Published in 2004, the original Ticket to Ride is still one of the greatest family friendly board games since the turn of the century. Offering players straightforward gameplay that combines chance with a surprising amount of strategy, Ticket to Ride is a bonafide classic amongst boardgamers.

The objective is simple: draw colorful train car cards and use them to build rail routes to earn points. The player with the highest number of points at the end wins the game. 

Because players compete for routes intersecting across the continental United States, conductors who are extra competitive may need to let off a little steam between turns.

Especially when Sarah, who cut off the route that you were building for seven turns, beats you by only two points. Bitter? Who’s bitter?

If you love Ticket to Ride, then you will definitely want to check out these similar board game favorites!

5. Monopoly

Need a break from playing train baron? Try embracing your inner real estate mogul.

Love it or hate it, first up we have one of the most recognizable modern board games in the world, Monopoly. 

The chief aim in Monopoly is to earn money and spend it to buy land to develop property. Unlike Ticket to Ride, when an opponent lands on one of your squares, she or he must then pay you rent. 

Where players could stick to a strategy that focuses almost entirely on their own routes in Ticket to Ride, in Monopoly a player’s fortune is almost always tied to another player’s misfortune. 

And when one player gains an advantage, it can easily have a snowball effect–making the rest of the game very difficult for others. This is perhaps the game’s most common critique.

Whether or not you end up becoming a fan of Monopoly, one thing is certain: the Race Car is the best playing piece.

4. Machi Koro

If real estate isn’t your forte but city planning is, Machi Koro is a fun game in which you can unleash your inner mayor.

Less adversarial than Monopoly, Machi Koro has players roll dice to earn income which in turn is used to purchase economy-boosting cards from a communal pool. Card types include industries, businesses, restaurants, and establishments.

Players use these cards to build more robust revenue streams, eventually obtaining coveted landmarks. Landmarks, such as Train Stations and Shopping Malls, boost a player’s earning potential with extra coins or rolling options, and get them one step closer towards winning. 

The pace of Machi Koro is much quicker than Ticket to Ride, so if you are short on time then you will want to give this city-building game a go.

3. Photosynthesis

Does all this industrialization and construction sound a tad tiring? Is nature beckoning your presence? Try flexing your green thumb, soaking in sunshine, and growing a forest in Photosynthesis.

The aesthetic of this game is eye-catching, and the gameplay incorporates its theme exceptionally well. For example, Photosynthesis includes a rotating sun which ultimately affects a player’s ability to gather the light points necessary for further planting seeds. Seeds become small trees, then medium, and finally large trees before being harvested for score tokens.

Perhaps the most different aspect from Ticket to Ride is that randomness is not a factor in Photosynthesis. Planning and anticipating your opponents’ moves is essential. 

In Photosynthesis, the competition for fertile soil can grow to heights never seen before.

2. Catan

Ask any board game aficionado and they have probably played Catan at least once or twice. 

Each player represents a group of settlers who land on the undeveloped island of Catan. Gathering resources such as lumber, ore, and wool, players use these to build settlements and roads across the landscape. Ultimately, the game ends when one player becomes the first to hold 10 victory points on her or his turn.

An innovative feature of Catan is the randomized layout of the island during the setup of each game. Ticket to Ride players have the same routes available to build across the United States in every game; in Catan, however, the board can look drastically different from one game to the next. 

Similar to Ticket to Ride is the presence of secrecy in Catan. You can guess what another player’s strategy is by the decisions he or she makes, but you will not know for sure where you stand until the points get added up.

All of these elements make Catan a highly rated favorite that shares many of the best aspects Ticket to Ride has to offer.

1. Ticket to Ride: Europe

If you can’t kick the railway tycoon itch—and we’ve all been there—then you must expand your Ticket to Ride horizons with its sequel, Ticket to Ride: Europe.

Offering a handful of novel enhancements to give seasoned players a more advanced experience, Ticket to Ride: Europe brings new elements such as tunnels and ferries to switch up the gameplay. 

Train stations are also a welcome addition that soften the blow of opponents foiling your railway plans, though they come at a cost against your final point tally.

The core objective remains the same, but these additional nuances make for great fun without overcomplicating things. 

Gamers could even start with Ticket to Ride: Europe, though the simplicity of the original is one of the main reasons for its replayability and popularity all these years.

Train baron, aspiring mayor, sapling cultivator, or pioneering settler, whichever role you end up deciding to play, all of these games are sure to be sources of limitless fun for you and your friends.

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