Every Ticket to Ride Version Ranked (And Which One to Buy First)
Every Ticket to Ride version ranked — standalone boxes, city Express editions, First Journey, Legacy and the map collections, with a clear answer on which to buy first.
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Every Ticket to Ride version ranked — standalone boxes, city Express editions, First Journey, Legacy and the map collections, with a clear answer on which to buy first.
Read moreOur Viticulture Essential Edition review — Stonemaier's Tuscan vineyard worker placement game. Wake-up order, visitor cards, and whether it earns the shelf space.
Read moreEducational board games that don't feel like homework. 13 games that teach logic, spatial reasoning, maths and deduction, picked for whether kids ask to play again.
Read moreExact Avalon setup for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 players — good/evil split, quest team sizes, which roles to include, and the two-fails rule. Straight from the official rulebook.
Read moreThe best board games for 4 year olds and preschoolers: short, no-reading-required picks that survive a losing streak and are fun for adults too.
Read moreSea Salt & Paper review — the origami card game from Bruno Cathala for 2 to 4 players. How it plays, why the STOP call is the whole game, and whether it's worth adding to your shelf.
Read moreGloomhaven or Frosthaven? We compare campaign length, complexity, the outpost phase and price to work out which giant box belongs on your table first.
Read moreTicket to Ride or Ticket to Ride Europe? We compare tunnels, ferries, stations, map difficulty and teaching load to help you pick the right box first.
Read moreHow to play Cash 'n Guns, simplified — the full turn sequence, wounds, loot sharing and every character power, explained in about five minutes of reading.
Read moreRoot puts 2–4 players in a forest with completely different rules for each faction — cats build, birds flock, woodland creatures rebel. Nobody plays the same game.
Read moreThe best board games, picked two ways: the ten our group actually plays, and the ten the hobby agrees on, plus a full breakdown of every genre and what makes a game great.
Read moreThe best engine building board games of all time — Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, Agricola, Everdell, Scythe and more, with what each engine actually feels like to build.
Read moreConfused by the three Century boxes and the shiny Golem one? Here's how the series fits together and which version to actually buy.
Read moreWhich Pandemic expansion or version should you actually buy? A ranked guide by what you want out of it: more of the same game, a campaign, or something that feels new.
Read moreEverdell has the best table presence of any game we own — and a card engine underneath it. Here's whether the tree is worth the price tag.
Read moreA full rundown of every Pandemic expansion, standalone version, and Legacy season: what each one actually changes, and what we like and don't like about them.
Read moreA printable Coup cheat sheet — every character, action, coin cost and counteraction on one page. Print it, hand one to each player, stop passing the rulebook around.
Read moreDownload the official Ticket to Ride Europe rules PDF from Days of Wonder, plus a complete rules summary — setup, turn actions, tunnels, ferries, stations and scoring.
Read moreThe best board games for 7 year olds: real strategy games with light reading, honest losing, and enough depth that the adults at the table actually want to play.
Read moreThe 10 best tabletop war games, from a 20-minute WWII skirmish to a day-long galactic conquest — with the honest pros and cons of each.
Read moreTwo of the most recommended gateway games on the market, broken down so you know which one to buy first — or whether you need both.
Read moreYour helicopter crashed in a shifting desert. Learn Forbidden Desert in about 5 minutes — nothing important left out.
Read moreFour treasures, a sinking island, and a helicopter waiting at Fool's Landing. Learn Forbidden Island in about 5 minutes — nothing important left out.
Read moreThe best board games for kindergarten — cooperative, colourful, no-reading-required games that teach turn-taking and counting while actually being fun.
Read moreThe best board games for seniors — readable components, gentle strategy, and games that keep the mind sharp without fiddly rules or tiny pieces.
Read moreThe best family board games that actually work with mixed ages at one table — quick to teach, fun for kids and adults, and not a chore to play twice.
Read moreThe best party board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — the new big-group, high-energy games worth a game night, not the old standbys.
Read moreThe best gateway board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — the new easy-to-learn games for beginners worth teaching, not the old standbys.
Read moreThe best solo board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — the new one-player games and great solo modes worth your table, not the old standbys.
Read moreThe best two-player board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — the new games worth a date night or a head-to-head, not the same old classics.
Read moreThe best social deduction board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — the new hidden-role and bluffing games worth a game night, not the old standbys.
