger mechanic, where a passenger token is placed on the board, and can claim point tokens by travelling along a player's route.

Reception – The Ticket to Ride: Märklin version won the following awards:

Ticket to Ride: Switzerland

In 2007, a game entitled Ticket to Ride: Switzerland was released, as the 4th Big Box release after the Europe and Marklin versions of Ticket to Ride. This version has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.95 out of 5. This initial single-map release was designed for a 2–3 player game lasting 30–50 minutes. It was later re-released in the expansion entitled Volume 2: India + Switzerland in 2011.

Reception – For its 2007 release, the Switzerland map received favourable reviews. On I Slay the Dragon the expansion revieced a 9 out of 10, with the reviewer writing Ticket to Ride: Switzerland, while perhaps not the chosen map for casual play, is the ideal choice for competitive two-player games. The game is short, tense, and exhilarating. I like the new rules for the map, and even though swings in luck can be frustrating, they usually affect both players and are just factors necessary to consider when choosing a strategy."

Ticket to Ride: Nordic countries

Released in late October 2007, this version is based on a map focused on the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), but additionally has cities in Estonia and Russia. This version also incorporates the ferry routes and tunnels from "Ticket to Ride: Europe". Players only receive a set of 40 coloured train pieces for this version. The recommendation is that it is played with only 2–3 players, who are aged 8 or older, for a game lasting between 30–60 minutes. Following its success in the eponymous countries, this version also became available in the English, French, and German languages.

Ticket to Ride: Germany

In September 2012, Zug um Zug: Deutschland (German: [Zug əm Zug: Deutschland], Ticket to Ride: Germany) was released by Asmodee, Days of Wonder's German distributor, solely in the German language. It was developed and produced specifically at Asmodee's request (as Ticket to Ride: Märklin had gone out of print) and was only available in Germany and Austria. This version was based on a map of late-20th century Germany, with the same route layout as in the Märklin version. In 2015, Asmodee released Deutschland 1902, a card expansion for this German map that contained additional destination tickets.

On 12 April 2017, Days of Wonder announced its pending release of a version entitled Ticket to Ride: Germany for the English speaking market, similarly based on a map of Germany at the end of the 19th century. This version was released in June 2017 in Europe and then subsequently in August 2017 in the United States through its American premiere release at booth #1619 of Gen Con (17–20 August 2017), at a suggested retail price of €44 and $50 (USD) respectively. This version was a combination of Zug um Zug: Deutschland together with Deutschland 1902, with the same map as Ticket to Ride: Märklin and likewise including that game's passenger mechanism. The game was designed for 2–5 players aged 8-years-old or older for a game lasting 30–60 minutes. Adrien Martinot (Days of Wonder general manager) wrote "We decided to release this version, which was limited to German market only, in order to answer the demand of all Ticket to Ride fans worldwide".

Reception – The reviews were generally positive. Derek Thompson (Geeks under Grace) wrote "If you don't want to get the original base game or are just looking for a second standalone, I would actually venture to say that this is the best standalone box." Jennifer Derrick (I Slay the Dragon), while giving it an 8.8 out of 10, wrote "Overall, this is a solid addition to the [Ticket to Ride] line. I'd recommend picking it up if you're a fan who likes to have all the maps, or if you're in the market for your first Ticket to Ride game." but added "It's fun and the passengers/destination tickets add new strategic layers, but it's still Ticket to Ride at its heart. None of these additions change the game so much that you think, “Wow, this is what I've been looking for all of my life.""

Ticket to Ride: Rails and Sails

On 21 June 2016, Days of Wonder announced its pending release of a standalone version called "Ticket to Ride: Rails and Sails", featuring a double-sided board with a world map on one side and a map of the Great Lakes region of North America on the other. The game premiered at that year's Gen Con (Booth #1829; 4–7 August 2016), before subsequently being released globally in early September 2016 at a suggested retail price of €70 / $80 (USD).

The game's board is the largest used in any Ticket to Ride game. This version contains train pieces and ship pieces, with a corresponding train card deck and ship card deck, to be played on land routes and on water routes respectively, as well as 3 harbour tokens for each player. The games was designed for 2–5 players aged 10-years or older for a game lasting 90–120 minutes. Alan R. Moon wrote:-

"Since our planet is about 70% water, when I started thinking about doing a world map for Ticket to Ride, it just seemed natural to add ships to the game. As I started laying the routes, it also became obvious that I would need some way to accommodate the longer ship routes. The double ship cards were the simple answer. To balance these powerful cards, I decided to put all the Wild Cards in the train deck.

It was tough to figure out what the optimal mix of ships and trains was in the game. That led to the rules allowing players to choose their own mix of ships and trains at the start. Combining all of these elements created a game that has some fairly diverse strategies and what I hope is a totally refreshing Ticket to Ride experience."

