travel game best

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

• Travel Products
• Activity + Adventure
• Sports + Leisure

The 31 Best Travel-sized Games of 2024

Our list has brainy word teasers, multiplayer party games, and everything in between.

• Our Top Picks

Best Card Games

Best board games, best word games, best party games, best for little travelers.

• Tips for Buying
• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Marcus Millan

Whether you’re in need of kid-friendly games for a long road trip or some cheeky party activities to break the ice with a new group of hostel friends, it’s always worth having a couple of tried-and-true games up your sleeve while on the road.

The following travel-sized games are the best options in our book. These compact card and board games are designed to take up minimal space in luggage, while still offering maximum fun during the inevitable downtime that comes with most adventures (think layovers, long hours on a train , or rainy evenings on vacation). Here are our top picks for all types of travelers.

Mattel Games World's Smallest UNO Card Game

Why We Love It: This teeny card game will fit into the smallest of handbags.

What to Consider: The ultra-compact size might not work for those with vision problems or arthritic hands.

Uno is one of those card games that everybody already knows how to play — and, if they don’t, it takes about ten seconds to learn. That makes this game an excellent addition when backpacking abroad or vacationing with family members of all ages. This option in particular stands out as it’s the “world’s smallest” version of the popular game. The tiny cards are less than three inches tall — that’s smaller than a credit card! – and can easily fit into handbags or luggage without adding any bulk, so you’ll always have an icebreaker at the ready.

The Details : 2-10 players | Ages 7+ | 0.79 x 1.97 x 2.99 inches

Hasbro Gaming Monopoly Deal Card Game

Why We Love It: This rendition allows you to play your favorite board game sans tabletop. 

What to Consider: It can be a bit tricky to catch on at first as there’s a lot of fast-paced action.

Monopoly night at home with friends and family can take you through a serious spectrum of emotions, especially if it’s been dragging on for hours. Then there’s Monopoly Deal. The travel-friendly version of Monopoly is cards only and much faster paced than the traditional board game. You’ll still buy and sell property, collect rent, and pass go as you do in classic Monopoly, but the compact card game can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. It’s also easier to play while at the airport or on a long train journey.

The Details : 2-5 players | Ages 8+ | 15 minutes | 0.75 x 3.62 x 5.63 inches

Mattel Games Skip-bo Card Game

Why We Love It: This family-friendly game is both easy to learn and quick to play.

What to Consider: The cards are a bit flimsy and could be more wear-resistant.

Is it just us or will Skip-bo always evoke childhood memories? The classic number sequencing game was huge in elementary school but was also in major rotation on our grandmother’s kitchen table. Not much has changed since then: the fast-paced card game is just as fun and easy to pick up and play now. It’s also relatively small which makes it great for popping into your carry-on or handbag. Note that although this game is designed for those ages 7 and up, it’s a ton of fun for adults as well as kids.

The Details: 2-6 players | Ages 7+ | 0.98 x 8.46 x 6 inches

Wild Card Games Backpacker: The Ultimate Travel Game

Why We Love It: It helps improve your skills as a traveler while learning about the world.

What to Consider: The instructions are quite long and tedious.

If you’re looking for a travel-themed game (and who doesn’t love a good theme?), then you’ll want to consider checking out Backpacker. The quick-moving travel card game is designed to mimic what it’s like to be on the road and all the potential triumphs and roadblocks that come with traversing the globe. We love that this game comes with actual fun facts about each destination so you still learn about the world around you even while playing close to home. The colorful cards are also visually appealing thanks to the high-quality photography and drawings on each one.

The Details : 2-6 players | Ages 12+ | 5.1 x 0.8 x 3.7 inches

Rubberneckers Everyone's Favorite Travel Game

Why We Love It: This game was specifically designed to be played during a road trip.

What to Consider: It’s not as exciting to play in rural areas.

Road trips are, in theory, a nonstop adventure — but, in practice, they can be long and exhausting. Rubberneckers was designed to put the fun back into long drives. The card game is essentially a game of reverse I Spy with prompts like “credit card logo” and “more than three people in a vehicle” designed to get everyone in the car looking out the window to earn points and win the title of the ultimate rubbernecker. We also appreciate the simple and easy-to-read language so younger kids can participate just as easily as older passengers.

The Details: 2 or more players | Ages 8+ | 3.5 x 1.5 x 5.5 inches

Mattel Phase 10 Card Game

Why We Love It: This card game is a spin-off of the popular Rummikub tile game.

What to Consider: Children may have a hard time keeping up with the rules.

Rummikub, the popular tile game, can be found in a card version with Phase 10. The object of the game is to create various sets using your cards before the other players do. This is a game that can take a while to get used to, but what better time to learn than a 6-hour layover in an airport? Kids as young as seven can play, although older ones may find the strategic element more enjoyable.

The Details: 2-6 players | Ages 7+ | 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inches

Catan Studio Catan Board Game

Why We Love It: This modern classic is a fan favorite — and, although layered, it’s easy to teach to new players.

What to Consider: There are a fair bit of pieces to keep together while on the go.

Catan is one of those games that seems complicated at first glance, but once you get it, you get it. The strategy board game takes about an hour to play out, but can go for longer — so you’ll want to budget that time while traveling. It’s also important to keep in mind that, even though this is relatively compact and travel-friendly, it still comes with several small pieces so it’s better for playing at your hotel or Airbnb rather than on a train or at the airport.

The Details: 3-4 players | Ages 10+ | 60 minutes | 11.63 x 9.5 x 3 inches

MindWare Travel Qwirkle Game

Why We Love It: This game requires smart strategy but it’s very easy to pick up and run with.

What to Consider: Some of the colors are very similar and can be hard to decipher.

We love the travel-sized Qwirkle game: not only is it super easy to learn but it’s also relatively easy to play while on the go. We love that this option is intuitive for everyone and can easily become a go-to for families with younger kids. The colorful tiles and convenient carrying case make this one great for playing while in transit — but you’ll want to keep in mind that some of the colors (especially orange and red) are very similar and can be a bit tricky to tell apart if you’re not playing in great lighting.

The Details: 2-4 players | Ages 6+ | 30-60 minutes | 5.5 x 6 x 2 inches

Hasbro Gaming Guess Who? Grab and Go Game

Why We Love It: There are only a few pieces to this classic board game.

What to Consider: The plastic is a bit flimsy and will require careful handling.

We’ll always have a soft spot for Guess Who? considering we’ve been playing it pretty much forever. The beloved guessing game requires strategic and creative thinking, but makes a particularly good travel game because there are only a few pieces to keep track of which makes it great for playing on the go, especially on a train or plane, or even while waiting to depart. We also like that the Grab and Go size is super compact and can easily fit in a backpack or carry-on without taking up too much space.

The Details: 2 players | Ages 6+ | 1.89 x 6.26 x 9.25 inches

Sorry! Road Trip Series

Why We Love It: This tiny board game is easy to set up and play on road trips or even flights.

What to Consider: Its extremely compact size is not ideal for bumpy roads or those with arthritis.

Who said you can’t play a whole darn board game while in the car? The road trip edition of Sorry! is super simple to set up and play whether you’re in an airplane cabin or the back seat of a car. The little game is designed to fold out into a full playing board on the go and doubles as its own folding carrying case when all is said and done. We love how easy it is to put together and start playing — but keep in mind, the super tiny pieces might be tricky to play with on particularly bumpy roads. 

The Details : 2-4 players | Ages 6+ | 1.00 x 11.90 x 5.85 inches

Hasbro Gaming Travel Battleship

Why We Love It: This game is quiet and slow-paced which makes it great for playing on a plane or at the airport.

What to Consider: The numerous pieces to keep track of are somewhat inconvenient.

The Grab and Go version of Battleship is small enough to throw into your carry-on bag but large enough to engage in a comfortable game without having to squint or deal with too-small game pieces. The boards and pieces are relatively simplistic compared to the full-sized Battleship, but the idea is the same. We also like that this game is pretty slow-paced which makes it a great option for playing in more quiet spaces like on the airplane or while waiting in a lounge .

The Details : 2 players | Ages 7+ | 1.89 x 6.26 x 9.25 inches

FanVince Magnetic Folding Chess Set

Why We Love It: This sturdy, magnetic game board is perfect for playing on bumpy roads and through turbulence.

What to Consider: The individual pieces feel a little flimsy in hand.

You can’t go wrong with a classic magnetic folding chess board — it’s a travel-sized game staple, afterall. The magnetic design means you don’t have to worry about your pieces falling over while going over bumpy roads or through turbulence, which is a major plus. It’s also super convenient that the board folds into its own carrying case when not in use. Keep in mind that chess is also a very quiet game, so this is absolutely perfect for bringing on a flight with you .

The Details : 2 players | Ages 8+ | 20+ minutes | 9.45 x 9.45 x 0.69 inches

Yellow Mountain Imports Magnetic Backgammon Mini Game Set

Why We Love It: Everything sits inside a compact carrying case that's easy to pack.

What to Consider: There are a lot of small pieces involved that can fall between car or airplane seats.

Backgammon isn't as popular in the United States as other board games, but it's been around for longer than many of them. This board game involves moving your pieces to your opponent's side and then eliminating them from the other side completely. Like any new game, it takes a little time to get used to, but this is a great option on the road, especially if you're bored of chess or checkers. This game uses magnetic pieces that will stay on the board during bumpy rides, and everything can be kept in a convenient zip-up carrying case.

The Details : 2 players | Ages 5+ | 15+ minutes | 14 x 9 x 1 inches

Bananagrams Duel: Ultimate 2 Player Travel Game

Why We Love It: This new take on classic Bananagrams is even more portable than the original.

What to Consider: It’s sort of a watered down version of the grid game.

Bananagrams has always been one of our favorite travel games — like a real banana, it comes with its own carrying case! — but Bananagrams Duel makes it even more travel-friendly. The quick-paced dueling edition is themed and the letter pieces are die-like rather than tile-like, so you won’t see that sprawling word grid from the original edition. But this just means the game requires way less table space to play so you can easily play this one on an airplane tray table without running out of room.

The Details : 2 or more players | Ages 7+ | 10 minutes | 1.18 x 4.72 x 6.69 inches

Winning Moves Games Scrabble To-go Board Game

Why We Love It: The tiny version of Scrabble has snap-in letters that stay in place.

What to Consider: The scaled-down board isn’t as comfortable to use.

Nothing can really compare to Scrabble when it comes to group-friendly word games, but bringing the full-sized board on the road just isn’t practical. That’s why we’re huge fans of the Scrabble To-go board. The compact size makes it easy to throw in your bag while the snap-in letters mean you won’t have to worry about them flying off if you hit a pothole on the road or turbulence in the air. We also love that this one comes with its own carrying case to protect the board and pieces while traveling.

The Details : 2-4 players | Ages 8+ | 30-60 minutes | 10.75 x 10.25 x 6.88 inches

Mad Libs on the Road World's Greatest Word Game

Why We Love It: It’s easy, hilarious, and super portable to play in transit.

What to Consider: The paperback game pages aren’t reusable.

Whether you’re seven years old or 37, Mad Libs will never not be laugh-out-loud funny. Mad Libs on the Road in particular makes for a great travel-friendly option. The silly fill-in-the-blank stories are all about traveling, road trips, and summertime adventures. It’s especially convenient that Mad Libs are about the size of a paperback novel , meaning they won’t take up any space in your luggage. All you need is a pen and a couple of grammar-focused friends and you have all the makings for hours of laughs in the car and beyond.

The Details: 1 player or more | Ages 8+ | 5.25 x 0.2 x 8.38 inches

Ransom Notes The Ridiculous Word Magnet Party Game

Why We Love It: This game combines somewhat crude humor with strategy.

What to Consider: It’s definitely on the raunchy side.

Think of Ransom Notes as a somewhat crude hybrid between those poetry fridge magnets and Cards Against Humanity. You’ll get a prompt and your goal is to create a phrase using only magnets that’ll make some kind of sense to the reader. This ends up being downright hilarious in most cases — and we give the game major bonus points for being magnetic. All the pieces stay firmly in place, making it much easier to use en route to your destination.

The Details : 3 players or more | Ages 17+ | 30-90 minutes | 5.25 x 4 x 4 inches

Hasbro Gaming Classic Boggle Word Search Game

Why We Love It: This word game can even be enjoyed by only one player.

What to Consider: The secure travel lid can be tough to get on and off.

Boggle is going to be a major win in the eyes of Spelling Bee or Wordle fans (so watch out if you’re playing against them). The basic word game requires fast spelling and deduction skills; all you have to do to win is write down as many words as possible from the assortment of letters on the dice to earn the number one spot. It’s a whole lot of fun and takes up minimal space while in transit, too.

The Details : 1 player or more | Ages 8+ | 2.01 x 4.29 x 4.29 inches

Brass Monkey Bin-go Get Some Drinks Bingo Book

Why We Love It: This is great for introverts and anyone who would rather observe a party a bit removed.

What to Consider: It might be awkward to whip this out in an actual bar or restaurant.

Bin-go Get Some Drinks makes any kind of night out even more interesting, especially if you’re someone who tends to observe human behavior in social settings. The somewhat snarky bingo card is packed with the weird things you’ll see in a bar (like witnessing an obvious first date or someone taking a photo of their drink for social media) and is the perfect way for people watchers to spend the night — especially if you find yourself alone in a new city and prefer to observe the crowd over fostering friends right away.

The Details: 1 player or more | Ages 21+ 

Cards Against Humanity Tiny Cards Against Humanity Game

Why We Love It: It’s a great icebreaker in a compact and cute format.

What to Consider: These cards are tiny and might be hard for some to read.

Cards Against Humanity provides instant fun, even at the most dull parties or awkward social events, since there’s just something about dirty words in absurd contexts. That’s why the miniaturized Tiny Cards Against Humanity is such a great game to keep in your back pocket while traveling, especially if you intend on staying in hostels. (Hey, you just never know when you’ll need to pull the ultimate icebreaker out of a pocket!)

The Details : 2 players or more | Ages 17+ | 30 minutes or more | 4.44 x 2.66 x 1.97 inches

All Things Equal, Inc. Loaded Questions On The Go Card Game

Why We Love It: This card game gets conversations going while still providing friendly competition.

What to Consider: There are only so many questions, so you’ll eventually run into duplicates.

All Things Equal: Loaded Questions is one of those card games that can lead to side tangents and deeper conversation if you let it — but it’s also a great way to see how well you know your friends' minds by guessing each other’s answers to given sets of questions. This game is super travel-friendly (all you need is a few pads of paper and pens) and it’s guaranteed to evoke some serious laughs and possible side conversations as well.

The Details : 4-6 players | Ages 8+ | 3.6 x 0.8 x 5.5 inches

Exploding Kittens Card Game

Why We Love It: This card game is fast, fun, and easy to learn.

What to Consider: The rules and concepts of the game are a bit basic.

Exploding Kittens garnered a lot of attention when it was first released and it’s easy to see why. The eye-catching title and cheeky illustrations make this game instantly intriguing. As it turns out, the game is a whole lot of fun for all age groups and it can be played in fifteen minutes or less which makes it a great option for waiting at your airport gate or sneaking a quick game in before heading out to dinner.

The Details : 2-5 players | Ages 7+ | 15 minutes | 4.41 x 6.38 x 1.5 inches

What Do You Meme? Shotgun!: The Card Game for Road Trips

Why We Love It: Everyone can play in the car — even the driver.

What to Consider: It’s not quite as funny as the original What Do You Meme?.

Shotgun! was conceptualized by the same folks who gave us What Do You Meme?, which means you can expect the same level of (somewhat) boundary-pushing humor. The road trip-focused card game doesn’t come with memes or visual cues, but instead uses the sights and sounds on the road as prompts. Card prompts like “first person to say which side the gas tank is on wins a point” and “first person who gets a wave from another car wins two points” will keep everyone in the car on their toes for the drive.

The Details: 2 players or more | Ages 12+ | 1-2 hours | 1.5 x 4.5 x 6.5 inches

Singing Machine Carpool Karaoke The Mic 2.0

Why We Love It: Who wouldn’t want to pretend they’re starring in an episode of Carpool Karaoke?

What to Consider: The Bluetooth setting could be higher quality.

The Carpool Karaoke Machine was designed to make road trips a whole lot more fun. The karaoke microphone pairs with your car’s Bluetooth in order to provide a surround sound experience for all passengers involved (whether that’s good or bad, we’re not sure). The microphone can also be used with your smartphone for DIY karaoke parties at your Airbnb or hotel room — you’ll just want to be mindful of the noise levels.

The Details : 1 player or more | 3.6 x 2.1 x 10.6 inches

Cardinal Cinco Linko

Why We Love It: This is essentially an elevated version of tic-tac-toe, so anyone can pick it up quickly.

What to Consider: The tiles aren't magnetic, so they may slide around during bumpy rides.

Up to four players can enjoy this simple (but competitive) game that involves trying to stack five tiles in a row before another player stops you, similar to tic-tac-toe. The game itself is easy to get into with minimal practice and great for kids and adults alike. We also love that it's built for travel — the waterproof pieces can be stacked and clipped onto a bag during transportation.

The Details : 2-4 players | 2.8 x 8 x 2.8 inches

Hasbro Gaming Connect 4

Why We Love It: This game is simple to pick up on.

What to Consider: There are a ton of little pieces involved.

We love Connect Four — it’s a classic for a reason! The simple game is great for little ones who are still practicing spatial recognition, but honestly, it’s just as fun for adults as well. The game is relatively small (it’s less than 12 inches in length) which is enough room for little fingers to easily use but still small enough to pop into a backpack. Keep in mind, though: there are a number of little coin-sized pieces that come with this game, and they can get messy in the car.

The Details : 2 players | Ages 6+ | 20 minutes | 1.6 x 10.51 x 10.984 inches

Winning Moves Games Pass the Pigs

Why We Love It: This cheeky game is all about tumbling — it was essentially made for turbulence.

What to Consider: The game might become repetitive in smaller groups.

Pass the Pigs is hilariously simple, but there’s something about it that is so much fun. The game includes two pig dice, a dice cup, and a pig scoring guide with a scorepad. The aim of the game is to get as many points as possible by rolling the pigs into different positions like the “snouter” or the “sider.” The best part is that this game was literally made to be thrown around so even if you’re dealing with turbulence you don’t have to worry about your pieces tumbling over.

The Details : 2-7 players | Ages 7+ | 1.75 x 4 x 8.5 inches

Briarpatch I Spy Travel Card Game

Why We Love It: This game is a quiet option to play on the plane.

What to Consider: The game is somewhat solitary; not the best for groups of kids.

The travel-sized version of the classic I Spy children’s book provides endless hours of concentration and focus. The stunning visuals are entertaining in and of themselves but having to hunt for the hidden images makes it even more enjoyable. We also like that it can be played solitary and offers something relatively quiet to play while on the airplane or in other spaces where gameplay banter might not be appropriate.

The Details : 1 player or more | Ages 4+ | 0.75 x 3.75 x 5.75 inches

Taco vs. Burrito Taco vs. Burrito Family Card Game

Why We Love It: This game was created by a kid for other kids.

What to Consider: The instructions on some cards are a little confusing.

Cheeky graphic-focused card games have become pretty popular over the past few years, but we’re still major fans of Taco vs. Burrito. It’s worth noting that the colorful (and super successful) card game was created by a seven-year-old boy with other kids in mind, but it’s just as fun for adults. The basic gameplay is easy to learn and games can be played within 15 minutes — but the action cards are quick to spice things up and add a strategic layer to the game.

The Details : 2-4 players | Ages 6+ | 15 minutes | 7 x 5 x 2 inches

Tricky Riddles for Smart Kids: 333 Difficult But Fun Riddles And Brain Teasers For Kids And Families

Why We Love It: This pack of riddles creates conversation and fosters further curiosity.

What to Consider: There are only about 300 riddles, so the deck might eventually become repetitive.

Kids who love brain teasers will get a kick out of this colorful collection of riddles designed to stump and foster curiosity. The deck is small and easy to transport (it’s about the size of a novel), but it’s packed with hundreds of riddles for kids to work through. The only thing we don’t love is that, while the deck does include lots of options, kids who are keen to work through one after another may deplete them rather quickly.

The Details : 1 player or more | 8-12 | 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches

PlayMonster Take 'n' Play Anywhere Bingo

Why We Love It: Young kids will have fun and work their brains at this matching game.

What to Consider: The marker pieces don't have the strongest magnets.

It can be hard to find games that kids, especially young ones, will find interesting for more than a few minutes at a time. This bingo game might be just what you're looking for — little ones will have fun spinning the spinner (a game in itself) and then using magnetic markers to match the corresponding animals on the board. And as long as your kids are good at taking turns, it can be played by multiple people at once.

The Details : 1 player or more | Ages 4+ | 6.7 x 0.9 x 6.7 inches

Tips for Buying Travel-sized Games

Factor in the needed space.

You’ll want to consider the space required for your chosen game(s) and decide how much luggage space you’re able to offer up. This is where miniature grab-and-go board games and card games will come in handy. Prioritizing card games and smaller games that don’t require a board means you can more easily play your games on the move. If you need a table or flat surface for your game, playing while seated at the terminal or on a train may not be practical.

Figure out the game time

You’ll want an idea of how much time a game takes before deciding to pack it. Card games tend to be faster-paced than board games, and most can be completed in 15-30 minutes. Board games and party games can last a lot longer, continuing for up to two hours in certain cases. This can be great for lazy days at the hotel or Airbnb, but might not be the most practical for passing time at the train station.

Consider player ages

Think of the ages of the players you anticipate sharing games with. If you’re planning a backpacking trip and plan to spend time playing games at your hostel, you’ll probably be safe with just about any card or board game. If you’re meeting up with your family for a vacation, you might want to choose games that are suitable for all ages. Note that some games can be altered to be more PG by removing certain cards or phrases, but it’s best to double-check to ensure everyone in your group can participate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What games are ideal for traveling.

The right games for your travels will greatly depend on what kind of travel you’re doing ( road trip games vary greatly from late-night adult-only games, for example). But, no matter what style of travel you’re up to, you’ll want to look for games that are small enough to easily fit in your luggage without being imposing. Opt for games that don’t have many loose pieces or take up too much space when in use. Card games are your best bet if you anticipate playing on the road frequently, but travel-sized board games can also work (especially if they come in a magnetic format).

Are there travel-sized board games?

Yes! There are plenty of travel-sized board games available and many come with their own carrying case or magnetic material that further simplifies the overall travel experience. You won’t find every single board game available in a travel size, but you’ll definitely be able to find the classics from Hasbro like Clue , Monopoly , and more .

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, Travel + Leisure contributor Kaitlyn McInnis used her experience as a travel writer and former lifestyle editor as well as her own research to curate a list of the best travel-sized games available.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.

Related Articles

41 Best Travel Games 2024: Tried & Tested

By: Author James McAlister

We always make sure we carry a couple of our best travel games with us no matter what trip we’re on. Because travel isn’t all about beautiful beaches and exciting adventure.

Sometimes we need a bit of downtime and relaxation. Other times we want to get the party started. And believe it or not there are plenty of situations where we even get pretty bored (think travel delays).

We’ve always loved playing games. So for us they’re the perfect way to pass away a few hours in an airport, entertain ourselves after a long day of exploring and even make new friends.

If you’re wondering which ones should make it into your backpack, we’ve put together a list of the best travel games on the market right now.

Post Contents

Our Top 5 Best Travel Games

After being taught Dobble by our young nephew, we absolutely fell in love with it!

Okay, so this one is technically a kids card game. But once you play it you’ll understand why it’s also one of the best travel games for adults.

Basic premise

Everyone has played snap as a child and Dobble takes its basic premise and elevates it to a.whole.nother.level. It’s like “snap” on steroids.

There are five different travel card games within Dobble, all of them as simple as it gets. Every card has 8 pictures on it, each with one symbol in common with every other card.

Players all go at the same time to try and spot the matching symbols and either accumulate or pass cards on to opponents depending on which game you’re playing.

You can have up to 8 players involved at a time, but it’s also one of the best travel games for 2 adults. Dobble is a good one to break down language barriers as well because it’s so simple to get.

• A card game of speed, observation and reflexes. Race to find the one matching image between one card and another

What makes it awesome

Dobble gets pretty raucous. Shouting, snatching and even hand slapping are all unavoidable as you get swept up in the excitement. Undoubtedly one of the best mini travel games available.

Players: 2-8

Expect: rip roaring fun

Game Time: 10 minutes

Size & Weight: 2.1 x 2 x 1.2 inches, 7.4 ounces

Rules: Read here

2. Monopoly Deal

The traditional Monopoly isn’t really a practical game to carry with you when you travel. And let’s be honest, no one actually enjoys it do they.

Come on, strip away the nostalgia and you’re left with a pretty ridiculous, never ending snorefest that could be renamed Monotony (I’m prepared for the backlash).

But the clever guys at Hasbro have reimagined one of the most iconic board games ever made as a wicked card game.

Basic premise:

It retains the fun bits of traditional Monopoly so you still play as a real estate tycoon trying to collect sets of properties.

You still have to come up with a kickass strategy, treading the line between boosting your bank balance and building your empire. And you can still go from kingpin to down and out in one swift turn of fate.

But that’s where the similarities end.

Collect property cards to complete sets and money cards to build your fortune while swapping and stealing your way to glory.

• QUICK-PLAYING MONOPOLY CARD GAME: swap, steal and scheme in the Monopoly Deal card game – a family favourite! It’s all the fun of the Monopoly game in a fast-paced card game for children and adults.

Monopoly Deal is one of the best travel card games out there. It’s fast paced, exciting and we’ve met people of various nationalities who love playing it all over the world.

Players: 2-5

Expect: rapid gameplay

Game Time: 15 minutes

Size & Weight: 0.8 x 3.6 x 5.6 inches, 4 ounces

Alternatively known as Skull and Roses, it’s like a picture version of poker played with beautifully designed components. After one game you’ll be hooked, we guarantee it.

Each player has three circular cards with a rose on and one with a skull as well as an individual double sided game board.

Players take it in turns to place a card of their choice on the game card face down, this continues until one player decides to make a challenge.

They do that by making a guess at how many roses they can flip before hitting a skull. If you get it correct then you turn your game board over and you have to turn your game board twice to win.

• Skull is the quintessential bluffing game

You have to kid and calculate your way to victory in this straightforward game of bluff. It involves a mixture of skill, memory and luck.

This is one of the best travel games adults everywhere will enjoy playing on their adventures.

Players: 3-6

Game Time: 30 minutes

Size & Weight: 2.1 x 5.2 x 5.2 inches, 1.01 pounds

4. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

This simple game is bound to get your tongue in a twist and the party started. Anyone can play, but it hurts to win.

Cards are distributed evenly among all of the players, face down without anyone looking at them. There are 5 different cards, taco, cat, goat, cheese, and pizza – hence the game´s name.

The first player takes the first card from the top of their deck, turns it over while saying “taco”. The next player follows suit but says “cat”, the third player does the same but says “goat” and so on.

Play continues like this until the card laid matches what the person playing it says. At which point everyone tries to avoid being the last person to slap their hand down on it.

If you´re too slow your hand will end up on top of the pile of everyone else´s hands. This means you must take all of the cards underneath and put them into your deck.

But there’s a twist – the deck contains three special cards. If you pull a gorilla, you must beat your chest before slapping the pile. If you draw a groundhog card you need to tap the tabletop with both hands before slapping the pile. And if you get a narwhal you need to make a horn above your head with your hands before slapping the pile.

Any mess ups or mistakes result in the player taking the pile, so no flinching or pretending or even pausing. The winner is the first person to get rid of all their cards and then win another round with no cards in their deck.

• Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza! Keep these five crazy words in mind!

If the name itself doesn´t make you smile then you´re dead inside. This is the simplest of games but will keep you entertained for hours. Or until your knuckles are raw from them being repeatedly slapped. This could get rowdy.

