Die Siedler von Catan (The Settlers of Catan) influenced Ticket to Ride

Catan is why Ticket to Ride could exist and be sold in a toyshop. It established the German-style design as a commercial category outside Germany: under an hour, no player elimination, no dice-driven combat, and a rules sheet a family reads once. Alan R. Moon designed into that market rather than inventing it, and the specific inheritance is the shape of the turn, one small acquisitive decision repeated until the board is full.