Reception – Opinions among the critics were mixed. Chris Way (Opinionated Gamers) wrote "Rails & Sails continues the tradition, arguably even taking it to the next level by making the game more think-y. Throw in the stunningly-beautiful double-sided map, and this could be a hit." Brian Biewer (Board Game Quest) wrote "I was not impressed with Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails. I appreciate the attempt at changing up the Ticket to Ride formula, but the increased luck factor combined with the increased game length reduced my enjoyment of the game. I would only recommend Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails to diehard Ticket to Ride fans who would not mind playing a longer version of Ticket to Ride that adds boats and a new set of cards to draw from."

Ticket to Ride: Northern Lights

Released on 9 November 2022, this version is a standalone game featuring a map focused on the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden), similar to the "Ticket to Ride – Nordic countries" version, but also contains cities in the Baltic nations (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Poland, and Russia. It differs from the "Ticket to Ride – Nordic countries" version, in that it recommends a game played with 2–5 players (compared to 2–3 players), and there are 11 bonuses, awarded by fulfilling varying conditions. This edition is mostly available in Scandinavia.

Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West

On 30 May 2023, Days of Wonder and Asmodee announced the release of this version on 3 November 2023. The game was premiered via a demonstration at Gen Con (3–6 August 2023), before being launched as scheduled in selected retailers and the Asmodee official store, at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $119.99 (US). This version was designed by Alan R. Moon (Ticket to Ride), Matt Leacock (Pandemic), and Rob Daviau (Pandemic Legacy). The recommendation is that it is played with 2–5 players, who are aged 10 or older, for a game lasting between 20–90 minutes.

This version adapts of the original Ticket to Ride concept to the legacy format, i.e. a campaign board game where new content is gradually unlocked, through sealed boxes and envelopes, not only permanently changing the state of the game during play, thus altering the story as it unfolds, but also, permanently transforming the entire game into a unique version, depending on the outcomes of the previous games played. Matt Thrower (IGN), commenting on its legacy structure, wrote "The fashion has moved on to more “resettable" campaigns, but Ticket to Ride: Legacy sees you making permanent changes, resulting in a version of the game that's unique to you. While it's good to see this back, those changes feel less personal than they did in the earliest legacy games, and some of the mini-games are gone forever once they're over. So it's questionable how often your group might continue playing once the twelve games are up."

This version is a standalone game containing 13 frontier boards, in the form of 13 jigsaw pieces (five of which make up your starting game board), which are unlocked gradually by completing the 12 games of this Ticket to Ride version During this version's 12 stages, players must complete tickets and build their fortune as they go from east to west in 19th century America, successfully managing their own North American railway company through various campaign adventures. This version uses the original basic rules, with the following additional rules specific to this version:

• Money is earned, rather than points, and there are no default dollars in claiming routes like the original, with each player getting two points every time they build a route matching their player colour, and a bonus card if one of the cities connected has a large city icon (a small bonus to players who have completed tickets early).
• There exist both a story deck and a postcard deck; with the former containing cards that are read out before and after each game in the series, offering a faux-historical narrative framework and occasionally setting new rules to incorporate into the game; and the latter being collected after the first game by completing certain tickets, offering rewards, to the player that owns it, if the specified objective has been achieved.
• The train deck has several newspaper cards, shuffled into the train deck, resulting in a revealed event when drawn.

Adrien Martinot (Days of Wonder Game Line Manager), when describing the game, said “With Legends of the West, each game is different, with the story unfolding one layer at a time. New rules and game elements will punctuate this unique play experience, rife with unexpected events and cunning rivals.” The game creators noted that they deliberately omitted the real-world exploitation of Native Americans and railroad workers, stating that "We found no way to include [these aspects] within the lighter theme of the game", urging players to research the history in their own time.

Reception – The game received largely positive reviews. Matt Thrower (IGN), while giving the game a 9 out of 10, wrote "A triumphant new turn on an aging series, proving there's good mileage in this old rolling stock yet. There's more than enough novelty here to thrill fans of the franchise without overwhelming less dedicated players, although if you want in, you'll need to commit to the campaign's duration." Mollie Russell (Wargamer), while also giving the game a 9 out of 10, wrote "Ticket to Ride Legacy is a game that feels great, even if the storytelling doesn't back its theme up. The simple concept of the original game translates well to a campaign-based experience, and there are enough treats and surprises to engage a legacy fan of any experience level."

First Journey versions

The First Journey series is designed for a younger audience (aged 6 and older), involving bigger pieces, a smaller board, shorter connections, with a quicker games time (10 – 30 minutes). The games are designed for 2 to 4 players. The games in this series were billed as "the perfect introduction to the Ticket to Ride series" for younger players.

The rules of First Journey versions vary from the standalone versions. Notable changes to the rules of the classic version include: players are initially awarded only two mission cards, each automatically replaced when one is completed; and a points system is not used, with the winner determined by either the first to complete six destination tickets or the person with the most missions completed when one player places their final train.

