Games like Ticket to Ride: what to play next
Last checked 1 November 2026
Quick answer: If you liked Ticket to Ride, Ticket to Ride: Europe is the obvious next step, with tunnels, ferries and stations. For younger children, First Journey starts at 6. Karuba is about building paths, Kingdomino is a quick tile game for the family, Heat is a racing card game for up to six, Camel Up is a betting race, and Lost Cities is a card game for two.
Ticket to Ride is the family favourite that gets people hooked on modern board games: collect matching cards, claim routes and hope nobody blocks the one you need. If you've played it to death, these seven are a good next step. Some are other Ticket to Ride boxes, some keep the route-building, and some keep the easy rules and nervous little decisions. Our games like Catan page has a different set of picks if you liked that too.
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1. Ticket to Ride: Europe
Alan R. Moon's Europe map for Ticket to Ride. The same card collecting and route claiming, plus tunnels, ferries and train stations, and far more short routes than the USA map.
- Players
- 2 to 5 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Easy to teach
Why it suits this: The same card collecting and route claiming on Alan R. Moon's Europe map, plus tunnels, ferries and train stations. There are far more short routes than on the USA map, so you can get in each other's way more.
Check price on Amazon for Ticket to Ride: Europe (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 21 October 2026.
2. Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Ticket to Ride cut down for younger players. Collect train cards, claim short routes across a map of Europe and race to finish your tickets.
- Players
- 2 to 4 players
- Age
- 6+
- Play time
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: Ticket to Ride cut down for younger players. You collect train cards, claim short routes across a map of Europe and race to finish your tickets. A good way to bring 6-year-olds into the family's favourite.
Check price on Amazon for Ticket to Ride: First Journey (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 19 October 2026.
3. Karuba
Everyone lays the same jungle tiles at the same time to build paths, racing their explorers to the temples for treasure. Simple to learn with real choices.
- Players
- 2 to 4 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- 30 to 40 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Easy to teach
Why it suits this: If laying routes was the best bit, try this. Everyone lays the same jungle tiles at the same time to build paths, racing their explorers to the temples for treasure. Nobody waits for their turn.
Check price on Amazon for Karuba (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 24 October 2026.
4. Kingdomino
Pick domino-style land tiles and fit them into your own little 5-by-5 kingdom. Matching landscapes score points.
- Players
- 2 to 4 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- about 15 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Very easy to teach
Why it suits this: A quick family tile game. You pick domino-style land tiles and fit them into your own little 5-by-5 kingdom, and matching landscapes score points. It's as easy to teach as Ticket to Ride and much shorter.
Check price on Amazon for Kingdomino (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 9 November 2026.
5. Heat: Pedal to the Metal
Motor racing with cards. Push hard into corners and you pick up Heat cards that clog your hand. Legends robot drivers let you play solo.
- Players
- 1 to 6 players
- Age
- 10+
- Play time
- about 60 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Takes a little explaining
Why it suits this: A racing game made of cards, by the same publisher, Days of Wonder. Push hard into corners and you pick up Heat cards that clog your hand. It takes up to six, and robot drivers let you play solo.
Check price on Amazon for Heat: Pedal to the Metal (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 19 October 2026.
6. Camel Up (2nd edition)
Bet on a wobbly camel race where camels stack on top of each other, so the leader can change on every dice roll.
- Players
- 3 to 8 players
- Age
- 8+
- Play time
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Easy to teach
Why it suits this: A noisy family race. You bet on a wobbly camel race where camels stack on top of each other, so the leader can change on every dice roll. Good for bigger groups.
Details last checked 19 October 2026.
7. Lost Cities: The Card Game
Play numbered cards in rising order to fund expeditions. Every expedition you start costs points unless you push it far enough.
- Players
- 2 players only
- Age
- 10+
- Play time
- about 30 minutes
- Our teaching rating
- Easy to teach
Why it suits this: For two players who liked the tension of Ticket to Ride's tickets. You play numbered cards in rising order to fund expeditions, and every expedition you start costs points unless you push it far enough.
Check price on Amazon for Lost Cities: The Card Game (opens in a new tab)
Details last checked 9 November 2026.
Want more like this? See games like Catan, family board games for all ages and board games for beginners. Carcassonne fans should see games like Carcassonne. Want another Ticket to Ride box instead? See which Ticket to Ride to buy.
How we choose and check
We pick games for the situation, and ignore hobby rankings and hype. Player counts, ages and play times come from the publisher's own page or the box. If we can't confirm a detail there, we leave it off the card. The teaching rating is our own view from reading the rules, not a publisher figure. Nobody pays us to include a game. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See how we make money.