Ticket to Ride (Board Game)

The modern classic train game: collect colored cards and claim routes across North America. Days of Wonder lists 2–5 players, ages 8+, 30–60 minutes.

Quick verdict

Yes, for family game nights and groups new to strategy games. In Ticket to Ride you collect colored train cards and claim routes across North America; Days of Wonder lists 2–5 players, ages 8 and up, and 30–60 minutes per game. Player interaction is limited and it's weaker with two players, so groups who want trading and negotiation may prefer CATAN.

Best for:: An easy first strategy game.
Watch out:: Less fun with only two.

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Amazon US listing and availability checked October 28, 2026. Prices and stock can change.

Reviewed October 11, 2026 · How we review

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Close-up of the Ticket to Ride North America board around Santa Fe, with colored train routes

Photo credits

Our Take

Ticket to Ride is one of the easiest strategy board games to teach. On each turn you draw train cards, claim a route between two cities, or take new destination tickets, and you score for routes, completed tickets and the longest train. Days of Wonder lists it for 2–5 players, ages 8 and up, and 30–60 minutes. That makes it a good family game that adults still enjoy. This listing is the 2025 refresh of the original North America map. The trade-offs: player interaction is mostly blocking each other's routes, it's less interesting with two players than with four or five, and expansions or other maps cost extra. We haven't played this edition ourselves. Choose it as a first "modern" board game for families or mixed groups. Choose Catan if your group likes trading and negotiation.

Specs (This Configuration)

Players: 2–5 (Days of Wonder)
Ages: 8+ (Days of Wonder)
Play time: 30–60 minutes (Days of Wonder)
Map: North America
Edition: 2025 refresh (listing)

Best For

Family game nights
Groups new to strategy games
Players aged 8 and up

Skip If

You want lots of direct interaction or trading
You mostly play with two people
You already own another Ticket to Ride map

What We Like

Simple rules, real decisions
Plays well with 3–5
Quick to teach

What To Know

Our photo shows an earlier printing of the board; the 2025 refresh may differ in artwork
Other maps and expansions are sold separately
Days of Wonder's figures cover the base game

Pros

Very easy to learn
Plays in under an hour
Sold by Amazon.com on the listing we checked

Cons

Limited interaction
Weaker with two players
Luck of the card draw

Alternatives

CATAN (6th Edition) — A trading-and-building game for 3–4 players that suits groups who like negotiation.

Why PriceDropIQ Selected It

It's one of the easiest "real" strategy games to teach, so it works when you're mixing kids, grandparents and friends who don't usually play board games. Games take under an hour and stay interesting with 3 to 5 players. With two, it's weaker.

Before You Buy

Check the listing is the base game (North America), not an expansion or another map
Check the player count fits your group
Check that the seller is Amazon.com