Ticket to Ride is the most-cited "first hobby game" recommendation in the entire community. The rules fit on one side of a card; the strategy is deeper than first plays suggest.
The longest-route bonus rewards aggressive corner play; the destination tickets reward connected continental networks. Doing both at once is hard. Doing one well usually wins.
Europe is the better map for repeat play. Tunnels and ferries add tactical depth without adding any new rule that needs explanation.