Players: 3-8

Size & Weight: 3.5 x 2.5 x 1 inches, 3.52 ounces

5. Bananagrams

Calling all wordsmiths – if you’re a fan of Scrabble or any similar word games then you’ll enjoy Bananagrams. It also comes in a cute banana shaped carry pouch perfect for chucking in your luggage. One of the most convenient mini travel games.

144 tiles with different letters (called the bunch) on are placed face down on the playing surface. Each player selects the same number of tiles, the exact number varies depending on how many player there are. They are placed face down in front of the respective players. There are still some remaining in the bunch.

Once everyone has their tiles, anyone can shout “split” and the game begins. Players must then turn all their tiles face up. The aim is to get rid of all your tiles by creating words, but they must all interlink like a crossword. There are no turns, each player works as quickly as possible on their own grid.

If a player uses up all their letters, they take a new letter from the bunch and shout “peel”. This means that everyone else playing must also take a tile.

If a player wants to swap a bad tile then they can return it to the bunch by shouting “dump”. However, in exchange they have to pick up 3 tiles.

Players can’t win until there are less tiles in the bunch than players. Once this happens, the first player to use up all their tiles and shout “bananagrams” wins. That’s providing all their words are legit. If there are bad spellings then they’re crowned the “rotten banana” instead.

• Bananagrams Classic is a fast and captivating word game. Every player tries to build their letters first into a word grid

This game is easy to learn, quick to play, and highly addictive. You don’t need to know long words, you just have to be able to string words together. It’s fun in small or large groups.

Players: 2+

Game Time: 5 minutes

Size & Weight: 9 x 3 x 3 inches, 4.8 ounces

Best Travel Board Games

Pass the pigs.

This is a classic version of the old dice game “pigs” that uses actual miniature model pigs instead of dice. It all packs down into a small plastic case making it one of the best games for travel.

Players take it in turns to throw the pigs like dice. They then gain or lose points depending on how they land. Positions include pig-themed names like “Pig Out”, “Trotter”, and “Snouter”. Each combination means a different thing and can see players making big gains or huge losses.

A turn lasts until a player decides to stop and cash in. That’s unless they completely wipe out their current or total score before doing so. If they stop in time to accumulate a score on their turn then it’s added to their total score. The game then progresses to the next player and the first player to reach 100 points wins.

• The Original Party Animals – the classic family and travel game for pig lovers everywhere

The element of luck keeps it tense as players have to decide when to stick or twist. Yet there’s still enough strategy and skill involved to make a difference. Big highs and massive lows can see you going from hero to zero and back again in quick succession.

Players: 2-4

Size & Weight: 1.8 x 4 x 8.5 inches, 0.32 ounces

Quickly becoming a classic, Codenames is an awesome game of teamwork and strategy. You need to get on the same wavelength as your teammate(s) to have any chance of cracking the puzzle. Prepare for laughs, frustration, and jubilation in equal measures.

The idea of codenames is to be the first team to get in contact with all of their secret agents. Players separate into two teams before each selecting a spymaster. The rival spymasters sit on the same side of the table, opposite their respective accomplices/field operatives. 25 codenames are then randomly selected from the deck and laid out in a 5×5 grid.

A “key” card is then chosen which reveals to the spymasters which of the agents in the grid belong to each side. In among the agents are also a number of innocent bystanders. Plus there’s an assassin who you want to avoid at all costs.

Spymasters work to enable their team to identify their own secret agents. They do this by providing them with one word clues and a number. The clues can link numerous agent’s codenames, while the number tells the team how many are linked.

For example, if the spymaster says “bottle, 3”, the team knows there are 3 agents with names in some way related to the word bottle. Operatives then make guesses as to which secret agents the spymaster is trying to direct them to.

Selecting the wrong one can have bad consequences, and if you hit the assassin that’s game over. The wins team to identify all of their secret agents first.

• In Codenames, two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their “Codenames”.

While it may sound complicated, when you’re playing it’s really simple and easy to follow. At heart it’s a word association game and the spy aspect just adds to the fun. Seeing the random ways that players’ minds connect words can be hilarious meaning the game is fun even when you’re not doing well.

Players: 2-8 (competitive 4-8)

Expect: tense strategy

Size & Weight: 2.8 x 6.3 x 9 inches, 1.25 pounds

Secret Hitler

Best with larger groups (the closer to 10 the funnier), Secret Hitler is a game of deceit, infiltration and conspiracy. Get your poker face on because you’re going to need to lie through your teeth to win.

Players are secretly divided into two teams of fascists and liberals, while one player gets cast as Hitler himself. Liberals have the advantage of a majority, however, they don’t know anyone else’s allegiances. The fascists on the other hand know who the other fascists are as well as who Hitler is. Hitler meanwhile begins without knowing who his allies or enemies are.

Everyone is trying to advance their agenda and gain power whether fascist or liberal. The way to do this is by winning elections and passing legislation.

To do this you have to gain allies and use them to win votes. However, because everyone is trying to gain power it can be hard to figure out who is who. Also everyone is going to lie to make other players believe they’re a liberal.

The game is won by the Liberals if they enact five liberal policies or manage to kill Hitler. The fascists win by enacting six fascist policies, or if Hitler gets elected Chancellor after three fascist policies have been enacted.

• A fast-paced game of deception and betrayal

Secret Hitler is all about skullduggery and convincing people that you’re telling the truth. Never has lying to your friends and family been so much fun, and it will make you see them in a new light. It quickly gets pretty loud and boisterous so be prepared for a lively game.

Players: 5-10

Game Time: 45 minutes

Size & Weight: 14.9 x 5.8 x 2 inches, 1.9 pounds

Connect 4 Grab and Go

Connect 4 Grab and Go is exactly the same as the classic Connect 4 game, just smaller. This means it’s the perfect size to take on your travels. One of the best travel games for couples of pairs of travellers.

Each player starts with 21 checkers, one player takes red, the other yellow. You then take it in turns to place a checker into the playing grid.

The aim is to get four of your checkers lined up in a row. This can be diagonally, vertically, or horizontally.

But while you’re trying to connect your four checkers, so is your opponent. They’re also going to be blocking your attempts at the same time.

• PORTABLE VERSION OF CONNECT 4 GAME: Same classic gameplay in a compact format! The Connect 4 Grab and Go game is a mini, portable version of the Connect 4 game for fun on the run. For ages 6 and up

It’s simple to learn and quick to play but can also be played with some strategy. It does require a bit of concentration but is a great game to relax and unwind with that anyone can play. It was also (falsely) rumoured to have been invented by David Bowie! As if his legacy isn’t amazing enough.

Size & Weight: 1.9 x 6.3 x 9.2 inches, 7.2 ounces

Catan is nothing short of a modern day classic board game. It’s loved by everyone from families to Silicon Valley execs and for this reason makes one of the best travel games. Wherever in the world you crack the Catan box out, you’re likely to find a fellow fan.

Each player is a settler looking to establish their own outposts from scratch on the mythical island of Catan. The island is represented by the game board which is made up of 19 individual hexagons. These can be placed in virtually infinite combinations meaning you could play with a new board each time. Each hexagon has a corresponding number places on it.

Players take turns to roll two di on their turn, and the number rolled allows the corresponding hexagon to produce resources. These can be either brick, wool, ore, grain, or lumber.

Collecting these resources in certain combinations allows players to build up their settlements. You can also trade with other players if they have something you need. And watch out for the robber who stops production on the hexagon he’s on.

The aim of Catan is to get 10 victory points and you collect these mainly by building settlements or cities. There are also bonus points awarded for various other achievements like longest road or biggest army.

• Begin a quest to settle the island of Catan!

Catan is a game of strategy, cooperation, and skill, but you still need the roll of the dice to go your way. It’s also the original “gamers game” and helped kick off the whole board game phenomenon we have today.

Players: 3-4

Game Time: 60 minutes

Size & Weight: 11.6 x 9.5 x 3 inches, 2 pounds

Combine the best elements of poker, bingo, add a board and throw in a large dose of strategy. The result is Sequence, a classic game that’s a whole lotta fun. While there is a travel version, we’d recommend the standard version instead. Though it’s far smaller, the travel edition is a limited abridged version that’s nowhere near as good.

Players get dealt a set number of cards each, this changes depending on how many people are playing. The board has an assortment of cards printed on it. As the name suggests, the aim of the game is to create a sequence of 5 connected cards.

You do this by selecting a card from your hand on your turn and placing a marker over the corresponding card on the game board. If you get 5 connected markers then you win the game.

• Compact travel version easily stores pieces for use anywhere you go!

There’s a lot of strategy involved because you can’t simply concentrate on your own hand. You need to pay attention to your opponents and try to figure out where they are going in order to stop them. It’s simple to pick up and exciting to play.

Players: 2-12

Size & Weight: 10 x 8 x 2 inches, 1.79 pounds

Qwirkle Travel

Described as a cross between dominoes and scrabble, Qwirkle is a super simple game of pure strategy. Anyone can play, but not everyone can play well.

The game of Qwirkle consists of 108 individual tiles. Each has one of 6 different shapes printed on it in one of 6 different colours. To start each player randomly chooses 6 tiles from the tile bag.

Players must then take it in turns to lay connecting tiles in rows and columns. In order to do so you must make runs of either the same shape or the same colour with the tiles in your hands. If it´s a run of shapes, only one of each colour can appear in each row. If it´s a run of colours, only one of each shape can appear in each row.

You can lay as many tiles as you´re able to on your go, so long as they´re all connected in a straight line. Alternatively you can use your go to swap your tiles with new ones from the bag. At the end of each turn you take enough tiles to make your hand back up to 6.

Scores are awarded after each turn depending on how many tiles have been laid and how many columns they fall into. Bonus points are given for completing full lines of 6 tiles. The game ends when one player has used all their tiles and there aren´t any more in the bag to draw.

• Recommended age: from 6 years

This game is unbelievably easy to understand and get going. However, as soon as you begin, you start to realise there´s some deceptively deep strategy that can be employed. The satisfaction from building big scores can be addictive

Size & Weight: 10.5 x 10.5 x 2.7 inches, 2.45 pounds

Be transported to the time of the European Renaissance as you become a merchant aiming to amass a huge fortune.

In Splendor players compete to build the biggest and most prestigious jewellery business in Europe. To do this you need to collect raw gems which you can then use to fund the building of mines.

But you then need to create ways to transport the gems, pay jewellers to cut and polish them, and also buy shops where you can sell them. Develop your cards, collect the gem chips, and watch your wealth soar. With wealth you can then attract nobles who provide you with the prestige – and points – to win the game.

• Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development

This game is easy to understand and yet the more you play the more you start to discover the intricacies. While it’s very strategic the game play is still extremely quick with only 4 basic options for each player per turn.

Size & Weight: 8.5 x 2.4 x 10.8 inches, 2.41 pounds

Best Card Games for Travel

Top trumps wonders of the world.

Top Trumps is ancient, simple, and yet resoundingly good fun. There are endless versions of it from Star Wars to Harry Potter. But this Wonders of the World one is on topic when it comes to the best travel games.

All the cards in the pack are dealt out to the players face down. Players then pick up their cards, holding them so they can only see the top card. The first player picks a category from their card and reads it out along with the value next to it. All the other players take turns to read out the same value on their card.

The player with the highest value wins, gets to take all of the cards that were read out and places them at the bottom of their pile. Play carries on until one player has all the cards.

• Entertaining educational card game loved for bringing your favourite Wonders of the World to life

This version of the classic game Top Trumps is conveniently travel themed. Not only will you have great fun out trumping everyone, you’ll also learn a few facts that might help you win a pub quiz one day.

Game Time: 2 minutes

Size & Weight: 3.5 x 0.8 x 5.5 inches, 4 ounces

Ever wanted to design your own ginormous fireworks show? No? Me either. Regardless, this game will probably change your mind.

Hanabi is a cooperative game, which if you’re new to board games could be something novel for you. It means you work with the other players instead of competing against them to achieve a common objective. This objective is to rescue a mahoosive fireworks display that’s about to go terribly wrong.

Each player is dealt 4 or 5 cards depending on how many people are taking part. The cards come in 5 colors with a number from 1-5 on them. Players need to order them correctly in their colors from 1-5.

While this sounds simple, there’s an added complication. Players can’t look at their own cards! Instead they must display them in their hand so only the other players can see them.

• In this challenging cooperative card game, players work together to launch a spectacular firework display.

Hanabi is unique and imaginative and more than likely like nothing you’ve ever played before. Plus the fact that it’s a cooperative game means there are no losers or winners as such. So it’s perfect for those who get a little too competitive to play normal games with new friends.

Expect: cooperative challenge

Size & Weight: 7 x 4.2 x 2 inches, 5.4 ounces

Exploding Kittens

Players try to avoid being an exploding kitten in this wonderfully bizarre quickfire card game. At the same time you can affect the game depending on what cards you play, putting your fellow gamers in trouble.

Each player starts the game with 4 action cards and a diffuse card. The remainder of the deck is placed face down in the middle of the table and players take turns to draw cards from it.

If someone draws an exploding kitten, they’re out of the game. Unless they’re holding a diffuse card which allows them to diffuse the bomb and carry on. They can also put the exploding kitten card back into the deck anywhere they want.

Action cards are played before players draw from the deck and allow them to do various different things. These range from stealing cards from other players to getting a sneak peek at the top 3 cards in the deck.

• THE LEGENDARY ORIGINAL MADE FOR TWO TO FIVE PLAYERS: The card game that gave felines a license to kill. The reason cats around the world are being given the side-eye – it’s Exploding Kittens: Original Edition! This kitty-powered card game is all about turning game night into a blast. Try and dodge exploding kittens, betray your friends along the way, and strap on a portable cheetah butt while you’re at it. The last player left alive wins!

This game is unbelievably easy to pick up. You explode, you lose, you manage to be the last person unexploded you win. The action cards are self explanatory and the quick gameplay keeps things moving quickly. Difficult not to fall in love with the cool illustrations and whacky cards with names like “hairy potato cat”.

Size & Weight: 11.2 x 16.2 x 3.8 inches, 6.4 ounces

What do You Meme?

Memes are a normal part of everyday life now and this game makes players into meme generators. Even if you’re not funny IRL, you’ll feel like a comedian playing What do You Meme.

Each player gets dealt 10 meme cards which have humorous captions printed on them. The pile of photographs gets placed in the middle. Each round the picker gets to draw a photo card and place it in the holder. It’s then down to the other players to choose from their captions which one they think matches it to make the best meme.

Once payers have chosen all the cards are put in a pile and read out by the picker. They then get to choose the winner of the round for the funniest meme created. The winner gets to keep the photo card, play continues until one player has a pre decided number of photo cards.

• For everyone 13 years and above, this bite-sized travel-friendly version of What Do You Meme? has all of the fun in a smaller package!

This game is strictly X-rated and just the written captions themselves are hilarious. But when paired with the right photo they will have every player in stitches. This game is a laugh a minute so your cheeks are guaranteed to ache by the end.

Players: 3-20

Expect: adult laughs

Game Time: 30-90 minutes

Size & Weight: 6.5 x 4.5 x 3 inches, 1.85 pounds

Unstable Unicorns

Love unicorns? Love strategy? This is the game for you. Funded by a huge $1.8 million kickstarter campaign, Unstable Unicorns has got a cult following of enthusiasts.

Your single aim is to build up a complete army of unicorns in order to win. But to do this you can’t play nice. You’ll need to betray your fellow players, destroy their armies and crush their dreams.

Players start with a single baby unicorn and 5 action cards. Each turn consists of four set phases where you lay cards to build your stable of unicorns, stop other people from playing, upgrade your stable, downgrade other people’s, and create general mayhem.

The winner gets the brilliant title of “Righteous Ruler of All Things Magical” and ultimate bragging rights.

• Build a unicorn army. betray your friends. unicorns are your friends now

Unicorns! Need I say more? Ok, Ok, the gameplay is unpredictable, the cards are hilarious and despite the cute unicorn theme, this game is about pure destruction. It gets better with every play so you’ll never get bored.

Size & Weight: 5.8 x 4 x 2 inches, 12 ounces

Forbidden Island

If you’ve ever fancied an Indiana Jones style adventure but wold prefer to do it from the confines of your armchair, Forbidden Islands is the one for you.

Each player is an adventurer with a different skill, from a pilot to an engineer. Together they must rescue 4 hidden treasures from Forbidden Island. However, the island itself is rapidly sinking meaning you have to work quickly.

Each character’s card has instructions on the back for what to do on your turn which makes it super simple to follow. Every turn allows a player to do up to three actions, and each go sees the water levels on one part of the island rising.

As the water levels rise, so does the tension and finding the treasure and getting off the island becomes more urgent. Cooperation and problem solving skills need to be employed in abundance.

• Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise.

Forbidden Island looks great with beautifully made components. The cooperative aspect means you play with your fellow gamers instead of against them which is refreshing. The pace of the game picks up as you play making the fun build and build and the consequences of your plays more significant. Thanks to the changing board, the game is different every time.

Size & Weight: 6.5 x 8.8 x 2.8 inches, 1.4 pounds

Like a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, the idea of Sushi Go is to build yourself a delicious plate of sushi. Don’t forget the wasabi, and definitely don’t skip pudding!

The cards get dealt out at the start of the game, the amount depending on the number of players. The round starts with each player looking at their hand and choosing one card they want to play. Once everyone has chosen, all players reveal the card they picked by placing it ace up in front of them.

Players then pass the remainder of their hand to the player on their left. They then choose one card to keep from their new hand. Play continues like this until no one has any cards left in their hand which signals the end of the round.

At this stage the played cards are added up with each one worth different points. You can also do combinations and boost scores by adding additional extras to your sushi like wasabi.  There are three rounds per game and the player with the highest score wins.

• Is that Tempura in your belly or are you just happy Sashimi?

This game is as addictive as great sushi and will definitely leave you hungry for more. It’s fast paced, engaging, and fun to play. Beware though, if you’re a sushi lover you’ll definitely be craving your favourite sushi roll after playing.

Size & Weight: 4.2 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches, 8.5 ounces

Mille Bornes

A classic racing card game that sees players compete against each other to win a long distance race. You need to avoid accidents, top up your gas, and try to trip your opponents up to secure victory.

Players are racing to be the first driver to reach 1000 miles. Along the way there are obstacles that will slow you down and maybe even bring you to a complete standstill.

Each player begins with 6 cards being dealt to them. The remainder of the pack going into the middle to form the draw pile. When it’s your turn you take a card from the draw pile before playing a card into your, or someone else’s, driving zone.

These will act to speed you up or slow your opponents down. Actions range from things like flat tyres to running out of gas. Evade the hazards and keep on track while tripping up your rivals to win.

• More Attacks

Games go at breakneck speed in this rapid fire card game. It’s easy to learn, simple and quick to play, and can be played individually or in competing teams.

Size & Weight: 4.7 x 1.5 x 4.7 inches, 8 ounces

A game that requires strategy, skill, and a touch of luck, Jaipur is all about buying low and selling high.

You and your fellow player are the two most powerful traders in Jaipur. But to secure an invite to the Maharajah’s court as his official trader you need to become undisputed top dog. To do this you must out trade your opponent.

Each player begins the game with 5 cards in their hand, between them are three camels and two merchandise cards. On their turn players can perform one action – either take take cards or sell cards.

To get what you really want you generally have to sacrifice something that your opponent really wants. This means you have to weigh up what’s going to provide you with most value in the long run.

• Jaipur is a simple and fast tactical game

Jaipur is quick, exciting, and is constantly throwing up little twists and turns. You can often see a player’s personality in how they play – greedily gathering commodities, slowly but steadily accumulating their rupees, or simply throwing caution to the wind.

Size & Weight: 3.8 x 1.5 x 7.8 inches, 7 ounces

These Cards Will Get You Drunk

If you enjoy a tipple and like laughing then These Cards Will Get You Drunk is for you.

Players take it in turns to draw a card from the pile and read out the instructions written on it. These will almost always result in one or more person being required to drink.

The longer it goes on and the more cut everyone gets the dinner the game becomes. Prepare for a messy night.

• The fun adult drinking card game that will have you and your friends LOL-ing.

Zero strategy involved, zero skill required, this is a straight up party game where everyone’s a loser. It can help to break down inhibitions and get a group going making it a brilliant travel card games.

Players: 3+

Game Time: n/a

Size & Weight: 3.6 x 2.6 x 1.2 inches, 5.6 ounces

Grandpa Beck’s Cover Your Assets

Cover Your Assets is a race to be the first player to become a millionaire. But forget about playing fair, you’re going to do it by any means possible.

Each player is trying to be the first to accumulate a million dollar fortune. Sure you can save and collect and invest. But it’s much more fun to steal and cheat and screw your competitors over on your way to the top.

But watch out because your assets are also liable to be nabbed at any time. Fortunately you can also steal from other players to climb that greasy pole.

Build your fortune by stacking pairs of asset cards crisscrossed on top of each other. These can be anything from family jewels to fancy cars. And watch your back as your fellow players will have their eyes on your stacks too.

• Classic Gameplay now with the original card artwork: Enjoy the same beloved ‘Cover Your Assets’ gameplay as the original version. Ideal for both veteran and new players looking for timeless card game fun!

You can go from winning to losing in just a few hands and vice versa. This means that it really ain’t over til it’s over and keeps all players on their toes for the whole game. Cover Your Assets can be an emotional rollercoaster of extreme highs and rapid lows.

Players: 4-6

Size & Weight: 2.2 x 1.6 x 0.4 inches, 9.6 ounces

Cards Against Humanity

This game definitely puts the “adult” in the best travel games for adults. Trust us, it’s strictly top shelf.

It’s a card game where the dealer reads aloud a phrase card they’ve picked at random. It has one or two words missing from the sentence written on it and the other players have to complete the sentence by choosing the best from a selection of options in their ten card hand.

The winner is chosen by the dealer so it’s wise to consider their sense of humour and just how easily offended they are. Some of the cards are best described as depraved.

• That’s right. It’s tiny. It’s Cards Against Humanity. That’s really all there is to it.

Probably the least politically correct card game ever invented. You’re either gonna love it or be horrendously offended by Cards Against Humanity. Many of the jokes are pretty close to the bone and will get even the most hardened deviants wincing.

Players: 4-20

Size & Weight: 7 x 4.1 x 2.7 inches, 2.25 pounds

UNO has been around for almost 50 years but it never gets tired.

There are 108 cards in an UNO deck and while most have a number and a colour on them, some are wildcards or “pick up” cards.

The basic idea is to get rid of your cards before anyone else, as players take it in turn to put down or pick up cards that correspond with the colour or number that’s on top of the game pile.

There are missed goes, penalties and a whole lot of strategy that can affect your ability to win, and don’t forget to shout “UNO” when you’re one card away from the win or you’ll be blocked from finishing.

• It’s the classic card game everyone loves, in a sturdy reusable tin! And the contents inside are 100% recyclable.

Frenetic, colourful and full of unexpected laughs, you can easily lose hours to its thrills. It’s  simple to pick up but hard to put down, easily making it another of the best travel games for adults.

Players: 2-10

Size & Weight: 6.2 x 1.3 x 5.2 inches, 6.61 pounds

Five Crowns

If you´re a fan of Rummy then you´ll love Five Crowns. It´s based on the same premise but takes it to another level by adding an extra suit and a roving wild card.

The object of Five Crowns is to have the lowest score after all 11 rounds are played. To do this you´re going to need to create books and runs of cards. There are also wild cards which change each hand depending on how many cards are dealt i.e 3 cards dealt means 3 is the wildcard.

Play starts with one player picking up from either the deck or the discard pile. After assessing their hand they then discarding one card they don´t want. Players take it in turns to do this until one or more players forms a full hand of runs or books.

Any cards in a player´s hand that aren´t part of a run or book are then added up to produce a score at the end of each round. Remember, you need the lowest score to win, so high scores are bad!

• Best-selling game that is fun to play over and over again!

This game is really easy to pick up and play, rounds go quickly, but there is still a good amount of strategy you can employ. The further down the rounds you are the higher the stakes meaning even if you lose a few at the beginning you can easily be right back in it with just a couple towards the end.

Players: 1-7

Size & Weight: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches, 6.4 ounces

Best Card Games for Travel With a Standard Deck

We never go anywhere without a deck of standard cards in our bag but we found out the hard way that normal ones don’t tend to stand up to the rigours of travel.

Avoid that mistake by getting a deck that comes with a protective case instead of a flimsy card box. And go one better by opting for some that won’t get ruinedhttps://amzn.to/3Rgqii2 if they get wet around the pool or on a sticky bar table.

Inbetween, Outbetween

This can be played for money or chips but we´ve only ever really played it as a drinking game. It´s lightning fast and while there can be a little bit of skill involved, it´s largely down to chance.

The game is played in turns with each player being dealt a pair of cards face up with a gap in between them. That player then has to guess whether the next card drawn will be numerically within those two cards.

To do this a player says either “inbetween” or “outbetween” and then the third card is drawn. If they guess correct then their turn is over and play moves to the next player. If they guess incorrectly they have to drink. If the card drawn matches either of the cards already on the table they must drink twice.

Most people aren´t advanced enough at probability to turn the game in their favour. This means that if you´re playing it as a drinking game there tends to be quite a lot of drinking going on by everyone. This sees it get pretty raucous pretty quickly.

Players: 4+

Size & Weight: n/a

Chase the Ace

What’s more fun than watching everyone else around the table drop out on your way to glory? Royally royally screwing your play mates over as you do it.

The aim of Chase the Ace is to avoid having the lowest card at the end of each round. Play starts with the dealer dealing out a single card face down to each player including themselves.

The first player to the dealer´s left starts and can look at their card before deciding whether to swap or stick. If they choose to swap, they do so with the card of the player to the left of them.

If any player has a king they can turn this over and it prevents the player to their right from swapping with them. Once play returns to the dealer, everyone turns their cards face up.

The dealer is not allowed to swap. However, if they choose not to stick they can pick any card from the deck to try and get a higher card.

The person with the lowest card loses a life, Kings are high and Aces are low. If multiple people have the same low card they all lose. For the next round, the role of the dealer rotates to the player on the left of the previous dealer.

Generally players start off with three chips and lose one for each round they lose. The winner is the last remaining person to have any chips.

This is a great game for large groups of people. It can be played as a drinking game instead of with chips with the loser(s) drinking after every round. This is a fantastic party starter and because there are only two options per play, rounds go extremely quickly.

Calling blaggers everywhere. Convince people the hands you´re throwing down are what you say they are to literally bullshit your way to the win.

The dealer deals out the entire deck to the players, and don’t worry if they’re not evenly distributed. Some players may end up with more cards than others but it doesn’t matter for Bullshit.

The object of the game is to get rid of all your cards. Players take it in turns to discard 1 or more cards face down into a central pile. This happens in a descending sequence changing each turn. So player 1 must put down aces, moving to kings for the next player, then queens and so on.

At the same time as laying them down, players must declare the number of cards they are discarding. And this is where the fun starts. Players can lie about what they´re putting down. In fact players have to lie about what they´re putting down.

Because the cards have to go in sequence, often you have to claim to have cards you don’t in order to play. If anyone suspects foul play they can call you out by saying “bullshit”.

At this point the player being challenged must reveal their cards. If they’re telling the truth, the challenger picks up the entire deck. If they’re lying then it’s them who gets the big hand.

First player to get rid of all their cards wins.

You have free licence to lie your face off. The more audacious you are with your untruths the more funny t gets. Until you have to pick up a massive stack that is.

Crazy Eights

Eights are good and help you get rid of the rest of your hand. Which is what you need to do to be crowned winner.

Players are each dealt 5 cards unless there are only 2 players in which case they each get 7. The rest of the cards are laced face down as the draw deck. The aim is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.

To start the dealer turns over one card from the remaining deck. Each turn consists of a player discarding one of their cards. However, it must match the preceding card in either suit or number.

For example if someone plays a 6 of clubs then the next player must play another 6 or a different club. If that’s not possible then they have to pick up from the draw pile.

The exception to this is if you’re holding an 8 which can be played on anything. Hence the name Crazy Eights. Anyone playing an 8 also gets to name what suit the next player must play.

