Days of Wonder
Ticket to Ride: First Journey
The best entry point into strategy games. Players collect train cards and claim routes on a US map: it teaches planning and resource management, but to kids it just feels like connecting cities. Games run 15-30 minutes, for 2-4 players.
See current price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Highlights
- Simplified version of the full Ticket to Ride game, built for ages 6 and up
- 2-4 players, games run 15-30 minutes
- Cities marked with symbols as well as names, so kids who can't read yet can still match routes
About Ticket to Ride: First Journey
This is the kid-simplified version of the classic Ticket to Ride game: collect train cards, claim routes on a US map, and complete destination tickets. Reviewers consistently praise the component quality, a thick, sturdy board and detailed train pieces, and several parents report even a 5-year-old can start following along, with a 6-7-year-old picking it up largely on their own.
The one recurring complaint is the printed rulebook itself, more than one reviewer found the written instructions confusing and recommends watching a short YouTube explainer instead of relying on the included sheet. Once the rules click, though, reviews describe it as fast-paced and genuinely fun for adults too, not just a kids' game adults tolerate.
The Honest Take
What We Like and What We Don't
What we like
- Excellent component quality, a sturdy board and detailed pieces reviewers repeatedly call out
- Cities marked with symbols, not just names, so pre-readers can still play
- Fast games, 15-30 minutes, that hold a kid's attention without dragging
What holds it back
- The printed rulebook is a real weak point, several reviewers recommend a YouTube tutorial instead
- First play takes longer than 15-30 minutes while everyone's still learning the rules
Is This For You?
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Buy This
Get it if…
Get it if the goal is a real first strategy game for a 6-8 year old, with high-quality components and games short enough to hold their attention.
Skip it if…
Skip it if no one in the house wants to watch a short rules video first, the printed rulebook alone gets mixed reviews for clarity.
The verdict
A strong first strategy game, kids pick it up fast once someone explains the rules well, just don't rely on the printed instructions to be the one doing the explaining.
What Real Buyers Say
“Just picking up the box you can tell the quality. It is heavy! The construction of the board is one of the best I have ever seen, thick with sturdy folds. The plastic train pieces are detailed, and the cards are thick and appealing.”
United States
“Fun game! The board, cards and packaging are all great, the pieces are very cheap, and the written directions are terrible, skip them and watch one of several 2 minute YouTube videos for rules and game play.”
United States
“My 7 year old picked this right up, and even my 5 year old is starting to figure it out. What I like is kids that can't read yet don't have to be able to read the names of the cities, because they also have symbols the kids can match.”
United States
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a game take?
About 15-30 minutes once everyone knows the rules. A first play with a new player usually runs longer while everyone's still learning.
Can a kid who can't read yet play?
Yes, cities on the map are marked with symbols as well as names, so pre-readers can match routes without needing to read city names.
Are the printed instructions easy to follow?
Reviews are mixed on this specifically. Several parents recommend watching a short YouTube explainer video instead of relying only on the included rulesheet, after that the game itself plays easily.
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