Ticket to Ride: San Francisco Review: Short, Simple, and the Same

[@benjaminspears8488]

It would almost be better if Tom compared it to the other small games. I get that nobody needs all four- but which one is better and why?

[@thetasworld]

From what I've read New York is the worst, so pick one of the rest based on looks???

[@Steve-L]

@@thetasworld Tom said NY and London were his favorite. I liked both of those but NY a little better.

[@ozza000]

This actually looks like it might be the best of the small box Ticket to Ride's, but I do kind of agree that I don't really have room for the small box Ticket to Ride's. I own London because I live in the UK, but it basically only comes out at Christmas. Otherwise I'm just always going to choose a big box version over a small box version. The new Ticket to Ride Northern Lights looks interesting with its goal cards to gain extra points.

[@roza44channel]

Have played it first time today with my boys - 5 and 7yrs old. That was great. We have Winter theme version, but it is too long for 7yrs old and names are too 'scandinavian' for kids. I think San Francisco version is perfect game and i don't like that all reviewers says "no" to it just because there are other 3 'small' versions that are not so much different they wish to be. I don't care if there are others as i have not played them and don't own them. Should we give low score, just because this is Ticket to Ride that is not so much different then other versions. I chose this because: -it is fast (would prefer to play 2-3 short different games then 1 big Ticket To Ride) -map is smaller so this is easier for kids to find proper location and plan what they want to do (they can analyze all steps and not feel that there is too much roads and cause decision paralyze) -it looks nice (was afraid for pink trains as I'm not pink guy, but they are really great in real live) -it doesn't take too much space -names are quite easy to learn for kids (not like Amsterdam or Scandinavia or Africa) -you can pay with 2, 3 and 4 players and all games are reasonable short so you can play again. -Have not played set collection at first game (to make game easier for 5yrs old), but have a feeling this is game changer as adds another layer. I think this is the one we have not asked for, but we deserved. I'm glad they issue this version as this is perfect for kids, but don't get me wrong this is for adults as well. I honestly enjoyed it.

[@CHIPSSALTY]

I only have TTR London. From what I gathered, the general opinion for small box TTRs is London>San Fran>New York> Amsterdam.

[@jr637-1]

I love the little addition of the set collection mechanic. It honestly elevates this version above New York and London for small travel Ticket to Ride for me. (I've always preferred smaller travel-sized games over full-sized versions.) Keep in mind though, that I have never played a Ticket to Ride game outside of the original version, which gives me a less "been there, done that" perspective than a seasoned Ticket to Ride veteran. It's on my wish list, but probably only because I don't already own NY or London, and I'm not sure it would be worth the incremental upgrade without a more impactful mechanic addition.

[@yournostroleeoleeolees.]

NEED A LOS ANGELES VERSION!!!! To Santa Monica to Long Beach to North Hollywood Santa Clarita to Pasadena or Something …Palmdale To Santa Ana something??? Hello people

[@sandraflynn5357]

And San diego too.

[@brucebush5744]

I prefer the smaller TTRs - seem to be a better match for the game’s simple mechanisms than the big box counterparts. Logically I agree that the gameplay variations are very minor so there’s no real reason to own more than one - but they sure are pretty and do somehow manage to encapsulate some of the flavour of the cities.

[@cb-nz]

These are great to play with the kids (5 & 7) or for quick games for 2. London the favourite because of the collecting areas worth 1-5 bonus points mechanic and buses instead of trains, Amsterdam least favourite and NY is just OK as it is (ironically) very railroady because of the vertical map. This one might squeeze in at 2nd spot of the 4 with the escalating token bonus but you don't really need more than 1.

[@NATOnova]

For ticket to ride fans, which of the 4 small box games do you recommend? San Francisco, London, New York, or Amsterdam? Thanks for the review!

[@brucebush5744]

I think that London was the best up until now. But I’ve not played San Francisco and that little token collection system does look neat.

[@linusottosson5425]

London, New York, Amsterdam. In that order. Looking forward to trying San Fran

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Having ONE little Ticket to Ride is great as you can use it for travel and teaching the game and just having a great filler. But owning more than one is pointless.

[@JERRYR708]

It's easy to get all caught up in the collecting and consumerism trap.

[@KidJV]

it really irks me when game is introduced and the player count is not mentioned

[@Steve-L]

Tom said Amsterdam seemed unbalanced, wouldn't it be better to remove that one and add this to the collection?

[@flawed1]

Ticket to ride swore to destroy the Monopoly not join them

[@BoardGamesBricksHobbies]

Well, it is Asmodee, they're now the second largest board game company after Hasbro so I'm not surprised.

[@mez561]

I like the small TtR games more than the big ones, to the point where I got rid of USA. I'm not huge on TtR and find the shorter playtime works better introducing new players to the game and makes the length of the game feel more like a filler.

[@timmothy78]

Ticket to Ride remains one of my favorite games; easy to play, easy to teach. There is enough strategy for seasoned gamers without being intimidating for newer players. We have the Switzerland map for when it's just two players. The smaller box (and board) makes this a perfect travel/portable version for 2 to 4 players. I agree that differences between the small box versions are minimal - so pick the city that interests you most and stick with that.

[@whytemeet]

I'm with you Tom, I played London with my kids and just kept thinking I'd rather be played the big Ticket to Ride. I just ended up gifting the smaller version to my daughter since she enjoyed it.

[@sdpam3463]

It’s like collecting the Starbucks city mugs. It’s fun but I’ll just stick to the New York.

[@sandraflynn5357]

I just bought thus on the ps5 for $7.99. If i woykd have known thats its this small, i would NOT have paid that much for it. In my opinion its NOT worth $7.99. I have the us, europe and north America ones and they are huge. This obe is too small of a map fir me and less trains too. 4 players wouod be to stressful for me. I'd get mad if i couldn't get my trains connected.

[@bornofashes]

The small games don’t woo him anymore. The honeymoon is over.

[@scottelam3726]

Add it to the library for completeness sake. I actually do want to play SF since I've played London and NY and I'd be disppointed if I was at a DT convention and it wasn't there. That said, I will be purchasing it as to complete my collection and we take the smaller versions when we travel and having options when travelling gives me the same feeling of having options at home with the bigger TTR versions.

[@0smundSaddler]

Yeah playing this after London it just felt superfluous. Do something crazy like scifi or fantasy maybe, or perhaps one with mechanics based around the Shinkansen

[@NATOnova]

For tabletop and ticket to ride fans, you prefer San Francisco or London version?

[@AC-Duecey]

There already is a ticket to ride version with a Japanese bullet train (Shinkansen)