Easy to pick up and simple to explain, Crazy Eights can also be modified to add more strategy and difficulty. For example, some variants include “special cards” that produce different actions. For example, in some versions a Queen skips a go and an ace reverses the direction of play.

Back in the day an “old maid” was a woman who had been left unmarried for so long it was unlikely to ever happen. Despite the somewhat sexist connotations, this game relies on everyone aiming to avoid the fate of being left holding the last card.

The dealer adds a single joker to the deck before dealing out the entire pack. Players then sort through their hands to identify any pairs they’re holding. These are placed face up on the table.

The player to the left of the dealer must then select a card from the dealer’s hand to put into their oen. This carries on with the player to their left and so on.

As soon as any player has a pair that must be put face up on the table with the rest of the pairs.

The game ends when one player is left holding the joker or “Old Maid”. Naturally they’re the loser.

That sinking feeling when you pick the old maid out of your neighbour’s hand is devastating. But it’s quickly eclipsed by the elation when the next player along plucks it from your fingers.

Best Dice Games

Lcr left center right.

There´s no strategy in LCR and it´s impossible to forget the rules – the dice dictate what you do each turn. It´s fast, great fun, and sees your excitement build and fall rapidly. Brilliant entertainment for largegroups.

LCR is a game made up of just chips and dice. Unlike normal dice, in LCR they have different symbols or letters on each side that require players to do various things with their chips. A dot means you keep a chip. L means you pass one to your left. R means you pass one to your right. C means you put one in the centre pot.

Each player starts the game with 3 chips and the first player rolls the three dice. They then distribute their chips according to what the dice say. Players only roll the number of dice that corresponds to the number of chips they have, up to a maximum of 3.

So as the game continues you may be rolling 1, 2, or 3 dice depending on how you fare. Each round sees you accumulate and lose chips in rapid succession. Play continues until all of the chips but one are in the centre pot, and the person with the remaining chip is the winner.

• Number Of Players: 3-100

This game is one of pure chance meaning anyone can play and it´s a great party starter, particularly with lots of people. Even when you think you´re down and out your neighbour can be forced into giving you a lifeline getting you right back in it. Play for money instead of chips and you´ll have even more invested, even if it’s just a few bucks.

Game Time: 20 minutes

Size & Weight: 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches, 3.2 ounces

This entertaining dice game is one of pure chance and can be great for large groups of people. While it can be played with standard dice, this handy travel pack comes with scoring sheets and a portable carry box.

Farkle is a supremely simple game made up of just a cup and 6 dice. Players take it in turns to roll the dice on their go. On the first roll of a turn you must roll all 6 and there´s a minimum number of points you must score to be allowed to keep them, usually 350.

Only certain dice and combinations will score you points, and if you don´t manage to bag any points that´s called a Farkle. Hitting a Farkle also ends your turn immediately and loses you any points you have already banked for that go.

Each turn can consist of one or more rolls of the dice. Players can bank scores before each further roll by leaving those dice on the table and only rolling the remainder.

The idea is to get the highest score overall, but first one player must get to a predetermined number of points. This forces sudden death and gives everyone just one more go and a final shot at winning.

There are numerous different variations of the rules so it´s important to nail down which one you´re playing before the game begins.

• Dice game of luck and tactics

While it´s largely a game of chance, Farkle also pushes you to try your luck by continuing to roll in order to secure higher scores. Sometimes you´ll play safe, others you´ll be forced to gamble to score big. The higher the stakes the more exciting it gets.

Size & Weight: 4.2 x 3.6 x 3.1 inches, 5.6 ounces

This classic word game is quick, simple, and uniquely can be played on its own. It comes in a ready made plastic travel case making it one of the most suitable mini travel games.

Shake the dice up in the box and make sure they’re all settled in their grid. Next lift the lid off and turn the sand timer over to start. Players must then write down as many words of 3 or more letters as they can spot. Letters can be “chained” in virtually any direction so long as they’re touching.

Words that more than one player have don’t count, you only score for unique ones. Points are allocated depending on how long they are with longer words gaining exponentially bigger scores. The player with the highest score wins.

• Head-to-head word search game

Because you can chain letters in weird orders it’s easy to spot different ones to other players. The game is frantic with each round lasting just a few minutes. There’s no limit on how many players can play, but it can also be played solo by trying to beat your own high score.

Players: 1+

Game Time: 3 minutes

Size & Weight: 2 x 4.3 x 4.3 inches, 7 ounces

Every roll counts for every player in this unique and engaging fast paced dice game.

Play is based around the coloured scoring cards in Qwixx. They have 4 rows in each colour numbered from either 2-12 or 12-2.

A turn consists of a player rolling all of the dice, 4 colored and 2 white. On each turn players are able to make two scores, one by adding the two white dice, the other by adding one white dice with one colour of their choice.

This number then gets crossed off in the corresponding box on the score-sheet with the white one counting as any colour you like. But once you’ve crossed a number off you’re not allowed to cross anything else in that line off that lies to the left of it.

The game continues until players can physically no longer go or they lock 2 lines. this is done by crossing off 6 numbers in the same line as well as the number furthest to the right.

Scores are then added up according to the score-sheet and the player with the highest score wins.

• Roll and write game.

No one gets bored waiting around for other players to go. There’s zero downtime so everyone stays fully immersed in the game at all times. It’s also exciting and fun to play with lots of twists and turns along the way.

Size & Weight: 5.2 x 3.8 x 1.2 inches, 5.9 ounces

Best Car Games for Adults on a Road Trip

The famous name game.

Into your celebrities? Get ready to name drop like never before in this fast paced word association game.

The first player starts by saying a famous name that everyone would know. The next player has to think of another famous person whose name begins with the first letter of the last name.

If the first name has the same starting letter as the surname for example Marilyn Monroe, play switches direction.

If a player can´t think of a name, takes too long, or drops a name no one knows, they lose and have to do a forfeit.

Play has to go quickly so there are inevitably a lot of forfeits, the worse the better. The random names that people say can also be hilarious. Expect plenty of blasts from the past and Z-list celebs to crop up.

Just a Minute

If you´re the chatty type then this game could be right up your street. But can you keep on topic for a full minute?

Someone (not the driver) sets a timer on their phone for a minute and becomes the chair. The first player then has those 60 seconds to speak on a subject chosen randomly by the chair.

They have to do this without “hesitation, repetition or deviation” and the rest of the passengers are judges. If they think the speaker is taking too long, going off topic, or has repeated a word, they are able to challenge. The timer stops as soon as this happens.

If a challenge is deemed correct by the chair, they receive a point and also take over the subject for the remainder of the time. If it´s not correct then the original speaker continues.

Being the person to be speaking at the end of a minute is rewarded with a point. If a player manages to speak for the entire minute they´re rewarded with a bonus point.

This game sounds super easy but it´s unbelievably hard! Speaking for a full minute without breaking the rules is virtually impossible. But the ways that people attempt to win are hilarious and the arguments over challenges can get pretty involved.

Three Stories

Are you a great liar or do you possess a terrible poker face? Well it doesn´t matter too much in this game, it´s all about coming up with fake stories that are less believable than the truth. The more you can fool your fellow players the better chance of winning you have.

Players take in in turns to say three stories or “facts” about themselves that the other players don´t know. However, only one of them should be true.

The other players have to try and figure out which one is the true story and which two are lies. To get this they each get to ask two follow up questions.

Each player to guess right gets a point and the first to a predetermined number of points is the winner.

This is a great way to get to know your fellow road trippers a whole lot better. And regardless of how well you know them, you´ll learn some pretty surprising stuff. This game gets funny quickly and will have the whole car in stitches.

I Know Them

Fancy yourself as a bit of a story teller? This is a great game that involves some serious imagination as you build a story about someone you´ve never met or seen before in your life.

One player selects a passenger in a car that you pass and makes sure everyone gets a good look. Then they begin by “I know them…” and starting to tell a story about them.

Each player takes it in turns to make up something funny or interesting to add. Start with the basics like name, age, and occupation, then work up to the good stuff.

The more outrageous the backstory you construct the better. And if you pass them again on the road you won´t be able to resist laughing.

There are no losers or winners, just a journey into the bizarre and twisted minds of your fellow road trippers. This can go on for as long as you´re all entertained, and when you get bored simply switch target.

The Wave Game

This game takes nerves of steel, a bit of luck, and plenty of persistence. It´s time to get social on your road trip!

Players take it in turns to wave at the the occupants of each car they pass. If someone in the car waves back then they carry on, each wave back receives a point.

Bonus points are received for extra reactions. A smile is a bonus point. If someone flips you the bird you get 5 points. And if every passenger in the car waves back you get 10 bonus points.

A player´s turn is over when no one waves back. It then moves onto the next player´s turn. The winner is the person with the most points after everyone has gone. Play as many rounds as you dare.

Other people´s reactions can range from happy to play along to thoroughly pissed off. You´ll have great fun playing and may even brighten up someone else´s drive along the way.

How We Chose the Best Travel Games

The main considerations we have for choosing a game to take on the road are the game’s size, weight and portability. All of these mini travel games tick those boxes.

But most of all, to be considered one of the best travel games, they have to be awesome fun to play!

This list is broken down into helpful categories depending on what you’re looking for. It covers the best travel board games, the best travel card games, the best dice games, and the best car games for adults.

Some are self contained mini travel games. Others require a standard deck of cards. But many just need some willing players with a bit of imagination who are up for a laugh.

Those are our picks for the best travel games for adults, but have you got an alternative game that you think would be perfect for stuffing in the backpack? What travel board games do you always carry with you on the road? Drop us a comment below and let us know!

Looking for more awesome gear to take on your travels? Check out these posts to find out what we recommend:

• The Best Water Bottle With Filter for Travel
• Best Packing Cubes for Backpacking
• The Best Towel for Travel
• Best Rainy Season Clothes For Backpackers

Pin Me For Later…

***This post was originally published in February 2017 but has been completely revamped and extended to provide you with the most up to date and accurate information.***

Travel lover, professional writer and football (soccer) obsessive, James loves nothing more than getting outside and exploring little known corners of the globe. He’s also very partial to a drop of Guinness.

Debbie Smith

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

Hi Jamie and Sarah, I just googled games to take on holiday and your website came top of the list! i thought I recognized the name. Have got a couple of tips for games to take to Turkey in a couple of weeks.

Debbie Smith (Charlie's mum)

James McAlister

Sunday 19th of May 2019

Hi Debbie, Hope you're well, it's been a while! It's always funny when people we know stumble across our site - glad you found it useful. Turkey sounds great, hope you get amazing weather and have a brilliant time. Enjoy! Take care, Jamie x

Sunday 31st of March 2019

Wow, I thought I knew a lot of games to play on the road. Really love Exploding Kittens and Cards Against Humanity. Have you tried PIT? That is one of our favorite games. Great list guys!

Tuesday 2nd of April 2019

Hey Mike, yeah we're big fans of those two as well but we have actually never played PIT!! We'll have to get it on order and test it out to see if it needs to be added to the list :-)

• Meet the Team
• Our Manifesto
• Work with Us
• Budget Travel
• Personal Development
• Work & Travel
• United Kingdom
• More of Europe
• Philippines
• More of Southeast Asia
• More of South America
• More of Central America
• South Korea
• More of Asia
• More of North America
• New Zealand
• Pacific Islands
• More of Oceania
• South Africa
• More of Africa
• More of the Middle East
• Travel Essentials
• Travel Gear

Home » Gear » best travel games

Best Travel Games – Entertainment on the Go

Travel inherently means downtime. There’s waiting for transport to depart, the relocating bit, and a myriad of other periods of time when you can’t do much more than wait. How do you fill this time? You could impatiently look at your watch, stare into space, read a book – or enjoy your time by playing a travel game!

There are a whole host of travel games out there, and whatever your tastes you’re sure to find one that meets your needs! Whether you’re looking for the top travel size games for adults or maybe something for the kids, we’ve got it all covered.

Want to find out then? Simple – read on!

Quick Answer: The Best Travel Games

Best pick travel game, best travel board game, best travel card game, best travel games for adults, best travel game for couples, best travel games for flights, best travel games for road trips, best travel games for families, best travel game for kids, best travel game for pre-schoolers, best travel game for 2 people, best travel game for groups, best of the rest, how to choose the best travel game, how we tested this gear, faq about the best travel games, ready, steady, begin.

• Buy Us a Coffee!
• Best pick travel game – Bananagrams
• Best travel board game – Travel Monopoly
• Best travel card game – Exploding Kittens
• Best travel games for adults – Cards Against Humanity
• Best travel game for couples – The Date Game That’s Actually Fun
• Best travel games for flights – Boggle
• Best travel games for road trips – Battleship Grab & Go
• Best travel games for families – Dobble
• Best travel game for kids – Pass the Pigs
• Best travel game for pre-schoolers – Buckle Toy Bizzy
• Best travel game for 2 people – Connect 4 Grab & Go
• Best travel game for groups – Farkle

Bananagrams

• Price > $13.99
• > Lightweight
• > Needs just 2 players

Travel Monopoly

• Price > $9.99
• > Self-adhesive board
• > Up to six players

Exploding Kittens

• Price > $20
• > Easy to understand rules
• > Small to pack

Cards Against Humanity

• Price > $29
• > Strictly for adults
• > 4-20 players

The Date Game That’s Actually Fun

• Price > $14.59
• > Includes all you need to play
• > Best played as a couple

• Price > $16.99
• > All the parts kept in a carry case
• > Can be played for just 3 minutes

Battleship Grab & Go

• > No need to pass tokens between players
• > Travel friendly

• Price > $12.86
• > Game for almost all ages
• > Metal carry tin

Pass the Pigs

• Price > $20.99
• > Doesn’t require adult supervision
• > Simple to understand

Buckle Toy Bizzy

• Price > $17.99
• > Specifically designed for pre-school children
• > Educational

Connect 4 Grab & Go

• Price > $12.99
• > Easy to set up

• Price > $7.99
• > Perfect for large groups
• > Games can be varied in length

Of course, we all know what the king of all games is, yes that’s right Chess. But I am going to presume you’ve all got your travel c hess set packed and ready to go and you’re looking for a accompaniment!

REI is one of America’s biggest and most-loved outdoor gear retailers.

Now, for just $30, get a lifetime membership that entitles you to 10% OFF on most items, access to their trade-in scheme and discount rentals .

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Bananagrams is a firm favorite for those in the know, is easy to set up and play anywhere, and adds little weight to your kid’s backpack . A word-based game, it consists of 144 Scrabble-like letter tiles, with some doled out to players and the rest left in a central ‘bunch’. The aim of the game is to use up all your tiles in creating interconnecting words – rather like a crossword grid. There are no turns to be taken, but each player working on their own grid as quickly as possible, making it a fast-paced and very addictive game. Requiring just two players, it’s also possible to play with anyone from reading age upwards.

• Lightweight
• Needs just 2 players
• From reading age upwards
• Tiles could get lost
• Can’t be played alone
• Not for pre-schoolers

Is Bananagrams for me?

If you’re looking for a travel game that’s going to keep you entertained without needing a large amount of baggage space, Bananagrams could be for you! Scrabble fans and lovers of word games will definitely enjoy games, which at a minimum of five minutes in length, can be played at almost any time!

Our team swear by Bananagrams for their trips as they find it to be super fun, engaging, educational and most importantly, it weighs hardly anything and takes up no room at all in their bags. They also love how simple the game is to play and pick up too.

Travel Monopoly plays in exactly the same way as standard Monopoly, and the world’s favorite board game needs very little introduction! The small board folds in half so that the entire game takes up not much more space than a paperback book, and doesn’t weigh much more either (just 300g in fact), while a ‘self-adhesive’ board ensure counters don’t fall about the place at the first elbow nudge or spot of turbulence on an aircraft. With enough miniature versions of the traditional player pieces to make this a six-player game (with a minimum of two), it’s ideal for families, while the average game time of 45 minutes makes it a great distraction for airport waits.

• Self-adhesive board
• Up to six players
• Playing time of around 45 minutes
• Minimum 2 players
• Small cards/pieces could get lost
• Age range of 8+

Is Travel Monopoly for me?

Long waits and long journeys don’t need to feel like purgatory with Travel Monopoly in hand. Its 45-minute average playing time will see the time pass all the quicker, while the self-adhesive board helps the counters stay in place however bumpy the journey might be!

Our team are split on whether Monopoly is a good idea on a trip or not! They love the mini set up which plays pretty much the same as the bigger version and packs down pretty light. Some of them just wonder if it might cause a mid-flight emergency landing if things kick off!

Adored by those who have played it, Exploding Kittens is as whimsical as its name might suggest. A rapid-fire card game, the aim is to avoid picking an exploding kitten from the stack of face-down cards, while action cards add to the peril by giving sneak peeks and mixing up the pack in various ways. No bigger than a pack of playing cards (out of the box), Exploding Kittens is perhaps one of the easiest games to take traveling. It’s suitable for 2-5 players of more or less any age, with each individual game lasting around 15 minutes.

• Quick to play
• Easy to understand rules
• Small to pack
• Family-friendly
• Not for single players
• Maximum 5 players
• Cards could get lost
• Games last 15 minutes

Is Exploding Kittens for me?

A quick action family-friendly card game if ever there was one, Exploding Kittens so wonderfully bizarre, kids will love it, while the easy-to-understand rules mean even grandma and granddad can get involved! Small and lightweight too, this is an easy travel game to slip into a pocket for those times you need a little entertainment.

Exploding Kittens is a big hit amongst the team and they love how fun and easy to play it is. The game is also super light and portable meaning it can fit into pretty much any backpack without adding any extra weight. They also like how the playing area for the game is really compact too meaning you could play it on train or plane trays.

Certainly not a travel game for the kiddos, Cards Against Humanity at its best is rude, offensive, and potentially libellous too. So how’s it work? It’s simple really. The dealer reads out an incomplete phrase, which each player tries to complete in turn using words found on cards they’ve been dealt in a hand. It’s the dealer who decides the winner of each round, meaning the winner can be the most outrageous, most poetical, or most polite. A game for up to 20 players, it soon develops a party atmosphere! It’s one of the best adult travel games for sure.

• Strictly for adults
• Simple rules
• 4-20 players
• Easy to pack
• Requires a minimum 4 players
• Not for the easily offended!
• Not for public areas either!
• Game time of around 45 minutes

Is Cards Against Humanity for me?

Definitely not if you’re under 18 or easily offended, but taking that into account, Cards Against Humanity is what could be defined as a right-rollicking travel game, made all the better by the fact you can get up to 20 people playing at the same time.

Our team loves Cards Against Humanity and rate it as one of their best travel games for adults. The game is perfect for getting out at the hostel and breaking the ice. The only drawback is that the game is a little heavier compared to some of the others on the list. But it’s probably the most fun!

The premise of The Date Game That’s Actually Fun is pretty simple – the 330 questions are intended to test how well you know your partner! Though we can see how this could well lead to an argument or two, it’s also a great way of getting to know your other half better and passing the dead time of travel.

The Date Game That’s Actually Fun comes with everything you need to play the game on the move, with 2 dice and 75 prompt cards, across six different categories so you can really get to know your other half.

• Get to know your partner better
• Includes all you need to play
• Best played as a couple
• Number of questions limits playability
• Good for couples getting to know each other
• Compact and lightweight
• Could lead to arguments!

Is The Date Game That’s Actually Fun for me?

Certainly a travel game given its pocket size and weight, The Date Game That’s Actually Fun is a fun way for a couple to pass the time, or for hen/bachelorette groups, in particular, to get the party started. Hopefully, you know your partner well enough that it doesn’t lead to angry recriminations!

Our team felt this was also one of their favourite travel games for adults and kids alike with the addition of the different categories questions. They felt it was perfect for a bit of fun on the road especially when there is only the two of you.

The travel version of this word game is just as easy to play on an aircraft as the original is to play at home. Give the box a quick shake to mix up and settle the letter-inscribed dice within, open up the box, and turn over the sand timer. Each player must then create as many words as they can from the revealed letters, akin to a word search. Obscure words are best, since (infuriatingly) any word spotted by more than one player doesn’t count! But what’s great about this game is that you can play it for as little or as much time as you like (each round lasts just two minutes or so), and can even play alone!

• All the parts kept in a carry case
• Can be played for just 3 minutes
• Can be played with one player
• Infinite number of players
• Dice shaking could irritate other passengers
• Carry case lid isn’t hinged
• No note paper included

Is Boggle for me?

If you enjoy word searches or other travel games such as Bananagrams, you’re going to enjoy Boggle too! Ideal for a flight because of its compact size and simple gameplay, it also has an almost infinite number of letter combinations, that will keep you busy for hours!

Our team feel this is their best game for travel if the size is one of your main concerns. They love how compact and light the game is with all the parts also being super hard-wearing. They also love that the game itself takes up hardly any room in use and uses the box as its playing area.

Battleship Grab & Go

What makes Battleship Grab & Go so good for road trips? Well, it one of the few travel games that don’t require either a communal aspect (a deck of cards or bag of letter tiles) or the need to pass tokens between players. For anyone who doesn’t already know, this two-player (or two-team) game links guesswork with skill to track down the coordinates of each ship in the other player’s navy. The two playing trays are designed in such a way that pegs are firmly placed and can’t get shaken out of place whatever road obstacles you might come across!

• No ‘communal aspect’
• No need to pass tokens between players
• Travel-friendly
• Easy to play
• For two players/teams
• For ages 7+
• Pegs a little fiddly

Is Battleship Grab & Go for me?

Road trips mean plenty of time in the confines of a vehicle where it’s difficult to reach a communal pile of cards or letters, and can be hard to pass tokens between players too! Battleship Grab & Go has no need for these game aspects, and is specifically designed for use on the road!

Battleship is an absolute classic and our team loves it! Many of them have fond memories of playing it as kids. The team liked that this edition was made from durable materials and included two self-enclosed playing boards that keep all the pieces organised.

A card-based travel game aimed at children but still very playable by adults, there’s little to have to carry with Dobble, making it a great option for families who already have more than enough baggage with them! Essentially a version of ‘snap’ built for the twenty-first century, five different games can be played with the 55 card Dobble pack. The most basic sees players reveal one card at a time, in an attempt to match images between cards – each one has 8 different images of various sizes to make it extra tricky! The player with the most cards at the end of the pack wins!

• Game for almost all ages
• 2-8 players
• Metal carry tin
• Not suitable for pre-schoolers
• Cannot be played alone
• Game time of 10 minutes
• Won’t help teach literacy

Is Dobble for me?

This fun, fast, and sometimes raucous travel game can be played by anyone in the family old enough to be able to recognize different images (with another version available for younger children too). Educational and enjoyable to play, Dobble is a marvellous way of having fun as a family!

Our team are big fans of Dobble, especially for games nights in the hostel. They love that it comes in a metal box that keeps the cards safe when it’s thrown in their packs. The only thing they did say is that this game can get pretty energetic and rowdy, so maybe not ideal for enclosed spaces!

If you’re after a game that the kids can play on their own without the supervision or input of a tired-out adult, reach for Pass the Pigs! Based on the traditional game of ‘pigs’ that uses the roll of a pair of dice to determine points, this version sees kids drop small model pigs (that they’ll love in any case) onto the playing board, which is made up of several squares which can take or give points. The trick is knowing when to stop or play on (all down to luck of course), which keeps the game fresh and risky time after time!

• Doesn’t require adult supervision
• Simple to understand
• Very small to pack
• 2-4 players
• For reading age kids
• Game time of 30 minutes
• Pigs could get lost

Is Pass the Pigs for me?

The lack of a skill requirement means Pass the Pigs is suitable for a child of just about any age (although the board does include some writing). It’s also one of those games where you can leave them to it for a few minutes without supervision. It’s also small to pack and weighs very little, making it a good choice for traveling families!

The team felt this was a super fun game, especially for kids. They like that the pieces are made from durable and hard-wearing material and their box is strong enough to cope with the rigours of travel. They did feel it could get a bit tedious for the adults after a while though.

Specifically designed to be attractive to pre-schoolers, the upper side of the Buckle Toy Bizzle is decorated with a bright and cheerful face, while the underside has tabs for numbers 1 to 5 which lift up to reveal a series of stitched animals. Stretching out from this soft central section are 6 colorful child-friendly buckles of different sorts to help develop a pre-schoolers motor, cognitive, and problem-solving skills without even realizing it. A zip pocket gives a further reason why the child would love to have this around, while its 6 x 6 inch size and fabric construction makes it very easy to travel with, however far you’re heading.

• Specifically designed for pre-school children
• Brightly colored
• Educational
• Small in size
• For 1-4 years of age
• For one player
• No alternate games to play
• Small danger of catching skin in clips

Is Buckle Toy Bizzy for me?

Good, educational travel toys for pre-schoolers are difficult to come by, and let’s face it, if you intend on traveling you definitely need something to keep these young minds occupied! Brightly colored, and with little extras such as the hidden animals, Bizzy could be your child’s favorite for months to come.

The team felt this toy was super well made, which is essential when it comes to something designed for toddlers! The game is small and light enough to fit easily inside a backpack whilst offering a surprising amount of different colours, numbers, textures and noises to keep the little ones distracted! They also love that you can attach it to a backpack or the back of a seat too.

Connect 4 Grab & Go

Even if the name of Connect 4 doesn’t ring a bell right away, we suspect you’ll soon recognize its bright blue plastic frame and red and yellow counters. Connect 4 Grab & Go is the same as the original game, but smaller in size and with handy attached trays in which to place the counters. If you don’t immediately remember how to play, you’re simply trying to drop the counters into the frame in such a way that the result is a line of four consecutive counters of the same color – a little like an expanded version of noughts and crosses.

• Smaller version of a favourite
• Simple to play
• Easy to set up
• For just two players
• Counters can get lost
• Little variation in the game
• Playing time of 10 minutes

Is Connect 4 Grab & Go for me?

This simple, near vintage, travel game is easy to set up and perhaps even easier to play. With an average playing time of 10 minutes, it can be brought out even during short waits, while you’ll be surprised how addictive a game it can become!

Our team felt this was one of the best travel games for 2 adults or kids. This classic game is easy to get the hang of and offers hours of fun! The travel edition is super small and being plastic it’s both light and hard-wearing.

Finding a travel game suitable for a larger group would be difficult if it wasn’t for Farkle. Best described as the dice game Yahtzee built into a larger game, it can be played by an almost limitless number of players due to the fact each person takes turns shaking the six dice. With only specific dice combinations giving a player points nothing is guaranteed, while everything can be lost if you hit the Farkle combination. The winner is simply the person who reaches the winning points margin first – and as this can be as large or as small as you want, games can fit into whatever time you have free!

• Perfect for large groups
• Made in the UK
• Games can be varied in length
• Dice can get lost
• For ages 8+
• No skill required
• Dice quite small

Is Farkle for me?

If you’re looking for a game that can absorb almost any number of players (simply use more than one score sheet for larger groups – or draw your own) and doesn’t require skill or any complicated rules (we’re looking at you, Monopoly) Farkle is probably the game for you!

The team rate this game highly for travelling with it being so small and light. Another bonus for solo travellers or couples is that it works well with one or two people which is pretty rare, even rarer is that equally, you can play it with a big group. The team also feel the replayability is much bigger than many other games on the list.

Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??

Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.

Reading the instructions and you might think Codenames is the most complicated travel game ever invented, but get stuck in and you’ll soon realize it’s not as difficult as it at first sounds! The aim of the game is to uncover all of each team’s secret agents, hidden within a field of possibles that includes ordinary bystanders and a very deadly assassin. But really, this is a game of word association, with clues given by a spymaster to their team linked in some way to the agents they are looking for. With so many combinations possible, you can play this game almost endlessly, with different combinations of team members making for very different results!

• Simple at heart
• Close to a traditional board game (without the board)
• Can be played almost endlessly
• Better with 4+ players

Is Codenames for me?

