The easiest way to play Mexican Train online with family is to open Loco Motion in your web browser, start a game, tap Invite and text the link to everyone you want at the table. Each player makes a free account (you’ll need to be 13 or older), and then you’re all playing the same game from your own phones, tablets or computers. You can also play the computer anytime, with no account at all.
What you need
- A phone, tablet or computer with a web browser and an internet connection.
- That’s it! Loco Motion runs right in the browser, so there’s nothing to install. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Here’s a handy tip for iPhone: open the game, tap Share, then tap Add to Home Screen. Now it’s one tap away, just like an app.
Step by step
- Open Loco Motion. Go to the game in the web browser on your phone, tablet or computer. There’s nothing to download.
- Start a game. Pick your house rules first, if you’d like. Everyone at the table plays by the host’s rules.
- Tap Invite. You’ll get a link to your table.
- Text the link to the family. Send it the way you’d send any link: in a text, an email or a family group chat.
- They tap the link and join. Each player makes a free account the first time (you’ll need to be 13 or older). Then they’re at your table.
- Play together. Everyone plays from their own device. The game matches the tiles and keeps score for you.
Games with friends pick up where you left off, so it’s fine to close the game and come back. You can turn on notifications so you know when it’s your turn.
Ready? Open Loco Motion and start a game. It’s free.
Helping Grandma and Grandpa get set up
The first game is the hardest part, and only because of the account. A few things make it easy:
- Do it together on a call. Walk them through tapping the link and making the account while you’re on the phone.
- Add it to their home screen so they can find it next time without the link.
- Use their house rules. If Grandpa has always played with a 50-point double-blank, switch it on. He’ll feel right at home.
- Send the printable rules if anyone needs a refresher. Here’s the one-page rules sheet.
Playing the computer
You don’t need an account to play against the computer. Pick easy, medium or hard and start a game. It’s a nice way to learn the rules, practice a little, or play a quick game when everyone else is busy. Kids can play the computer too, with no account needed.
House rules
Loco Motion follows the standard Mexican Train rules, and you can switch on the house rules many families grew up with: a 50-point double-blank, a big first turn, starting your own train first, drawing until you can play, any play closing your train, and doubles that don’t block. In a game with friends, everyone plays by the host’s rules. See what each house rule means.
The Daily Deal
Not everyone can be at the table at the same time, and that’s where the Daily Deal comes in. Everyone gets the same tiles, and you get one try. Whoever has the fewest dots left wins. A new deal comes out every night at midnight Central, and when you finish, you can text your score to the family and see who did best. Here’s today’s deal.
A few honest notes
- Loco Motion is free to play.
- Playing with family online needs an internet connection and a free account for each player, ages 13 and up.
- The iPhone app isn’t out yet, but the browser version works on iPhones, Android phones, tablets and computers.
- Stuck on something? Write to us and a real person will answer.