America version

This was released in America as an exclusive in Target stores in 2016 at a suggested retail price of $(US) 34.99. The map is based on a map of America.

Europe version

In 2017, Days of Wonder would also create a version for Europe, with the same rules but a European map.

Reception – The Europe version won the following awards:

Ghost Train Version

On 7 July 2022, Days of Wonder forecast the release of a Junior Version based on the premise of the "chilling journey", revolving around a map of a fictitious "hair-raising" town. This version was released in both Europe and North America in September 2022 and then subsequently globally in October 2022.

Cities versions

Cities versions maps are designed as standalone games featuring the original edition's standard gameplay, but with games that are shorter and smaller than the original edition. Each version in the cities line was designed for 2–4 players who are 8-years-old or older for a game lasting for 10–15 minutes. Allan J. Moon, when introducing the concept of the cities series, wrote "This is the fastest way for new players to enter the Ticket to Ride world, but it's also a rewarding fifteen minutes game for Ticket to Ride veterans." Each of the games in the cities series has a different unique additional scoring mechanism.

Ticket to Ride: New York

On 15 May 2018, Days of Wonder announced that a new "express" version of Ticket to Ride was being released called Ticket to Ride: New York, based on a 1960s map of the city of New York City (New York, United States). This version was released in North America and Europe in July 2018, at a suggested retail price of $20 (USD) and 20€ respectively, being released in the United states on 8 July 2018 exclusively through Target stores.

This version has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.25 out of 5 The unique point scoring feature was the claiming routes into tourist attraction destinations. Instead of trains, the tokens were taxis. The transportation cards represented a variety of common New York transport options:

Reception – The game received positive reviews, wih the majority of reviews focusing on the difference of the new cities-style of game from the format of the original versions. Mathew Bolton (T3 magazine), while giving the version 5 out of 5 stars, wrote "I think if you play it over and over, every week, you might find that it lacks variety, but in all other cases, it's fantastic value for money." Matt Jarvis (Table Top Gaming) wrote "What Ticket to Ride: New York lacks in staying power compared to its bigger sibling, it absolutely makes up for with a breathless pace and absurdly compact size. Keep Ticket to Ride on your dining table – play Ticket to Ride: New York everywhere else." While receiving praise, recurring general criticism of the cities line have been made. Andy Matthews (Meeple Mountain) wrote "Days of Wonder have released a game which gives you the Ticket to Ride experience in a fraction of the time, but perhaps at the expense of long-term strategy."

Emphasis was placed on its veracity as a introductory version to the Ticket to Ride series. Derek Thompson (Geek under Grace) wrote "This is the definitive travel edition / lunchtime version of Ticket to Ride. It never overstays its welcome. It’s a great introduction to the series for new players, and it’s a great snack for gamers who don’t have time for the full meal." While awarding a 4 out of 5, AnnaMaria Jackson-Phelps (Board Game Quest) wrote "Ticket to Ride: New York introduces nothing new but it’s a great way to introduce new players to Ticket to Ride. Simplified rules and a smaller footprint make for faster teaching, faster setup, and faster games. Tourism in the Big Apple theme is enhanced by the breakneck speed of play, as well as the focus on taxis and notable Manhattan attractions." Andy Matthews (Meeple Mountain) wrote "With New York, Ticket to Ride proves yet again that it is one of the strongest brands in board gaming. This game is an excellent way to introduce your non-gaming friends to board gaming in a manner that's fast, fun, and easy to teach. ... Great little simplification of the Ticket to Ride series will make a great teaching tool, but doesn't add anything for seasoned players."

On BoardGameGeek, based on a vote of 242 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.37 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 5.693.

Ticket to Ride: London

On 2 April 2019, Days of Wonder foreshadowed the release of a second installment to the cities line called Ticket to Ride – London, based on a 1970s map of London (England, United Kingdom). It was released in June 2019 in Europe and in July 2019 in North America, exclusively through Walmart in the United States, at a suggested retail price of €20 and $20 (USD) respectively.

This version has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.34 out of 5 This version used bus tokens instead of trains. The game's unique scoring feature was based on the number of districts a player fully connects with their bus tokens. The transport cards are modes of transport imortalised by famous british songs, film and TV series:

Reception – The reviews of this London version were largely positive. Andrew Borck (Geeks under Grace) wrote "This might be an odd game to start with in the Ticket to Ride line, but London does have a lot to offer in a small package. Especially for players looking for a quick route-building duel game or filler title. If you’re a die-hard Ticket to Ride fan or looking for a quick, easy to setup and play game, well then London is calling." Chris Way (opinionated Gamer) wrote "Ticket to Ride is beautiful in its simplicity, and that shines through in London. I enthusiastically recommend this new entry in the famed series." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 4,692 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.09 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 6.583.