If you’re looking for a travel game that involves a little more skill and thought than the simple chance of something like Farkle, go for Codenames! This competitive and fun travel game will have you second-guessing every word given by your spymaster in the attempt to identify your undercover agents.

Codenames is one of my personal favourite games, I love how frustrating and fun it is anticipating your partners answer or trying to find a tenuous link between the cards! The game consists of just cards so it’s easy to take out of the box as we have and throw it in a sandwich bag for your travels. It lays flat and weight almost nothing. However, the game does need more room than a plane tray usually affords.

The traditional stylings of the box might not look much, but bear with us, for Catan is a big hit with everyone that plays it! Credited with igniting the recent craze for board games, Catan requires skill, strategy, and a little bit of cooperation between players too. The ultimate aim is to reach ten victory points and to do this each player begins building their own settlement through farming, trading, and other choices. Along the way, each player needs to watch out for the robber, who stops development of the settlements he’s landed on!

• Almost infinite playing board
• Suitable for all the family
• Games last around an hour
• Not simply luck
• Requires space for the board
• Just 3-4 players
• Lots of small parts

Is Catan for me?

Want something more than a travel game of chance and luck? Catan meets this need, with its requirement for careful consideration and strategy. It also emphasizes the need for cooperation, which is great for children and has an almost infinite playing board thanks to its jigsaw-like setup.

Catan is a classic and it’s one of my favourite games. The full-sized edition, whilst a surefire hit in the hostels, might just be a little on the large and heavy side unless you’re travelling in a car or campervan. However, there are smaller versions available where two players can play too.

Sequence Travel Edition

Made for travel, Sequence Travel Edition combines the basic premise of a number of games including Connect4 and poker into one large board-based travel game. The board has cleverly been placed within the lid of the plastic carry case of this travel edition and pegs that slot into holes replace the traditional chips used so that players don’t lose their place. Even the cards used in a miniature pack for travel, while the game itself is simple enough that children will be readily able to play. So what’s it all about? Fundamentally, it’s about connecting up a sequence of 5 cards in various ways that will keep your mind busy over and over again!

• Special travel edition
• Can be played by children
• Pegs can be a little fiddly
• Two-player version

Is Sequence Travel Edition for me?

Those who have played the full-sized version of Sequence might be a little unimpressed by the Travel Edition, however, for a game that will keep children and adults entertained for half an hour or more, we still rate Sequence Travel Edition as a fine travel game!

Our team felt this was a pretty fun little game that impressed them with its clever design where it was played inside its own plastic container. It meant it was compact and light and keeping all the various parts together wasn’t an issue. Most importantly, it could also be played easily on a plane, train or bus tray table.

Qwirkle Travel

The colorful playing pieces of Qwirkle Travel play rather like dominoes on steroids. The aim is to place connecting tiles next to each other, but instead of tiles comprising numbers, they are of various shapes and colors. An orange square can be placed next to a red square, which can be followed by a red circle, for instance. And to make it slightly more complicated, each color can only appear in a row once! The winner of each round is the player that has put down the most tiles, in the most rows, so some strategy is needed too.

• Travel version of the popular game
• Good for children and adults to play together
• One of the heavier games on our list
• For just 2-4 players
• Lots of small pieces to lose

Is Qwirkle Travel for me?

Easy to understand, but requiring enough strategy to keep players entertained, Qwirkle Travel is family fun at its very best. Though it can be a rapid-fire game, the thought required also means a game can last 45 minutes – an ideal length of time for many travel experiences.

Our team loves that this is one of those simple yet complex games where you can really get stuck in and engaged in the game. It really passes the time well on long trips with the level of concentration needed! They also feel that the bag and pieces are pretty robust too and like that it can be played with 2 people.

Top Trumps Wonders of the World

If you don’t already know how Top Trumps works, where have you been? Nothing to do with the 45 th president of the United States (that we know of), the Top Trumps deck of cards is divided among the players, who try and beat the other players by besting them on one of the card’s selected categories. What makes the Wonders of the World version particularly relevant to travel is its world theme, with plenty of intriguing facts to keep everyone paying attention while the game goes on. And that game goes on right up until the time when one player holds all the cards!

• Games can last as little as 2 minutes
• Easy to travel with
• Great for kids
• Travel themed
• Limited number of cards
• Best with 4 players

Is Top Trumps Wonders of the World for me?

A particularly good choice if you’re looking to drill some useful facts about the world into your children without them realizing it (such as the height of Mount Everest), Top Trumps Wonders of the World is also easy to travel with, and argument free – since all the facts are written down! Perfect!

Top Trumps has been a hit with me and my partner since we first met each other as teenagers! We’ve collected heaps of different versions but of course, as avid travellers, this version is a firm favourite. The game is simple, filled with interesting facts and fun to play. The cards take up hardly any room and the plastic case keeps them in good condition on the road.

Unstable Unicorns

The Exploding Kittens for the millennial age, Unstable Unicorns is as barmy a card-based game as they come! How does a player go about winning? By building up a powerful unicorn army of course! And you can’t do this without a little bit (alright, a lot) of friendly betrayal of the other players, seeing to the destruction of their own unicorn armies. With wonderfully vibrant imagery and an unpredictability no other travel game can match, Unstable Unicorns definitely belongs to the ‘once tried never forgotten’ list of travel games!

• Great design
• Ridiculously unpredictable
• Up to 8 can play
• 30-45 minutes playing time
• For ages 14+
• Higher price point
• Requires table space

Is Unstable Unicorns for me?

A great way to spend some quality time with your teens, or just a group of friends, Unstable Unicorns is like no other card-based game you will ever have come across. Quirky, cute, and evilly vicious in equal turn, up to 8 can play, with games lasting right up to 45 minutes.

Our team absolutely loves this game from the hilarious illustrations to the cunning gameplay, it’s got it all! It’s a huge hit at the hostel and really gets everyone interacting and having fun from the off. They also like that there are various different versions and expansion packs too so the game has huge replayability.

Mille Bornes

With a strapline of ‘the classic racing game,’ you can know a little of what to expect from this card-based travel game. A Monopoly for cars, players need to fill up on petrol, avoid accidents, and block the progress of other players to reach the end of the 1000-mile journey. Ironically perhaps, this is actually an incredibly fast-paced game, so pay attention! It’s also very easy to learn the rules, so you’ll be up to speed (pardon the pun) and playing before you know it!

• Travel version of a classic travel game
• Easy to understand
• Cards can be lost
• High price point

Is Mille Bornes for me?

Looking for an alternative to Monopoly? Mille Bornes fills that niche, without the need for a board. The resulting card-based game is a classic, particularly in its birthplace of France. Nothing gets classic status without reason, so why not splash out and try Mille Bornes for yourself?

Our team love the unique premise of this game and felt it offered something pretty different compared to most card games out there. The retro metal packaging was also great for travellers because it was still pretty light but made sure all the pieces stayed together and undamaged whilst in their backpacks.

Another classic travel game is Uno. Developed in the early 1970s, it is as fresh today as when it was first invented, which says a lot about the simple elegance of this card game. Using a specially printed pack of 108 cards, the majority of which comprise a color and number, the basic aim is to be the first player to shed all their cards through picking up and putting down cards based on what’s face up in a central pile. It’s a little more complex than that, with skips and wild cards among other features, and the need to shout ‘Uno!’ not when you’ve won, but when you have a single card left in your hand!

• A classic game
• 2-10 players
• 45 minute game time

Is Uno for me?

Uno rapidly becomes addictive, which is exactly what you should be looking for in a travel game when you have a lot of dead time to fill up without getting bored! Lightweight and easy to pack, and suitable for everyone from the age of seven upwards, your career as an Uno champion could start today!

Uno! What can we say, it’s a classic and a game all of our team needed no introduction to! I think we’ve all got a traumatic Uno story, ending up with a stack of cards just a few rounds after forgetting to shout “Uno”! But no one can deny the fun of this simple but tactical game that packs down super small and light.

An award-winning family strategy game, OK Play is durable, waterproof (being plastic), and a good size for travel, although the small counters might be troublesome for some families to keep hold of. Once you’ve chosen your particular color of tiles – held neatly on their own stack until they are needed – it’s simply a matter of placing down one tile at a time until one of the players manages to sneak in a row of five counters in the horizonal, vertical, or diagonal. Recommended for children from the age of 8 upwards, four different color stacks of counters make it suitable for 2-4 players.

• Award-winning
• Designed for travel
• Counters could get lost
• Requires a playing table
• For only 2-4 players
• Slightly awkward shape for packing

Is OK Play for me?

This counter game is so easy to play you won’t bore children with a long list of rules and regulations, yet at the same time is flexible enough to allow continued development of the skills and strategies required to make it a success as a player. Its durability and waterproof nature also help to make it an all-around good family travel game!

This game was new to most of our testers but they really loved how simple, fast-paced and addictive it was. They also felt when it came to travel games, this one was probably the most perfectly designed. It was super compact, so light and really hard to break!

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

What makes a game the best travel game for you, your family, and your friends? Here are some helpful hints and tips to guide you!

Packability

You’re probably already struggling to fit everything you want to take into your baggage, particularly if traveling as a family, so you don’t want to be carrying around a travel game that is either large in size, or overly heavy. Thankfully, these days the manufacturers have caught the hint, producing dedicated travel versions of many popular games, with Monopoly one of them.

Are you looking for a travel game that will entertain just a couple of people, have a group of adults enthralled, keep children busy during dead time, or maybe one that’s suitable for families? We’ve highlighted the age range each game is aimed at in our reviews, to make this really obvious for you!

Number of players

There’s no point getting a travel game that’s at its best with six players if there are only ever going to be two or you! Likewise, don’t get a game for two if you know the average number of players is going to be greater than this. Follow these simple rules together with our reviews, and you’ll find the best travel game for you!

There is no perfect or exact science when it comes to testing out travel gear, but when it comes to picking the best travel games, we’ve got plenty of experience between us!

Whenever we test a piece of gear, one of our team takes it out for a spin and puts it through its paces. When it came to travel games things were no different in our eyes, we just added in a few extra details.

So, we looked initially at how well-made the game is and whether it would stand up to the rigours of being thrown into a backpack every day. Then we accessed things like weight, size, packability as well as ease of set up and most importantly, gameplay!

Finally, we also take into account how much each item costs – when it came to picking out the best games for traveling, we also weighted up whether we felt each one was worth the price. We judged the more expensive items more harshly than the cheaper games as we expected to get more for our money.

Still have some questions about the best games for travel? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

What are the best travel games for long car-rides?

Battleship Grab & Go is a great option for long car rides or road trips. The two playing trays are designed in such a way that pegs are firmly placed and can’t get shaken out of place whatever road obstacles you might come across!

What is the best board travel game?

Travel Monopoly might cause one or the other family war, but it’s the best board game on the market.

What are the best games for families or a group of friends?

There are many great group travel games, but Farkle and Dobble are the best ones. They’re perfect for all ages and all types of travelling.

What is the easiest travel game?

Connect 4 Grab & Go is simple and fast to learn, however, it requires one or the other brain cells.

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

Pop your email here & get the original Broke Backpacker Bible for FREE.

Forget hours of boring waiting at train stations , airports, and on road trips with our selection of the best travel games! Whether it’s a classic like Uno or a new kid on the block such as Unstable Unicorns, or something for adults or kids (or both), we’ve got you covered with our review! Hopefully, you’ve found some good travel games for your next trip.

Buy Us a Coffee !

A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee . If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂

Share or save this post

Thanks for this kind of blog about travel. I wonder if you tried to go on baguio cafes in the philippines?

Just an FYI…. Bananagrams can be played with one person. Bananagram solitaire is extremely popular and is a great way for school-age children to build their vocabulary.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

35 Best Travel Games To Play On Your Next Vacation

Posted on Published: November 13, 2020  - Last updated: July 31, 2024

Categories Travel , Travel Tips

There are many reasons you may want to bring board games on the go.

Travel games are the perfect source of entertainment while you’re on a road trip , waiting for a flight, have some time to spare before dinner reservations, or are just looking for something to do that isn’t staring at a screen.

My partner and I are huge board game fans when we’re at home, so we love packing some games any time we’re travelling. Not all games are good travel games though … so I put together a list of the best games for travel.

To qualify as a travel game, it has to be either small and compact, easily malleable, or you can transfer all the pieces from the box to one convenient travel pouch.

I’ve included travel games for adults, solo games, family friendly games, party travel games, and games lasting anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours! 

Psst! This post contains affiliate links. It sends a bit extra my way if your buy anything through my links, at no extra cost to you!

You might also be interested in…

10 Best Cooperative Board Games For Travel: Perfect For Families!

In a cooperative game, every one plays on the same team – you win together and you lose together. This is my favourite type of game and it’s perfect to avoid any added fights on vacation!

Classic Card Travel Games To Play On Vacation

Card games are no brainer travel games because they’re SUPER packable ! There isn’t much to pack, except for well… a deck of cards.  

They fit into almost any space, and can be played anywhere. You usually don’t need a large surface to play a card game like would need for a board game.

1. A Simple Deck of Cards

The possibilities are pretty much endless with a basic deck of cards. There’s always another card game you could play and replay.  

There are solo games like Solitaire, two-player games like Spit, and group games like Go Fish!

See the ultimate list of games you can play with a deck of cards .

Shop A Deck Of Cards

Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca

Players : 2-10 Age : 7+ Average Game Time : Varies 45 minutes

Is there any better classic card game than UNO? This was a must bring on every family vacation.

The game is simple: everyone is trying to get rid of all their cards to win.

The only problem? You keep having to pick up cards to match specific colours and numbers. So, it may be easier said than done!  

There’s classic UNO, but these days there’s many other iterations of this family fun game.

P.S. UNO is also very similar to the classic game of Crazy Eights that you can play with any deck of cards if you don’t have UNO on hand. 

Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca Shop Uno Flip! Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca Shop UNO Dare Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca

Travel Games: Protect Your Cards While Traveling…

• Hermitshell Hard Travel Storage Carrying Case
• Protect your favorite device from bumps dents and scratches
• Made to fit Mattel UNO Classic Card Game – Not Including Cards

Buy Hard Case on Amazon.ca

3. Monopoly Deal

Players: 2-5 Age : 8+ Average Game Time: 15 minutes

If you like Monopoly and are upset that the board is just to big to travel with, Monopoly Deal is the ultimate alternative to turn Monopoly into one of the best games for travel! 

Monopoly Deal is a card-only version of Monopoly. It’s the same idea as the original, you’re trying to build the same colour set of properties. But instead of moving around a board, you play and pick up cards. 

It’s a lot quicker than Monopoly too, so you can play a round in 10 to 20 minutes . This makes it a game to play at the beach, before dinner reservations, or waiting for a connecting flight.

Shop Monopoly Deal

4. mille bornes.

Players : 2-6  Age : 7+ Average Game Time : 20 minutes

Milles Bornes is the original racing card game! I loved this card game growing up but it isn’t just for kids. It’s one of the best card travel games for adults – it’s fast paced, and unexpected!  

The object of the game is to be the first person to reach 1000 kilometers. But watch out, you don’t want to run out of gas, get a flat tire, or crash!  

Shop Mille Bornes

Players: 2-6 Age: 7+ Average Game Time: 20 minutes

Similar to UNO, the winner is the first person to get rid of all their cards. But, in Skip Bo, it works a bit differently. 

In Skip Bo, each player has their own draw pile and there are 4 build piles in the middle. Everyone is trying to build the piles in ascending order.

So when it’s your turn to build on the piles, the goal is to get rid of as many cards as you can.  

Shop Skip Bo!

Unique Card Travel Games

These next set card games are more unique, but are some of the best games for travel!

If you’re a bit more of an avid gamer, these will probably be more up your ally. Requiring a bit more strategy and a bit less luck. They resemble more of what you’re used to with board games, just with cards only! 

I’ve also included some cooperatives travel games which means you’ll be teaming up with your travel partners to win! These are perfect if you’re travelling with family and you want to avoid any sibling fights…

P.S. Interested in more cooperative board games for travelling? Check out my 10 top in my post here.

Going on a road trip?

Check out my digital and printable road trip I Spy game on Etsy .

Players: 2-5 Age: 8+ Average Game time: 20-30 minutes Similar Games: The Mind

We actually bought Hanabi while travelling in Aix-en-Provence for a month and now it’s one of our go-to travel games. 

Hanabi is a very different game than what you might be use to. It’s a co-op game that teaches you how to communicate with others, without actually being able to vocalize anything.

You see, in Hanabi, you don’t get to look at your own cards, so it’s up to your teammates to tell you what to play. 

The objective of the game is to “light” 5 sets of fireworks by matching the number and colour… all without seeing your own cards.  

An alternative option to Hanabi is  The Mind .

Shop Hanabi

7. kittens in a blender.

Players : 2-4 Age : 6+ Average Game Time: 30 minutes

Before disregarding this game based on the title, know that no cats are harmed while playing. Although I’ll admit the subject matter is a bit dark, so perhaps this is one of those travel games for adults only…

To play Kittens In A Blender, each player has kittens they’re trying to save, while also trying to blend those of your opponent.

The winner is the player who has the least amount of kittens blended.

The best part is that you use the box it comes while playing, so all the cards stay contained.

Shop Kittens In A Blender

8. pack o games.

Pack O Games are THE SMALLEST travel games you can find. I always throw them in my bag regardless of where I’m going, just because they’re so small.  

The downside is that although the cards themselves are small too.

The games I own also take up quite a bit of table space while playing as well.  

I own four Pack O Play: Boo, Bus, TKO, and Gym. Each one is significantly different, with varying game-time as well.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to get them in Canada. You can order them online from their website , or if you find yourself in the States, pick them up at Barnes & Noble.

Shop Pack O Games

Shop Amazon.com Shop Barnes & Noble

You might also be interested in reading…

Useful Travel Gift Ideas From $5 To $100+ Every Traveller Will Love

9. Codenames

Players : 2,6, or 8 Age : 10+ Average Game Time : 15 minutes

Alternate Version : Codenames Duet, Harry Potter Codenames, Disney Codenames.

Similar (easier) Game Cross Clues  

Codenames is a bit of a trickier game to travel with, but it’s still do-able. You only need to pack 2 decks of cards, which can fit into a pouch or bag. The downside to this game is the amount of space you need to set it up. You need a decent size table to create a 5×5 grid.  

To play Codenames, you also need an even number of players . The idea is to get your partner to guess certain cards based on a one word clue you’ve given them. Watch out though, there are certain cards that will cause you to lose the game if your partner guesses it instead! 

If you’re traveling with only two players, I recommend Codenames Duet , as it’s tailored to 2 players.

There are also a few themed Codenames you can buy. For example, we own Harry Potter Codenames but there’s also Disney Codenames! What I like about Harry Potter (aside from the theme) is that they also give you different scenarios to play.

Shop Codenames

Codenames Duet Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca

Harry Potter Codenames Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca

Disney Codenames Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca

Protect Your Travel Games In Style

Shop Codenames travel case on Amazon.com Shop Codenames travel case on Amazon.ca

10. The Fox In The Forest

Players : 2 Age : 10+ Average Game Time : 30 minutes

The Fox in the Forest is what’s known as a trick-taking game . You have to play cards to take your opponents card (similar to the card game WAR, but with actual strategy).

This is a max 2 player game , so it’s the perfect travel game for couples.

There are actually two versions of this game:

The original Fox in the Forest is competitive , where you’re playing against your opponent to get the most points (cards).

They’ve also released Fox in the Forest Duet, where you’re on a team with your partner. You can’t talk to each other though, which adds a very interesting dynamic to the game.

Shop Fox In The Forest

Buy Amazon.com

Shop Duet Buy Amazon.com Buy Amazon.ca

11. The Crew

Players:  2-5 (best 3+ but there is a 2 player variant) Age : 10+ Average Game Time:  20 minutes

This game is AMAZING! It’s so simple, so packable, and quick to learn and play. The Crew is a limited communication and cooperative trick taking game but with an outer space theme. 

(P.S. They’ve just released a new edition The Crew Mission Deep Sea !)

That means you’re working together through different missions to win the game… but you can’t speak to each other.

The Crew changes it up by giving you different missions each time you play. You might need one person to win a specific card or maybe they can’t win any cards at all! Remember, if a person fails their mission, you’ll all fail.

A mission can take you anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. But there’s no limit to how many missions you can play in a row. 

Shop The Crew

12. spot it.

Players:  2-8 Age : 6+ Average Game Time:  5 minutes

Spot It! is an extremely compact game to travel with, perfect for any age!

The goal is to find a common symbol between two cards.

It sounds simple, but it’s fast paced, and beyond fun!

The game even comes with 5 different ways to play to change things up a bit!

Shop Spot It!

13. bohnanza.

Players:  3-7 Age : 12+ Average Game Time:  45 minutes

Bohnanza is a card game where you plant crops of beans, trying to create combos to get the most points to win.

There’s a trading aspect of the game, but it’s not necessary.

There’s also a two version of the player game (that I actually prefer, and that’s the one I own, although I have yet to see it in English… There’s a German version on Amazon , and I own the French version!)

Shop Bohnanza!

14. mindbug.

Players:  2 Age : 8+ Average Game Time:  15 minutes

I’m not going to lie to you, I actually hate this game. But not every game is going to be for me, and that’s okay. My partner LOVES it!

It’s a two player game where you’re battling the other players monsters with different abilities.

The catch!? You each have two “mind bug” cards where you can steal the other players cards at any moment.

So it’s a battle game with a little game of chicken as well to time using your mind bug on the right card.

I think if you’re a fan of Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh battling games, it’s very similar.

Shop Mindbug!

Asmodee Games Boardgames(.)ca

Card Travel Games For Adults

The next two card travel games I’d only really recommend as adults games to play on vacation due to their difficulty and subject matter.

My digital and printable packing guide on Etsy . Filled with packing planning prompts for your next trip!

P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE !

Players : 2-6 Age : 13+ Average Game Time : 15 minutes

Coup is a travel game of deception.

Essentially, you have to trick your opponents into believing you have a certain character cards.

Each character has a different ability that you may need to win the game, but you’re only dealt 2 cards.  

The game says you can play two players, although I don’t recommend it. It becomes very quick and not that interesting, so it’s much better at higher player counts.  

If deception games are up your alley, there’s no better travel games for adults than Coup. The only thing you will need to pack are a deck of cards and a few tokens.

You also don’t need a lot of space to set up the game.

16. The Grizzled

Players:  2-5 (best 3+ but there is a 2 player variant) Age : 14+ Average Game Time:  30 minutes

The Grizzled  is another cooperative card game that is perfect to bring on your next trip.

This is the ultimate game for board game lovers. On the outside, it looks like a simple card game, but the game play can be quite complex.

Even though it’s such a small box, the game gives you all the complexities of a larger board game! 

The Grizzled has a WWI theme where players are friends that are working together to come home safely, but there’s a catch…. You can’t speak to each other! This makes it a very strategic game.

We’ve only ever won a handful of times! It plays best with three or more players, but we play it with two and still love it!

There’s also  an expansion you can buy  if you want even more replay-ability!

Buy The Grizzled

Best Group Board Games For Travelling (& Partying!)

These next few are easy to pack travel games are perfect if you’re travelling with a bigger group. All these travel games work for 8 or more people, but some can still be played solo or in pairs. 

These are the best board games for travelling if you’re renting a cabin in the country with some friends, or going on a family vacation. 

17. Paku Paku

Players: 2-8 Age: 8+ Average Game time: 10 minutes

Paku Paku is a whirlwind of fun in such a tiny box!

It’s the perfect game when you only have a few minutes to spare, or to ramp up the start of the evening games.

You’re rolling and passing die as fast as you possibly can because you don’t want to end up with all of them.

On top of that, if you roll the wrong thing, then you’ll have to stack a dish and hope the stack doesn’t come crashing down!

Buy Paku Paku Go

18. sushi go (party).

Players: 2-8 Age: 8+ Average Game time: 20 minutes

Sushi Go is a pass-and-go sushi building game! You get points for building different sushi rolls. But I said it was pass and go right, so your cards are always changing .

The person with the most points at the end wins! 

You can play this game with as little as two people, but I find it a lot more fun the more players you have.

Sushi Go Party is the same as the original Sushi Go, it just comes with a board, more cards, and let’s you play with more people. I’ve only heard good things about the Party version, and it’s the recommended game to get out of the two.

Either way, it all comes in a beautifully compact tin which makes it one of the best games for travel!

Buy Sushi Go

Buy Sushi Go Party

19. Cards Against Humanity

Players : 4-20+ Age:  17+ Average Game Time:  30-90 minutes

Similar game : Joking Hazard , where you finish a comic strip instead of a sentence.   

Some advance warning, this game isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is hilarious!

You’ll be sure to have a grand time with your friends playing this game.  

The goal of the game is to answer questions, or finish sentences with the cards in your hand. You want to come up with the most ridiculous answers to win.  

This game is sure to get the party started and everyone laughing their heads off. You’ll end up with some hilarious responses, and ones that make absolutely zero sense. 

There are expansion packs you can also buy, or knock offs based on specific themes. This is another example of travel games for adults, but in this case there are more family friendly versions called Cards Against Maturity – see it on Amazon here .

Shop Cards Against Humaniy

20. bananagrams.

Players : 1-8 Age : 7+ Average Game Time:  10 minutes

Bananagrams is similar to Scrabble, only you don’t need a board, and you’re racing others to build your own crossword grid.

So, although you do need space for everyone to build their own grid, it comes in the most handy travel pouch ever – one that’s shaped like a banana!

This game is perfect for larger groups, or by yourself trying to beat your best time! 

If you are planning on playing it in a larger group, you can also pick up Bananagrams Party , which adds extra chaos tiles to the game to make it more interesting.

Shop Bananagrams

21. 5 second rule.

Players : 3+ Age : 10+ Average Game Time : 30 minutes

5-Second Rule is a fast paced game that is sure to stump you.

The object of the game is to answer questions in only 5 seconds . Rapid fire fun! It’s so easy to pick up and learn, so it’s perfect if you’re a bigger group! 

This game really gets you thinking! The answers people come up with when they only have 5 seconds to think will shock you! It’s a game that keeps everyone laughing the whole night long!

If you’re short on space, leave the board at home and just bring the timer with some cards! 

Shop 5 Second Rule

22. sherlock holmes consulting detective.

Players : 1-8 Age : 14+ Average Game Time:  90+ minutes

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is a cooperative game where you’re trying to solve mysteries in London faster than Sherlock Holmes can.

We were very skeptical about this game at first but fell in LOVE!

You’re given 10 Sherlock Holmes cases to solve. Head ups, it’s very story heavy with a lot of reading. But, there’s also a lot of heated discussion and problem solving with the other players that takes place.

Keep in mind, you’ll only be able to play each scenario once (because then you’ll know the answers!).

But, I find it takes us a lot longer than they say to solve each case. Each case could last as long as 2-3 nights to play.  

You don’t have to bring the entire huge box with you either. Pack one or two case files, the map, and directory. It makes for a spooky, collaborative game night on vacation!  

Shop Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective

Buy Amazon.com Buy on Amazon.ca

23. Table Tennis

This game isn’t really a group game because only two people can play at once, but it is a more physically active game to bring, and you can always set up rules to play the winner.  

The pieces are packable and you can set it up on any table!

Shop Table Tennis

Best Board Games On The Go That Are Easy To Pack

Everyone loves classic games like Scrabble and Battleship, but did you know there are travel-friendly versions to take with you on vacation!?

You can also turn most games into vacation games by leaving the huge box at home and packing your game contents in a pouch ( like these on Amazon ). Now it’ll fit almost anywhere! I own several pouches, of all different sizes.

24. Travel Scrabble

Players : 2-4 Age : 8+ Average Game Time : 25 minutes

Scrabble, the classic word game! You probably wouldn’t think of Scrabble when you think of travel games. I mean, there are a lot of loose pieces!

But they actually sell a travel-friendly Scrabble. It’s the same game you know and love, building words with letters to maximize points. But it comes in a compact zip folder where you can store all the pieces. The letters also click into the board so you don’t have to worry about losing any pieces haphazardly.  

