Ticket to Ride is a now-classic game of train collection and route building. Players balance collecting cards, claiming routes, and chancing on new objectives to edge out enough points for a victory. The most critical turns entail making a trade-off between committing to a route or collecting more resources to expand your potential. Commit to a route too early, and you might get cut off by an opponent. If you wait too late, the opportunity may be gone for good.
The game’s clever balance and simple turn structure (there are only three move types to choose from, with the vast majority of turns centering around collecting train cards or laying routes) have cemented Ticket to Ride as one of thebest board games. This guide recommends some of the best games to play like Ticket to Ride.
The Best Board Games Like Ticket to Ride
Catan (Base Game)
Catan is a now-classic game of trading, building, and settling. In it, players build settlements and cities to extract resources from the land of Catan. Along the way, they’ll plan trade routes, dodge a nasty robber, and barter with their friends (and enemies). A lot of the game hinges on the roll of the dice, but strategy goes more than a long way.
Tsuro
Tsuro is an award-winning game for 2 to 8 players ages 8 and up that is fun for any experience level. The board changes every time the game is played, making every match a challenge to create new pathways. The Path is an ever-changing mystery that continues to grow while players must anticipate their opponents' next moves.
Sagrada
In Sagrada, players take turns using clear dice that represent glass to make gorgeous windows. This is a game renowned for both its beauty and strategic depth.
Alhambra: Revised Edition
In Alhambra, players are tasked with collecting special currency and using it to pay for the construction of the buildings in an “Alhambra” (meaning ‘palace’). Players score points throughout the game based on the quantity and type of buildings in their Alhambra as well as the length of continuous wall that they build around it.
Power Grid Recharged
Power Grid is a strategy game that revolves around collecting resources and building a network of energy distribution. Players will need to think and act competitively against their opponents in order to generate income, build the largest network, and successfully power it to be the winner. Designed for 2-4 players, this game has an estimated run time of over 90 minutes.
New York 1901
New York 1901 is a strategy game involving territory control and city building during the turn of the century in one of the most iconic cities in the world. Players can compete with each other to see who can build the most buildings and become the mayor of New York. Designed by Chenier La Salle and illustrated by Vincent Dutrait, this family strategy game is ideal for 2 to 4 players over the age of 8 and takes about half an hour to play.
Takenoko
Takenoko, whose title refers to edible bamboo shoots, is a board game about caring for a cute, young panda. A gift from China to Japan, players take on the role of bamboo gardeners and panda caretakers in this game of cooperative competition. Build up a common garden together, but resources out for yourself to complete your personal objectives.
Trekking the National Parks
Winner of the Mensa and Parent’s Choice Awards, Trekking the National Parks is a family-oriented game that can entertain both kids and parents. Featuring charming illustrations, real-world facts about the U.S. National Parks and the wildlife that lives there, and encouraging discussions about the natural world, this game will engage most players regardless of their age. This game is perfect for adding to family game night, especially considering its moderately quick playtime.
Why is Ticket to Ride So Popular?
Ticket to Ride has seen lasting popularity and is hailed as one of the greatesttabletop gamesof all time thanks to its incredible design, which implements several well-loved elements. These include:
Playtime: A reasonable playtime of 30 to 60 minutes is ideal for most board game players. This allows ample strategizing to happen without the game being too complicated. Ticket to Ride’s replayability is very high thanks to its somewhat short playtime, making it easy to play twice in a row or swap out players for large groups to enjoy the game too.
Easy to Learn: Games that are straightforward and can be learned in a short amount of time are always preferable, but especially for new players. Games with simple mechanics can still be challenging, but for some players, nothing beats being able to jump right into gameplay. Ticket to Ride is easy to understand and has clearly written instructions with pictures.
Attractive Design: Plenty of players love colorful tokens and other tactile pieces on a board, and many have said that this specific feature is what makes them love Ticket to Ride more than most other games. The beautiful map and illustrated cards only add to the lovely aesthetic that seems to encourage a good time from even just a glance.
Games with these kinds of features are sure to please anyone who loves Ticket to Ride.
Best Quick Game Like Ticket To Ride
Tsuro is an excellent quick-play board game, regardless of the types of games groups normally enjoy. For fans of Ticket to Ride, the base elements of the game may be even more enticing. The goal of the game is to lead a dragon made of carved stone down a predetermined path, without exiting the board or running into other players. The game’s stone tokens are accompanied by equally durable cardboard cards that double as map tiles.
While this design is easy to learn, the game quickly becomes complicated as players must choose between a small handful of possible routes and anticipate other players' moves to avoid a crash. Part puzzle, part strategy, Tsuro is a visually challenging social game, perfect for any sized group looking for a shorter alternative to Ticket to Ride. Plus, there are two newer versions of the game, Tsuro of the Sea and Phoenix Rising, that add new, exciting features to the already fast-paced gameplay.
Best Long Game Like Ticket To Ride
Catan
Catan, like Ticket to Ride, is one of the greatest board games of all time. As such, it shares a lot of features with its train game counterpart. First and foremost, building roads in Catan is very similar to building routes in Ticket to Ride, and it can boost players point-wise, making it a worthwhile strategy. Another thing that Ticket to Ride fans will appreciate is the amount of advanced planning that’s necessary to win. With other players also going after resources and locations, strategizing and making a move before an opponent does is essential.
Plus, although this is superficial, Catan’s bright color scheme puts a bit of extra fun into the mix and overall makes the game feel like the stakes are lower. For players who want that happy-go-lucky feeling of Ticket to Ride with a bit more challenge and depth, Catan is another classic board they should try.
Best Game Like Ticket To Ride Overall
Power Grid
At first glance, it’s tough to recognize that Power Grid’s map is not the same as Ticket to Ride’s board, and so it is with much of the game. Power Grid was released in the same year as Ticket to Ride, though it may have done better if it were released today. There are many one-to-one similarities between Power Grid and Ticket to Ride, but the game also offers some excellent additional features that add interesting challenges.
As the name suggests, the goal of the game is to set up a Power Grid. Players will do so through a combination of gathering resources, building networks, and claiming power plants. Just like with Ticket to Ride, players will want to connect to multiple cities by playing house tokens and forming a contiguous line of electricity. However, in Power Grid, players aren’t blocked from sharing spaces. Instead, they’re just charged more money for the privilege.
Despite the game having a somewhat rigid phase system, each player’s turn is fairly versatile. Players can go straight for their main goal, or plan to pay a premium to achieve it later. Keeping an eye on opponents is somewhat important, but the game gives everyone some workarounds they can exploit.
With a nearly identical map, familiar pre-planning tactics, and fresh mechanics that add nuance to the gameplay, it’s clear that Power Grid is the natural next step after Ticket to Ride. Players on the hunt for the next level in Ticket to Ride-style games should pick up a copy of Power Grid for their next game night.
FAQ
Q: What game is Ticket to Ride similar to?
Power Grid is most like Ticket to Ride in basically every way. The game looks very similar, tasks players with creating connecting lines using tactile pieces, and requires a bit of strategy to win out over opponents.
Q: What is the next game after Ticket to Ride?
If you’re looking for the best games like Ticket To Ride, why not go for the next game in the series after Ticket To Ride? Due to its map-based gameplay, Ticket To Ride has been able to release many expansions and stand-alone sets that feature new maps, locations, and (sometimes) mechanics. The next game after the original Ticket To Ride is Ticket To Ride: Europe.
