The board game Ticket to Ride is set in the early 20th century and puts you in the role of a railroad owner who is trying to be the best of the best by connecting routes between the most important cities on the map. This theme brings a nostalgic atmosphere about the emergence of the first railways and old-fashioned train travel back when steam locomotives were the ultimate scientific achievement.
The board represents a map of the USA with all major cities connected by rail routes. The longer the route you claim, the more points you get. The farther apart the cities are on your Destination Ticket cards, the more points you will get when you connect them.
You start with a certain set of Destination Ticket cards which tell you which cities you need to connect and how many points you will get if you do so. You claim routes by collecting train cards in colors that match the colors of the tracks on the board. When you collect a matching number of cards, you claim that route. Each player has a limited number of trains, so you must watch out for where other players are headed and make sure someone else doesn't claim a route you need before you do. The game becomes more competitive and complex with a higher number of players.
The playing time is about 30 minutes, and the game itself is quite easy to learn and is primarily intended as a family game. The board game Ticket to Ride is primarily a family game, and it is intended for all ages from 8 to 99. Following this edition, due to its popularity, it has received many successors such as:
The board game Ticket to Ride Europe, the board game Ticket to Ride Rails and Sails, the board game Ticket to Ride Germany...

Awards and Honors:
2025 BoardGameGeek Hall of Fame Inductee
2010 Hungarian Board Game Award Nominee
2008 Ludoteca Ideale Official Selection Winner
2008 Gra Roku Game of the Year Nominee
2006 Japan Boardgame Prize Best Japanese Game Winner
2006 Japan Boardgame Prize Best Japanese Game Nominee
2006 Hra roku Winner
2006 Hra roku Nominee
2005 Vuoden Peli Family Game of the Year Winner
2005 Vuoden Peli Family Game of the Year Nominee
2005 Juego del Año Winner
2005 Juego del Año Finalist
2005 Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming Winner
2005 Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming Nominee
2005 As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Winner
2005 As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Nominee
2005 Årets Spill Best Family Game Nominee
2005 Årets Spel Best Family Game Winner
2004 Tric Trac Nominee
2004 Spiel des Jahres Winner
2004 Spiel des Jahres Nominee
2004 Origins Awards Best Board Game Winner
2004 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Nominee
2004 Meeples Choice Award Winner
2004 Meeples Choice Award Nominee
2004 Japan Boardgame Prize Best Advanced Game Winner
2004 Japan Boardgame Prize Best Advanced Game Nominee
2004 International Gamers Awards - General Strategy; Multi-player Nominee