We used to play this game on our long drive to Florida from Montreal in the car!  

Shop Travel Scrabble

25. trivial pursuit.

The classic game of Trivial Pursuit tests your knowledge. They sell different board-less versions, plus they have a  ton of themes  for you to choose from!

If you have the original board game, you can still travel with it by leaving the board at home. Just take the cards and dice along with you to play on the go.  

We bought the Harry Potter version (of course) but they also sell Friends version and one for horror fans  …etc.. You can also buy a few based on your interests and mix and match, or build up your collection over the years!

Shop Trivial Pursuit

Buy on Amazon.com Buy on Amazon.ca

10 Best Cooperative Board Games For Travelling: Perfect For Families!

26. Pictionary

Players: 4 Age: 8+ Similar: Pictionary Card Game, Pictionary Air

Pictionary is a group drawing and guessing game. You’re in teams, so you do need an even number of people to play .  

It’s one of the best games for travel because the game can be as small as you want it to be. The largest part is the box, but if you remove all the contents it becomes a pretty compact game.

We used to need to bring tons of paper when we brought this game on family vacations, but now it even comes with a dry-erase board .

They also sell a card only game  if you prefer card travel games. You build your pictures with pre-drawn cards. Or,  Pictionary Air , if you’re bringing an IPad with you on vacation. 

Shop Pictionary

Original Buy Amazon.com Buy on Amazon.ca

Pictionary Card Game Buy Amazon.com Buy on Amazon.ca

Pictionary Air Buy on Amazon.com Buy on Amazon.ca

Players : 4+ Age:  13+ (option for Taboo Jr with easier words)

Taboo is the opposite of Pictionary. Instead of of drawing, you have to use words. But in Taboo some words are off limits and can’t be spoken! 

The game contains a timer, cards, buzzer, and die (to select the word category). Perfect for travelling, just put it in a pouch and you’re good to go. It’s also quick to pick up and play on the whim! 

28. Battleship

Players: 2 Age: 7+ Average Game Time : 15 minutes

The classic game of Battleship also comes in a travel-friendly compact size . This game can only be played with two people though. 

You set up your boats in the ocean and call out coordinates to try and sink your opponent’s boats.  

You want to have the last battleship standing to win the game. 

Shop Battleship

29. the bloody inn.

Players : 2-4 Age:  14+ Average Game Time : 30-60 minutes

You’ve probably never heard of The Bloody Inn, but it’s one of our favourite travel games.

It has the potential to be short or long making it super flexible for travel WITH. 

The theme is exactly what you’d imagine. You’re murdering guests at the hotel, and trying to get away with it (it’s also in the travel games for adults section!).

Each player is building their own deck, and trying to get the most points at the end of the game.  

It comes with a board, cards, and a few tokens. The board is quite small, so it easily fits in a small pouch, making one of the ultimate boards games on the go! 

Shop The Bloody Inn

Shop Amazon.com Shop Amazon.ca

30. Quoridor

Players : 2-4 Age : 8+ Average Game Time : 10 minutes Similar Games : Blokus

A bartender in Vienna recommended this game to us as it was simple to explain and the game time was relatively short.

Quoridor similar to games like chess or checkers, where the goal is to get your pawn to the other side of the board. But in Quoridor, you also have pieces to block your opponent or secure your own path to the other side.  

It’s a very interesting strategy game that can be so frustrating at times but that will keep you playing time and time again! 

You can buy the full size version, but it also comes in a lightweight travel size, making it one of the best board games for travelling! 

Shop Quoridor

Best Games For Travel – Solo Travel Games

These next few travel games are perfect if you’re a solo traveler, or you want to zone out by yourself for a bit. There are times when you want a single player game to pass the time. 

These were my top board games on the go for our 25 hour drive to Florida from Montreal. I was always in the back row of our van by myself. I’d zone out with some music and entertain myself for a few hours with these travel games.

That being said, these games also have the possibility to be played with other people. You can collaborate and think of solutions together. 

31. 20 Questions

The goal of 20 Questions is to figure out what you’re thinking about in 20 questions or less… with only yes or no questions.

You can play this game by yourself and with others, and without any device at all. But, this game console kept me entertained for HOURS – even when no one else wanted to play.  

I’d see things on the road and would try and have the game figure out what I was thinking of. It’s surprising how many times it got the right answer!

Shop 20 Questions

32. rush hour.

I LOVE Rush Hour!

It’s a problem solving strategy game that’s small enough to travel with.  

You’re a car stuck in traffic, and you’re trying to rearrange yourself and the other cars to get to the exit.

Cards give you different scenarios to solve, increasing the difficulty as you go.  

The cards are stored away in the box, and the pieces fit on the board while you play.

Shop Rush Hour

33. shape by shape.

Shape by Shape is very similar to Rush Hour.

Instead of trying to move the pieces around to get out of traffic, you’re recreating images with shapes.

It’s way harder than it looks! You have to get all the shapes to fit together perfectly.

Shop Shape By Shape

Best electronic game console for travel: the nintendo switch.

If you’re interested in having a travel-friendly console, there’s none better than the Nintendo Switch .  

Game consoles are actually very convenient for travel. All you have to pack is the console itself, which is typically pretty small, and some games.

The games take up no space at all! They’re small SD cards, or you can buy them directly on your switch and have them pre-downloaded. 

I had a NintendoDS growing up and would take it with me on every vacation. Now, I have (well, my partner has) a Nintendo Switch and we LOVE it! It’s the only console you’ll ever need because it hooks up to the TV if you want to play with a larger group, but you can also play handheld if you’re a single player.

Buy a Nintendo Switch on Amazon.ca Buy a Nintendo Switch on Amazon.com

34. Best Single-Player Travel Games On the Nintendo Switch

There are countless single player games for the Nintendo Switch. We buy more multi-player games to play together, but these are some of our favourite single player games on the Switch.

35. Best Multi-Player Travel Games On the Nintendo Switch

This is what I love about the switch: the ability to pack and play by yourself and others. We’ve brought it to the country to play with friends. Nintendo sells tons of games that are perfect party games.  

For example, Mario Party, Arms, Mario Kart, Super Smash…etc. All of these also have a solo mode, but they’re the perfect party game. You can even buy classic games like  Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, and Risk for the Switch  ( U.S. link ) !

Take Almost Any Board Games On The Go​

You can transform almost any game into a travel friendly version by buying a pouch or smaller tin to transport the contents in, as long as the board is small enough to fit inside, and there aren’t too many pieces to keep track of.

It’s the box that takes up most of the space, and they’re usually half empty! 

I’ve brought countless games on vacation by just removing them from their box and putting all the contents into a separate pouch.  

If you’re worried about bending your cards, they also sell convenient cases to keep all your cards safe in.

Read More Travel Tips

• 10 Best Cooperative Board Games For Travel: No Fights Here!
• Top 11 Travel Essentials I Never Leave Home Without
• Useful Travel Gift Ideas From $5 To $100+ Every Traveller Will Love [2022]

Share The Best Travel Games To Take With You On Vacation!

Last update on 2024-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sunday 4th of June 2023

Hi, I just wanted to say that your list was amazing - it had all sorts and was so well written. I felt that I understood the gameplay and whether or not it was my kinda game!

I've just ordered The Crew thanks to your list.

Hope to read more board game recommends in the future. :)

Monday 5th of June 2023

Thanks so much for your comment - made my day to read :D I'm so glad you liked my post and recommendations. I really hope you enjoy The Crew! It's one of our favourites to bring on family vacations!

Tuesday 9th of May 2023

Very good tips - I will certainly try them out. I liked the way you shared all this information in detail.

Saturday 6th of May 2023

Awesome post! Thanks for the ideas! A couple of our family favorites are Zombie Dice and Get Bit Deluxe. Get Bit also has a regular version, but the deluxe version is in a tin that makes it more durable.

Monday 8th of May 2023

Thanks so much! I'll definitely have to check those out - I love a good game that comes in a tin for travel! Just so convenient!

LINDSAY VOEGELE

Thursday 4th of May 2023

We like to take Love Letter with us when we travel. It fits in my purse and is easy to teach to random strangers who want to play a game haha!

Hi Lindsay, I love that!!

I've seen that game in so many board game stores but have never played it! I'll have to pick it up the next time and give it a try!

Tuesday 30th of August 2022

Hi! There's a great new holiday game that should be on your list! It's called Bah Humbug!

Tuesday 6th of September 2022

Thanks so much for the suggestion I'll be sure to keep an eye out to play that game this holiday season! Right now I couldn't find it for sale, it seems relatively new but supposed to be released this year!

49 best travel games for adults recommended by travellers (updated 2023)

If you have ever spent a night in a hostel you have inevitably been invited for a game of asshole. Or president. Or bullshit. What am I talking about? Travel games of course! You can find them in all different names and shapes: some are played with cards, some with dice, and some just by exchanging words. Oh and don’t forget the drinking games! I’ve decided to bundle these travel games for adults into one article.

My friends Joost and Samuel enjoying a travel game called Bananagrams

Most of these games are fairly easy to explain to anyone, which is, of course, an important criterion for the international crowds you usually find around hostels. It’s not even just hostels where these backpacker games are played either: in night trains, long-distance buses, forest huts, Couchsurfing, or Airbnb accommodations, anywhere with a bit of flat surface (for the card games, dice games, and board games) and a group of fun-loving people. It’s the ultimate icebreaker and you’ll soon end up chatting away post-game with your newly-made friends.

There are countless games with countless names, some are even known by different names in different parts of the world. I’ve committed to creating an ever-expanding list of these road trip games, so feel free to leave a comment with your favorite game that I haven’t mentioned yet.

49 TRAVEL GAMES FOR ADULTS

Board games for adults, 1. bananagrams, 2. thirty seconds, 3. the settlers of catan, 4. guesstures, card games for adults, 6. ligretto, 7. bullshit / cheat / i doubt it / bluff / bs / liar, 8. the great dalmuti, 9. cribbage.

10. Chinese poker

11. Solitaire / Patience

13. skip bo, 15. egyptian rat screw, 17. cards against humanity, 18. shithead / palace / karma / china hand / ten-two slide, 19. go fish, 20. exploding kittens, 21. koehandel / cow trade / horse trade, 22. crazy eights, 24. top trumps, 28. travelin’, 29. codenames duet, dice games for adults.

30. Liar’s Dice

31. Rory’s Story Cubes

32. Yahtzee

33. regenwormen / pickomino, road trip games for adults.

34. Guess the song

36. Truth or Dare

37. the guessing capital game, 38. never pass a sample, 39. pizza ftw, 40. zitchdog, drinking games for adults, 42. monkey monkey, 44. king’s cup.

47. Assholes / President / Scumbag

48. Mayer / Mia / Meier

50. Add your game

Bananagrams – the board game

How can you win Bananagrams?

To be played with wine for best results. The trick is speed, you need to be really quick about forming words. Also, it helps if you can avoid the letters Q, Z, J and X.

What makes Bananagrams fun?

It’s portable, easy to learn, and play is fast. Once the game is over you can argue about whether the words put down by other players are real words. It’s even more fun if you don’t happen to be carrying a dictionary.

What is your best memory playing Bananagrams on your travels?

Slipping an invented word past my fellow players – they were all American and I managed to convince them that it was a very conventional word in British English.

30 Seconds board game

How can you win Thirty Seconds?

You can win 30 Seconds by getting as many answers as possible right in 30 seconds. One player must guess a word based on their teammate’s explanation. The main thing here is that the explanation may not contain the actual word or part of the word.

Of course, you can buy the game, but it’s more fun to make one yourself! For example (when there are 4 players – 2 teams): every player writes ten names of – for example – celebrities down on 10 pieces of paper. Then you collect all the pieces of paper in a bowl. Each round the team draws a card and then has 30 seconds to describe the name on the paper as quickly as they can. When the bowl is empty, the team that has the most pieces of paper wins the game.

What makes Thirty Seconds fun?

It’s really funny because sometimes it’s really hard to explain a name and your teammates’ guesses do not make any sense.

What is your best memory playing Thirty Seconds on your travels?

We played this game over and over with two of my friends. In the end we got a bit obsessed and we became really good at in, so now nobody else wants to play it with us any more… Haha!

Settlers of Catan board game

How can you win The Settlers of Catan?

You win when you gain 10 points (13 in the extended version), which you get by building villages, towns, streets, or draw some of the magic cards in the pack.

What makes The Settlers of Catan fun?

Each time is different. It’s not a fixed board like e.g. the game ‘Risk’ uses. The board is made up of a number of tiles which you put together randomly for each game. Contrary to e.g. Risk, where after so many games you kind of know what you need to win, or what the favorable is, Catan is entirely different in each setup.

What is your best memory playing The Settlers of Catan on your travels?

Beach Agonda, India, with Dutch friends. One of them wasn’t particularly good at losing, and when his wife was about to beat him he’d suggest to smoke a joint. As soon as she did this, she lost all concentration and lost. It was very funny to watch.

Guesstures board game

How can you win Guesstures?

You win by simplifying the words to basic body movements. Anything too complicated can always trip up your guessers.

What makes Guesstures fun?

We love how ridiculous you look when playing the game. At the same time, anyone can play and it’s easy to learn.

What is your best memory playing Guesstures on your travels?

Whenever we go to a cabin with a group of friends, it’s always fun to bust it out!

Fun card games for adults

The Dobble travel card game

How can you win Dobble?

There are endless variations to this game, but in the most common one, you will have to get as many cards as possible by matching a symbol from your card to a symbol on the top card in the central pile. The player with the most cards at the end wins.

What makes Dobble fun?

It’s a nerve wrecking game because you’re playing against others to find the matching symbol. There is  always  a matching symbol but sometimes you are looking back and forth frantically between your card and the one in the middle just and it just seems like nothing matches… Then someone else finds one and it’s back to square one. You have to shout the symbol that matches which often leads to hilarious descriptions like “white condom ghost thing”.

What is your best memory playing Dobble on your travels?

I love that it comes in such a small package but has endless possibilities. There are different game modes, e.g. where you have to match other players’ symbols, where you want to get rid of all your cards, or exactly the opposite. It’ll keep you busy for hours… As long as you don’t get a heart attack that is 😉

Cards for playing Ligretto

How can you win Ligretto?

The aim of this travel game is to get rid of all your cards faster than all the other players by discarding them in the middle of the table.

What makes Ligretto fun?

It’s FAST! You’ll have to put cards down like a maniac and your strategy can change every second. It’s nice and compact, you only need a single deck of cards, and you don’t need much space to lay the cards out either. The rules are simple and it never gets old.

What is your best memory playing Ligretto on your travels?

A fun Couchsurfer living in Dol, a quiet village on the Hvar island in Croatia, introduced me and my girlfriend to this game. It was her favorite game and she showed us why (by beating us over and over). We played it for hours and hours and the relentless chant of victory, “Ligretto!”, still echoes in my ears.

How can you win Bullshit?

The object of the game is actually pretty simple – get rid of all your cards. However, in order to do that, you have to do a bit of bluffing – if someone calls your bluff (calls ‘bullshit’), you have to pick up all the cards lying on the table!

What makes Bullshit fun?

The risk! If you want to win, you inevitably have to do a little lying. The fun part is trying to con your friends, which when considering that this game is usually played whilst drinking, you become increasingly less good at!

What is your best memory playing Bullshit on your travels?

During our two year Latin American adventure, we played this game a lot. But one of the best memories has to be playing it on a cargo ship heading to the Corn Islands in Nicaragua. The boat was around a day late, litres of rum were drank and bullshit helped pass the hours.

The great Dalmuti card game

How can you win The Great Dalmuti?

You can win the Great Dalmuti by playing all your cards. Whoever finishes first becomes the Great Dalmuti, the next one the lesser Dalmuti. When you finish last you become the (lesser or big) slave. What makes it fun is that the roles change and the Dalmuties receive tax from the slaves. Also, everyone respects the Dalmuti (who, of course, sits on the best chair) and orders the slaves around (who not uncommonly don’t even get a chair to sit in).

What makes The Great Dalmuti fun?

So it becomes very competitive as people want to become the Dalmuti and punish the previous Dalmuti for his Behaviour.

What is your best memory playing The Great Dalmuti on your travels?

A vivid memory that comes to mind is when I used to play it in Thailand with my fiancé and parents-in-law on the front porch of our bungalow.

Cribbage card game

How can you win Cribbage?

It’s complicated… You need to be able to count cards and add. Because the game is “first to 121 points” you also need to play strategically.

What makes Cribbage fun?

There are loads of ways to score points, both in the play and in the hand, so you need to focus. If you leave points unclaimed your opponent can call “muggins” and claim your points.

What is your best memory playing Cribbage on your travels?

This is quite a complicated game to learn and it was my father who taught me to play on sailing trips as a kid. My best memory is sitting on deck with him playing and calling “muggins” when he’d missed something (possibly on purpose, who knows!)

10. Chinese Poker

How can you win chinese poker.

Get rid of all your cards.

What makes Chinese Poker fun?

It’s a combination of Yahtzee and Poker; what’s not to like? You can create a strategy before the game starts but you might have to rethink it when the game’s not going your way. Decisions, decisions!

What is your best memory playing Chinese Poker on your travels?

I saw a few Chinese people play the game in the “cattle-class” of a sleeper train; they were really passionate about it and it was a lot of fun to watch their strategies as they went along. Where better to learn Chinese poker that from actual Chinese people 🙂

How can you win Solitaire?

Since you’re typically playing this game alone, you’re always a winner! Actually, that is not true, you can still get stuck in the game and be forced to take a loss. Sounds depressing, doesn’t it? You win by stacking all the cards on the table onto each other in four equal piles, in order from low to high and sorted by suit.

What makes Solitaire fun?

It can cure boredom if you’re traveling alone. It can even be a pretty fun game as you’ll have to be creative sometimes to free yourself from a seemingly impossible-to-finish situation. More often, however, it’s a last resort when you’re stuck inside an airport on a 7-hour layover with no plugs to charge your drained electronic devices.

What is your best memory playing Solitaire on your travels?

Since I’ve played this game quite a few times on my solo travels, every time you finish a game there is this little sparkle of joy inside your brain, and you mentally picture all the cards bouncing around and fireworks being set off like in the Windows version. Or at least I did.

How can you win Toepen?

This Dutch game is all about battles. You can win a battle, but that doesn’t mean you’ve won the game (similarly to war.. or a couple getting divorced). The first to 15 points (or 25, if you want to play for longer) loses, making the other players the winners (but really, it’s the person with the least “penalty-points” that is the happiest).

What makes Toepen fun?

The game involves some simple but entertaining mind-games. “Why the hell did he/she toep?” is a common question that gets raised often during the game. Does the player have great cards and is therefore confident that they are going to win, or are they simply bluffing? This is easily our favorite go-to game on the road.

What is your best memory playing Toepen on your travels?

We’ve played this game about a hundred times on every (long-distance) bicycle that we did together. It’s an easy game to explain to others and gets strategic when you’re playing with people that have played it before. A memory that comes to mind: Steven was with Joost in Denmark where they were playing Toepen with a Danish girl (she called it “Poopen”). She Toeped (“Pooped”) at the most random moments, leaving Steven and Joost completely clueless of her strategy.

Skip bo card game

How can you win Skip Bo?

The classic way: you need to be the first to get rid of your cards.

What makes Skip Bo fun?

It is easy to learn, and while it’s a strategic game it’s still possible to win when you’ve just learned the rules.

What is your best memory playing Skip Bo on your travels?

I have so many memories playing this with Couchsurfers at home, but my best memory while travelling would be on a train in China where we shared a sleeper with an Argentinian couple. We played into the small hours of the morning, learning about each other and our journeys.

Fluxx card game

How can you win Fluxx?

Let’s start with the rules of Fluxx: there are no rules. Yup. Every time you put a card down the rules change, which also sometimes means you’ll have to your flip your strategy 180 degrees. You have to collect cards and you’ve won when you have accomplished the objectives that are on the table at that moment before someone else changes them.

What makes Fluxx fun?

It’s a very random game, so if you like your games structured then you might want to try another one. That said, it’s that actual chaotic element of the game that makes it fun. You’re constantly checking if you can annoy or block your opponents with the current rulesets, and sometimes it’s even possible that someone has won without him/her knowing!

What is your best memory playing Fluxx on your travels?

I haven’t played this game on any travels yet, but I would love to hear from someone that has! Leave a comment .

Egyptian rat screw card game

How can you win Egyptian Rat Screw?

The object of the game is to be the person with all the cards at the end of the game. This means the game can take a very long time.

What makes Egyptian Rat Screw fun?

Once you and other players learn how to play the game moves very fast from player to player. The intensity heightens with the speed of the game. The most fun part about this game is when you get two cards that are the same flipped one on top of the other. The first person to slap those cards wins the deck. This also means that people who are “out” of cards can slap their way back in.

What is your best memory playing Egyptian Rat Screw on your travels?

I learned this game in a summer camp when I was very young. When I studied abroad in Australia I taught all my new friends how to play it. We would spend hours just passing the time away with this game. No drinks involved!

How can you win Rummy?

Individual games are won by the first person who “goes out” or discards every card in their hand. Along the way, they rack up points by putting down three of a kind and straights of the same suit. Your points get tallied up per game and in our case, a full game runs to 500 points and can last 1-2 hours.

What makes Rummy fun?

Rummy is fun because it’s so basic and it’s almost akin to baseball; a game to 500 is never over until the person reaches that point total. The game has so many intricacies and quirky rules that make it fun all by itself. Enter a couple of people who are married or just friends, and it can get crazier by the hand.

What is your best memory playing Rummy on your travels?

We’ve played everywhere when traveling, and I try my best to not swear out loud when losing badly. Unfortunately, I failed when riding a boat to Jeju Island in Korea and earned quite a few stares my way. That was a cue for me to go outside and get some fresh air.

Cards against humanity card game

How can you win Cards Against Humanity?

You need to make the other people vote for your answer to a ridiculous question.

What makes Cards Against Humanity fun?

It is all about reading other people and figuring out what kind of answer this person would like, some might like dirty jokes, other logical answers etc. Oh, and the game is free… you can download it from CardsAgainstHumanity.com (or you can buy it via the link below if you don’t want to print the cards yourself).

What is your best memory playing Cards Against Humanity on your travels?

I was introduced to it while Couchsurfing in Zürich and one girl got the question “How did I lose my virginity?”. My answer was “Through an AK47” which is what she choose and that kind of became the joke of the evening. The game gave us so many laughs and very fun atmosphere. Great way to get to know new people!

How can you win Shithead?

This game isn’t about being the winner, it’s about not being the loser aka the “shithead”. If you’re the last person in the game you will have the endearing title of shithead bestowed upon you until you can redeem yourself in the next game.

What makes Shithead fun?

At the end, there’s always an element of chance involved and it’s always fun to watch someone who thinks they’re about the win fall from grace. Also having an excuse to call strangers you’ve just met shitheads is never a bad thing.

What is your best memory playing Shithead on your travels?

Teaching the game to some travellers at a hostel in Bosnia and watching them spend the next few days engrossed in matches.

How can you win Go Fish?

You can win Go Fish by being the player that collected the most sets of 4 from the pack of cards (e.g. all the 3s, all the kings etc).

What makes Go Fish fun?

It isn’t a game that requires too much thought and isn’t difficult so long as you have a good memory. It is also great to see the look on your friend or relatives’ face when you steal the majority of a set from them which they were hoarding!

What is your best memory playing Go Fish on your travels?

My best memory of playing this game is when I used to play it as a teenager with a friend I made in the apartments in Fuerteventura. At the time I loved all things fish related and I had a novelty set of cards in the shape of fish. We used to play it whenever we had a moment before dinner after going to the beach or swimming in the pool.

Exploding kittens card game

How do you win Exploding Kittens?

You can win Exploding Kittens by becoming the only player who isn’t blown up by a Kitten. Yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds. You basically just draw a card each turn hoping not to draw an exploding kitten card. If you do you are out of the game. Unless you can defuse the exploding kitten in which case the card goes back into the deck. All the other card you draw and can play are used to somehow avoid the exploding kittens.

What makes Exploding Kittens fun?

One of the reasons is the pure ridiculousness of the concept which is also the genius of the game. I mean, who doesn’t like kitten or explosions or laser pens. Next is that it is very easy to play and mostly luck based with just a very small hint of strategy. Its just easy and ridiculous which is what you want when playing games with people you’ve just met.

What is your best memory playing Exploding Kittens on your travels?

I personally haven’t played this while traveling yet as it has only been out for a few months (at time of writing) and I haven’t had the opportunity. But the fact that it is so easy, portable and fun should prove to be a winning combo in any setting.

Koehandel, a popular Dutch card game

How do you win Koehandel?

The Dutch game Koehandel has two phases, in phase one players take turns pulling an animal card from a pile and auctioning it off to the other players. Each player should try to get the animals for the lowest price possible. As the game progresses, more money is distributed among the players which means the animals get more expensive. The key to winning during this phase is to correctly adjust your theoretical pricing to the increasing money supply.

During phase two, players bid for each other’s animals in a blind auction. This means that both players put an undisclosed amount of money on the table and whoever bids highest will win the other player’s animal, while the money is also being exchanged. During this phase, the key to winning is to get inside the other player’s mind and correctly predict how much he or she will bid. Then you bid a little bit more so that you win the animal cheaply.

What makes Koehandel fun?

Koehandel is really fun because of the unpredictable nature of the game. In every action you take, you have to consider what your opponent will most likely do, based on what he or she thinks that you will do. There is a lot of game theory involved, which makes the game very dynamic and interesting, it never becomes dull even when you play it with the same people over and over again as players adjust their strategies based on observations from past games.

What is your best memory playing Koehandel on your travels?

A few years back I rented a house in Florianopolis, Brazil. I intentionally rented a house with a few spare rooms so that I could have friends over to visit. During my three month stay, I introduced this relatively unknown game to all my friends and they all loved it! They still talk about how much fun it was.

How do you win Crazy Eights?

You win a hand by being the player to get rid of all your cards. Any player left holding cards adds the sum of the cards to add their total. Although there are different variations on the rules, I usually play with the first player who gets to a total of 108 is the loser.

What makes Crazy Eights fun?

It’s fast-paced and frustrating at the same time. Plus it’s super easy to learn.

What is your best memory playing Crazy Eights on your travels?

Playing for hours on end with a Kiwi couple on the roof of a hostel in Istanbul. There had been a pretty major earthquake nearby so the city was basically shut down as many feared another quake in the days following. It was a great way to pass the time and bring some levity to a pretty serious situation.

How can you win Kemps?

You play in teams of 2 people, and the objective to get 4-of-a-kind (e.g. four 8’s or four Kings) amongst your team. Once you (think) your teammate has a 4-of-a-kind, you can yell “Kemps!”. If you indeed have a 4-of-a-kind, your team scores a point. Otherwise, you lose a point (but the game keeps going). You can even take it up a notch and get a double-kemp when both you and your teammate have a 4-of-a-kind. After winning x number of points, the game is won. There is an awesome move too: you can yell “counter Kemps!” when you think one of your opponents has 4-of-a-kind, and their teammate hasn’t called it yet.

What makes Kemps fun?

There aren’t that many cards games that are played in a team, which makes this one unique. The fun element also comes from the way you can signal your team member. You are allowed to talk during the game, which means you can signal to your teammate (who sits opposite of you) that you are saving a certain value of the card (e.g. Queens). Obviously, it is supposed to be a secret signal, as the others will easily figure it out and block your strategy.

What is your best memory playing Kemps on your travels?

I played this game at my home in Tokyo with my couchsurfer guests, amongst which was Victor. The others were from France (me), the USA and Israel. Soon we were coming up with ridiculous signals to let the other team member know what you were saving up. We would say “Do you have a red banana?”, which would stand for e.g. Jacks. Figuring out each other’s codes and even faking other people’s codes made the game very entertaining.

Top trumps Star Wars edition

How can you win Top Trumps?