Ticket to Ride: Amsterdam

On 7 May 2020, Days of Wonder announced the pending release of a version called Ticket to Ride – Amsterdam, based on a 17th century map of the city of Amsterdam (Netherlands). This version was released in the Netherlands on 31 July 2020 Foreshadowed for a September 2020 release in North America generally, this version was available on 2 October 2020 in Canada and on 16 October 2024 in the United States. The game had a suggested retail price of €20 and $20 (USD) respectively.

This version has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.54 out of 5 Instead of trains, the tokens were horse-drawn carts. The unique scoring mechanism for this version was the accumulation of merchandise bonus cards, from routes claimed with a merchant cart on them located at the perimeter of the city. The transportation cards depict a variety of 17th century scenes:

Reception – Reviews were mixed. Andrew Borck (Geeks under Grace) wrote "Overall it’s a fun little addition to the Ticket to Ride line, but it doesn’t add so much that you need to get it if you already have a similar small-box [Ticket to Ride] game. But as an entry-point game, it excels and will easily draw people in who might balk at the original’s 60+ minute playtime." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 1,383 voting users, holds an average rating of 6.98 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 6.066.

Ticket to Ride: San Francisco

On 5 May 2022, Days of Wonder announced the pending release of its fourth entry in the cities series entitled Ticket to Ride: San Francisco, based on a 1960s map of the San Francisco Bay Area (California, United States). In June 2022, this version was initially released in the United States, exclusively through Target stores, subsequently being realsed through other United States retailers during its global release in August 2022

This version has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.73 out of 5 Instead of trains, the pieces were cable cars. The unique scoring feature was the collection of cardboard tourist tokens of the city's famous landmarks positioned around the board. The transport cards depicted specific modes of transportation prevalent in San Francisco:

Reception – Critical reception was largely positive. On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 844 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.23 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 5.984. Andy Matthews (Meeple Mountain) wrote "If you love Ticket to Ride and you’d like to expand your collection, San Francisco is a good addition. If you’re just curious about the city versions, either San Francisco or New York are great choices." However, for some critics this version compared less favourably to other versions in the cities series. Derek Thompson (Geeks under Grace) wrote "I can't easily recommend it over New York, Amsterdam, or London, because I don't especially love the tokens. On one hand, I’m glad there are far fewer tokens to mess with than Ticket to Ride: Netherlands had. On the other hand, for me these small maps are also a pathway for my kids from Ticket to Ride: First Journey to regular Ticket to Ride. In that regard, I don’t like having many extra rules, and I also find having the second player add the tokens somewhere kind of clunky, and confusing for young kids ... It’s still Ticket to Ride, so it’s still great, but I’d get it last among the current offerings in the line."

Ticket to Ride: Berlin

On 9 May 2023, Days of Wonder announced a fifth instalment in the cities line entitled Ticket to Ride: Berlin, based on a map of 'current day' (2023) Berlin (Germany) featuring landmarks in the downtown area. This version was released on 25 August 2023 at a suggested retail price of €22.99 / $24.99 (USD).

This version has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5. The unique aspect of this game was that it used both tram (street car) tokens and underground (subway) tokens, instead of overground train carriage tokens, with routes specifically requiring the use of one of the two new types of tokens. The transport cards depicted specific modes of transportation prevalent in Berlin:

Reception – Reception to the Berlin map was largely positive. Adam Roffel (Game Reviews) wrote "If you love Ticket to Ride as a game franchise, I think Berlin is the best small-box adaptation available." On BoardGameGeek, based on a vote of 242 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.37 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 5.693.

Ticket to Ride: Paris

On 2 February 2024, Days of Wonder announced the sixth release in the Cities line entitled Ticket to Ride: Paris, based on a map of 1920s Paris (France). This version was released globally on 29 March 2024 at a suggested retail price of €22.99 and $24.99 (USD).

The unique scoring mechanism is the gaining of victory points by the waving of flags to celebrate Bastille Day through the completion of blue, white, and red route combinations. Instead of trains, the tokens were buses.

Map collections

From 14 February 2011 until 15 April 2011, Alan J. Moon ran a "Ticket to Ride Map Design Contest", with an advertised $10,000 grand prize, to form the initial basis of a series of expansion maps. On 29 August 2011, it was announced that, of the 612 Ticket to Ride fans and prospective game designers from 40 different countries who compteted, two competators had won $10,000 each for their respective maps, i.e. Legendary Asia and India, which formed the basis of the first two volumes of the "Map Collections" series. Each game in the "Map Collections" series introduced new rules specific to that version, and required pieces from either the original or the Europe version of Ticket to Ride to play. The following Map Collections have been released to date:

Volume 1: Asia – Team Asia and Legendary Asia

On 29 August 2011, Days of Wonder announced the release of the first two volumes of a range of map expansions. The initial volume was entitled Volume 1: Asia – Team Asia and Legendary Asia, and featured a double-sided map of both Asia and Legendary Asia. The Legendary Asia map, submitted by François Valentyne of Toronto (Canada), was one of the two $10,000 grand prize winners of the 2011 "Ticket to Ride Map Design Contest". This expansion premiered at Spiel (20–23 October 2011) in Essen (Germany), after which it had a global release in late October 2011. The suggested retail price was €28 and $30 (USD) respectively.

