- Players
- 2–8
- Time
- 13 rounds, 1–2 hours
- You need
- Double-12 dominoes, a hub, markers
- To win
- Fewest pips after the last round
Mexican Train rules in a minute
Mexican Train is a dominoes game for two to eight players, usually played with a double-12 set. Each round starts from one double, the engine, sitting in the middle of the table. Every player builds a personal train out from the engine, and there is one shared train, the Mexican Train, that anyone can add to.
- Matching. A domino joins a train when one of its ends matches the open end of that train.
- Your turn. Play one domino on your own train, on the Mexican Train, or on another player's train if it has a marker.
- Stuck? Draw one domino from the boneyard. If it still doesn't fit anywhere, pass and put a marker on your train: now anyone may play on it until you play there again.
- Doubles. Play a double and you go again. The double has to be covered before anyone plays anywhere else.
- Going out. The round ends when someone plays their last domino, or when nobody can play. Everyone else scores the pips left in their hand.
- Winning. Play all the rounds, from 12-12 down to 0-0. The lowest total wins.
Want the detail, the setup tables and the house rules? Read the full Mexican Train rules.
How to play here
- Pick a domino set and a game length, then choose who you're playing: the computer, friends on one phone, or a private room.
- On your turn, the dominoes you can play are outlined in gold. Tap one. If it fits only one train it is played at once.
- If it fits more than one train, those trains light up. Tap the one you want.
- When nothing fits, the Draw button appears. If the drawn tile doesn't help either, press Pass and your train gets a marker.
- Each row is a train. The badge on the right shows the number you need to match, and a small locomotive means the train is open to everyone.
- After each round you see everyone's pips and the running totals. Anyone can deal the next round.
Playing Mexican Train online with friends
Private rooms need no account. Create a room, send the link to your group chat, and everyone joins on their own phone or laptop. Only you can see your hand; the server deals and checks every move, so nobody can peek at the boneyard. Short on players? Add computer players to fill the seats. A room keeps going if someone loses their connection: when they come back with the same link, they rejoin their seat.
Tips for beating the computer
- Plan your own train early. A long run of tiles that chain together is worth protecting, so play on the Mexican Train and open trains when they let you keep it.
- Get rid of high tiles first. A 12-11 left in your hand at the end of a round costs 23 points.
- Play a double when you can cover it yourself. An uncovered double forces everyone, including you, to deal with it.
- Watch the markers. When an opponent's train is open, you can use it to dump a tile that fits nowhere else.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Mexican Train game free? Do I need an account?
It's free and there is nothing to sign up for or install. Open the page and play in any browser on a phone, tablet or computer.
How do I play Mexican Train online with friends?
Type your name and press Create room. Share the invite link or the four-letter code; friends open it on their own phones and join. The host can add computer players to fill empty seats, choose the domino set and game length, then start. If someone drops out mid-game, the computer finishes their hand.
How many people can play?
Two to eight. Against the computer you can have up to seven computer opponents. Double-six sets seat up to four; with five or more players the game switches to a double-nine set so everyone gets enough tiles.
Which domino set should I choose?
Double-12 is the classic Mexican Train set: 91 tiles and 13 rounds, from the 12-12 engine down to 0-0. Double-9 plays 10 shorter rounds, and double-6 is a quick game for two to four players. Short game plays about half the rounds; One round is a five-minute taster.
How is Mexican Train scored?
When a round ends, every player adds up the pips (dots) on the dominoes left in their hand. Those points count against you, so the player who goes out scores zero. After the last round the lowest total wins. The game keeps the score sheet for you.
Can I play by myself?
Yes. Choose one to seven computer players and play straight away. The computer players cover doubles, open and close their trains, and try to get rid of high tiles early, so they are a fair test.
Can several people share one phone?
Yes. Choose Pass one phone around and enter everyone's name. Between turns the screen hides the tiles until the next player taps to see their own hand.