Top Trumps is a really unique British game and a favorite with kids. Each pack of Top Trumps is based on a theme (animals, volcanoes, superheroes etc..) and each card in the pack contains five categories with numerical values, that you can use to ‘trump’ your opponent. The aim of the game and the way that you win is to get all your opponents’ cards (or the most number of cards in an allotted time).

What makes Top Trumps fun?

It’s a really fun game to play as a family and even young kids can enjoy it. There is also such a huge range of themes that you can upgrade to a new pack and game, which helps to keep things interesting. Depending on the ages of kids playing, it can be fast (or very slow!).

What is your best memory playing Top Trumps on your travels?

We play Top Trumps all the time with the kids. When we’re out to eat, waiting at an airport, at home… it really is a winner for families. One of my favourite memories is playing Harry Potter Top Trumps on an early morning ferry from Galiano Island to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Uno, perhaps the most popular card game

How can you win Uno?

The winner of a single game of Uno is the first player to get rid of all of the cards in his/her hand. If you want to make the game more exciting, however, you can play over a longer period of time, creating an Uno tournament, adding up points as you go. Each card is worth a certain number of points, and to win you are aiming for as few points as possible. This is fun because it sees the gameplay change and become more tactical.

What makes Uno fun?

Uno is fun because there is always that chance of forgetting to announce you are on your last card and paying the price. It can be a tactical game and often when played in a group of friends you will find that a certain amount of ganging up and revenge play occurs. I also couldn’t believe just how many people we met, of differing nationalities that knew how to play Uno and loved it.

What is your best memory playing Uno on your travels?

My friend and I met up with a french lady who I worked with and her sister whilst doing a road trip of Western Australia. Our nightly entertainment consisted of huddling around our camping table, wrapped in blankets, supping goon (cask wine) from camping mugs, whilst watching the sunset and playing Uno furiously. They still don’t believe I won 8 games in a row without cheating. Sorry girls but there was definitely no cheating involved!

How can you win Euchre?

The game is played with two teams of two players. Players hold five cards each out of a deck that uses only cards 9 to A, and the team that calls the suit that will be trump must secure at least three tricks to score a point. If you get all five tricks you get two points, and if al players call for trump and decide to “go alone” his teammate sits out and the one player goes against the other two on the opposing team. If the lone players win all five tricks, the team gets four points. First team to 11 wins.

What makes Euchre fun?

It takes a bit of skill, luck and taking chances, but it easy to learn quickly. We love that you can play several complete games within a couple hours, while laughing, holding a conversation and enjoying a few beers.

What is your best memory playing Euchre on your travels?

My wife Colleen and I played on opposite teams against another couple on a trip in Las Vegas. My best friend Matt and I who have played Euchre since we were young adults repeated beat the ladies — maybe three games in a row — and had built up a 10-0 lead in the fourth game when they came back to win 11-10. This turn of events, all against the backdrop of our earlier taunts and a few too many beers, left the guys humbled and the women rejoicing. It was hilarious.

Dixit board game

How can you win Dixit?

The storyteller (a different player on every turn) picks out one of six cards and describes it (without showing the card) to the other players. The other players then pick a card that they think best describes it, and place it on the table. The point scoring here is unique: if everybody or nobody guesses the correct card, the storyteller gets no points. Therefore it is key to give just the right clues so that a few players get it right, but not all. The first to 30 points wins.

What makes Dixit fun?

The cards themselves are quite funny, and the more creative people get with associating your story with the cards the funnier the game becomes.

What is your best memory playing Dixit on your travels?

I haven’t played this game on the road yet. Have you? Let us know in the comments !

Travlin’ card game

How can you win Travelin’?

The game is about traveling to new countries, so obviously, each country you visit gives you more points. When one player reaches 5 countries, they receive a bonus of 5 points and the game immediately ends. Count the points and like pretty much every game in existence, the person with the most points wins.

What makes Travelin’ fun?

For me as the game designer, the best part of Travelin’ is seeing the interaction between players. Having someone be so close to winning only to be stopped with a Border Control card is always fun. Or chaining together a huge combo to go from 3 countries to 5 and stealing the victory from another player – yeah, that’s a pretty awesome feeling too.

What is your best memory playing Travelin’ on your travels?

Hands down, my best memory of playing Travelin’ (and I’ve played a lot) are the countless games at the Midland Hostel in Bucharest. Because everyone there (staff, long term guests, friends of the hostel) became so good at the game, the matches we play there often turn into knock-down, drag-out slugfests. The best game of Travelin’ I’ve ever played was exactly one of those games and while us long-time players were were busy attacking each other, a person playing for the very first time was able to sneakily come from behind and take a well-earned win from the pros.

Codenames duet card game

How can you win Codenames duet?

Codemasters duet is a cooperative game, meaning that you are playing against the game, rather than against each other. The aim is to guess each other’s codewords within a certain amount of turns (more turns for beginners, less for more advanced players).

What makes Codenames duet fun?

You’ll spend your time finding singular words that connect 2 or more (random) words in front of you while factoring in that the connection might not be as obvious for the person in front of you. It’s a game of psychology, and it could therefore go hilariously wrong. You can’t speak while playing this game, only to say a word and how many words it is connected to, so it can be really frustrating watching your fellow “agent” struggle and choose a word that reveals an assassin, which means you both lose.

What is your best memory playing Codenames duet on your travels?

The good thing about this game is that you can transport it in just a few small bags. I have yet to play this game on my travels, however, I know that it’s a great game that requires little setup and can entertain for a good chunk of time. At home, I play this mostly with my wife, where I try to get into her brain and try to figure out which of my weird references and connections she would understand.

30. Liar’s dice

How can you win liar’s dice.

I win by experience. I’ve probably played for ten years so I’ve seen it all. You win by being unpredictable. You can win new friends and new language skills with the game also. I know the basic numbers in French thanks to this dice game.

What makes Liar’s dice fun?

The simplicity makes it fun. The excitement and the fact that every round is unique. It’s never the same game twice. Playing with someone who has a degree in math is also fun because you see their brains running in high gear.

What is your best memory playing Liar’s dice on your travels?

Best moment is a tie between looking for a runaway die on the floor of a sauna in the Finnish wilderness, naked with a bunch of naked girls, and playing the game for a whole day in the car with my friend Eric, while he was driving us from Vancouver to Fairbanks.

Rory’s story cubes dice game

31. Rory’s Story Cubes

How can you win rory’s story cubes.

The most creative story wins! No hardcore rules here. A winner would probably be chosen from the group you play it with.

What makes Rory’s Story Cubes fun?

It’s the ultimate game to train your imagination. Because of the different packs (for example a travel pack), you can create unlimited storylines. It’s also really fun to give some dice to other people so that you can create a story together in turns.

What is your best memory playing Rory’s Story Cubes on your travels?

Not yet tested, the game is pretty new. First results were hilarious though! Have you played this on the road and a have a great travel memory to share? Let me know in the comments .

Yahtzee, perhaps the most popular dice game

How can you win Yahtzee?

To be honest, luck plays a very important role in Yahtzee. But if you choose wisely after throwing your dices, you might have a better chance of winning. For example, I always wait before writing down my 1’s and 2’s. So if everything goes wrong and you don’t throw a full house or a four of a kind, you can always fill in your 1’s and 2’s and you don’t lose a lot of points.

What makes Yahtzee fun?

You can play it with 2 or more people. Winning depends mostly on luck and a bit on strategy, so everybody can join. It’s easy to pack so you can play it wherever you are; are you on a beach or in the middle of the jungle? Yahtzee is your game!

What is your best memory playing Yahtzee on your travels?

I played it a lot during my trip around the world, so it reminds me of traveling through Thailand but also backpacking through Australia and our roadtrip on the American west coast. From then on I have taken it with me every time I go away for a longer period.

Pickomino dice game

How can you win Regenwormen?

Simply put, you have to be lucky to win: this game is not about being the smartest or most strategic player. Really everyone can win, depending on how much you dare to gamble and how the dice will roll.

What makes Regenwormen fun?

The most fun part of the game is ‘stealing’ worms from other players to make it more difficult for them to win. You will see people from all over the world hesitate the first time they are able to steal the worms, but after that they will happily grab them from you with a big smile on their faces!

What is your best memory playing Regenwormen on your travels?

We played Regenwomen with the porters and guides during our Himalaya trek. The porters didn’t mingle with the tourists at first but this game helps to knock down the cast system. The result: they’ve beaten me several times.

34. Guess the Song

How to play guess the song.

Best played on road trips. Everyone in the car has an iPhone (or other music playing device of course) and chooses 5 songs. Their favorite song to dance to, favorite song to sing to, best song to pick someone up in the bar, their wedding song and then their funeral song. Mix up the order and everyone has to guess which is which!

How can you win Guess the Song?

Whoever can guess the correct the song the most amount of times wins!

What makes Guess the Song fun?

You get to hear new music, and learn more about your fellow travelers by listening to their favorite tunes! Author’s note: I’ve organized a few Couchsurfing events with a similar concept: everybody had to pass their music device to the person on their right. It was a great way to get to know other people well in a short time and a lot of fun!

What is your best memory playing Guess the Song on your travels?

Hmmm… I’d say the time when a passenger played Miley Cyrus – Party in the U.S.A. as their guilty pleasure song… and everyone knew the words! 10 People all singing as loud as we could! Lots of fun and a great memory!

How can you win I Spy?

This traditional kids’ game is so much fun when you’re on the road and is definitely for adults too! Go for the smaller objects and the hidden (but not too hidden) things. Oh and don’t cheat, so don’t pick moving things 😉

What makes I Spy fun?

It opens your eyes to all the beauty, small and big, around you.

What is your best memory playing I Spy on your travels?

This game is the best when you’re stuck in traffic in a bus in Asia, because there are always amazing colors and strange objects around!

How can you win Truth or Dare?

There is no winning or losing in this game, that is why it can go on and on and on! If a dare is too much for a person, he or she will get punished by revealing 2 truth. If a truth is too much for a person to reveal, he or she will have to carry out 2 dares to compensate it.

What makes Truth or Dare fun?

Those who join the game are pretty much open to doing every shameless dare and digging out the deepest secrets they keep. What makes this game fun is that you are testing out each others’ limits. Of course, to have the game continued safety without causing any hurt-feelings, we have to be sensitive to our friends’ conditions and situations. For example: do not try to ask about a recent break-up when the wound is still fresh.

What is your best memory playing Truth or Dare on your travels?

I will not forget the first time we played Truth of Dare in a Russian intercity train. We went all out on “Dares”, cat-walking down the narrow corridor filled with on-looking Russians, dancing at the front and asking snacks from people. At first, the Russians watched us with stern face but after a while they too started to enjoy the show.

How to play The Guessing Capital Game?

The concept is to name the capital of the country someone chooses. For example, I say Ethiopia and someone would need to guess the capital which is Addis Ababa.

What makes The Guessing Capital Game fun?

Many times someone will guess the wrong capital and it is fun when you start to decide what you win. You can play for big stakes like money where the first person to get a capital wrong wins all the money or even play just on who pays for something next, like dinner. A lot of people would be surprised the capitals of many countries.

What is your best memory playing The Guessing Capital Game on your travels?

This is actually a game that I lost. We were playing for $1 for each capital that we got right. Everyone would put in a dollar every time the right capital was given and the first person who lost they would lose all the money to the winner. The person stating the country. Eventually we got to big stakes and I ended up losing a full round trip ticket to Asia!

How can you win Never pass a sample?

This is perhaps the best travel game you’ll read about today. The rules are simple: as you walk around in the airport, you may never pass a free sample without grabbing it; chocolate, drinks, perfume- everything. You lose by being so pre-occupied with free samples that you miss your flight.

What makes Never pass a sample fun?

Free stuff!

What is your best memory playing Never pass a sample on your travels?

In Singapore around Xmas was especially fun. I walked around for about 6 hours and in the end, my belly ached from all the chocolates, I was pretty tipsy and I must have smelled like a prostitute because of all the perfume samples.

How can you win Pizza FTW?

The pizza game is pretty simple to play and does not need any equipment bar a couple of creative minds with some knowledge of popular culture. Each player takes a turn to name a title of film, book, or song replacing a word of choice with the word ‘pizza’ or adding the word ‘pizza’ for comedic value. For example­ ‘Saturday Night Pizza’ (instead of Saturday Night Fever!).

What makes Pizza FTW?

Everyone is a winner in Pizza FTW, it’s usually a giggle and it’s so simple some may say ‘it’s a pizza piss!’

What is your best memory playing Pizza FTW on your travels?

We’ve enjoyed passing time away whilst hiking, playing the pizza game. Feel free to Tweet or Facebook us some responses! Naturally ‘pizza’ can be any word you see fit.

How can you win Zitchdog?

Well, it’s pretty simple. It’s a fun game to play on a road trip. Whenever you see a dog you say “ZITCHDOG!”. Whoever spots the most dogs by the time your destination arrives is the winner.

What makes Zitchdog?

Well if everyone spots the dog at the same time and screams ZITCHDOG, it’s pretty hilarious. Or if the others don’t see a dog at all, you might have to stop and look to ensure the person is not cheating – haha.

What is your best memory playing Zitchdog on your travels?

I was playing ZitchDog with my hubby on our road trip to Agra. It was fun and then when we were about to reach our destination, we lost count totally. P.S. – This had nothing to do with the fact that we had a couple of beers.

41. Spoons / Ezelen

How can you win spoons.

You pass on a card to the person next to you (so you’ll get one too), then discard a card and pass it on again. You win by getting 4 of a kind.

What makes Spoons fun?

It’s slow at first, but later games pick up the pace and this is where it gets super fun. Once you have 4 of a kind (4 aces, 4 queens, 4 fives, whatever) then you pick up a spoon. The rest has to instantly pick up a spoon too. If you are last to pick up a spoon, you lose (and drink). It’s hilarious when one person is still playing when everyone else has stopped because they are so into the game! Then you all laugh, re-deal… and drink some more! No spoons available? This game can be played by putting your finger on the side of a table instead of picking up a spoon.

What is your best memory playing Spoons on your travels?

Not yet played while traveling. Have you played this on the road and a have a great travel memory to share? Let me know in the comments .

How do you win Monkey Monkey?

You win by not ending the game with a card that makes a pair with the “monkey card”!

What makes Monkey Monkey fun?

It’s a very easy game purely based on luck, so if you’re planning to get drunk quickly, this could be the game for you.

What is your best memory playing Monkey Monkey on your travels?

How can you win mexico.

This game has a lot of winners, but just one loser ;-). The player whose dice is first at one will lose the game and has to drink a shot (preferably vodka).

What makes Mexico fun?

It’s easy to play, everyone can join and the element of drinking a shot of liquor makes it really fun!

What is your best memory playing Mexico on your travels?

A friend of us lost this game 12 times on one evening, so he got really drunk. At one point he wasn’t even able to roll his die without it falling off the table, which meant you had a drink a shot regardless of the number rolled.

How do you win King’s Cup?

Aaah, the classic drinking game. There are different rules throughout the world. You start by putting all the cards face-down around a cup in the middle of the table. Then, each person picks up a card and the card’s value (not suit) determines what happens. At this game, much like with any other drinking game, nobody really “wins”. But if you do, you’re sober and everyone else is drunk. Does that sound fun to you? 😉

What makes King’s Cup fun?

You can call it fun, you can call it stupid, but one thing is certain: everybody gets out-of-their-heads drunk with this game.

What is your best memory playing King’s Cup on your travels?

How to play fives.

No need to have any objects, except for your hand. It’s possible to play with any number of players, but the math can get pretty hard with a large number of participants. For the sake of this explanation, we’ll say that there are 5 players. The “it” player has to come up with a number from 0 to 25 (since we have 5 players it has to be a multiple of 5).

Each player on the count of 3 shoots out their hand and shows either zero (fist) or 5 fingers. Let’s say the player came up with the number “10” and 2 of the 5 people had a fist and 3 people were showing 5 fingers. This would make a total of 15 which means nothing happens, and the game moves on with the next “it” player and the process described above repeats. The important part: if they guess correctly they must say (totally straight-faced) “Thank you very much for this lovely game of fives”.

What makes Fives fun?

It’s stupid hard because you get SO EXCITED that you guessed it correctly! But you can’t show emotion otherwise you’ll lose.

What is your best memory playing Fives on your travels?

I played this at a hostel in Costa Rica on Nebanaw Years Eve. It was a great night of eating homemade tortillas and drinking cheap rum.

How to play Sheep?

You sit around a circle, cover your teeth with your lips (like you’re mocking the old man that lives down the street) and say “SHEEP” to a person sitting next to you. They say “sheep” to the person next to them; it goes round and round. If you want to change the direction, you say “Sheep-pong!” and it changes direction. If you show your teeth, you lose/drink.

What makes Sheep fun?

Endless giggles when you try to say Sheep without opening your mouth.

What is your best memory playing Sheep on your travels?

We played this during a typhoon when we hardly had enough light and rain was pouring outside. We just couldn’t stop laughing.

47. Assholes / President / Scumbags

How do you win assholes.

This game is unique in that the game is never truly won. If you win a game, you will become the president/asshole/scumbag (depending on which version you play) and the game continues on. Other people get titles too, like vice-president, scum or vice-scum, which they keep for the next game. You simply stop playing when you get bored which is, you know, never.

What makes Assholes fun?

It’s really fun working your way up from being scum (last place) to the president (first place). If you’re the loser of the last game, you’ll have to switch your two best cards with the winner of the previous game, which makes it harder to win the round. It is still possible, however, and game by game you can improve your rank. There are many rules that can be added, such as that the president can order the loser of the previous game to get everyone a round of beer, making him/her the “beer bitch”.

What is your best memory playing Assholes on your travels?

How do you win mayer.

There are no winners in Mayer, just losers (who drink). You start with 6 lives, and the player that first loses all of their lives loses the game. This dice game is played with only two dice and a cup, so it’s easy to see why it fits excellently in the travel game category. The game contains a lot of bluffing, although that depends on the players of course.

What makes Mayer fun?

I like the game because it’s an easy icebreaker when you meet new people. It’s easy to learn and everybody can join in, and you can learn a lot about your fellow players while playing the game. I personally love it when you have to decide whether the person you are playing against is lying or telling the truth. I look for specific signs and when I call them out some people really have no poker face!

What is your best memory playing Mayer on your travels?

Victor’s flashback : I remember this game being played everywhere I looked in Copenhagen. Especially in cafés and bars, where it was a very normal thing to ask the bartender for a cup and two dice. It is a truly great way to kill some time and meet some (soon-to-be) friends.

How do you win Mexxen?

You can win Mexxen by having a really good stomach haha! There is no such thing as winners in this game, but the one who doesn’t feel sick after playing it is the one who ‘wins’. But you have to lose some to win eventually. So drinking some shots of alcohol is recommended.

What makes Mexxen fun?

You really have to think some things through, for instance, if you’re throwing the dice once or twice. And you can’t throw the dice on the ground because you will have to drink a shot and the game starts over. And of course, more shots means more dice on the floor and so on. The funniest thing is that there are always people who have a ridiculous amount of bad luck and therefore will get drunk very early on in the game.

What is your best memory playing Mexxen on your travels?

My best memory playing Mexxen on my travels is mostly the few hours after playing the game. The funniest thing is that a lot of friends are getting drunk and everybody is falling asleep at the most weird places: in the kitchen, under a tree and even under the table! The photos are the best memories, but you know how it works: what happens on the island…

Affiliate link disclosure

To keep things honest: this article holds one or more affiliate links, which means that I will earn a small fee for every sale that has been made through those links. There will be no extra cost or effort needed from you; the price of the product is exactly the same as the regular retail value. Thanks for supporting my blog if you decide to click and buy!

ADD YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL GAME FOR ADULTS BY LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW

Victor Eekhof

Currently in: Amsterdam. Victor’s Travels is a travel blog curated by me, 30-something Dutch world explorer Victor Eekhof. This blog is all about traveling on your own terms and not following the masses . It’s for people who are happiest with a big backpack on their backs and a smaller one on their front; people who walk where others take a cab, or take a bus where others take a plane. I have visited 60+ countries on 7 continents , from Antarctica to North Korea and Venezuela to Russia and started this blog to share my tips and stories with fellow travellers just like you. Read my story »

Explore this travel blog

How to fit your hiking gear in a..., volunteer stories – what it’s like to do..., why going on a holiday and going traveling....

How on earth is Farkle not on this list? it’s a dice game that takes minutes to learn and fit’s in your pocket. (One of those old-school 35mm film canisters to be exact.) This is always in my bag and makes an appearance at every brewery we hit up. https://www.amazon.com/ROUTE-Pocket-Farkel-dice-game/dp/B01H67OC6M/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1B02QP2BHEROX&keywords=pocket+farkle&qid=1655128613&sprefix=pocket+farkle%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3

Thank you for the nice list. I will definitely try out a few of those. I particularly like card games and board games.

Make & break card game.. newly launched in market.. but awesome fun making & breaking couples! My circle is right now addicted to this game

Haha, breaking couples sounds fun! 😀 Thanks for the suggestion!

One of my favorite adult road trip games is “Censored”.

Censored is a dirty phrase guessing game that simple and super fun. Give clues to get your friends (or roommates or relatives) to guess as many dirty adult themed secret phrases as possible in 90 seconds but no one (not the clue giver, not your guessing friends) is allowed to say the taboo words (if you catch them guess one, give them a heads up they are wrong by buzzing them with the buzzer)! Check out the app store of your choice!

Cool game! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂

Great article thanks. We are always on the lookout for new after-dinner games for our holidays, especially now our kids are grown up. A suggestion for you is Munchkin. A card only game so easy to pack. In a similar vein to Fluxx, the rules change often and there are many expansion decks to add variety.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion! I have heard of the game but I have never played it. I’ll make sure to add it to this article when I do! 🙂

Cheers, Victor

Ready for your new adventure?

Never miss Victor's budget travel tips, stories, and destination guides by signing up for the monthly newsletter!

• Board Games

The 13 Best Travel Board Games You Can Play Anywhere (Even on a Plane)

If you buy something using our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

When you're stuck in a plane, train, or even the backseat of a car, you need a way to kill time... and board games are great for that!

Of course, mobile games are more convenient—unless you're like me and prone to motion sickness. Plus, these days I much prefer the tactile experience of cards and pieces, and we could all stand to spend less time staring at digital screens.

So, I think everyone should have at least one portable board game or card game that they can take with them while traveling!

What makes a great travel board game?

• Small box. When you're traveling, space is at a premium. Carrying the game around shouldn't be a nuisance and it should fit comfortably inside a carry-on bag. If the entire game can fit inside your pocket, that's as good as it gets!
• Minimal footprint. It can't take up too much table space. (Ideally, no table space at all!) Plus, it should have very few components. Not only are game pieces hard to handle while traveling, they're easy to accidentally bump off and lose forever.
• Length and replayability. Whether your flight is 1 hour or 12 hours, the game should keep you engaged and help make time fly by. But it should also be under an hour per game so you aren't forced to cut it short if it happens to run too long.

Here are my picks for the best travel board games that are tiny, portable, and able to be played pretty much anywhere!

Note: You'll notice a distinct lack of Button Shy games on this list. While Button Shy games are famously tiny—each game is only 18 cards—they tend to take up a lot of table space. I've yet to find one that can comfortably play on an airplane tray.

13. The Mind

Designed by Wolfgang Warsch

Supports 2 to 4 players

About 15 to 20 minutes

The Mind is a cooperative card game where everyone has their own hand of cards—from a deck numbered 1 through 100—and the goal is to play all cards in ascending order... without ANY communication.

With larger starting hands, the game gets more difficult. You start on Level 1 with one card each, then Level 2 with two cards each, up to whatever Level you can reach. Or you can just play (and replay) it on whatever Level you want to see how often you can win.

The Mind is a great card game for planes because it's mainly held in your hands (all cards played to a single pile) and the no-communication rule is a good fit when you're stuck in a loud plane with others around you.

Designed by Mark Tuck

Supports 1 player

About 5 to 15 minutes

Grove is a brilliant solo puzzle-style card game that only consists of 18 cards and 15 dice that are used as point trackers.

The cards are basically tiles, which you place by overlapping previously played cards. When you overlap trees of the same color, you increase the value of those trees (which are tracked using the dice).

How bountiful will your grove be? Grove is a beat-your-own-score type game with a lot of replayability. The backs of each card have different victory conditions for variety.

Each game of Grove is relatively short but punchy, and it's a fantastic game to play while traveling.

11. Timeline

Designed by Frédéric Henry

Supports 2 to 8 players

Timeline is a compact card game about figuring out where different events belong on a timeline.

Players have a hand of cards that each depict a specific event. Cards are played to a shared timeline and on each turn you have to place one card into the timeline. If it's not placed correctly, you draw another card. Otherwise, first to get rid of their cards wins!

Timeline is less about knowing the exact years when things happened and more about logically reasoning when things happened in relation to events already in the timeline. It's fun even if you know zero history!

Note: Timeline comes in several themed packs, which can be mixed and matched for more variety and difficulty. In addition to Timeline Inventions , there's also:

• Timeline Classic
• Timeline Events
• Timeline British History

Designed by Martino Chiacchiera, Hjalmar Hach, and Pierluca Zizzi

Similo is a deduction game where one player is trying to get everyone else to guess the right character from a grid of twelve.

On each turn, the active player plays a card and marks it as either SIMILAR or DIFFERENT. Based on that, the other players have to eliminate characters from the grid. If the correct character remains at the end, everyone shares victory!

Similo is like a better, more compact, and more fun Guess Who . The grid is randomized every time so there's replayability, plus the discussions that arise during elimination can be surprisingly funny.

Note: Similo comes in several themed packs, which can be mixed and matched for more variety and difficulty. In addition to Similo History , there's also:

• Similo Myths
• Similo Fables
• Similo Animals
• Similo Wild Animals
• Similo Harry Potter

9. Hive Pocket

Designed by John Yianni

Supports 2 players

About 20 to 40 minutes

Hive is one of the best head-to-head two-player board games if you want a pure abstract strategy game—and Hive Pocket is the portable travel edition that you can take anywhere.

There's no board in Hive ; the pieces ARE the board! As you place pieces and move them around, they dictate where future pieces can be placed and moved to. Each insect type has its own rules for how to move.

Hive Pocket has a tiny footprint and the tiles are made of durable plastic resin that's satisfying to play with. Moreover, Hive Pocket comes with two expansion insects already included!

Designed by Kei Kajino

Supports 2 to 5 players

Scout is a ladder-climbing card-shedding game in the style of Crazy Eights or Chinese Poker , but it has a few twists that take it to the next level and make it one of the best in the genre.

First, you can't re-order your hand once it's dealt. Second, when you play cards, you collect the cards played by the previous player. Third, if you can't play any cards, you "scout" by taking a card from the previous player and adding it to your hand—and they earn a point.

When someone empties their hand, the round ends. Each player scores a point for each card they collected plus any scout points they earned.

Scout is a simple but deep card game that feels like an old-school card game but plays like a modern classic. It's the perfect travel card game for families who want something a little meatier.

7. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea

Designed by Thomas Sing

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea is a cooperative trick-taking card game—a lot like Euchre or Hearts , except everyone is trying to accomplish certain tasks and helping others to achieve their tasks.

Examples of tasks in this game: "Win exactly 2 Blue cards" or "Win only the last trick" or "Win at least 1 card of each color." There are nearly 100 task cards and a random set is chosen every game.

The hard part is, there's no communication allowed! Except using the one-time communication token. With that token, you can reveal one card and mark it as either your HIGHEST of that color, your LOWEST of that color, or your ONLY card of that color.

Trick-taking card games have been a staple of societies for centuries, but the cooperative twist in The Crew: Mission Deep Sea makes it one of the best of its kind. It's so addictive!

6. Zombie Dice: Horde Edition

Designed by Steve Jackson

Supports 2 to 100 players

About 10 to 20 minutes

Want to play a travel board game that's literally nothing but a set of 13 custom dice? Then Zombie Dice is your jam. ( Zombie Dice: Horde Edition includes the base game plus both expansions!)