This expansion currently has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.96 out of 5. Both maps are designed for players who were 8-years-old or older, for a game lasting 30–60 minutes. The unique feature of the Team Asia was that it was designed for two-member teams, to be played by even numbers of 2–6 players. The unique aspect of the Legendary Asia side was that it involved mountain routes, costing additional trains to build but giving bonus points. Legendary Asia was designed to be played by 2–5 players.

Reception – On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 6,023 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.65 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 7.079. The opinion of critics was favourable, with the consensus favouring the Team Asia side. Shannon Appelcline (RPG), while giving an overall 5 out of 5 for "style" and "substance", only gave an indivdual score of 4 out of 5 for substance for Legendary Asia, writing "Ticket to Ride Asia offers two new and varied maps which will add some nice variety to your Ticket to Ride play. It's well worthwhile just on that basis, given the very reasonable price point. However, Ticket to Ride Asia really knocks things out of the park with its Team Asia rules, which allow you to play as partners for 4-player or 6-player games. The result is one of the most enjoyable, stressful, and innovative ways to play Ticket to Ride since the release of the original game." Dale Yu (Opinionated Gamers) wrote "I definitely like the ideas in Legendary Asia, but I suspect that it is the Team Asia map that will cause me to take this one off the shelf more."

Volume 2: India + Switzerland

On 29 August 2011 Days of Wonder foreshadowed the release of an expansion entitled Volume 2: India + Switzerland based on a 1911 map of India on one side and a map of Switzerland on the other. The India map was sumitted by Ian Vincent, was one of the two $10,000 grand prize winners of the 2011 "Ticket to Ride Map Design Contest". The switzerland map was a re-release of the 2007 Ticket to Ride: Switzerland edition's map. This expansion was released in December 2011 at a suggested retail price of €28 / $30 (USD).

This expansion currently has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.02 out of 5. Both maps in this expansion were designed for players who are 8-years-old or older for a game lasting 30–60 minutes, however, the indian map was designed for 2–4 players, while the Switzerland map was designed for 2–3 players. India had a unique bonus for connecting destinations in a mandala (loop of routes). Switzerland had a unique bonus for joinng two of the counrties neighbouring Switzerland together.

Reception – Shannon Appelcline (RPG), while giving it a 5 out of 5 for "style" and a 4 out of 5 for "substance" wrote "Overall, Ticket to Ride Switzerland is just as good as any other Ticket to Ride game, and that means it's a lot of fun to play, has great tension, and allows good strategy for a short game. I've given it a slightly lower rating than previous games, because it's no longer fresh and innovative, but it still earns an above average 4 out of 5 for Substance." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 6,236 voting users, this expasion holds an average rating of 7.77 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 7.173.

Volume 3: The Heart of Africa

On 24 September 2012, Days of Wonder foreshadowed the then upcoming release of an expansion entitled Volume 3: The Heart of Africa in December 2012, at a suggested retail price of €25 / $25 (USD).

This expansion currently has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.05 out of 5. This version's unique feature was "terrain cards", which gave a double point bonus when claiming a route if the "terrain cards" matched the routes claimed. The game was designed for 2–5 players who are 8-years-old or older, for a game lasting 30–60 minutes.

Reception – This extension received largely favourable reviews, with especially positve mentions about the unique "terrain card" mechanism. Matt Morgan (Wired) wrote "Worth the challenge. Ticket to Ride hasn't been this competitive in a while, and new terrain cards keep the game fresh." Shannon Appelcline (RPGNet), while giving the game a 5 out of 5 for "style", gave this expansion a 4 out of 5 for "substance", writing Ticket to Ride Map Collection 3: The Heart of Africa offers up some terrific play for experienced Ticket to Ride game players. The tightness of the map and the additional level of strategy created by the new rules combine to create a more interesting, more thoughtful, and more tense game.", but adding "It's got some good material for Ticket to Ride players, but I'd suggest getting the other two Map Collections first." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 3,300 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.38 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 6.626.

Volume 4: Nederland

On 17 September 2013, Days of Wonder foreshadowed a fourth expansion called Volume 4: Nederland, based on a single-sided map of the Netherlands. The expansion premiered at Spiel (24–27 October 2013) in Essen (Germany), to launch its simultaneous European release, after which it had its global release in November 2013. The game had a retail price of €25 and $25 (USD) respectively.

This expansion currently has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.13 out of 5. The game was designed for 2–5 players, who are 8-years-old or older, for a game lasting 30–60 minutes. This was the first Ticket to Ride version with a currency system, used to pay bridge tolls for a player's routes. A bridge toll bonus is awarded at the end of the game, the total of which is related to the total worth of bridge toll tokens held by each player, in relationship to each other. Allan J. Moon wrote:

"Players must manage their limited treasury and this affects their choices of routes. The huge bonus for the most money at the end of the game makes it even harder to spend money during the game. Most of the time, the player with the most economically efficient route will win."

