Skillmatics' Train of Thought (item SKILL128TOT), the box our link goes toPhoto: Skillmatics
What's in the box: 150 question, action and wild cardsPhoto: Skillmatics
Complete three carriages, one in each colour, to winPhoto: Skillmatics
A question cardPhoto: Skillmatics
Another question cardPhoto: Skillmatics
Video

Card game

Train of Thought

Answer thoughtful questions and collect carriages to complete your train

2–6players · best with 3-4
15–30 minplaying time
6+recommended age
Learning curve
Very easy1 / 5
EasyDemanding
Luck & skill
More luck than skill
LuckSkill
Interaction
Medium
Set-up
Under a minute
Reading
Some

The quick verdict

Full verdict ↓

Great for Families who want children to open up: the questions ask about memories, wishes and feelings

Think twice if You want a game of strategy: which cards you draw decides most of the race

How we rate it

Learning curve. Draw a card, answer it, collect three of a kind. Skillmatics says it takes five minutes to learn, so it sits with UNO at 1 on our scale.

Luck & skill. The race is mostly decided by which cards you draw; choosing when to use an action or move a wild card is the only real decision.

Interaction. Everyone listens to each answer, and action cards let you take cards from other players or challenge them.

Set-up. Shuffle the cards and put them face down in the middle; the youngest player starts.

Reading. Each question card has one short English question to read aloud; the rest is colours and pictures.

Learning curve: 1 = UNO or Connect 4; 3 = Catan; 5 = a heavy strategy game. These describe the experience, not an overall score.

Is Train of Thought right for you?

Great if

  • Families who want children to open up: the questions ask about memories, wishes and feelings
  • Mixed ages from 6 up, since the rules take about five minutes to learn
  • An icebreaker when cousins or family friends get together
  • Holidays and long drives: Skillmatics calls the 150-card box travel friendly

Skip it if

  • You want a game of strategy: which cards you draw decides most of the race
  • Your group dislikes personal questions or talking about feelings out loud
  • Your youngest players can't read English yet and nobody can read the cards for them

A place on the honours list

Good company to be in.

Recognition from beyond our table.

NAPPA Awards (National Parenting Product Awards), 2022 (Winner)

How Train of Thought plays

Set-up: shuffle all 150 cards and put them face down in the middle. Skillmatics' rules sheet says the youngest player starts and play goes clockwise. Each card belongs to one kind of train carriage, such as passengers, pets, food or drinks, and every carriage has one of three colours.

  • Time to teach: about 5 minutes.
  • Reading and language: Every question card is printed in English and is read out before you answer, so children who don't read yet need someone to read for them. Answers can be in Hindi or any language the family shares. We found no Hindi or regional-language edition.
Complete three carriages, one in each colour, to win · Photo: Skillmatics

Train of Thought - A Game of Exciting Questions & Real Connections! | How to Play | Ages 6+ · Skillmatics · Official

Choose a video · Watch right here

If this creator doesn’t allow embedded playback, watch on YouTube ↗.

A turn, step by step

  1. 1
    Draw

    Take a card from the pile in the middle.

  2. 2
    Answer

    Answer a question card aloud and add it to your train, or use the action card you drew.

  3. 3
    Collect

    Three cards of the same kind make a carriage; wild cards can fill a gap.

  4. 4
    Win

    The first to complete three carriages, one in each colour, wins.

Read the official rules (PDF)Tren de pensamiento (Train of Thought) rules sheet, Spanish (Skillmatics) · Spanish
The full explanation: how a game of Train of Thought goes

A turn: draw one card. A question card, such as 'What is something that you wish would come true?', is answered aloud and then placed in front of you as part of your train. An action card has to be used on the turn you draw it, for example taking a food or drink card from another player and answering its question; if you choose not to use it, it goes back on the pile and your turn ends. Some cards set a quick challenge, such as imitating another player, to win or keep a card.

Carriages: three cards of the same kind make a complete carriage, which you stack face down in front of you. You can't mix two kinds, even when they share a colour. Wild cards fill a gap in any carriage, but a carriage needs at least one question card, wild cards can't be traded, and you may move a wild card only on your own turn and only between carriages you haven't turned over yet.

How you win: the first player with three complete carriages, one in each of the three colours, has completed their train of thought and wins. Two carriages of the same colour don't count towards the win.