In Zombie Dice , you're rolling and re-rolling three dice at a time, trying to score as many Brains as you can on your turn. Dice with Footsteps can be re-rolled, but dice with Shotguns can't—and if you ever have three Shotguns showing, you lose all the Brains from that round.

This is one of the purest push-your-luck games in existence, and it's so compact that you can play anywhere. Just make sure to roll inside the box cover to minimize the risk of losing any dice!

Designed by Steffen Benndorf

Qwixx is what's known as a "roll and write" game: you roll dice, then use the results to write on your score pad.

In Qwixx , you're trying to fill out blocks 2 to 12 for each of four colors. The thing is, once you fill in a block, you can no longer fill any blocks to the left of that block for that particular color.

Once a player has five blocks filled in a color, they can choose to lock that color (no one else can fill that color anymore). Once two colors are locked, the game ends. The more blocks you've filled, the more points!

Ultimately, this game is a balancing act between smart decisions and pushing your luck. Qwixx packs a ton of fun into such a small box, and it's so easy to play anywhere—even on a plane.

4. Love Letter

Designed by Seiji Kanai

About 15 to 30 minutes

Love Letter is one of the best portable card games of all time. It consists of a deck of 16 cards numbered from 1 to 8, with higher-value cards rarer than the lower-value cards.

This is a game of deduction and hand management. Each player starts with 1 card and the entire game is played like so: draw a card, play a card. The winner is whoever has the highest-value card in hand at the end.

But here's the twist: each card also has a special ability that triggers when played. One lets you peek at another's hand, another lets you trade hands, another lets you name a player and a card—if they're holding that card, they get eliminated from the round.

A round of Love Letter plays in just a few minutes, and whoever is first to win a predetermined number of rounds wins the game.

3. Fantasy Realms

Designed by Bruce Glassco

Supports 2 to 6 players

Fantasy Realms is my ultimate choice for portable card game. It's easy to learn and compact in size, with tons of gameplay packed in.

The game consists of a deck of 53 cards: 10 suits of 5 cards each, plus 3 wild cards. Each card has a base point value as well as a scoring mechanism that grants extra points (or loses points) depending on what other cards you have in your hand.

Players start with a hand of 7 cards, then turns are as a simple as drawing a card and discarding a card. Your hand at the end of the game determines your score and highest score wins.

Fantasy Realms can be taken anywhere and plays quickly. Every game is different as you try to figure out the best way to manage your own hand, and you can kill so much time without getting bored.

Note: Scoring can be unwieldy in Fantasy Realms , but the scoring companion app makes it much easier—just pick the cards in your hand and it'll spit out your score.

2. Palm Island

Designed by Jon Mietling

Supports 1 to 2 players

There's one thing about Palm Island that makes it so perfect as a travel card game: it can play entirely in the palm of your hand. You don't even need a table or a lap! No other game is this portable.

Palm Island consists of 17 double-sided cards, with each side split into top and bottom halves. You'll go through the deck several times, tapping cards into resources then spending resources to upgrade cards (i.e. rotating and flipping them to their better actions).

It's a simple but thinky solo game that's played in a beat-your-own-score manner, so there's plenty of replayability.

But the key feature of Palm Island truly is its portability. Hand-only games are exceedingly rare and very few of them are worth playing long-term. Palm Island is the best of its kind.

1. Dungeons, Dice & Danger

Designed by Richard Garfield

Supports 1 to 4 players

About 45 to 60 minutes

Dungeons, Dice & Danger is the meatiest experience you'll find for a game that's nothing more than a sheet of paper, a pencil, and five dice. You can really play it anywhere and lose yourself in it.

On your turn, you roll the four white dice and split the results into two pairs. Then, everyone uses those two pairs to mark off rooms on their personal dungeon sheet. (The active roller can also use the fifth black die to substitute one of the whites, but no one else can.)

You can only mark rooms that are adjacent to rooms you've already visited, and if you have no rooms to mark on a turn, you lose health which will reduce your score at the end.

You'll also be finding gems, looting treasure, unlocking special actions, and fighting monsters for more ways to earn points.

It's both surprising and impressive to get this much game out of just five dice. If you're going to be traveling a lot—especially on planes—I highly recommend Dungeons, Dice & Danger above all else.

15 Best Travel Games for Kids and Families to Play in Cars, Planes and Hotels

From toddlers to teenagers, these games will make time fly on your next road trip or plane ride.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

No matter where you're going on vacation, you actually have to get there first . And nothing ruins the building excitement of a family vacation faster than being stuck in the car or on a plane for hours. Keep the peace while you're in transit with these entertaining travel games that the whole family can easily play in cars, planes, trains or hotels. They're all lightweight and easy to carry, so you can just toss them in your carry-on and whip one out at a moment's notice — a total lifesaver during flight delays or long layovers!

For the younger kids, you'll want to opt for a self-contained game to prevent pieces from getting lost. For older kids, we suggest more complex games to hold their attention for hours — just look for ones that can be played on a flat but compact surface, like plane tray-tables or even the RV floor. But no matter where you're going or how you plan on getting there, there are plenty of choices to keep your family (or even just yourself!) playing and laughing for hours. So before you pack up your suitcase and head out, check out all of our favorite travel games below. Looking for more family fun? Don't miss our roundups of the best beach games , the best board games for families and the best video games , too.

MONOPOLY Monopoly Deal Card Game

You can't bring the full-size board game on the road, so bring this fast-paced playing card version of Monopoly instead. Players collect properties as they use action cards to earn money throughout the game — no houses, die or game pieces necessary! Ages 8+

Bananagrams

Bananagrams comes in a cute, banana-shaped pouch that's easy to pack in your purse — the perfect game to play in case you're left with time to kill before you can check into your hotel room! Race your family to be the first one to build a crossword using all your tiles. Ages 7+

Hasbro Gaming Yahtzee Handheld Digital Game

Take the electronic version of the classic game on the go without worrying about losing dice . It's perfect for passing across the plane row to see who can get the best score. Ages 8+

SmartGames IQ Fit

This compact logic game is fun for one or many brains. The goal is to fit all the 3D pieces in the correct formation according to one of 100 different challenges. Ages 6+

Mattel Games Apples to Apples Mod Card Game

This version of the family favorite comes in convenient packaging that makes it easy to bring the fun wherever you go. Throw the pack in with your picnic for a day of playing games at the park. Ages 12+

Think Fun Fifteen Puzzle

While you run errands, your kid can stay busy by solving this old-school puzzle over and over again — and yes, that's the same design from your childhood. Ages 8+

PlayMonster Pop-a-Tops Match-a-Martian

Pop-a-Tops' cute UFO shaped game has a domed top that keep the dice contained and the cards fit into the body of the spacecraft. Give the container a "pop" (get it?) to roll the dice without worrying about losing them under the table. Ages 6+

Hasbro Gaming Clue Card Game

Enjoy the classic mystery game without all the small pieces (where did the candlestick go, anyway?) Now everyone in the family can play detective everywhere you go! Ages 8+

Farkel Pocket Dice Game

This travel dice game is small enough to stash just about anywhere, even in just your pocket . Since it's easy to put away too, you can take it out when you're sitting around waiting on food or on play it on tray tables without worrying about rushing to clean up. Ages 4+

Crayola Wonder Mess Free Coloring Activity Set

This coloring activity set comes with a hard shell case to store the coloring sheets, markers, stamps and ink pads all in one place. Since the Color Wonder markers can only draw on Color Wonder coloring pages, you don't have to worry about cleaning up stray marks . Age 3+

Tamagotchi Star Wars: R2-D2 Classic White

Take care of this pocket-sized friend by teaching them all kinds of tricks and playing one of the seven mini-games you can unlock. Ages 8+

This word guessing game is great to pull out when you're waiting around in the airport when your plane is inevitably delayed. Try and come up with as many words as you can before the timer runs out. Ages 8+

Hasbro Gaming Guess Who? Card Game

Like the other card games on this list, this playing card version of Guess Who? allows you to bring the classic guessing game along for the ride . Ages 4+

Frequent Flyer Game

While this board game isn't exactly travel friendly, it is a great way to teach your child the ins and outs of traveling before embarking on your family adventure together. Choose your home city and race to be the first to visit all 20 airports including JFK, BOS and DFW. Ages 8+

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo's newest console can easily convert from a home system to a portable system by detaching from the dock. So you can bring games like Mario Kart 8 , Super Mario Odyssey , and The Legend of Zelda basically anywhere. Ages 6+

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

The Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab provides expert reviews and advice on everything parents and children love. Chief Technologist and Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman has been testing games and toys for nearly 15 years and has served on several ASTM committees that help guide industry product testing standards. She has three toddlers who actively support her in her testing pursuits, too.

As the assistant to the Good Housekeeping Institute Director, Abigail Bailey regularly tests all manner of products and toys — and she has two younger siblings who graciously support her through game testing.

Abigail (she/her) is product reviews writer who has covered everything from kitchen gear to mattresses and smart blinds. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in creative writing and earned her M.S. in publishing digital and print media from New York University. She currently works at Wirecutter, but has also spent time on staff at Good Housekeeping and The Southern Review literary magazine. In her free time you can find her quilting, cross-stitching or trying to figure out how to squeeze one more bookshelf in her tiny apartment. 

Cars & Travel Products

The Best Hardside Luggage

Is Away Luggage Worth Buying?

The Best All-in-One Car Seats

The Best Portable Car Seats

The Best Leather Conditioners for Cars

The Best Electric Vehicle Chargers

The Best Samsonite Luggage

The Best Backpacks

Pack These Amazon Must-Haves for Your Next Trip

The Best Luggage Brands

The Best Luggage Straps for Suitcases

The Best Packing Cubes for Travel

The Best Travel Games In 2024

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

When you’re on the go and think you might have some downtime, packing a few board games can be the perfect way to kill some of that spare time. Doesn’t matter if you’re in an airport, on a bus, or stuck in a hotel room, bringing along a board game or two is a fantastic way to unwind and possibly make some new friends.

These board games bring a healthy mix of strategy, social deduction, and resource management play styles without making you carry around massive boxes or keep track of tons of cards, dice, and miniatures. Check out our picks for the best games to take with you when you travel!

Updated on June 24, 2024 by Ryan Hay: Summer is here so that means a lot more traveling, especially of the outdoors variety. If you're out camping, exploring, or taking a day trip to another city, these games are perfect for traveling with. Grab a few friends, toss a few burritos, and guess the secret word to pull out a victory on the road.

Unstable Unicorns Card Game

Pick your poison card game, fox in the forest, throw throw burrito, 7 wonders duel, one night ultimate werewolf, love letter, the great dalmuti, monopoly deal card game, exploding kittens, ravensburger push family card game, cthulhu fluxx.

An army like no other.

Unstable Unicorns not only gives you the power to build a unicorn army, but the strategic thinking and planning will help pass the time on those long flights and airport lounges. The adorable art may also help lighten your mood when your flight gets delayed for a third time.

• Great artwork.
• Features multiple expansions.
• Can be paused and continued during travel.

Unstable Unicorns is a great card game to deal with the frustrations of travel. When the airline delays your flight for the fourth successive time, you can just imagine unleashing your unicorn army upon it. Hopefully, the art and deck-building gameplay will make the time fly by.

The magic comes from the word

Magic words, deadly werewolves, and teamwork are the name of the game, unfortunately, not everyone is on the same team. This clever game has you try and guess a secret magic word to help protect your tiny village from a pack of werewolves, but you never know who is on your side and who is out for a tasty snack.

• Ask twenty questions, get only a few answers.
• Adds a fun twist on the Werewolf style game.

Your town has been plagued by a werewolf attack and it's up to you to uncover the secret magic word that will keep them all away, but it's never as easy as it looks. This game has you working with your teammates (and against a few werewolves) to try and uncover a powerful word that will spell the end to the werewolves.

The trick is, that the mayor, who holds the magic word, can't say more than a few things, simple yes, no, and maybe responses. Werewords has roles similar to Werewolf, like the Seer and Minions, who can perform special actions in the game. You can take and play this game practically anywhere thanks to its small size and app that can help play the game on the go.

All good things come with a catch.

Pick Your Poison comes from ther creators of Cards Against Humanity and builds on the formula of its predecessor. Instead of merely pairing cards to see which one is the funniest, Pick Your Poison makes you use a bit of logic as well. Of course, the pairing which creates the darkest scenario has the best chance of winning.

• Classic Cards Against Humanity formula with a twist.
• Highly replayable.

Pick Your Poison takes a simple and popular gameplay formula and adds a bit of a twist to it. This one is great for people who love Cards Against Humanity but are bored of the same old cards. Now you're going to have to do more than just play the card that's funniest.

Turns out, spies love words.

A super fun game that you can take practically anywhere with a table, Codenames is less of a board game and more of a thought puzzle, making it the perfect game to travel with. You can play with a ton of people with this game too, so if you're traveling in a group or have made some new friends in your travels, Codenames is great to bring along.

• Tons of variance in games thanks to random game states every time.
• Can take it practically anywhere you go.

Codenames is less of a board game and more of a mental exercise and a trust exercise among your teammates. Codenames has you laying out a grid of tiles, each one with a word on it. The words can range from physical things, like 'cat' and 'France', to more abstract concepts like 'trips' or 'life'.

The aim of the game is to split into two teams and have players try and match words based on association thanks to single-word hints from the spymaster. So if you say the clue 'Vacation', you might be able to link the words 'trip' and 'France' together, though your guessing team mates might think the word 'car' is associated with it too. It's up to you to try and lead your team to guess the right words to beat the enemy team.

Foxes aren't the only tricksters in these woods.

Take tricks from your opponents in this two-player game but watch out! Greedy players won't be rewarded so try not to win too hard.

• Beautiful woodland-themed artwork
• A great starting point for more difficult games
• Slightly more rigid box than other travel games
• Trick-taking might take some time to learn

Easy to learn and difficult to master, The Fox In The Forest is a trick-taking card game meant for two players with a fairy tale twist. The game works by playing cards of a certain suite to try and win the round with the cards in your hand. You don’t want to win too much though, as earning too many points can actually set you back in the game.

A deck-building game that has players drafting sushi-based cards to earn as many points as they can. Each game is only three rounds making it quick and easy to learn.

• Fast rounds are perfect if you're short on time
• Randomization means no two games are the same
• Easy to pick up and learn
• Not a lot of fun with just two players
• Limited card strategies can feel repetitive after a while

A fantastic drafting game for players of all ages, Sushi Go is a fast-paced strategy game where players must choose cards that match or work together to earn the most amount of points at the end of the round. The artwork is adorable, and the randomness keeps games interesting even though there’s a fixed number of cards.

Sushi Go gets even more creative when you start introducing score modifiers, letting you take your best sushi cards and double or even triple the amount of points you would earn. Most rules are printed on the cards themselves, keeping the game easy to pick up and learn.

It's a dodgeball board game.

A great game if you're out camping or have a bit of room to move around, Throw Throw Burrito mashes up multiple games into a hilarious dodgeball-like card game. The two innocent-looking burritos won't be so cute when they're barreling toward your face when you're a bit slow on the play.

• A perfect board game for the outdoors.
• One of the few games where its okay to throw the pieces.

At its core, Throw Throw Burrito is a matching game. You draw cards from a constantly shifting deck of cards to try and match three cards of a kind. Once you do, depending on your matches, you can either earn points or you get to chuck the burrito at someone.

This game requires some quick thinking and fast moving, so it might not be everyone's wheelhouse, but there is still plenty of fun to be found in Throw Throw Burrito. If you're outdoors at a campground, festival, or park, you can make use of all that space to turn the dodging part of this game into a real brawl.

More fun than a barrel full of beans.

Bean farming has never been more exciting than in Bohnanza. Earn money by growing beans and trade with players under wacky conditions to get the most beans.

• A surprisingly intense game that requires careful planning
• Creates very silly interactions with your friends
• Unconventional rules might take some getting used to.

A classic board game where anything goes, Bohnanza has players bartering for beans to try and earn as many points as they can. The gameplay is simple, players can choose to plant beans by playing them from their hands into fields. Players can then harvest the beans for points, clearing up the field for more beans.

In the meantime, players can negotiate with other players to try and get their beans. Anything goes in this game, from letting players promise future bean trades for beans now, to organizing complex trade negotiations between all players to come out on top.

The 7 wonders have never been so intense.

A strategy game that takes the fantastic gameplay of the main game and streamlines it for two players. Draft your ancient empire to earn victory points.

• Perfect for couples traveling together
• Quick, 30-minute games with plenty of strategy
• Great for experienced board game players
• Slightly larger box makes it difficult to travel with

Build the wonders of the ancient world in this two-player variant of the classic drafting game. You and your opponent are racing to build your wonders or win through other means in this bite-sized version of 7 Wonders. Games are much shorter, lasting around 20-25 minutes, making it a great way to pass a short layover or if you’re looking for a quick game at the end of the night.

Related: The Best Tabletop Party Games

Don't Trust Your Friends

The classic social deduction game boiled down to be played with anywhere between 3-10 players. No need for a moderator so no one is left out!

• Everyone gets to play with the free narrator app
• Great for late nights and can be played anywhere
• Easy to learn and great for making new friends
• Games can get rowdy

The perfect social deduction game for small groups, One Night Ultimate Werewolf is for three to ten players, with no need for a moderator thanks to a free app that narrates the roles players receive.

Part of what makes this version of the game so great is being able to invite other players into your games while still keeping rounds quick. It's also quick to pick up, so players of all ages can jump in and start accusing townsfolk.

Love is in the air

Compete against your friends to deliver a love letter to the princess. Keep your hand close and your enemies closer in this fast-paced game.

• Great for short downtimes.
• Endlessly replayable.
• Small packaging means you can take it anywhere you go.
• Small pieces can be easy to lose

Easy to learn but hard to master, Love Letter is an incredibly fast game where you are trying to get your love letter to reach the princess. Everyone starts with one card in hand and draws a new one on their turn. If you ever run out of cards, you’re out of the game.

Best played with three or four players, playing Love Letter requires equal amounts of skill and luck, but is always an enjoyable time every round. The small packaging also makes it the perfect game to slip into a carry-on bag or even into your pocket.

Only the greatest can sit on the throne.

Rule above your opponents as The Great Dalmuti while you try and empty your hand before your opponents do. If not, be prepared to swap seats with your new Dalmuti.

• Fast paced and energetic game
• Great for players of all ages
• Play with as many friends as you are traveling with
• The player on top can sometimes stay winning for a while

A fantastic game for 4-8 players where the goal is to get rid of all the cards in your hand before everyone else. If you do, you become The Great Dalmuti, the best player in the game with all the best cards, and if you’re last, you’re a lowly peon, who has to give up their best card to The Great Dalmuti.

Players deal out the 80-card deck and swap positions based on their rank, with each shake-up having players swap chairs to their proper roles. The Great Dalmuti leads the game, playing any number of cards of the same value from their hand, and making each other player play the same number of card but of a lower value. Great for small groups and for players of all ages, making it an incredibly fun game to take on the road.

Can't go wrong with the classics

If you're really dedicated, you could bring out an entire Monopoly board on the plane. But if you don't want to attract t0o much attention, then Monopoly Deal will do just fine. Built on the same fundamentals as the original game, but with completely different gameplay, you can't go wrong by packing a deck of Monopoly Deal on your next trip.

• Classic formula with different gameplay.
• Still as engaging with just two players.
• Can be played with a medium sized group too.

Monopoly Deal has two bonuses over the original when it comes to travelling. Firstly, it's way more portable, as it's just a deck of cards; but the second, and more important reason is that the gameplay ensures that there are fewer reasons to get into an argument on the plane, at the waiting lounge, or by the poolside.

Just remember to yell Uno

Considering that Uno is one of the most popular card games ion the world, you could end up playing with even an absolute stranger. It's a great way of passing time while you're jetlagged and your flight has been delayed, because you don't have to think too hard. Just decide upon what the Draw 4 rule is before starting an international incident.

• Almost everybody knows the rules.
• No need to think too hard while jetlagged,
• Has a wide player count.

When all other games fail you, you can always go back to the ol' reliable Uno. The beauty of this game is that since it's so popular and everybody knows the rules, so you could even strike up a game with an absolute stranger while you travel.

Best travel buddies

Another quick and easy game to play while on your travels, Exploding Kittens will keep you entertained while you while away the time in a waiting lounge. The art may even make you smile a bit through al that jet lag. Just don't talk about explosions too much, unless you want a fandom security search.

• Adorable artwork.
• Simple ruleset.
• Features an NSFW add-on if you want to add a bit of spice.

While it's not as popular as Monopoly Deal and Uno, Exploding Kittens has its own, younger audience that swears by it. It could mostly be due to the cats, but the simple gameplay loop also has a hand in making this game popular. That, and the fact that it can be played anywhere.

Don't push yourself.

While Push doesn't have the most complex gameplay, that's precisely why it makes for a perfect travel game. You don't want to be making strategic decisions when you're tired and waiting at the aiport lounge or during a long haul flight.

• Can be played by the whole family.
• Doesn't require to much space.

Push is simple enough to play at 2AM in a packed airport lounge, after your flight has been delayed for the fourth time. At times like that you don't want to be playing something that requires strategic thinking, but something with simple gameplay, that will pass the time.

Break the monotony

OIne of the most common problems with tabletop games while you're travelling is that they might get a bit repetitive. The Fluxx series is perfect for situations like this, as the rules keepo changing, keeping you on your toes at all times.

• Features numerous editions.

Cthulhu Fluxx, or any other game from the Fluxx series, constantly changes the rules, making sure that you're still paying attention. So, if you're worried about a game getting boring, this series is definitely worth checking out.

What games we can play while traveling?

There are tons of games you can play while traveling but board games provide a great way to pass the time with friends that doesn't rely on electricity or an internet signal. These games are some of the best to take with you since they pack up nicely and are quick and easy to learn.

What are fun things to bring on a trip?

Each trip is different, but you can never go wrong with a good board game. Most board games are too large and bulky to take on a trip, but games like Love Letter or Sushi Go, where they have small packaging but provide tons of fun are a great choice.

What are party board games?

Party board games are those that you can play with friends or even a group of strangers. Some of the best games are those that are easy to pick up and play with rules that don't take much explaining.

Best Board Games From The '80s

The '80s paved the way for board games, with some titles that are popular even four decades later.

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! TheGamer has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

• Affiliate Notices
• Privacy Policy
• Work with Us

27 Best Travel Games for everyone

Board games are a great way to spend meaningful time with family and friends, especially when traveling. We’ve assembled a list of the 27 Best Travel Games for 2023 and beyond including several new travel games, fun travel games for kids, travel-sized games, travel games for teens, the best travel games for adults, and some throwbacks to the classic games to play when traveling. Prepare to have fun!

The Definitive List of the Best Travel Games (updated for 2023)

In this guide to the best games for travel, we’ve selected a variety of games that make for good fun when traveling. Games are grouped into different categories including:

Best New Travel Games

Best travel games for kids.

• Travel Games for Teens

Best Travel Games for Adults

• Best Travel Games

Travel Size Games

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate programs as applicable. Click here to read our privacy & disclosure page .

What makes a good travel game?

There are a lot of games out there, but what is a good travel game? This requires a little more thought and is somewhat subjective, but there are a few things we can probably all agree that a top travel game should have:

• It should be fun! If the game isn’t fun, why play?
• It should be portable! No sense in bringing the Jenga game with you because it doesn’t travel well, right? Imagine playing Jenga on an airplane. Nope!
• It should be for multiple players (no solo games here). Sure, solo travelers need to have fun too, but for our list of great travel games, we’ve focused on games that are at least 2-player travel games and up.

This top list of games to play when traveling is based on these 3 important criteria, and yes, what’s fun to us, may not be fun to you…but that’s ok: you just aren’t as fun as us. Just Kidding.. .

Summary of the Games for Travel

We’ve summarized our list of the greatest games for traveling for you, below. Following this list readers will find an explanation and discussion of each game’s merits, why it’s a good game for travel and where to buy it. Happy gaming, everyone!

Coup (The Dystopian Universe)

• Monopoly Deal [All the good and none of the bad from Monopoly]
• Exploding Kittens [Fan Favorite!]

Travel Blurt

• Our Moments

Bananagrams

• What do you meme? [Good for Teens!]

Kids against Maturity

Unstable unicorns, pun intended, awkward family photos.

• Cards Against Humanity [Best Travel Game for Adults!]
• Catch Phrase Uncensored

Disturbed Friends

• Uno [The Classic Travel Game!]

Apples to Apples

• Tile-Lock Travel Scrabble

Travel Catan

• Travel sized Cribbage
• Travel Chess board

Travel Checkers

Plus a bonus game at the end!

In this section, we highlight 3 new travel games that folks are finding quite fun and enjoyable.

This spy-themed new travel game pits players against each other in a race to identify and make contact with spies using only their codenames and color-based clues. Be sure to avoid the assassin. The bigger the teams the better!

• Players : 2 teams of 4+ work best
• Why this game is fun : Enough strategy to really challenge players but fun enough to get lots of laughs.

Heads up game!

This new travel game takes a page out of Ellen’s popular game show. Players take turns guessing the words strapped to their heads based on clues from their teammates.

• Players : 2-6
• Why this game is fun : Clues can only be done in sounds…no words or gestures!

As the head of an Italian city-state try to outlast your competitors by gaining influence and clouts. It’s all about greed as you rise to power in this newly released travel game.

• Why this game is fun : “Manipulate, bluff and bribe” your way to power, the game says. How can that not be fun!?

In this section, we highlight the best travel games for kids, specifically younger kids ages 5-13. In the following section, we highlight some travel games designed for teens.

This travel game is best suited for younger travelers, but it’s easy, fun, and can be played just about anywhere. Comes with a handy tin making portability a breeze.

• Ages : 7-11 years (although we’ve played it with kids as young as 5 with no issues)
• Players : 2-8
• Why this game is fun : Simple, easy game, easy to learn, and great for kids who are usually better than the adults at this game!

Kids love this game and most adults do too (even if they don’t admit it). This game is exactly what you think it is: ask players to name random words to complete a story and then read it back to everyone while trying not to snort your soda through your nose.

• Ages : 8+ (but 5+ works too)
• Players : Any, but 2-4 works best.
• Why this game is fun : Silly words? What could go wrong? Nothing! This game brings out some hilarity and is a perfect game for a road trip or flight.

Monopoly Deal

In what is arguably the most clever take on this classic game, Monopoly Deal takes a game that’s probably too long, to begin with, and simplifies it into a 15-minute game that still retains the fun and thematic elements that make Monopoly a good game.

Pro Tip: Buy 3 packs of cards, combine them all and play super Monopoly Deal…game goes on a little longer, but it makes it even more fun!

• Players : 2-5
• Why this game is fun : This game is truly one of the best new travel games created in recent history. It makes Monopoly a much more casual experience. And the ability to steal sets from another place adds an element of zaniness that keeps the family laughing.

Exploding Kittens

With a name like Exploding Kittens, this game is either going to be horrible or amazing. Fortunately, it’s the latter. This wildly popular game has blown up (see what I did there) in popularity and it makes for a fun addition to your next trip.

• Players : from 2 all the way up to 10 players (but 5 is best)
• Why this game is fun : “It’s like UNO, except there are goats, magical enchiladas and kittens that can kill you.” – CNN

A great travel game for kids that also teaches them along the way. Hold up. Yeah, this is a pretty sweet game and perfect for traveling with kiddos. The premise of this game is simple. Someone reads out clues and people blurt out answers. Keep score on the magnetic scoreboard and let the fun begin.

• Players : 3-4
• Why this game is fun : The quick associations that kids make when they blurt things out is kinda funny!

OUR MOMENTS Kids Edition

Put the cell phones away and really get to know your kids by asking thought-provoking questions. Create listening, bonding, and teaching opportunities with your kids and really get to know them. Perfect conversation starters for long trips.