Reception – The toll system was criticised. Edwin van de Sluis (Gamepack) wrote "At the end there seems to be an accidental winner of the end bonus so it seems (or feels). Playing with a focus on both end bonus and fulfilling tickets seems pretty difficult, so it seems, and raises the question whether this is possible at all." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 2,848 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.36 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 6.554.

Volume 5: United Kingdom + Pennsylvania

On 25 August 2015, Days of Wonder announced the upcoming release of an expansion entitled Volume 5: United Kingdom + Pennsylvania based on a double-sided map, with a map of turn of the 19th century United Kingdom on one side and a map of Pennsylvania on the other. This expansion premiered at booths 1-F122 and 3-B108 of Spiel (8–11 October 2015) in Essen (Germany), shortly before its Europe release, after which, this expansion had a global release in November 2015. The suggested retails price was released €35 and $39.99 (USD) respectively.

Currently, this expansion has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.30 out of 5. United Kingdom introduces a unique technology system, requiring upgrades to complete certain routes, while Pennsylvania introduces a unqiue stock market system. This expansion was designed for 2–6 players, 8-years-old of older, for a game lasting for 30–75 minutes. Alan J. Moon wrote:

"Ticket to Ride Pennsylvania is perhaps the simplest expansion of all in terms of the additional rules, but adds a lot to the strategic choices of what routes to build and when to build them. Don’t be surprised to see this mechanic or something close to it in future expansions."

Ticket to Ride United Kingdom on the other hand changes the basic system more than any other expansion. The limited starting technology forces players to make some early strategic choices, often forcing them to all build in the same area around London, and vying for crucial routes in the north of England. But as the game continues, players can take quite a few different paths to victory, focusing on bonus points, on tickets, on long routes, and more.

Reception – Critical reaction to this expansion was mixed. Owen Duffy wrote "For fans of Ticket to Ride, this is a great addition to a favourite game. If you’re a former player who’s moved on to other things, then the UK Map Pack might just draw you back in. It keeps the core simplicity that’s made the game a worldwide hit, but it adds a level of depth and variety that’s fresh and challenging. It manages all of this without venturing into the level of complexity you’ll find in niche titles aimed at hardcore train enthusiasts. If that sounds like your idea of fun, climb aboard!" Dan Street Phillips (Toy Street), while rating it 4.70 out of 5 based on 5913 Reviews, wrote "This collection, for me, adds some of the most exciting and interesting mechanisms into the game. The stocks are great but what really shines in the Ticket To Ride United Kingdom map and all of its technologies. If you have played the base game enough for it to get a little stale then jump on board and buy a ticket for the sunny isle of Great Britain!" In contrast there was some negative criticisms. Matt Thrower (There will be Games), while awarding the expansion 2 out of 5, wrote "UK map is a disappointment. The new technology mechanic feels like a crapshoot and actually seems to narrow the strategies available rather than increase them. Pennsylvania map is much better, and the added points from company investment is interesting, but not good enough to make the whole worthwhile." Minature Market, while giving the expansion a 2.5 out of 5, wrote that "All in all, this expansion's biggest flaw is being rather unremarkable. It's fine, but nothing special. ... If you're tired of putting plastic trains down from Seattle to New York, you could do worse than playing UK/Pennsylvania. You could do better as well, but you could do worse." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 5,704 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.99 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 7.300. This expansion received the following award recognition:

Volume 6: France + Old West

In 22 August 2017, Days of Wonder announced the pending release of an exapnsion called Volume 6: France + Old West, based on a map of late 19th century France, described as being "set during the height of Impressionism and the Industrial Revolution", on one side and a 19th century map of the old west on the other. This expansion premiered at Spiel (26 – 29 October 2017) at the same time as its October release in Europe, after which the expansion was released in the United States in November 2017. It was sold at a suggested price of €40 and $44.99 (USD) respectively.

Currently, this expansion has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.10 out of 5. The unique aspect of the France map was that most of the routes on the board are not colored track routes, but rather track beds, requiring each player to lay tracks to decide the colour of the route in advance, before any player can claim that route. The main unique aspect of the Old West map was that train routes were only able to be claimed, when connected to a players own initially placed city, either directly or through that players own train routes. An additional optional unique feature of the Old West map was that 10 points were scored by a player reaching Roswell, thus activating the "Alvin the Alien" counter piece which was moved from station to station throughout the game, and/or posessing the "Alvin the Alien" token at the end of the game. Both maps in this expansion were designed for 2–6 players, who are 8-years-old or older, for a game lasting for 60–90 minutes.

