In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.
This breakdown is for the classic entry-level train game Ticket to Ride and its Alvin & Dexter expansion.
This expansion adds two amazing little minis to the base game along with two decks of corresponding Alvin and Dexter cards and bonus cards for endgame scoring. Alvin and Dexter are both placed at setup and players may discard one or two of their train cards during their turn to draw an Alvin (the Alien) or Dexter (the Dinosaur) card from their respective stacks and move said monster three cities away if they discarded one train card or six cities away if they discarded two train cards. Any location with a monster mini on it is consider a City in Chaos and can therefore not accept new routes to or from it. The monsters simply block transportation in or out of the city. At the end of the game the players with the most amount of Alvin and Dexter cards will receive the Alvin and Dexter bonus cards respectively.
Ticket to Ride is one of those, “Oldies but Goodies,” and I have enjoyed every single one of my plays of it. Adding in Alvin and Dexter adds a little chaos to the game that is certainly lacking in just the base. Obviously this is a completely optional expansion to add to the game, but it keeps plays fresh and interesting. Blocking cities that you feel your opponents are trying to reach by placing a train-hungry monster there is just good strategy. But every rose has its thorn and the monsters’ loyalty lasts only as long as the next draw of their card. Such a great concept and execution!
Official recommendation: It is my recommendation to grab this expansion if you can find it at a reasonable price. The monster antics are great and the ability for any player to move either one on their turn delays opponents’ success by at least one turn, but possibly even more if they are needing to hold on to their entire hand of cards. I love it! Special bonus: many gamers are into painting minis and these are ripe for paint. I am just no good at it so mine are boring and stock.
