🚂 Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train
⭐15/10
Players: 2–4
Playtime: 15–20 min
Difficulty: Light
Game type: Train / Family / Set Collection
🚂 Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train
“Ghost Train” is a wonderful board game not just for kids. Even friends who usually prefer complex, heavy titles found themselves charmed by it. It combines simple rules, fast pacing, and beautiful, atmospheric artwork with just a touch of Halloween magic.
Wsiąść do Pociągu: Widmo
🎯 Objective
Each player becomes the conductor of a haunted train, trying to connect the locations shown on their tickets using 20 colorful carriages. At the start, you draw two tickets. The goal? Be the first to complete 6 tickets.
🛤️ How a turn works
On your turn, you do one of two things:
Draw Platform cards – take two cards from the deck or from the face-up row (locomotives are wild and can replace any color).
Claim a route – play cards matching a track’s color and place your carriages there. If this completes a ticket, reveal it and draw a new one.
💡 Important!
If the new ticket matches a route you’ve already built, it counts instantly — in the same turn. Meaning you can win immediately, no waiting until the next round.
🎃 Extra flavor
“Trick or Treat” tickets – bonus points if you connect specific types of locations.
Town Hall bonus – connect the Town Hall with either the Crypt or the Haunted Mansion to draw two extra Platform cards.
Double routes – some spaces have two parallel tracks, but one player can’t claim both.
🧩 Why I like this version
“Ghost Train” keeps everything we love about Ticket to Ride but makes it more compact and dynamic — perfect for a casual night with friends.
With only 20 carriages, every decision matters, and the competition for key routes feels sharper. The artwork is gorgeous: pastel but slightly eerie colors, atmospheric illustrations of locations, and subtle details that instantly transport you to a cozy, Halloween-town vibe.
🏆 How to win at Ghost Train
Plan your tickets early – pick ones that overlap with routes you already have.
Watch your carriages – 20 isn’t much, don’t spread too thin.
Stock up on cards – don’t wait until the last moment or someone might steal your route.
Use double routes carefully – they can save you, but won’t always be available.
Save locomotives – spend them on hard or strategic connections.
Plan a final burst – completing two tickets in one turn can clinch the win.
☕ Impressions
Ghost Train is compact, quick, and surprisingly thrilling. The simple rules make it instantly accessible, while the fast pace keeps tension high until the very end. It’s one of those games you immediately want to play again and again — each match brings a fresh route layout, new decisions, and different table dynamics.
🎯 Rating: 15/10 – Because this is one of those titles that pulls you in completely. “Just one more game” quickly turns into a whole evening of fun. Each play is short, punchy, and unique, thanks to the changing routes. The entry barrier is low, but the fun level is sky-high. It’s not an overcomplicated version — but it still requires thinking and planning, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and experienced gamers.
📖 Full rulebook (PL):
Ticket to Ride Europe – Rules PDF
