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Let's just say this right from the off, Ticket to Ride Europe is a great game, it's the sequel to the award winning original game 'Ticket to Ride' but a bit deeper and more varied. The idea of the game is to link stations all over Europe together to make a route and score points. I play this game with my wife, with my friends, and online, and its just great fun. It's very easy to pick up and learn the basics but like most great games there are hidden strategies and cunning ploys that can make your own life easier and your opponents more difficult. There is a certain element of luck involved but it doesn’t make you feel that the game is unfair. This is also a game which is competitive without the feeling that you are 'crushing your enemy', it doesn’t make people feel picked on or victimized, just tense and excited. It is with good reason that this game is cited as a great 'gateway' game, it is fun for expert gamers or for beginners, for young or old, a true modern classic, two thumbs up!
Rating: 9.5
Reviewed by:
Jonathan4
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This game is little short of miraculous.
My husband is very difficult to persuade to play board games. He will play a few games occasionally, to be kind, but most of the time we’re playing he yawns and twitchily looks at his watch – he’d really rather be out running. I’d seen this recommended in many reviews as a good gateway game, and thought we’d give it a whirl. When it arrived, I unpacked it happily and it was looked at with rather nervous resignation by my poor husband for some days. The children (10 and 8) ignored it. The weather was too good to play indoors anyway.
Finally a rainy day came along - “I think Mum wants to play her new train game”, and it was unpacked. The board is big and interesting looking, and who could resist all those little tiny trains? It seems very well made and looks like it will last a good long time. It didn’t take us long to pick up the rules and we all enjoyed it. Not only did we all enjoy it, but when the game was over, my husband said, “When can we play that again?”
My 8 year old has got the idea of the rules after a few games, but still prefers to play in a ‘team’ with me. My 10 year old has had no problem at all and enjoys it tremendously. His only slight problem is the holding of a fistful of cards, which he doesn’t seem to be able to do neatly in a way that will easily let him see what cards he has. The game is easy enough for the kids, but has enough decision-making to be interesting for adults, and there have been times where (despite the apparent obviousness of what to do) I have made stupid choices and spent the rest of the game mentally kicking myself. My husband continues to enjoy it, actually asks to play it, and has announced that we will be taking it on holiday with us. I don’t think there can be much higher recommendation than that!
Rating: 9.5
Reviewed by:
graine
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Ticket to ride: europe is an excellent game which plays best for 2-4 players.
The initial card selection of one long and 3 short routes improves on the USA version by ensuring a 'fairer' allocation of high scoring routes. It plays well with just two players but through the use of stations, not present in the USA version, and alternative routes a strategy based on blocking your opponent is not likely to work well. However, a well planned and timed route block can be very useful.
I would recommend this game to those who like strategic planning in their games. It is often recommended as a 'gateway' game but there is limited player interaction and discussion during the game, so perhaps consider alternatives if this is something you prefer.
You could also check the game out on the days of wonder website.
Rating: 8.5
Reviewed by:
noelp
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