The rules recommend using a neutral (dummy) player if you play with two people. There are big bonuses for finishing the game with the most toll tokens remaining, as long as you don’t have loan cards.
If you want to build but can't pay, you take a Loan card, worth -5 points at the end-and you can never repay it. The first person to build on a route pays the toll to the bank a second player building on that same route pays the toll to the first builder. Almost all routes are doubled, and unlike with every other map, both routes are in play even with two or three players.
The Nederland map is the first Ticket to Ride map to incorporate money, as players must pay tokens to build across the many bridges on this board. Some eurogames do, and many of them are great, but as a general rule board games that involve money take longer to play (especially between turns) and deter new players (because we’re all traumatized by Monopoly). One of my favorite things about Ticket to Ride is that it doesn't include money as part of the game play. And if something below doesn't quite ride for you, let us know your favorite maps in the comments. So to help any Ticket to Ride faithful looking to expand, Ars has compiled this overview-along with my personal ranking-of all existing maps, some of which are also available in the wonderful mobile app version of the game. Also, the Märklin map is no longer available and won't be included in this exercise). I’ve counted 17 different maps so far (not counting Japan and Italy, which will be released in Europe at Spiel 2019 in late October and worldwide in January 2020. With elegantly simple gameplay, Ticket to Ride can be learned in 3 minutes, while providing players with intense strategic and tactical decisions every turn. But have you tried all of the game’s expansions and standalone spinoffs? These additions introduce new boards and rules that tweak the basic format of drawing train cards and then placing trains to connect cities across each map with the goal of connecting more distant cities so you can complete Destination Tickets for more points. You may have played one of the most successful titles in tabletop gaming, Alan Moon's Ticket to Ride. It's the ultimate version of Ticket to Ride in every sense and is a good way to honor such a beloved board game.Welcome to Ars Cardboard, our weekend look at tabletop games! Check out our complete board gaming coverage at. Additionally, the board and cards have been given a more colorful, intricate makeover that's very handsome. Despite being more expensive (and arguably too steep for anyone that already isn't a fan), you get what you pay for: each player receives unique miniatures to use in-game, and these are all stored within gorgeous collectors' tins featuring an original design. If you can find it on offer, it's also worth considering the special Ticket to Ride Europe 15th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (opens in new tab). Meanwhile, younger players should aim for the more streamlined Ticket to Ride: First Journey (opens in new tab). These show off everything Ticket to Ride has to offer and provide the best entry-point. So, which one should you buy? If you're new to the idea, I'd recommend opting for the 'classic' USA game (opens in new tab) or its European equivalent (opens in new tab). There are more than a few different versions of Ticket to Ride: alongside the classic edition that takes place in North America, there are numerous variants that revolve around everything from specific cities to sea travel. Which version of Ticket to Ride should you get? That makes Ticket to Ride the perfect post-Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner board game for when everyone's full of food and a bit sleepy. To be precise, this is easy-going fun at its best you don't need to think too hard or react too fast. Accessible, low-key, and very replayable, this is the perfect option for newcomers and tabletop veterans alike. If there was ever a great board game for families, it's Ticket to Ride. You can then start to figure out which one they're shooting for - and whether you need to get there first. Are they collecting loads of blue cards? That probably means they're going after a blue route. This allows you to keep track (no pun intended) of what other players are doing even when it's not your turn. Unless you get very lucky, you'll need to bide your time and collect enough cards to complete a route.Īccessible, low-key, and very replayable, this is the perfect option for newcomers and tabletop veterans alike You need to use train cards with specific colors to lay down track (routes are color-coded), and because these cards are drawn a few at a time for everyone to choose from, progress is naturally throttled. It's not easy to be spiteful in this game either.