Read moreThe best worker placement board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — the new heavy euros worth clearing space for, not the old standbys.
Read moreThe best board games for camping — small, fast, packable games that survive a picnic table, a tent, and a few drinks around the fire.
Read moreThe best card drafting board games of the last few years (2023-2026) — the new pick-and-pass and open-drafting hits, not the 7 Wonders-era classics.
Read moreThe best cooperative board games released in the last few years (2023-2026) — what's actually new in co-op, not the same old classics.
Read moreEight players kills most board games dead. Here are ten that don't just tolerate the crowd — they need it to work.
Read moreThe best deck building board games of the last few years (2023-2026) — the new releases reshaping the genre, not the old Dominion-era classics.
Read moreThe best board games under $30 — ten genuinely great picks that won't blow your budget but will get played over and over.
Read moreGloomhaven costs as much as five normal games and weighs more than a toddler. Is it actually worth it? The short answer, then the honest one.
Read moreAzul or Sagrada? Two gorgeous tile-and-tile-shaped games that look similar on the shelf but feel nothing alike. Here's how to pick the right one for your group.
Read moreOur pick of the best zombie board games, from tense co-op survival to backstabbing betrayal and quick brain-eating dice fillers.
Read moreEvery character in The Resistance: Avalon explained — Merlin, Percival, Mordred, Morgana, Oberon and the rest, plus who sees whom and which roles to use.
Read moreSpiel des Jahres, Golden Geek, Dice Tower, As d'Or — board games win a lot of awards, but what do they actually mean? A plain-English guide to who hands them out, when, and why.
Read moreHow many Monopoly versions are there? Over 1,000 — but only a handful are worth owning. Here are the 10 best Monopoly editions, from the fastest 10-minute version to the best for cheaters.
Read moreLoved the political bluffing and group accusations in Secret Hitler? Here are 7 games that scratch the same itch — some lighter, some sharper, all built for chaos.
Read moreSix players is the count that breaks most games — here are ten that don't just survive it, they're actually better for it.
Read moreTen board games that actually work with people who think they hate board games — easy to learn, fun within minutes, and no board game experience required.
Read moreYou're a Renaissance merchant collecting gem tokens, using them to buy gem cards, then better ones on your way to 15 prestige points. Learn Splendor in five minutes.
Read moreLearn Wingspan in five minutes. Play birds, build an engine across three habitats, gather food and lay eggs, and out-score your rivals over four rounds.
Read moreDraw a tile, grow a shared medieval landscape, then drop a meeple to claim a road, city, monastery, or field. Score features as they complete and finish with the most points — a five-minute teach.
Read moreLearn Catan in five minutes. Roll for resources, trade with rivals, build roads and settlements, and race to 10 victory points — the whole base game, simplified.
Read moreDominion invented the deck-builder: start with a weak deck, buy better cards into it, and build an engine that draws and buys more each turn. A condensed, play-fast guide to the rules.
Read moreThe best micro games — wallet games, Oink boxes, and tiny-footprint designs that pack a full game night into something you can carry in a pocket.
Read moreThe best bluffing board games reward lying well and reading people — here are our top picks for every group size and experience level.
Read moreThree players is a weird spot — too many for head-to-head, too few for big group games. These are the games that genuinely shine at exactly three.
Read moreThe best dexterity board games ranked — from flicking and stacking to magnet hockey and penguin racing. Our top picks for every group and skill level.
Read moreThe best board games for couples — from quick fillers to deep strategy nights — with honest picks your partner will actually want to play again.
Read moreLoved Catan but ready for something new? These 10 games scratch the same itch — resource gathering, territorial tension, and big decisions.
Read moreDraft tiles from a shared market, fill your mosaic wall, and score before your rivals — but don't grab more than you need.
Read moreFlip 7 is a push-your-luck card game that fits in your pocket and plays in minutes. High luck, low strategy — but that's kind of the point.
Read moreFour players is the sweet spot for most games — here are ten titles that don't just work at that count, they're genuinely best at it.
Read moreTwo gorgeous nature-themed engine builders, one shelf. Wingspan vs Everdell broken down so you know exactly which one to buy first.
Read moreYou're a bird enthusiast trying to attract birds to your wildlife preserves. Each bird you play extends a chain of powerful actions. Simple to learn, genuinely hard to master.
