Ticket to Ride vs Spirit Island
Side by side comparison of two top board games
Ticket to Ride
⭐ 7.4# 258💰 $45👤 2-5
Ticket to Ride is a railway-themed strategy game where players collect train cards to claim railway routes across North America. Players compete to connect cities and complete destination tickets for points. The game is easy to learn but offers strategic depth through route planning and blocking opponents.
TrainsTransportation
Spirit Island
⭐ 8.4# 11💰 $65👤 1-4
Spirit Island is a cooperative game where players are spirits defending their island from invading colonizers. Unlike most cooperative games where players are the underdog, here players grow increasingly powerful as the game progresses. Each spirit has unique powers and abilities, offering high replayability.
FantasyFightingMythologyTerritory Building
Specification Comparison
| Spec | Ticket to Ride | Spirit Island |
|---|---|---|
| BGG Rank | 258 | 11 ✓ |
| Rating | 7.4 | 8.4 ✓ |
| Year Published | 2004 ✓ | 2017 |
| Price | 45 ✓ | 65 |
| Min Players | 2 | 1 ✓ |
| Max Players | 5 ✓ | 4 |
| Play Time (min) | 60 ✓ | 120 |
| Min Age | 8 ✓ | 13 |
| Complexity (1-5) | 1.87 | 4.06 ✓ |
Ticket to Ride wins in 5 categories, Spirit Island wins in 4 categories.
Ticket to Ride — Time Estimates
2-Player Game30 min
Quick session with a smaller group
5-Player Game60 min
Full table experience
Learning Session75 min
First time playing (includes setup & rule explanation)
Spirit Island — Time Estimates
1-Player Game90 min
Quick session with a smaller group
4-Player Game120 min
Full table experience
Learning Session135 min
First time playing (includes setup & rule explanation)
Category & Mechanic Comparison
Ticket to Ride
Categories
TrainsTransportation
Mechanics
Card DraftingConnectionsHand ManagementNetwork and Route BuildingOpen DraftingSet Collection
Spirit Island
Categories
FantasyFightingMythologyTerritory Building
Mechanics
Action PointsAction QueueArea Majority / InfluenceCooperative PlayHand ManagementModular BoardSimultaneous Action SelectionVariable Player Powers
Rating Comparison
Ticket to Ride7.4
Spirit Island8.4
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game has a higher rating, Ticket to Ride or Spirit Island?
Ticket to Ride has a rating of 7.4, while Spirit Island has 8.4. Spirit Island is rated higher.
Which game is more affordable, Ticket to Ride or Spirit Island?
Ticket to Ride costs approximately $45 and Spirit Island costs approximately $65. Ticket to Ride is the more affordable option.
Which game supports more players, Ticket to Ride or Spirit Island?
Ticket to Ride supports 2-5 players and Spirit Island supports 1-4 players. Ticket to Ride supports more players.
Is Ticket to Ride or Spirit Island more complex?
On a scale of 1-5, Ticket to Ride has a complexity weight of 1.87 and Spirit Island has 4.06. Spirit Island is the more complex game.
Which game has a shorter play time, Ticket to Ride or Spirit Island?
Ticket to Ride takes about 60 minutes to play, while Spirit Island takes about 120 minutes. Ticket to Ride is the quicker game.