Tip: the rules above come from Skillmatics' Spanish rules sheet for its export box, which has the same 150 cards, so check the English manual in your box. With young children, let a grown-up read the questions aloud, and agree before you start that anyone may pass on a question that feels too personal.

What's in the box

What's in the box: 150 question, action and wild cards · Photo: Skillmatics
  • 110Question cards
    questions such as 'What is something that you wish would come true?'
  • 20Wild cards
    fill a gap in any carriage
  • 20Action cards
    take a card from another player or set a quick challenge
  • 1Instruction manual
  • 1Storage box

Contents are from Skillmatics' India product page for this box (item SKILL128TOT), which match the listing. Skillmatics' export box (SKILL93TOT) lists the same cards.

Where to buy

Check price on Amazon.in
How to make sure you get a genuine copyEditions and the details worth checking.

About the editions

Train of Thought is Skillmatics' own game, made by its Mumbai company Grasper Global, and Skillmatics' India product page gives India as the country of origin. Skillmatics sells the same game abroad under another item code, but there is no reason to look for that box in India. Our Amazon.in link goes to the Indian box, item SKILL128TOT.

Before you choose

  • The box should say Skillmatics and Train of Thought, with the line 'A game of exciting questions and real connections' and an age band of 6-99.
  • Check the contents: 150 cards in all (110 question cards, 20 wild cards and 20 action cards) plus an instruction manual.
  • Skillmatics' barcode for the Indian box is 8904279501065 and its item code is SKILL128TOT.
  • Skillmatics names Grasper Global Private Limited, Mumbai, as the manufacturer; look for that name on the box.
  • An older, unrelated party word game is also called Train of Thought; make sure the listing names Skillmatics.

What reviewers and players say

We found no independent written reviews or forum threads about Skillmatics' Train of Thought. The clearest outside opinion comes from the NAPPA Awards, a US parenting-products award, which named it a winner in 2022; its evaluators praised how the questions get families reflecting and talking, and suggested it for road trips and visits to grandparents. On paper it is a gentle, luck-driven card game whose real point is the conversation. Families who want strategy will find little here; families who want children to talk about their day, memories and dreams are its audience.

What people love

  • Questions about memories, wishes and feelings get children talking
  • Takes 2 to 6 players and about five minutes to learn
  • Award evaluators suggested it for road trips and visits to relatives
  • Action and wild cards add small surprises to a calm game

Common complaints

  • Who wins depends mostly on the cards you draw
  • Questions are in English only, so young children need a reader
  • No independent reviews, so it is hard to say how fresh 110 questions stay for a family that plays often
Based on 5 reviews and discussions

Summarised in our own words from the sources above. We don't use Amazon reviews or ratings.

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Questions people ask about Train of Thought

How do you play Train of Thought?

Players take turns drawing a card. Question cards are answered aloud and added to your train, while action and wild cards let you take cards, set small challenges or fill gaps. The first player to complete three carriages of three cards, one in each colour, wins.

How many cards are in Train of Thought?

150: 110 question cards, 20 wild cards and 20 action cards. The box also has an instruction manual and room to store the cards.

What age is Train of Thought for?

Skillmatics says 6 and up, and the box says 6 to 99. Six-year-olds may need a grown-up to read the questions, which are printed in English.

Is Train of Thought made in India?

Yes. Skillmatics' India product page gives India as the country of origin and names Grasper Global Private Limited, Skillmatics' company in Mumbai, as the manufacturer.

Can two people play Train of Thought?

Yes. Skillmatics says 2 to 6 players, so a parent and child can play it together; with more players there are more answers to hear around the table.

Game facts

Publisher
Skillmatics (Grasper Global Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, India)
In India
Skillmatics (Grasper Global Private Limited, Mumbai), which makes the game
Players
2–6
Barcode
8904279501065
Language
Some English – Every question card is printed in English and is read out before you answer, so children who don't read yet need someone to read for them. Answers can be in Hindi or any language the family shares. We found no Hindi or regional-language edition.
Awards
NAPPA Awards (National Parenting Product Awards), 2022 (Winner)
Sources & photo creditsThe references behind this guide.

Facts on this page come from the publisher, the Indian maker or distributor, and the sources below. Photos are credited under each one.