Read moreOur review of Danger, the storytelling party game where one player is trapped in a bizarre situation and everyone else competes to pull off the best rescue.
Read moreParty games that beat Catch Phrase and Taboo at their own game. Our favourite crowd-pleasers for big groups, each with an honest review and player counts.
Read moreThe best Asian-themed board games — Tokaido, Hanamikoji, Takenoko, Lanterns, Sushi Go and more. Beautiful games steeped in the art and culture of Asia.
Read moreOur Raptor board game review: a two-player duel of mother raptor versus scientists. How the asymmetric card play works and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreOur Squirmish review: draft absurd monster cards, brawl them in a shared arena, and steal the losers. How the card battler plays and whether it's worth it.
Read moreAlready love Catan but feel like the base game has run its course? Here's our honest rundown of every major Catan expansion and which ones are actually worth buying.
Read moreOur review of Uprise, an indie board game by Alex Racine we playtested before its Kickstarter. How the secret-society tower building plays across 2-8 players.
Read more> **Spoiler warning:** This post contains details about Pandemic Legacy Season 1. Don't read if you want to experience it fresh.
Read more> **Spoiler warning:** This post contains details about Pandemic Legacy Season 1. Don't read if you want to experience it fresh.
Read moreHow to play Dimension, simplified — setup, the seven rule cards, scoring, and penalties. Learn the ball-stacking puzzle game in about five minutes.
Read moreOur review of Gloom, the card game where you make your family miserable before killing them off. How the transparent cards work and whether the joke lasts.
Read moreOur Dimension review: stacking coloured balls into a rule-breaking pyramid against a one-minute timer. How the puzzle game plays and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreThe best board games for adults — date nights, dinner parties and grown-up game nights. Risqué party games, couples games and group favourites, with player counts.
Read moreGift ideas for board game lovers who already own the games: accessories, storage, playmats, and tabletop-themed extras that make better presents.
Read moreWe compared the top murder mystery party companies — Night of Mystery, My Mystery Party, Shot in the Dark and more. Scripted vs unscripted, pricing, group size.
Read moreOur board game Christmas gift guide, sorted by who you're buying for — party games, kids' games, two-player picks, co-ops and games that make you think.
Read moreEvery Carcassonne version and expansion in one place — all the standalones and major expansions in order, each with a quick brief on what it adds.
Read moreOur review of The Gallerist, Vital Lacerda's heavy art gallery game. Discover artists, sell their work, and see whether the weight is worth it for you.
Read moreHow to play The Gallerist, simplified — actions, artists, buying and selling art, and endgame scoring. Vital Lacerda's heavy euro explained without the rulebook.
Read moreOur Zombie Fluxx review: the card game where the rules and win condition change every turn. How the chaos plays out and whether it's worth picking up.
Read moreOur Hive review — the two-player bug tile game with no board. How ants, beetles, grasshoppers and spiders move, and why it travels better than chess.
Read moreOur Coloretto review: how the colour-set card game plays, why pushing your luck on a fourth colour hurts, and whether this quick filler is worth buying.
Read moreHow to play Lords of Waterdeep, simplified — setup, worker placement, quests, Intrigue cards and scoring across all 8 rounds. The full rules without the rulebook.
Read moreOur Lords of Waterdeep review: the worker placement game that hides real strategy behind a friendly D&D theme. Player count, play time and what we thought.
Read moreThe best social deduction board games — hidden roles, bluffing and betrayal. If you love Secret Hitler or Avalon, here's what to play next, with player counts.
Read moreOur Dragon's Hoard review — the card game where you play a dragon stealing sheep from farmers to buy treasure, and sic angry mobs on everyone else's lair.
Read moreOur review of One Night Ultimate Werewolf — social deduction in a single ten-minute round, no elimination. How the roles work and how big a group you need.
Read moreCatan vs Ticket to Ride — which should you buy? We compare difficulty, player interaction, play time and replay value to help you pick the right one.
Read moreOur review of Forbidden Desert, the co-operative sequel to Forbidden Island. How it plays, why the shifting storm makes it harder, and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreOur review of Forbidden Island, the co-operative treasure hunt on a sinking island. How it plays, difficulty levels, player count, and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreLearn the rules of Ticket to Ride: Europe in five minutes — setup, turn actions, scoring, and how stations, tunnels and ferries work. Start playing tonight.
