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How to Play Mexican Train Dominoes Online

By the Tavernly team ยท

Mexican Train is a traditional domino game with no single publisher, played with a double-twelve set. You can play online in a browser through PlayingCards.io, on desktop through Steam, or in Dilly Dally Games' phone app. We make Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly.

The short answer (checked 17 October 2026)

  • Free with friends in a browser: Tavernly lets you share a private table invite.
  • Move the pieces yourself: PlayingCards.io gives you a table to run by hand.
  • A paid desktop game: Mexican Train costs $5.99 on Steam, with up to 7 players online.

Which way is right for you?

Choose PlayingCards.io if you want to move pieces yourself. Steam offers a desktop game, while Dilly Dally Games has an iPhone and iPad app. We describe the other options from their store pages and have not played their online modes.

You want to... Best choice
Move the pieces yourself PlayingCards.io
Install on your computer Steam
Get an iPhone or iPad app Dilly Dally Games
Send friends a browser invite Tavernly
Play alone against computer players Steam, or Tavernly

PlayingCards.io, in your browser

PlayingCards.io lists free Mexican Train for 2 to 8 players. You reset the table between rounds. Its page shows account links and Premium, without saying if accounts are required, what Premium adds, or how to invite friends. Confirm before arranging your group.

You need: a browser.

  1. Open a room. Press New Custom Room on the game page.
  2. Take a seat. Press Sit Here, then Deal for 12 dominoes each.
  3. Prepare another round. Use R+S (Recall + Shuffle) to reset the table.

Steam, Mexican Train for your computer

Island Fever Studios' Mexican Train costs $5.99 USD on Steam for Windows, macOS, SteamOS and Linux. Play online with up to 7 players, or solo against up to 6 computer players. It is English only. The page does not explain accounts or invitations; confirm before gathering friends.

You need: the paid game and a supported computer.

  1. Buy Mexican Train. Use the Steam listing.
  2. Install your copy. Launch Mexican Train.
  3. Choose your opponents. Start solo against computers or choose Online PvP.

App Store, Mexican Train Dominoes for iPhone and iPad

Dilly Dally Games' Mexican Train Dominoes is free with in-app purchases. Remove Ads costs $4.99; voucher packs cost $0.99 to $99.99. Its age rating is 13+. The page does not explain accounts, friend play, or whether its three opponents are computer players.

You need: an iPhone or iPad.

  1. Get Mexican Train Dominoes. Install it from its App Store page.
  2. Read the purchase options. Review Remove Ads and voucher prices before spending.
  3. Plan your preferred mode. Confirm how opponents and friend play work before arranging a game.

Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly: free, in your browser

Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly: play it free in your browser.

You can start without sign-up. Tavernly asks for your birth date once, and you must be 13 or over. Bots play on easy, medium or hard. A bot always carries a BOT label, so you know who is human.

You need: a browser.

  1. Play bots first. Choose 1 to 7 opponents, then Play now.
The Mexican Train Dominoes page offers Play against bots, Play with friends, Learn by playing and Find players.
The game page: bots, friends, a lesson, or a table you join in your own time.
  1. Invite friends to a private table. Choose Play with friends, set 2 to 8 seats, then Start a private table. Use Share invite to send the link.
The waiting room of a private table, with a share link, one host seat and three empty seats that bots can take.
The waiting room of a private table. Share the link; bots take any seat that stays empty.
  1. Choose rules and length. Pick Standard, Branches (a covered double gives its train 2 branches), or Free start (no opening lap). Select Standard (13 rounds) or Short (7 rounds).
  2. Play a tile. Tap a tile in your rack, then tap a marked lane.
A game in round 1: the hub, one lane for each player, the Mexican Train, a marker on the player's own lane and a rack of tiles.
A game in round 1. Your marker shows that your train is open to the others.

Your rack shows its pip total. The table also lists Points by round and a log called What happened.

Learn by playing

Choose Learn by playing for a coached game.

  1. Start a train. Play your 6-3 on your own train.
  2. Cover a double. Follow 3-3 with 3-2.
  3. Use the shared train. Play 6-12.
  4. Draw when stuck. Tap the boneyard, then place your marker if the tile does not fit.