Reception – This expansion gained some negative reviews. Andrew Smith (Board Game Quest), while grading it with a "pass", wrote "Even for the most die-hard fans, it is hard to recommend. As a one-time experience, the France and Old West expansion isn’t bad, but I can’t imagine myself wanting to continue to pull this off the shelf. It feels like a longer, more annoying version of the same game and the France track laying is way more trouble than it’s worth. There are plenty of other map packs that give you more variety without all the restrictions and longer play time." However, on BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 1,958 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.62 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 6.512.

Volume 6 1/2: Poland

On 28 June 2019, an expansion of Ticket to Ride was released based on a map of 1950s Poland, but this time as a Polish language version created and released exclusively for the Polish market, published by Rebel under the Polish name Wsiąść do Pociągu – Polska. In early December 2019, an English version was eccessible throughtout the rest of Europe from online merchants, through a limited sale lasting until January 2020. On 19 April 2022, it was announced that a physical version of the Poland expansion would have a wider release as an Enlish version, being available in July 2022 throughout Europe and in September 2022 throughout North America, at a suggested retail price of €22.99 and $24.99 (USD) respectively.

Currently, this expansion has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.67 out of 5. The recommendation is that it is played with 2–4 people, who are 8-years-old or older, for a game lasting 30–60 minutes. This expansion has the smallest map board in the series, having only 4 sections as opposed to the standard 6. Gameplay has an emphasis on connections between neighbouring countries for bonus points.

Reception – The expasion received overal positive, but not extatic, reviews. Andrew Borck (Geeks under Grace), while giving this version a 7 out of 10, wrote "The new mechanic of connecting neighboring countries is a nice way to get more points, and it forces players to go to the edges of the map." but added that this was a version that "Brings new ideas to the table, but ultimately not a 'must buy' expansion." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 680 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.48 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 5.969.

Volume 7: Japan + Italy

On 10 September 2019 Days of Wonder announced the pending release of an expansion called Volume 7: Japan + Italy, based on a map of current day (2019) Japan on one side and early 20th century Italy on the other. It premiered at booth 3-B107 of Spiel (24 – 27 October 2019) in Essen, Germany, slightly ahead of its November 2019 European release, at a suggested retail price of 40€. Subsequently, it was released in the United States on 31 January 2020 as part of its January 2020 North American release at a suggested retail price of $40 (USD), and then in mid-February 2020 in Japan via Hobby Japan at a retail price of 5,600 yen (excluding tax).

Currently, this expansion has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.07 out of 5. The unique aspect of the Japan side is the Shinkansen, whose bullet train routes are collaboratively built and accessible to anyone, so when one of those routes in claimed all players can use it to complete destination tickets, with the player/s who contributed more to the shared project getting a larger bonus. The reverse Italy side features a new ferry route mechanism, i.e. instead of drawing two train cards you can draw one ferry card, and adds a new scoring rule for Italian provinces. There is no "Globetrotter" or "Longest Route" bonus in either the Italy or Japan game. The recommendation is that it is played with 2–5 players, who are aged 8 or older, for a game lasting between 30–60 minutes.

Reception – Game Board Memo, in a review of the Italy side that gave it a 7/10, wrote that "In terms of the balance between the lack of additional rules and the amount of fun, the cost performance is on par with the German map." Jessica Walker (Zatu Games), while giving this expansion a score of 90%, wrote "Ticket to Ride Japan and Italy is an excellent expansion and both maps offer very different Ticket to Ride experiences from one another. Japan is one of the best and most unique Ticket to Ride maps available. Italy is more standard but is a fun map nonetheless. Neither map is too much of a step up in rules from either Ticket to Ride or Ticket to Ride Europe. If you have played the base game a lot and want to spice things up, this expansion is the perfect place to start." (Geeks under Grace) wrote "Overall, it’s a really good package, with only a few minor downfalls. It’s a bit pricey and the box is way too big (though you could combine some map packs into this box). While the Italy map is not super exciting, I’m still happy to get two maps instead of one, and Japan is one of the best maps they’ve ever done for Ticket to Ride. If your group still plays Ticket to Ride regularly, then this is an expansion worth getting." On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 2,170 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 7.90 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 6.693.

Stay at Home

On 28 May 2020, Days of Wonder announced their release of an expansion called Stay at Home, in recognition of the global lockdown which resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ticket to Ride: Stay at Home marked the first time that an expansion in the Ticket to Ride series had been set entirely inside a house, where insead of forming railway routes between cities across the world, players controled family members as they moved around the house from locations, like the balcony, kitchen and bedroom, as they attempted to go about their daily lives. This version functioned as an expansion of the original, Europe, Germany, or Nordic Countries Ticket to Rides, based on a print-out of a pdf map download.

Currently, this expansion has a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 2.00 out of 5. The game was designed to be played by 2–4 players, aged 8 years-old and over, for a game lasting 20–40 minutes. This expansion had a unique game mechanism involving multicolored "family routes" onto which multiple players can place their train cars along it, with players who had at least one train along it being able to use it to complete their missions.