Read moreGhost Blitz rules made simple: how the five wooden pieces work, when to grab the exact item and when to grab the one that's missing, plus setup and scoring.
Read moreCash 'n Guns review — the foam-gun standoff game for 4 to 8 players. How it plays at every player count, the wounded-player problem, which edition to buy, and whether it's worth it.
Read moreOur review of Count Your Chickens, the co-operative counting game for ages 3+. How it plays, whether preschoolers stay engaged, and if it's worth the shelf space.
Read moreOur review of Ghost Blitz (Geistesblitz) — the fast reaction game where you grab the right wooden piece first. How it plays, who it suits, and is it worth buying?
Read moreOur review of Hoot Owl Hoot, the co-operative colour-matching game for ages 4+. How it plays, how long it lasts, and whether young kids actually stay hooked.
Read more7 Wonders board game rules explained simply: setup, how card drafting works across the three ages, scoring military and science, and the two-player variant.
Read moreThe ten best worker placement board games, reviewed — Lords of Waterdeep, Agricola, Caverna, Caylus, Tzolk'in, Stone Age, Le Havre and more, ranked in order.
Read moreOur review of Love Letter, the 16-card deduction game. How many players it takes, how a round plays out, and why it keeps ending up in people's bags.
Read moreOur review of Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. How the Forensic Scientist's coded clues work, how it compares to other social deduction games, and who it suits.
Read moreOur honest review of Cards Against Humanity — how it plays, the age rating and who it's actually for, and whether the party game for horrible people still lands.
Read moreOur Stone Age board game review: worker placement, dice-driven resources, and feeding your tribe. How it plays, basic strategy, and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreThe best Catan gifts for the Settlers fan in your life — t-shirts, wall art, socks, coasters, pillows and more. Handpicked gift ideas beyond another expansion.
Read moreThe best 2 player board games, reviewed and compared — 7 Wonders Duel, Patchwork, Hive, Splendor, Carcassonne and more. Games built for two, not scaled down.
Read moreOur honest 7 Wonders review: what card drafting across three ages actually plays like, who it suits, where it falls short, and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreWhat is Catch Phrase and is it any good? Our review of the fast-talking word-guessing party game — how it plays, best group size, and when it works at game night.
Read moreHow to play Betrayal at House on the Hill, simplified — exploring rooms, omens and the Haunt roll, then how the game flips once the traitor is revealed.
Read moreOur Takenoko review — the panda and bamboo game from imperial Japan. Player count, play time, what the objectives feel like, and who it actually suits.
Read moreThe best board games for teens that actually hold their attention — social, strategic, and fast enough to compete with a phone.
Read moreThe ten best gateway board games for beginners, reviewed — Catan, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, Pandemic, Sushi Go and more, with what each one teaches you.
Read moreOur Time's Up! review — the party game where the same names get guessed three times, from describing to one word to charades. Player count, length and verdict.
Read moreOur review of Rack-O, the classic card game of sorting your rack from low to high. How it plays, how the rules hold up today, and whether it's worth picking up.
Read moreHow to play Agricola, simplified — worker placement, growing crops, raising animals, expanding your farm and keeping everyone fed through every harvest.
Read moreOur Sheriff of Nottingham review — the bluffing game where you smuggle goods past the Sheriff, bribe your way out, and find out who at the table can lie.
Read moreAre you stuck trying to decide if you should buy the board game Agricola or Caverna?
Read moreThe 6 best board games for 2 year olds, tested by parents — cooperative, no reading required, no choking hazards. Which to buy first and what each one teaches.
Read moreHow to play The Resistance: Avalon, simplified — setup, the five missions, team voting, and every role from Merlin to Mordred. Learn the game in five minutes.
Read moreThe Resistance: Avalon review — how it plays at 5, 6, 7 and 10 players, how it compares to Secret Hitler, and whether the Merlin twist is worth it for your group.
Read moreCoup house rules and variants we've actually tested — new roles, team modes and rule tweaks for when the standard 15-minute bluff starts feeling too familiar.
Read moreThe best board games for 3 year olds, reviewed by parents — Hoot Owl Hoot, Zingo, Count Your Chickens, Candy Land and Hi Ho Cherry-O, and why each works.
