So you have gone prestige 25 times in COD4; you've played through Ninja Gaiden II and realized that Team ninja hates you. You may have even raised and forcibly mated Pinatas for your own sick amusement. The question is what do you do to give your weary thumbs a rest before diving into the sword-shattering, boob-shaking world of Soul Calibur 4? Read a book? Go outside and interact with people without using a USB headset? We both know those aren't viable options, so I suggest you download Ticket to Ride via Xbox Live arcade.

The Live Arcade game is based on an award winning German tabletop board game released in 2004. You play as a fledgling turn of the century railway magnate competing to secure routes across America while preventing your enemies from doing the same. The gameplay takes about five minutes to learn using the built-in tutorial section, which by the way, nets you five E-penis points once completed. Basically, it breaks down to choosing several destination cards, which list two cities that you need to link via rail line, and collecting various colored cards from the deck that allow players to secure ownership of those lines. Each completed destination card earns you points, while any destination card in your hand at the end of the game that has not been completed loses you points, not to mention a small part of your dignity. A game ends when one player has used all but two of his or her allotment of 45 trains, which usually takes about 20 minutes. As usual, the player with the most points at the end of the match wins.

Yes folks, that's it; like the infomercials tell you, it's just that simple. The fun comes in both the strategy involved, as well as playing competitively against friends via Xbox live. While this game is by no means Chess, there is a certain level of planning and strategy that needs to be employed to win. In my experience, the single player game rewards taking planned risks early on, then small, easily managed risks later on. The real joy you receive playing this game is watching a friend spend 15 minutes trying to complete a destination card and in the last minute, buying the track set he needs to finish it. The ensuing profanity-filled scramble to find a new route is truly a pleasure to watch and hear as long as you're not overly sensitive about your mother's sexual habits and history.

Do you like games involving strategy, but can't find the time to delve into an RTS? Only have a little time to kill and want a bite-sized game that isn't based on frat boy humor or matching colored gems? Do your pants get a little tighter when you get to buy Reading Railroad while playing Monopoly? If you've answered "yes" to any of the above questions, I suggest you turn on your Xbox 360, say your daily RROD prayer, and purchase a copy ofTicket to Ride.