Marmalade Game Studio has brought the iconic board game “Ticket to Ride” to life on Steam. This top-tier adaptation is set to thrill both seasoned players and newcomers with its captivating features, a fully-realized 3D world, and enhanced gameplay options. Marmalade, with a history of skillfully adapting beloved board games like Monopoly, Clue, and The Game of Life 2 for digital platforms, now introduces the exciting challenge of establishing a railway empire in Ticket to Ride with striking visuals.
The board game version of Ticket to Ride has amassed a passionate, extensive fanbase. Marmalade Game Studio prioritized community engagement during the development of its Steam version, ensuring that feedback from experienced players and enthusiasts significantly influenced the game’s functionality and ongoing content development.
Responding to community insights, Marmalade has implemented groundbreaking technology to create a novel AI system. This AI, refined through the expertise of over a hundred master players and countless simulated games, not only presents formidable opponents but also adapts in real-time to the playstyles and skill levels of users. Both experienced and novice players can enjoy a single-player mode that authentically replicates the excitement and intricacies of the traditional board game.
Marmalade’s multiplayer offerings are equally innovative, featuring a broad selection of game modes. Players can engage in various formats, from quick matches to extensive strategic battles, either against online opponents or in private sessions with friends. The game also accommodates asynchronous play, ideal for those in different time zones or for players who need a more flexible gaming schedule.
All of these features come together in a lively, immersive 3D world that truly animates the essence of the board game.
Mike Rosser, Creative Director at Marmalade Game Studio, stated: “When we adapt a board game, we aim to elevate the experience, to bring the world to life in ways that you can only do in digital. That’s especially important for games with a strong theme like Ticket to Ride – we want to capture that spirit of adventure that you associate with the golden age of rail, while giving it a vibrant, modern aesthetic! Our game board is 3D, with lovingly sculpted and textured terrain that helps to make the world feel like a real place, not just a map. You’re not just claiming that route from Denver to Salt Lake City – you’re crossing the Rockies! There are also opportunities to get up close and personal – when you complete a ticket, it flips to reveal a postcard of a train puffing into the destination you just reached, an animated 3D scene that’s like a magic window into the romantic world of steam travel.”
Celebrating the game’s release, Marmalade Game Studio is hosting an exciting competition, offering players a chance to win two Amtrak Rail or Interrail Passes. This promotion encourages players to demonstrate their abilities, share their achievements, and tag their ideal travel companion for a real-world railway journey.
Mike Willis, co-CEO of Marmalade Game Studio, commented: “Being big Ticket to Ride players ourselves, it was important to us that we connect with the fanbase from the start, and we intend to keep that relationship going. We have an exciting launch event planned and more to come, with a post-launch roadmap full of updates, including the release of fan-favourite and exclusive never-before seen maps. We’re looking forward to bringing our players hours of fun and excitement in the months and years to come.”
This marks the first joint project between Asmodee Entertainment, Days of Wonder, and Marmalade Game Studio, signaling an exciting future for both companies and their gaming communities.
Grab your Ticket to Ride on Steam and embark on your virtual railway conquest now!