Read moreFive board games that teach math skills without feeling like homework — Rummikub, Qwirkle, Sum Swamp, Sequence Num6ers and Cashflow For Kids, each reviewed.
Read moreIs Splendor a good board game? Our review of the gem-buying engine builder: how the card economy snowballs, who it suits, and whether it's worth the price.
Read moreNew to modern board games? A beginner's guide to reading the box, the main game types — deck building, co-op, party, worker placement — and where to start.
Read moreOur Agricola review — Uwe Rosenberg's farming worker placement classic. Feed your family, expand your house, and find out if the pressure is your kind of fun.
Read moreHow to play Pandemic, simplified — setup, your four actions per turn, outbreaks and epidemics, and every role's ability. Cure all four diseases as a team.
Read moreOur Dominion review — the deck-building game that started the genre. How the kingdom cards keep it fresh, player count, play time, and who should buy it.
Read moreHow to play Codenames, simplified — giving one-word clues as Spymaster, plus the rules people argue about: proper nouns, acronyms, passing, and 2-3 player games.
Read morePit review — the loud, fast commodity-trading card game for 3 to 8 players. How the shouting and blind swapping works, and why it's still a great party opener.
Read moreOur honest Codenames review: how one-word spymaster clues create the tension, what it plays like at different group sizes, and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreDoes Pandemic still hold up? Our review of the co-op classic — how the disease spread creates tension, where it drags, and whether it's still worth buying.
Read moreThe best solo board games you can play by yourself — Mage Knight, Robinson Crusoe, Friday, Eldritch Horror and more, with reviews and a comparison table.
Read moreOur Flash Point: Fire Rescue review. How the co-op firefighting game plays, how punishing the fire spread gets, and whether it's worth adding to your shelf.
Read moreCooperative Board Games! One of our favorite categories!
Read moreThe best deck building board games, reviewed — Dominion, Star Realms, Clank!, Ascension, Legendary, Friday and more, with what makes each deck feel different.
Read moreWhat is a deck building game? A plain-English guide to how the genre works, the core mechanics behind it, and the best deck builders to start with as a beginner.
Read moreOur review of Exploding Kittens, the card game of Russian roulette with cats. How it plays, how well it holds up after repeat plays, and whether it's worth it.
Read moreOur Bang! The Dice Game review — hidden roles, wild west shootouts, and five dice. How Sheriff, Deputy, Outlaw and Renegade play, and how long a round runs.
Read moreHow to play Coup, simplified — every character, action and counteraction in one place, plus a quick cheat sheet. The whole 15-minute bluffing game explained.
Read moreOur Wits and Wagers review: the trivia game you can win without knowing any answers. How the betting round works and whether it's worth buying for parties.
Read moreMammut rules explained simply: how to divide the mammoth hunt spoils, when other players can steal your pile, and how scoring works across the rounds.
Read moreOur Camel Up review — the camel racing betting game where camels stack on each other's backs and one die roll can flip the whole race. Player count and verdict.
Read moreOur Carcassonne review: how tile placement and meeple scoring actually play at the table, what the base box lacks, and whether it earns a spot on your shelf.
Read moreBetrayal at House on the Hill is a semi-cooperative game set in a haunted house. Three reviewers, three very different takes — one loves it, one hates it, one sold their copy.
Read moreIs the Cashflow board game worth it? An honest review of Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad financial game — gameplay, dated components, the $60+ price, and who should actually buy it (and who shouldn't).
Read moreFour players is the sweet spot for most game nights. Here are the titles that seem to work better as four player games than two or three player games., and generally are just games worth buying.
Read moreIs Ticket to Ride Europe a good game, and is it easy to learn? Our review covers how it plays, how it differs from the original, and whether it's worth buying.
Read moreBattleship Beer Pong — the mashup nobody asked for but everybody needs.
Read moreOur Mammut review — the tile-drafting game where you divide the mammoth hunt spoils, and taking too much means the next player steals your entire pile.
Read moreOur review of Coup, the two-minute bluffing card game set in The Resistance universe. How it plays, best player count, and whether it earns a spot in your bag.
Read moreIs Catan actually fun? An honest review after years of plays — the trading, the robber, the runaway leader, and whether it still deserves a spot on your shelf.
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