If you’ve ever wondered which board game help launch a renewed global interest in board games, look no further than the one hitting our tables on 7/27!
Released in 2004 by designer Alan R. Moon and publisher Days of Wonder, Ticket to Ride didn’t just win the board game world’s top honor (the Spiel des Jahres) — it helped redefine what a “board game night” could look like. Games with colorful art, easy to teach in ten minutes, and deep enough to reward smart play.
That combination made it one of the original “gateway games”, titles that pulled a generation of new players out of Monopoly and Risk and into the modern board game renaissance. Nearly two decades later, it’s sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and is still regularly cited as one of the best-selling modern board games ever made.
Part of Ticket to Ride’s staying power is how many different flavors it comes in. Each version keeps the same welcoming core loop, but changes the map, the routes, and sometimes the rules just enough to feel fresh even if you’ve played hundreds of games of the original.
We’ll have a few of these variations out on the table Monday night — so if you’ve only ever played the classic USA map, this is a great chance to try one of the expanded versions and see how the different maps change your strategy.
Come by 2 Row Brewing this Monday, grab a pint, and see why this one game did so much to bring board gaming back into the spotlight. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, there’s a Ticket to Ride map with your name on it. And give a big thanks to our Guest Hosts Don and Tom for helping out so Sean and Jake can take a much needed vacation!