How the rules work

Your set contains 91 tiles, including 13 doubles. You build trains by matching numbers, while markers change which trains you may use. These are our standard rules. Households use different rules, so agree on your settings before starting, especially tiles per turn and the value of 0-0.

Word Meaning
Engine The starting double
Hub The roundel in the middle
Train A line of tiles
Mexican Train The shared train
Boneyard Face-down tiles nobody holds
Marker The locomotive token opening a train
Pips Dots on a tile
Cover Play a tile on a double
  1. Set up the round. Put the engine in the hub. It descends from 12-12 to 0-0 over the standard game, or 6-6 to 0-0 for short games. Deal by player count; put the remaining tiles face down in the boneyard. The engine determines the starting number for every train.
Players Tiles
2, 3 or 4 15 each
5 or 6 12 each
7 or 8 10 each
  1. Start your own train. On your first turn, you may use only your personal train. Its first tile must match the engine's number.
  2. Play one tile a turn. In our version, you normally play one tile. Your own train is always available. Match one end to a train's open number; the other becomes its new end. After your first turn, you may also use the Mexican Train.
  3. Draw when nothing fits. Take one tile. You must play it if it fits. Otherwise, your turn ends and you place your marker. If the boneyard is empty, pass and place your marker.
  4. Watch the markers. You may use another player's train only while it has a marker. Remove your own marker only when you play on your own train.
  5. Cover every double. A double lies across its train. Play another tile on it immediately. If you cannot, draw one tile. Play it if it covers the double; otherwise, place your marker. The double stays open. Each following player must cover it before playing elsewhere, drawing one tile if unable.
  6. Go out. Playing your last tile ends the round. It also ends when the boneyard is empty and nobody can play.
  7. Count the pips. Add the pips left in your hand. Going out scores zero. After the last round, the lowest total wins; equal totals share the place.

In our version, blank ends score zero, but the 0-0 tile scores 50.

Tips and warnings

Play heavy tiles first, keep a tile ready to cover doubles, and watch the markers. Agree on house rules before the first deal, because households differ. The tips below say why each habit matters.

  • Play heavy tiles early. Leftover pips count against you; the 0-0 tile counts 50 in our version.
  • Prepare for doubles. Keep a covering tile.
  • Close your train. Play there to remove your marker.
  • Use a rival's train. Play there while its marker shows.
  • Agree on house rules. Settle differences before starting.

Warning: Your marker opens your train to every player.

Questions people ask

You can play Mexican Train free, alone or with friends, depending on the version.

Can you play Mexican Train online for free?

Mexican Train on PlayingCards.io is listed as free. Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly is free, with no sign-up. Dilly Dally Games' App Store game is free with purchases inside the app. Steam's Mexican Train costs $5.99 USD on your computer.

Do you need a download?

You do not need to download Mexican Train for PlayingCards.io or Tavernly. Open either in your browser. Steam's Mexican Train is a desktop game you install. Dilly Dally Games' Mexican Train Dominoes is an app for your iPhone or iPad.

Can you play alone against the computer?

Mexican Train on Steam offers solo play against up to 6 computer players. Tavernly offers easy, medium and hard bots. The App Store description names three opponents without identifying them as computer players. Confirm the app's solo mode details first.

Can you play Mexican Train with friends?

You can invite friends to Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly through a private table link. They open it in a browser. Steam lists Online PvP for up to 7 players. Check Steam's account and invitation steps before arranging your group.

Can you play Mexican Train on your phone?

You can open Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly in a phone browser. PlayingCards.io describes touch controls: hold a domino and tap blue Z or X to turn it. Dilly Dally Games has an App Store version for iPhone and iPad.

How many players can join?

Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly supports 2 to 8 players. PlayingCards.io lists that range too. Steam lists up to 7 players online. The App Store game describes three opponents. Check modes before choosing a version for everyone in your group.

How long does Mexican Train take?

Mexican Train Dominoes on Tavernly takes about 45 minutes for the standard 13-round game. The short game takes about 25 minutes over 7 rounds. Choose the length. Those estimates describe our game; they do not establish times for other options.

What if you cannot play a tile?

On Tavernly, draw one tile when nothing fits (tap the boneyard, or press R). Play it if it fits. Otherwise your turn ends and your train gets a marker. If the boneyard is empty, press S to pass. After 20 seconds the table plays for you.

Sources

We checked the listings on 17 October 2026.