Best Train Board Games (2026): Route Builders, Dominoes and Heists

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Best train board games (2026): train games are a whole category, from claiming routes across a map to robbing a moving train. These four picks show the range: a modern classic, a domino favorite, a roll-and-write puzzle and a Wild West heist. Each lists the player count, age and why you might choose it.

1. Ticket to Ride — families and first-time gamers

Players: 2–5 · Price band: $30+ (about $40) · Pick for: Families and first-time gamers · See Ticket to Ride on Amazon

Each turn you draw train cards, claim a route by playing matching cards, or take new destination tickets. Longer routes score more, and finished tickets add big points at the end. Unfinished tickets count against you, which adds a nice dose of risk.

See how it compares in Ticket to Ride vs Catan and Carcassonne vs Ticket to Ride.

Skip it if: your group already has it and wants something new; see the picks below.

2. Mexican Train Dominoes (Double 12) — big family gatherings

Players: 2–8 · Price band: $30+ (about $39) · Pick for: Big family gatherings · See Mexican Train Dominoes (Double 12) on Amazon

Players build personal trains of dominoes out from a central hub, plus one shared Mexican Train anyone can add to. If you cannot play, your train opens to everyone. This set includes a wooden hub and four tile holders, which makes it easier to play on a crowded table.

Our how to play Mexican Train guide covers house rules.

Skip it if: you want a modern strategy game.

3. Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition — puzzle lovers and solo players

Players: 1–6 · Price band: $20–$30 (about $22) · Pick for: Puzzle lovers and solo players · See Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition on Amazon

Roll route dice, then everyone draws the same road and railway pieces onto their own board, trying to connect exits around the edge. This edition adds lakes and rivers. A game lasts seven rounds and about 30 to 45 minutes, and combining two editions supports up to 12 players.

See how to play Railroad Ink for scoring.

Skip it if: you dislike erasable boards and markers.

4. Colt Express — groups who like a little chaos

Players: 2–6 · Price band: $30+ (about $30) · Pick for: Groups who like a little chaos · See Colt Express on Amazon

Outlaws rob a 3D cardboard train, climbing onto the roof, punching rivals and grabbing loot. Everyone plans moves in secret, then watches them play out in order, often hilariously wrong. It won the 2015 Spiel des Jahres and is rated for ages ten and up.

Skip it if: your group gets frustrated when plans go sideways.

Picking a train game for your group

• Family night: Ticket to Ride.
• Holiday crowd with grandparents: Mexican Train Dominoes.
• Quiet puzzle or solo play: Railroad Ink.
• Rowdy friends: Colt Express.

Why train games stay popular

Connecting cities and building routes is easy to understand, and watching a network grow is satisfying. Train games also cover every weight, from Mexican Train after dinner to longer route-building games for strategy fans.

More route games to try

If your family loves Ticket to Ride, you will find more route-building games in our list of games like it. Fans of the outdoors might also enjoy Trekking the National Parks, which uses a similar set-collecting rhythm on a map of US parks.

Keep exploring with our best games like Ticket to Ride, Ticket to Ride vs Trekking the National Parks and best family board games.

Train board game questions

What is the best train board game for beginners?

Ticket to Ride. It teaches in about ten minutes and plays two to five.

Is Mexican Train a board game?

It is a dominoes game played with a double-12 set and a central hub.

Can you play Railroad Ink alone?

Yes. It supports one to six players, and two editions combine for up to 12.