Ticket to Ride – What Expansions and Editions Should You Try?
Designed by Alan R. Moon and released in 2004 by Days of Wonder, Ticket to Ride offers an elegant premise: players collect sets of colored train cards and use them to claim routes between cities on the board. Completing destination tickets is key to winning—but failing to do so will cost you valuable points. The combination of beautiful artwork and simple yet strategic rules made the game an instant classic and a perfect gateway into the board gaming hobby.
Let’s take a ride through the entire Ticket to Ride universe, from base games to expansions and compact spin-offs.
Core Ticket to Ride Games
Ticket to Ride (USA): The original game didn’t carry a subtitle at launch. Released in 2004, this edition introduced players to the core mechanics of the series. It remains a foundational version of the game, though its simplicity has since been surpassed by newer variants.
Ticket to Ride: Europe: The European edition brought new twists to the gameplay—tunnels, ferries, and stations—offering more depth. Set in pre–World War I Europe, it’s widely considered the best starting point for new players.
Ticket to Ride: Germany: This edition is tailored for the German market and features a map based on the German Empire. It adds passenger meeples to collect for extra points and includes both short and long tickets.
Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries: A more compact game designed for 2–3 players, this version has a smaller map and tighter competition. It offers faster gameplay and introduces light player interaction, which was later reused in other titles.
Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails (Around the World): A massive global map introduces both rail and sea routes. Two decks of transport cards and multi-city tickets bring more complexity. Players can also build ports for bonus points. It’s the biggest and priciest version in the series.
Ticket to Ride: First Journey: A kid-friendly version with larger trains and fewer routes. Destination tickets use pictures rather than text, making the game accessible even for children who can't read yet.
Ticket to Ride: Legacy – Legends of the West: The first campaign-based game in the franchise. Players unlock content over time, revealing new mechanics, evolving maps, and narrative twists. A bold and original direction for the series.
Upcoming and Anniversary Editions
Days of Wonder has announced Ticket to Ride: Northern Lights, which will soon join the main series. Fans in Poland can expect a local release by Rebel, the regular Polish distributor of the series.
Special editions include the Ticket to Ride: 10th Anniversary Edition and Ticket to Ride: Europe 15th Anniversary Edition, both featuring upgraded components and stunning visuals.
Ticket to Ride Map Collection Expansions
These expansions require a base game to play (usually USA or Europe). They add new maps, rules, and strategies.
- USA 1910: A card expansion with larger-format cards, new tickets, and the “Globetrotter” bonus.
- Europe 1912: Includes new tickets and the “Warehouses & Depots” module, adding more strategic depth.
Map Collection Volumes:
- Volume 1: Asia – Includes Team Asia for 6 players and Legendary Asia with rugged terrain.
- Volume 2: India & Switzerland – India supports up to 4 players, while Switzerland is designed for 2–3 players with international routes.
- Volume 3: Africa – Features terrain cards that double your route points.
- Volume 4: Nederland – Introduces toll bridges and expensive routes with bonus scoring.
- Volume 5: United Kingdom & Pennsylvania – UK adds tech upgrades; Pennsylvania adds a stock market mechanic.
- Volume 6: France & Old West – Build tracks before claiming routes (France) or expand from your home city (Old West).
- Volume 6.5: Poland – A special map published for the Polish market with bonus scoring for connecting countries.
- Volume 7: Japan & Italy – Japan adds bullet trains shared by all; Italy rewards connecting provinces.
Compact City Editions
Designed for 2–4 players and 15–20 minute sessions, these versions offer faster gameplay and are perfect for travel.
- Ticket to Ride: New York – Players use taxis to connect Manhattan locations and earn bonuses for tourist attractions.
- Ticket to Ride: London – Uses double-decker buses. Points awarded for connecting matching districts.
- Ticket to Ride: Amsterdam – Players are Dutch merchants collecting Goods cards for endgame points.
- Ticket to Ride: San Francisco – Players collect souvenir tokens when connecting famous landmarks.
- Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train – A Halloween-themed edition with a spooky vibe and fun costumes.
- Ticket to Ride: Berlin – Introduces both trams and metro lines, adding strategic depth.
- Ticket to Ride: Paris – Players score extra points by forming sets in the colors of the French flag.
Accessories and Extras
Fans can customize their games with premium card sleeves from Gamegenic and limited-edition pink train sets, proceeds of which support breast cancer charities.
There’s even a solo puzzle game called Logiquest: Ticket to Ride – Track Switcher, where players complete railway challenges on a modular plastic board.
The Ticket to Ride franchise shows no sign of slowing down. Whether you're collecting maps or just starting your journey, there's a train waiting for you.
