Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West has taken the world by storm, expanding upon the original board game and creating a whole new experience for players. This campaign-based rail-building game offers twelve games of excitement and strategy, with each game building upon the last.
What’s in the Box
One of the first things you’ll notice about Ticket to Ride: Legends of the West is its massive box size, much larger compared to previous versions. Inside, you’ll find individual boxes containing various components that are opened as you progress through the game. Without giving away any spoilers, we can’t reveal what’s inside these boxes. However, fans of the series will recognize familiar elements such as plastic trains in different colors, ticket and train cards with updated art, and dividers for organizing the cards. The game also features a unique jigsaw board that expands as you build rail lines throughout the Wild West. Additionally, there’s a new deck called postcards that adds new aspects to the game, although their full function is not explained until later.
Rules and How It Plays
The core gameplay loop of Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West remains true to the franchise’s roots. On your turns, you’ll collect colored train cards to match the routes on the board, claim routes by playing cards, and earn bonus points by connecting cities on hidden tickets. These familiar mechanics have stood the test of time and continue to provide a thrilling and addictive experience for players.
The game introduces some fresh twists to the formula. Players now earn money instead of points, and claiming routes in their player color rewards them with two dollars. The number of train pieces increases over time, and the train deck includes newspaper cards that reveal special events when drawn. These new elements add a strategic layer to the game.
The story and postcard decks are the primary engines of innovation in Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West. The story deck contains cards that are read before and after each game, offering a silly yet enjoyable narrative framework and occasionally introducing new rules. Postcards can be collected by completing certain tickets and provide additional objectives for players to pursue. These objectives often tie in with mechanics revealed later in the game.
As the campaign progresses, new elements and mini-games are introduced, providing players with fresh challenges and surprises. These mini-games offer new ways to score points and can permanently change the main board, impacting future games. Each new element adds anticipation and excitement to the overall experience.
Completing the campaign is the ultimate goal in Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West. After 12 games, players tally up their profits, including bonuses from mini-games and stored cards, to determine the overall winner. However, the campaign is best enjoyed when played with the same group of players, as dropping in and out can disrupt the flow of the game. While the game offers a unique and personalized experience, some changes feel less personal than in previous legacy games, and certain mini-games are only available once. This may affect replayability once the campaign is finished.
If you’re ready to embark on a thrilling journey through the Wild West, you can find Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West at various retailers.