How Many Cities Are There in Ticket to Ride?
The number of cities in Ticket to Ride varies depending on the specific map being played. The original Ticket to Ride map, set in the United States and parts of Southern Canada, features approximately 40 cities. However, the Ticket to Ride: Europe map includes around 45 cities across Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. It’s important to note that different versions and expansions of the game introduce new maps, each with its unique number of cities. Therefore, a precise, single answer to “How many cities are there in Ticket to Ride?” isn’t possible without specifying which map is being referenced. This article delves deeper into the city counts and other fascinating aspects of this globally popular board game.
Ticket to Ride: Map by Map City Counts
While the original US map boasts about 40 cities, the variation in city counts across different Ticket to Ride maps is a key feature of the game’s versatility and replayability. Here are some examples:
- Ticket to Ride (USA): Approximately 40 cities. These are mainly located within the contiguous United States, along with a few cities in southern Canada.
- Ticket to Ride: Europe: Around 45 cities. These span Europe, reaching into parts of Russia and the Middle East, providing a different geographical experience compared to the original.
- Ticket to Ride: Legendary Asia: While not focused on a city count, it features a unique map with mountain routes affecting gameplay, making it a faster play than other standard maps.
- Ticket to Ride: London: Being a smaller stand-alone game, it features a reduced number of cities, fitting the smaller scale and faster gameplay.
The number of cities directly influences the complexity and play time of each game. The varying number of cities and route options make each different Ticket to Ride game have a different strategic challenge.
Ticket to Ride: Big Cities
In the original Ticket to Ride (USA), certain cities are designated as “big cities,” marked in red on the destination tickets. These big cities play a significant role in the game, especially when using the destination tickets designed specifically around them. The seven big cities in the original Ticket to Ride are:
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York
- Seattle
These big cities are often hubs, and many destination tickets will require you to connect them to other cities, making them strategically important points on the board. The presence and importance of these cities also add to the thematic experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ticket to Ride
To further enrich your understanding of Ticket to Ride, here are some frequently asked questions:
What are the core components of a Ticket to Ride game?
The core components usually include:
- A game board depicting a map
- Colored train cars (typically 48 each in 5 colors)
- Train cards (multiple colors)
- Destination ticket cards
- Scoring markers
The specific components may vary slightly depending on the version of the game.
How many routes can you claim in Ticket to Ride?
A player can claim either of the two routes between two cities, but once one of the two routes is claimed, the other route becomes closed to all other players.
Can gray routes be claimed with any color cards?
Yes, routes that are gray can be claimed by using a set of cards of any one color. This adds flexibility to route claiming.
What is the ‘Globetrotter’ bonus in Ticket to Ride?
The Globetrotter bonus, awarded in certain versions of the game, gives 15 points to the player who has completed the most destination tickets. This adds a competitive element based on completing routes as well.
What is the longest route card and what is its value?
The longest route is awarded to the player with the longest continuous route of train cars, which does not need to be a straight line and is worth 10 points. The longest route does not count side routes or branches. It is named The Trans America Express on the card in the US edition.
Which Ticket to Ride map is considered the best?
Many players consider Ticket to Ride: Europe to be the best game in the Ticket to Ride series, especially with the Europe 1912 expansion. Ticket to Ride: Germany is often ranked as a close second by players.
Why is Ticket to Ride so popular?
Ticket to Ride’s popularity stems from its simple yet strategic gameplay, making it an excellent introductory game. It is easy to learn, enjoyable, and does not depend on attacking other players.
Is Ticket to Ride worth the money?
Yes, Ticket to Ride is generally considered worth the money because of its high replayability, accessibility, and engaging gameplay for a variety of players.
Can two players enjoy Ticket to Ride?
Yes, most versions of Ticket to Ride are suitable for two players. There is also a version known as Ticket to Ride: The Card Game, specifically made for 2–4 players.
How many cards do players start with in Ticket to Ride: The Card Game?
In the card game, players start with 1 locomotive card and 7 random train cards.
Does language matter when playing Ticket to Ride?
Only the game box and rulebook are language-dependent. The names of the cities on the map remain the same across all language versions.
Do you have to keep the long routes in Ticket to Ride: Europe?
The rules of the game require that players must choose what routes they want to keep, these can either be long routes or regular destination routes. The unused tickets are placed back in the box.
What is the maximum score in Ticket to Ride?
The maximum achievable score in a standard game of Ticket to Ride is approximately 295, while the minimum can be around -340 which can only be achieved in a 2 player game. These maximum and minimum values will vary based on the specific board being played.
Is Ticket to Ride: London a stand-alone game?
Yes, Ticket to Ride: London is a smaller, stand-alone version of the game, designed for faster and simpler gameplay than a standard game.
What is the purpose of the destination tickets?
Destination tickets provide each player with a private goal of creating a train line between the two indicated cities. Completing the route will give the player the points shown on the card, and failure to connect the two cities results in the number of points deducted from their score.