Reception – On BoardGameGeek, from a vote of 184 voting users, this version holds an average rating of 5.623 and an "Adjusted Geek" rating of 7.10. This expansion received the following award recognition:

Volume 8: Iberia + South Korea

In 2024, Days of Wonder and Asmodee forshadowed on their respective websites the 28 June 2024 release of a new expansion entitled Volume 8: Iberia + South Korea, based on a map of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), on one side and South Korea on the other. The Iberia map had originally be published as an unofficial fan expansion in 2015.

This exansion currently has a complexity rating on BoardGameGeek of 2 out of 5. Both maps in the expansion are designed for 2–4 players, who are 8-years-old or older, for a game lasting 30–60 minutes.

Card game

Ticket to Ride: The Card Game

The card game was released in the summer of 2008 and includes a similar artistic style and theme, and general game mechanism to the set collection. The card game is playable in 30–45 minutes and supports 2–4 players. Players start with 1 locomotive card and 7 other random train cards in their hands. Players are also dealt 6 destination tickets of which they must keep at least 1. The destination tickets have 1 to 5 coloured dots which match the colours of the train cards. To complete a destination ticket, players must move cards from their hand to their rail yard (playing area directly in front of the player), and finally to their on-the-track stack (scoring area). During play, players can "train rob" another player, by playing more of a specific colour than their opponent has in their rail yard. When the train card draws piles are exhausted, the players use the train cards in their on-the-track stack to complete their destination tickets, by matching the coloured train cards with the coloured dots on the destination tickets. Completed tickets are added to the player's score, while uncompleted tickets are subtracted. Additional bonus points are awarded to players who complete the most tickets to the six big cities, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle.

Reception – Ticket to Ride: The Card Game won the following awards:

Hoax versions

As part of April Fool's Day (1 April 2024), via its Facebook page, Days of Wonder forecast the release of an addition to the Cities line entitled Ticket to Ride: A Moon Adventure, designed for 12 players (the 12 astronauts who had set foot on the Moon), with the unique objective being to complete missions before blasting off back to Earth, and a release date 6 years in the future (horizon of 2030). The transport cards were supposedly types of rockets with the wild cards as satellites.

Computer games

Online

Ticket to Ride and most expansions can be played online at Days of Wonder's website. A four-game free trial subscription is available. Due to the major browsers and Adobe discontinuing support for Flash, the future of this version of the game is uncertain.

The Computer Game

Days of Wonder published a computer game developed by Twin Sails Interactive for Windows, OS X, and Linux in 2012 that allowed players to play the original game. Ticket to Ride: Europe, Ticket to Ride: Germany, Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries, USA 1910, Europe 1912, and all Map Collection boards were available as purchasable enhancements to the game. In February 2017 Days of Wonder abandoned Linux support. However, the version available on Steam was playable on Linux. On September 27, 2023 it was announced that this version of the game would be sunsetted to make way for a new version developed by Marmalade Games. It was delisted from PC and mobile storefronts on October 3, 2023.

This version received mixed reviews on Steam and Google Play on release due to technical issues and a lack of features compared to the previous version. However, after release, the game received generally favourable reviews.

The Marmalade Games version released on PC and mobile on November 14, 2023. The only boards playable at launch were the base USA and Europe maps.

Xbox Live Arcade

The Xbox Live Arcade version was released on 25 June 2008, and supports play with up to five people on Xbox Live or four people on the same console, and can use the Xbox Live Vision cam.

iPad

The iPad version was released on 18 May 2011 and supports play with up to five people using the Game Center or Days of Wonder's own servers. Its offline mode originally only supported a single player with up to four computer players; however, pass and play was added later.

This version was released with three additional extensions available for purchase and download: Ticket to Ride: Europe; Ticket to Ride: Switzerland; and Ticket to Ride: USA 1910, which itself includes three separate game modes. On 2 August 2012, Ticket to Ride: Legendary Asia was added, and in April 2016, Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries became available.

The iPad version of Ticket to Ride was named the 2011 Digital Game of the Year by the Danish Guldbrikken (The Golden Pawn) Awards, which referred to the game as "the exemplar of how a board game makes the leap to the digital world without compromise. The iPad version dazzles with its superb finish, easy availability and unparalleled expandability, as well as the ability to play on just the iPad or over the Internet."

iPhone and iPod Touch

The iPhone version was released on 16 November 2011, which is a simplified version of the iPad game. Online play was added as an update on 2 February 2012, and users can also play a multi-player game on a local network via WiFi or Bluetooth. The company released a redesigned version of the digital game in November 2015.

Reception – Ticket to Ride Pocket won the following awards:

Alexa Digital Assistant

Amazon's Alexa Digital Assistant can now play Ticket to Ride and Ticket to Ride: Europe, provided the players have a physical copy of the game.

See also

• Railway Rivals (a similar train board game)

References

External links

• Official Days of Wonder's Ticket to Ride site
• Ticket to Ride and the Ticket to Ride series at BoardGameGeek