Mexican Train Dominoes
Mexican Train Dominoes combines familiar domino matching with personal routes, one shared route, and enough planning to keep every turn interesting. Its relaxed pace and broad appeal make it a welcoming choice for families, older adults, and multigenerational groups at Midnight Oil community events in Titusville.
Watch How to Play
Video source: Spin Master Games (official) · Runtime: shown in the player. Edition note: Combined tutorial covering Muggins first and Mexican Train afterward.
Quick facts
What is Mexican Train Dominoes?
Players build lines of matching dominoes called trains. Each person normally has a private train, while the Mexican Train is a shared route available to everyone. A common version uses a double-12 domino set and plays a series of rounds, each beginning from a designated double.
Mexican Train has several published and household rules traditions. For event planning, the 30–60 minute estimate assumes an abbreviated game—often about three rounds—rather than a full 13-round double-12 match. The table host should announce the round count and any local rule details before play begins.
How does it play?
- Prepare the round. Mix the dominoes face down to form the boneyard, give each player a hand, and place the designated starting double in the center.
- Start the trains. Players build their personal trains from the center, and the shared Mexican Train may also be started.
- Match the open end. On a turn, play a domino whose number of pips matches an available train end. Other players' personal trains may be used only when marked as open.
- Draw when you cannot play. Take a domino from the boneyard. Under common rules, failing to make a legal play leaves a marker on your train so other players may use it.
- Resolve doubles and finish the round. A played double normally must be satisfied with another matching domino. The round ends when a player uses all of their dominoes or no further legal plays remain, and players score the pips left in their hands.
Why you might like it
- Matching pips is familiar and approachable, while choosing among trains adds light strategy.
- The pace leaves room for conversation and makes the game comfortable for social gatherings.
- An abbreviated round format can fit a community event without requiring a full traditional match.
Who is it best for?
Mexican Train is especially well suited to families, traditional-game players, older adults, and multigenerational tables. Players need to recognize or count pips and physically handle dominoes. The game is not heavily dependent on reading, and another player can assist with scoring when helpful.
Play it with Midnight Oil
Library games are available to play free at select Midnight Oil community events. They are not currently available for take-home borrowing. Game availability and teaching assistance may vary by event, and visitors may contact us in advance to request a particular game.
Check the Events page for Midnight Oil's next community game night in Titusville. At the table, the host will confirm the number of rounds and the rules variation being used so every player begins with the same expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Why have I seen different Mexican Train rules?
The game has several published and household traditions, especially for starting trains, satisfying doubles, and drawing tiles. The table host will explain the version being used before the game.
How long does a full game take?
A traditional double-12 match can run for 13 rounds and take considerably longer than an hour. Midnight Oil's 30–60 minute listing assumes an abbreviated event-friendly game.
What is the Mexican Train?
It is the shared train that every player may use, unlike a personal train that is normally private unless marked open.
Do I need to bring dominoes?
No. When the game is listed and available at an event, the play set is supplied. Because availability varies, contact Midnight Oil in advance if you want to request it.