Board game. A ticket to ride

[MakeMineALarge1]

Ok.
So loads of you recommend this game
How the bloody hell do we play it
We can't understand the instructions, they're too long
Please break it down for simple people 😅

This should help OP:

Which version have you got? Europe, Asia, America?

The rules vary slightly for each version.

I often get the app to learn how to play games.

I think you need the video - it’s an easy game but a visual is easier than written instructions.
Or ask friends if they know how to play - def playing alongside someone who knows is best.

Or play it on board game arena/watch others play

Ooh I love this one. We have the Europe version. I didn't think it was particularly complicated. Just follow the instructions?

It's brilliant! We bought it for DS at Xmas. Unfortunately he took it home 🤨

Sorry, that doesn't help. I'm crap at explaining, so will leave it to others. But I love this game, so simple, yet complex 😁

For unknown board games, always start with a YouTube video!

The first time we played we didn’t do the routes, just tried to get the longest track. That makes it a bit simpler.
and if you have the version with tunnels just ignore that for the first few times too

Collect cards.

Claim routes.

Count up points.

It's really simple.

We have the European version
I'll watch the video
Thank you

We have the Nordic version and played it for the first time the other day, we took the first game as a practice / warm-up with the rules on hand to check with each turn.

After the first few turns each we didn't need them any more. It's much more simple than it initially seems!

The first few rounds you'll all just be collecting cards.
Can only put 1 complete train journey (all same colour from 1 city to another) at a time. Add your points for this as soon as you do it
Ignore tunnels for now tbh I often don't include them
You are trying to complete your 'journey' on your card without revealing to other players what it is. You don't add those points if you complete it until the end of the game

Hope that helps a bit! YouTube video probably easiest way

Ok assuming it's Europe: each player gets one long journey card (blueish ones) and two or three short ones. They are your goals. In order to lay your trains along the route you have to collect enough of the right coloured cards for each stretch. There are 5 cards laid out face up and a deck face down by the board. On your turn you can take two from the ones you can see or two from the deck. If you take a locomotive card from the face up ones that's the only one you can take.
Each turn consists if picking up two cards, deciding and placing a stretch between two stations, or just saving the cards. You work towards your complete routes, ideally blocking opponents if you can work out where they are going.
I ignored the tunnels when I was first teaching DD..that makes it easier. First one to complete their routes stops the game and then you see who has the most points. You get points for each stretch of track you complete, which is marked on the board and there's a bonus ten for longest train.

Hope that helps..it's really fun.