Ticket to Ride for the iPad offers a refreshing implementation of the award winning board game.  After seeing many semi-successful attempts at adapting classic board games to the iPad, it is truly a delight to finally see a game that is translated perfectly.  

The widely successful Ticket to Ride board game is a modern classic that is fun for any ‘family game night’.  Players compete by establishing train routes along a map that correspond to various destination cards.  The rules are simple and learning the game takes a matter of minutes.  Where the board game may fall short, the iPad version really excels.  Setting up and playing the traditional board game involves distributing many small pieces, a large deck of cards and a sometimes confusing scoring system.  However, playing the game on the iPad removes all of this and makes for a seamless experience.

One aspect that we are especially impressed with Ticket to Ride is the easy navigation through the menus and the elaborate tutorial.  When you begin for the first time, you are treated to a 5 minute video (that is optional if you want to just get rolling), followed by a fully interactive tutorial.  The narrator is easy to follow and explains the game very clearly.  We recommend that if this is the first time playing to go through both tutorials.  

Players take turns competing for space on the board with the goal of creating the most routes that connect two cities designated on route cards.  You have a number of options during your turn, and gameplay moves quickly.  The controls take full advantage of the touch screen which are intuitive and work well.  

There are several ways to play Ticket to Ride and the game was recently updated with a Pass and Play option.  This allows you to fully enjoy the game with anyone currently in the same room.  We want to highlight how well this implementation is done where your cards and pieces are hidden when it is not your turn. The game also does a nice job of not revealing any of the gameplay action via sounds or music.  Rest assured, you will get the same experience on the iPad as you would with the board game.  The average game takes around 15 – 20 minutes which is typical for any board game.

The game also includes an elaborate online community where you can compete with up to five other registered users or just your friends.  This also includes stat tracking with some players logging in more than 15,000 games.  This also means that there is some un-moderated chat during the games.   

To extend the life and variety of your purchase, Ticket to Ride has three expansion maps including Europe, Switzerland and an alternate map of the United States from 1910.  Each of these maps not only offers a different layout, but different types of gameplay (ferries, tunnels, etc.).  

If it isn’t obvious already, we really enjoyed playing Ticket to Ride on the iPad.  With so many board games on the Appstore that seem to miss the mark, it is nice to see a company that does things right.  If you are looking for a board game that feels like a classic, but contains something new and fun, then Ticket to Ride is a safe bet for you and your family.