• Players : One-one-one is best (Parent w/ Kid), but you can play with a few kids at a time.
• Why this game is fun : You really get to know your kids and it’s fun to see where they are at with different ideas and concepts.

If Scrabble and a crossword puzzle had a baby, its cousin would be Bananagrams. This is a fun game though and we are big fans of any game featuring wordplay. Perfect for travel. Cooped up in a hotel? Banangram it.

• Players : 1-8
• Why this game is fun : Easy to learn and kids will have a hoot playing!

Best Travel Games for Teens

Teens are a hard bunch to please. Want to get them off TikTok for a while? It’s going to be harder than you think but here’s a few of the best travel games for teens that might just be right up their alley. Don’t worry, you are still going to have to deal with sarcasm. Can’t help you there!

What do you Meme?

To be clear, this game is for the more mature teens. It features some mature words and themes. It also features hilarity. Buy the game for your teen and then don’t play it with them. It’s a win-win all around.

• Ages : 17+ (older teens); also good game for adult travelers
• Players : 3+
• Why this game is fun : It is memes, man. And memes are probably the greatest part of the Internet!

If you like mildly inappropriate humor (silly fart jokes, etc) this game is perfect. You know, the stuff that kids actually laugh at when you aren’t around. This game is fun for older children through younger teen years.

• Ages : 8+ (but it’s best for younger teens…12-14ish.)
• Players : 4+
• Why this game is fun : The warning on the box states, “This game is not suitable for over-protective, humorless, hover-parents.” Haha…I’m in.

I am so confused. Why are there unicorns? And why are they are unstable? Should I be worried? You may not get it, but your teens will. This fun travel game for teens is an easy sell. Just buy the game and leave them alone.

• Why this game is fun : Because you get to build a Unicorn Army! Duh!

Dad Jokes make our teens roll their eyes, but I have a theory. I think they secretly enjoy them. You can prove that theory with Pun Intended which has its players guessing puns and scoring points.

• Players : 2 minimum (but 4 is a better minimum to start with for the most fun)
• Why this game is fun : This game is super punny. Too soon?

Every photo with a teenager is awkward. At least we can acknowledge that. This particular iteration of the game ties funny, embarrassing photos of random people with movie lines. Players must think on their feet and match the caption with the pic.

• Players : 4-8
• Why this game is fun : Because funny pictures of old people is funny. Oh, wait, are we going to be in a game someday?? Sigh…

It’s time for the grown-ups to play! Grab your wine glass and pick one of these best travel games for adults and get ready. Pro tip: if you use Zoom, Facetime, or Hangouts and you each have your own copy of the game you can still play many of these games even if you are not in the same room together.

Cards against Humanity

The grown-up version of Apples to Apples. Be prepared to be offended on multiple levels. Also, be prepared to laugh your butt off. Perfect for a grown-up vacation or road trip with a fellow couple who’s also got a dark sense of humor. It’s our opinion that this is one of the best travel board games for adults.

• Ages : Adults
• Players : at least 4, but 6-8 is the sweet spot
• Why this game is fun : Dark humor is the best!

Bullshit Game

The bluffing game: how good is your poker face? If you suspect your fellow player hit the bullshit button.

• Players : 4-6
• Why this game is fun : Hitting a button that announces bullshit is great. Plus you could use it in other parts of your life like when your kids start BS’ng you…just saying.

Catchphrase uncensored!

This game stresses people out! Grab it, guess it, and pass it the heck on to the next person. This version, however, has some adult themes…uncensored. Awesome.

• Why this game is fun : Uncensored stress? What could go wrong?

This is the worst game ever made. It literally says that in their marketing. 250 disturbing questions…what could possibly go wrong!?!

• Players : Up to 10
• Why this game is fun : The best humor is found in offense and this game has a bundle of it.

Best Travel Board Games – the rest including some old favorites

What would we do without the classics? Those tried and true games we played growing up. Maybe it was in a hotel on your Texas road trip, or at the airport gate as you waited to board the plane for your trip to Hawaii. These travel games are the go-to travel games that are always fun for all ages, all the time.

How many times have you seen a family huddled around an airport gate waiting for a flight and playing Uno? Probably a lot because Uno is the perfect travel game for kids, families, adults, teens, etc. It’s simple, portable, easy to learn, easy to play, and just enough fun to not bore the hardcore gamers.

• Ages : 12+ (but honestly this is like 6 and up)
• Why this game is fun : Draw 4 baby!

This is a classic family game that travels pretty well too. It’s easy for most ages to play and can help teach the young ones some strategy and math along the way.

• Players : 2+
• Why this game is fun : Math, dice, luck, strategy, etc.

This classic game is a family-friendly travel game that is easy to learn, easy to play, and a bushel of fun. Take it on the road with you and let the good times roll.

• Why this game is fun : The fun is really in figuring out what the picker is likely to pick based on what you know about them NOT what the right answer to the prompt is.

Ever played a game of magnetic chess on a chessboard so small it fits in your back pocket? Travel size games are a hugely popular niche and we’ve highlighted a few of them here for you. These games include magnetic travel games, compact board games, small board games for travel, and more.

Travel Scrabble – your pieces won’t be a mess when you travel!

Bring this fun game on the road with you without having to worry about losing tiles. This travel Scrabble set includes magnetic tiles and easily fits into your carry-on.

• Ages : 8+ (but 10+ is better as they have a much deeper grasp of vocabulary).
• Players : 2
• Why this game is fun : Scabble is always fun. Who doesn’t like impressing your friends and family with your vast knowledge of big words (and small words too!)?

Before there was Age of Empires there was Catan. The world-building and resource-hoarding board game is possibly the best travel game ever created. Here it is in all its glory but in the perfect travel size format.

• Players : 2-4
• Why this game is fun : Trade, build, settle! The Catan slogan says it all. This is a longer game, but definitely, a strategic thought-provoking game and perfect for travel.

Travel Sized Cribbage Game

Cribbage is one of the most fun games you can play and if you choose to play cuthroat style it’s even more fun. Use this travel-sized cribbage game to feed your cribbage habit.

• Why this game is fun : It’s cribbage! A classic game for math-inclined card experts. Strategy, math, and fun.

Travel Chess

This portable travel chess set is the perfect thinking game for your next trip. A tried and true game, chess is always a great game for slightly older kids and up.

• Why this game is fun : A thinking game!

Here is your classic checkers game, in travel-sized format. Comes with magnetic checkers that are perfect for using during a trip. Magnetic travel games are a throwback to a different era too. Cheap, yet fun, they help us reminisce about a different time in our lives. This set, however, isn’t too bad.

• Why this game is fun : It’s checkers! Who doesn’t love this fun game?

Last but not least…a deck of cards is arguably the best game for traveling because you can take it anywhere with you!

Some people suggest there’s an infinite number of games you can play with a deck of cards . Perhaps that’s true, perhaps not, but with a deck of cards, your travel game options are pretty close to unlimited. Here are 40 games to play with a deck of cards while traveling .

More Games to Play while Traveling (including in a car)

If board games are not your cup of team, here are a few more fun games to play while traveling that don’t involve boards. Remember the alphabet game? Here are a few other ideas with links on how to play:

• Name the Most – Pick a category (say fast food companies) and challenge someone: “I can name 9 fast food companies” Then see if you can beat that score. See the full rules here .
• The Alphabet Game – You know how to play this game…which is why it’s probably one of the top travel games of all time. We’ve all played it and it’s fun…for a while anyway.
• I Spy – A fun game to play in a car or on an airplane that can eat up some time!

What’s your favorite road trip game? Drop us a comment or tweet us!

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may also earn commissions from other affiliate programs as applicable.

Jeremy Ballou is the editor of the CBoardingGroup.com and a long-time writer in both the travel and tech industry. Most days he's in thinking about travel or writing about it.

Best Travel Gifts for Men: what to get the man who travels a lot

Dude fires up a cigarette midflight and flight attendant is like nope, you may also like, demon dentist freaks out and removes clothes at..., five days in slovenia: a guide to the..., can i fly with an expired license, what is a redress number and do i..., how to stop your ears from hurting on..., the traveler’s first aid kit: how savvy business..., organize your travels with travelwise packing cubes –..., 11 tips on traveling with your boss –..., deal alert: must-have travel luggage on sale for..., 23 jobs with travel: the ultimate list of....

I am gonna play a few of them. I just love to travel. I kinda get bore, so I hope these games add some spice to my free time.

wow! I love playing a game while traveling and its relive our stress .

https://www.expresscouriercars.co.uk/

I love playing games while travelling. it makes travel enjoyable and fun. thanks for suggesting these fantastic games.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

The 40 Best Small Board & Card Games [Travel & Space-Saving Versions]

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

823 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

47 Published Articles 3398 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Key takeaways, the 20 best small board games, the 20 best small card games, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

• Some of the most popular games to travel with include Connect 4, Sequence, Battleship, Sorry!, Monopoly, and Checkers.
• Compact and portable games like Catan Traveler and Monopoly Grab and Go Game are ideal for travel, offering quick, engaging gameplay that fits easily in your luggage.
• Card games like UNO and Taco vs. Burrito are also great travel companions, providing entertainment without taking up much space.

Taking part in a game of cards or breaking out a board game is a great way to pass the time both at home and away. Long journeys, travel delays, bad weather, and dark winter nights can all be improved with a bit of competitive fun between you and your travel companions.

Get your brain ticking as you devise strategies to beat your opponent, or celebrate your good fortune in games based on sheer chance and luck. If you are heading out on a trip, check out some of these awesome travel-friendly board games and card games to help make the most of your next adventure.

Note: We’ve included board and card game options for 2 people (or more), kids, and families!

1. Jax Sequence

Players: 2 to 12

This fun and challenging game is perfect for families. Using a card from your hand and placing a chip on the corresponding space on the game board, the first player to achieve 5 in a row wins the game! Block your opponents or even remove their chips to make your sequence work out for you — but keep your eye out for the Jacks, as they can be wild!

Small enough to be portable, but offering huge amounts of fun both on the road and back at home, Jax Sequence is a game of strategy and luck that’s complete with a folding game board and travel-friendly pieces.

2. Scrabble Deluxe Travel Edition

Players: 2 to 4

This classic word game comes in a finely crafted wooden case with a magnetic closure, making it perfect for game players on the go. With a raised letter tile grid, the board halves slide out easily to reveal a handy storage area underneath. Measuring just 9.8 x 9.2 x 1.2 inches when closed and 9.8 x 4.6 x 2.4 inches when open, this is an extremely compact version of one of the best-loved games of all time.

Beat your opponents by using the solid wood letters on your letter rack to make words with high scores. Classic and compact, this version is a winner wherever you are.

3. Connect 4 Grab and Go Game — Travel Size

This simple but popular game has been scaled down into a convenient travel size, making it great for keeping you and your crew entertained on the move. Starting with 21 checkers each, you must outwit each other to be the first to get to 4 in a row. Block your opponent at every turn, and see if you can complete your connection before they block you.

This Grab and Go edition from the game experts at Hasbro has space to store the checkers in the columns and the trays fold up neatly for added portability.

4. Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere — Bingo

For a modern and completely child-friendly twist on traditional bingo, this 6.75-inch square tin case holds everything young players need to enjoy a game of bingo on the go. Suitable for players from 4 years and up, the large magnetic playing pieces are easy for little hands to play with while big enough to not get lost.

Have your kids flick the spinner and place the magnetic markers on the corresponding animal as soon as they see it. When they get 5 in a row, it’s time to shout “bingo” and enjoy being the winner — until next time, of course.

5. QuadPro Magnetic Travel Checkers Board  

Enjoy checkers anywhere in the world with this foldable plastic checkers set that’s durable yet lightweight. The 64-square board is complete with black and white magnetic pieces that can easily be moved around the board for the win. When you have finished the game, the same pieces can be stored away inside the checkerboard to keep them safe during transit.

Bottom Line: Perfect for bus, plane, or train journeys, camping trips, lunch breaks, and so much more, this compact, folding board game is easy to play and perfectly portable.

6. Battleship Grab and Go Game

Sink your opponent’s battleship with this Grab and Go version of the ever-popular strategy game. Each of the portable game units opens upwards to block your opponent’s view while you track each other’s shots using the included red and white pegs. When you’re finished, fold them up again for easy storage.

With 2 carriers, destroyers, cruisers, submarines, and battleships included in this compact portable edition, you can get busy sinking battleships, even on the go.

7. Catan Traveler

With a space-saving box that unfolds to reveal the variable board, you and your fellow players can race each other to build your roads, cities, and settlements. This handy travel size edition of the popular Catan game can be set up in seconds, with 6 double-sided board pieces that can be assembled randomly to ensure that every game you play is completely different.

Designed with portability in mind, this handy travel edition even features cards that are held securely in holder trays and a hex-shaped dice shaker that can’t get dropped or lost as you play on the go.

8. Monopoly Grab and Go Game — Travel Size

Monopoly is one of the most popular and best-selling games in the world. This travel-size edition makes it more convenient for game fans on the go.

This set includes all of the classic properties, title deed cards, community chest cards, chance cards, get out of jail cards, houses, hotels, and the iconic Monopoly banknotes. There is still big fun to be had even with this smaller version.

Trade your way to success with this Grab and Go game that is perfect for budding capitalists of all ages.

9. Amazon Exclusive Pressman Rummikub

This ever-popular tile-based game combines the very best elements of mahjong and rummy to produce a perfectly portable game of skill that is suitable for up to 4 players at a time. With a canvas bag for easy storage, each player starts with the same number of tiles and tries to put as many down into groups or runs as possible.

Fast-paced and easy to play, this game is not only a great way to pass the time, but it also helps to reinforce basic STEM skills, including sequencing, pattern recognition, and planning, making it a great choice for both older children and adults.

10. QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set

For chess lovers everywhere, this foldable plastic chess set allows you to practice your strategic skills on the go. The traditional 64-square playing field comes with all of the traditional chess pieces that glide effortlessly across the board when the time is right.

Perfect for playing at home or school, in transit, or virtually anywhere else you can think of, this compact chess set is designed to keep the pieces safe inside the case. You will have your opponent’s king in checkmate in no time.

11. Yahtzee

The classic dice game Yahtzee takes a travel-sized twist in this portable version of an old favorite. You and your opponent get 13 rolls of the dice to find the best combinations of numbers to achieve different scores. Whether you decide to hustle for a full house or risk it all for a Yahtzee roll, you must fill in an empty box at the end of each turn.

Bottom Line: This game comes complete with 5 dice and a shaker that doubles up as easy and convenient storage for your tiles, making it a great choice for easy entertainment on the go.

12. Guess Who? Board Game  

This much-loved, classic 1980s guessing game is back, and this time it’s portable. While your opponent picks a mystery card, you must ask enough questions to be able to eliminate the sea of faces in front of you until you find their hidden identity. Is your opponent wearing a hat? Do they have blue eyes? A beard? Ask away until you can “Guess Who” they really are.

With 2 travel-size game units, 48 character cards, and built-in face frames for easy viewing, your kids will have hours of fun getting to guess each other’s new personas.

13. Hasbro Gaming Jenga Mini Game 

This pocket-size version of the popular balancing game offers gigantic amounts of fun. With 18 mini hardwood blocks, this portable classic takes skill and patience to ensure that you are the last person standing.

Simply stack the blocks as high as you can without causing the tower to crash to win the game. Compact enough to carry with you, this is a great game for sleepovers, camping, and travel.

14. Blokus Game

This fun strategy game is perfect for the whole family to play both at home and away. The rules take less than a minute to learn, and you’ll quickly battle against each other for the win.

Each player takes turns to place their 21 pieces on the board, making sure that each piece touches another piece of the same color, but only at the corners. Protect your territory by strategically blocking your opponents at every turn to win the game.

Made from sturdy, wipeable materials, this game can easily be taken with you in its box to keep you amused on the go.

15. Smart Zone Games Hive Pocket

This highly addictive strategy game can be played on any flat surface. Complete with a travel bag, you and your opponent can break open the 22 pieces to form the patterns that become the playing surface. The object of the game is to surround your opponent’s queen while keeping your wits about you to ensure that they don’t do the same to you.

The first player to surround the queen wins in this bug-tastic travel game.

16. Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere — Tic-Tac-Toe

This super chunky edition of the timeless strategy game is perfect for playing tic-tac-toe on the go. The 6.75-inch tin is compact enough for carrying with you on long journeys, and the tin will keep everything safely stored when not in use. The magnetic board keeps your pieces in place and this compact version is complete with 6 magnets, 10 red markers, 10 blue markers, and a die.

Switch up your gameplay from pen and paper with this easy-to-use magnetic travel game.

17. Cinco Linko, a Strategy Board Game

This travel-size tile game is easy to learn and super fun to play, either back at home or on the move. Simply choose a color, grab your stack, and start laying down the tiles until someone achieves a line of 5 either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Completely designed for travel, the game comes in durable, waterproof travel-size stacks that can easily be clipped onto your bag.

Ready to play on any surface, Cinco Linko is the winner of multiple awards and a great little game for kids.

18. Pressman Mancala — Real Wood Folding Set

This simple but exciting game is one of the world’s oldest and best-loved strategy games. Players take turns to collect special stones and count them out 1 at a time into the pockets on the board. Drop a stone into an empty pocket and capture all the stones in the opposite pocket for the win.

Requiring plenty of skill and strategic planning, this game also helps to reinforce STEM skills for younger players. The wooden box folds up flat for easy gaming on the go.

19. Sorry! Game

Remember your manners as you beat your opponents in this classic game of sweet revenge! As each player picks 1 or 2 cards, get 1 of your 4 pawns out of the starting area and off around the game board. This super fun game calls on strategy, chance, and luck to see you or your opponents chase, race, bump, slide, and score your way around the board to be the first to get all 4 pawns to home base.

An updated version of the original Sorry! game, this is fun for the whole family on long journeys, campouts, picnics, sleepovers, and all kinds of adventures.

20. Pop-O-Matic Trouble Grab and Go Game

This compact and incredibly portable game is a reduced-size version of the Trouble game — small in stature but big on fun.

The all-in-1 game board is perfect for sleepovers, long journeys, camping trips, and much more and can be played by up to 4 players at a time. Complete with the famous Pop-O-Matic die roller and cover and 16 pegs, you can try and beat your opponent by being the first to get all your pegs across the finish line.

Bottom Line: Easy to play and full of excitement, this is a great game to play with the whole family both at home and away.

1. Monopoly Deal Card Game

Players: 2 to 5

This ultra-portable way to play the classic property-trading game will keep you entertained both at home and away. Be the first to collect 3 full property sets of different colors using the cards, and you’ll be the winner. Pick up extra properties along the way, charge your opponents rent, or even steal their cards when they slip up to show your ruthless side and become the next Monopoly property tycoon.

This card version of the world-famous and much-loved board game is perfect for playing on long journeys, sleepovers, camping trips, vacations, and virtually anywhere else, too.

2. Mattel Games UNO: Classic Tin Box  

Players: 2 to 10

This classic family card game is easy to learn and a ball to play. UNO has a huge following all over the world and is compact enough to take anywhere with you. Race against your opponents to rid yourself of your hand as you match cards on the deck by either color or number.

Take advantage of special cards such as skips, reverses, draw 2s, and even color-changing wild cards to increase your chances of standing victorious.

Perfect for the whole family to play, don’t forget to shout “UNO!” when you are down to your last card in this wild and noisy card game.

3. Taco vs. Burrito — Strategic Card Game Created by a 7-Year-Old 

Created by a child and funded via Kickstarter, this crazy, fun strategic food fight is a smash hit with both adults and children alike.

If you and your opponents like card games and enjoy dreaming up weird food combos, this is just the game for you. Use the cards dealt to start making your crazy sandwich combinations, or switch up the game with action cards to gain the extra ingredients you need to win.

Don’t forget to keep a lookout for the health inspector or order envy that can spoil your meal, ruin your appetite, and eventually lose you the game.

4. Czech Games Codenames

Players: 2 to 8

This spy game sees teams compete to discover who can make contact with all of their agents first. Using 1-word clues, you and your teammates must try to guess the words of your team color while avoiding those that belong to the other team. Get your spy skills switched on and work together in this lively discussion game that can be played in groups.

Watch out for the double agents, though, as well as the assassin who is out to get you. Whether you win or lose, it’s still great fun to figure out all of the clues in this portable card game for older children and adults.

5. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza 

Players: 3 to 8

Perfect for hand-slapping fun wherever you are headed, this unique take on traditional snap-type card games is great fun for the whole family. Each player places a card from their hand face-up in a pile, while simply saying “taco/cat/goat/cheese/pizza” in player sequence. The magic is made when the card matches the mantra and players race to be the first to rid themselves of all their cards.

Bottom Line: For extra fun, throw a gorilla, narwhal, and groundhog into the mix in this travel-sized, super-fun, and addictive social card game.

6. Mattel Games Apples to Apples Party Box

Players: 4 to 8

This hilarious game is perfect for party play while away, and just as much fun at home, too. The aim of the game is to win the most rounds by playing a “red apple” card from your hand to best match that round’s communal “green apple” card, as chosen by that round’s judging player.

With 441 red apple cards and 63 green apple cards, there are plenty of crazy combinations to be found. As a former Mensa International “Mensa Select” game winner in 1999, and the “Party Game of the Year” in the same year, this is a great game that remains as popular as ever.

7. Family Feud Survey Says Card Game

Players: 3 or more

If you love the game show, you will really enjoy this Family Feud Survey Says card game. Play alongside your friends or family as you work to find the top answers to a variety of topics. Download the Gamestar+ app and you can incorporate sound effects from the show into your game.

The pack includes 49 jumbo survey cards, 3 red strike cards, and 1 host cover card and are perfect for playing at parties, on vacation, or even at home.

8. Magilano SKYJO

All you need is a bit of space in front of you to enjoy this strategic card game. With 12 hidden cards and 2 faced up, each player takes a turn to take the top card from the discard or draw pile. Exchange 1 card from your 12 card display until your or your fellow player has only open cards. When the round ends, it’s time to add your cards for scoring, with the lowest number for the win.

Portable and easy to play, this addictive card game is perfect for playing around a table, on the floor, or anywhere you are all together on the move.

9. Goat Lords Game

Players: 2 to 6

This fabulously fun card game features thieves, monsters, magic bombs, and lots, and lots of goats. Become the most successful Goat Lord by gathering the biggest goat herd simply by stacking pairs of goat cards in front of you and stealing your opponent’s goats right from under their nose.

Use your skill to attack other players, or hold your nerve as you keep your cards close to your chest. Whatever your strategy, this is a great party game for goat lovers of all ages.

Great fun is guaranteed and lots of laughter, too, as you strive to become Lord of the Goats with this crazy travel card game.

10. Kids Against Maturity 

Players: 2 or more

Using the tried and tested fill-in-the-blank game method, Kids Against Maturity is a more family-friendly version of the more adult games usually found in this genre. While each player gets 10 white cards, they can make hysterical answers by turning over the blue cards to finish the sentence. Whoever manages to make the funniest answer will be declared the winner.

Bottom Line: Perfect for keeping the kids amused on the go, this multi-award-winning card game can be played virtually anywhere and is always guaranteed to bring smiles.

11. Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers

From the creators of the well-renowned game show, this travel version of Punderdome is part game, part conversation starter, and a whole lot of fun. The goal of the game is to make the worst bad pun jokes by drawing cards from the deck and reading the prompt to the rest of the players. The player who can create the most groan-worthy pun from the 2 prompts wins the round and the prompt cards.

Make your way to winning 10 pairs of cards to enjoy a glorious, fun-fueled victory over your opponents in this perfectly portable travel game for pun lovers everywhere.

12. PlayMonster 5 Second Rule Game

This fast-paced and fun, travel-sized card game is perfect for players on the go. Simply pick a card, read out the topic, and set the timer. With just 5 seconds to go, you must name 3 things that fit in with the given topic before the timer runs out. It’s super easy to get tongue-tied when playing against the clock, so just say what comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous it might sound.

With a twisted timer that makes a fun zoooop sound when flipped over and balls that slide down to note the 5-second mark, it can be easy to get distracted. Try to stay focused and enjoy laugh-out-loud fun with this fast-moving card game.

13. Spot It!

This award-winning visual perception game will test your observational skills and help to hone your reflexes. With a sharp eye and a quick hand, you will need to find the single match between the symbol and the 2 cards, usually resulting in frenzied fun as you try to spot it fast.

To ensure even more fun on the go, this edition offers a combination of 5 different ways to play. Everything comes neatly packed away in a handy grab ‘n’ go tin.

14. Unstable Unicorns Card Game

Build yourself a unicorn army as the unicorns are your friends now! This strategic card game is great fun to play both at home and away. With over 20 magical unicorns to collect, you need to build your army as quickly as possible before getting destroyed by one of your so-called friends.

With twists and turns along the way that can lead to total destruction and utter madness, you need to outwit your opponents to be crowned The Righteous Ruler of All Things Magical.

15. Our Moments Kids: 100 Thought-Provoking Conversation Starters

Taking a slightly different approach to traditional card games, this innovative set of questions has been designed to lead to thought-provoking conversations with your child. Perfect for passing the time on long journeys, family bonding on vacation, or even just to help understand your child a little bit better, this is a card game that helps to build relationships.

In a fun game-style format, the cards ask a wide variety of leading questions that encourage children to talk about their thoughts and feelings without being pressured. Fun, upbeat, and simple — you can learn a lot from this game.

16. Loaded Questions On The Go Card Game

Rated one of the hottest card games by the likes of USA Today and Games Magazine, this simple but fun card game offers hours of family-friendly entertainment, both at home and away. With over 500 fun, personality-filled questions, can you be the first player to reach the WIN space by rolling high, matching players’ answers correctly on your turn, and writing the “favorite” answer on the starred space?

With no right or wrong answers, this is a great way to stay competitive while also getting to know a little bit more about your fellow players. Perfect for passing the time on long journeys or keeping away from the rain.

17. Scattergories The Card Game

This fun and challenging game has been a family favorite since the 1980s, and this card game edition offers a twist on traditional gameplay. With 2 card decks, players need to name something beginning with the letter on the card in a certain situation to win the game. The player with the most cards at the end is the winner overall.

Easy to play wherever you are, this fun and fast-paced retro game will get your brain in gear as you try to beat your opponents.

18. Oh Fruck!

If you feel too old for a game of Old Maid, but not quite ready for Texas Hold ‘Em, this crowdfunded game could be just right for you. By turning over the top 3 cards of the red deck, you and your fellow players discover the special rules that will disrupt your gameplay. If you can’t play a card, you’ll be the player that gets “frucked” as you get 1 card closer to losing the game.

Bottom Line: This is a raucous card game for more grown-up players that combines strategy with special rules.

19. Mattel Games Pictionary Card Game

Players: 2 teams

This clever travel game uses ready-made pictures instead of relying on the player’s artistic ability. In a cross between Pictionary and charades, you and your team will need to act out clues against the clock using nothing but the picture on the card. You can build scenes or use props, and the first team to guess the correct answers wins the point.

Crazy team fun comes standard in this fast-paced guessing game where silence is golden.

20. SKIP BO Card Game

From the makers of UNO, this sequencing card game is great for playing while you’re on the move.

Use your skills to create stacks of sequentially numbered, ascending cards, until there are no more left to play. Break up a static situation with the Skip-Bo wild cards that can be played as any number, and put your strategic thinking cap on to help smash your opponents and win the game.

Brightly colored and easy to play, the winner is the first player to deplete all of his or her Skip-Bo stockpiles. Then you can shuffle, deal, and start from the beginning again.

Put down your devices and enjoy some good old-fashioned family fun with compact, travel-size board games or card games next time you hit the road. Long journeys will fly by, and bad weather will never spoil your fun. From traditional card games to fast-paced, super-fun board games, there is something to suit players of all ages.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

28 of the Best Travel Games for at Home and Abroad

Written by Dalene Heck

We have always loved games – board games, card games, Nintendo 64 – you name it, we probably tried it at least once. And in all of our nomadic travels, we were never without one. We always had a pack of basic cards with us, for sure, but more often than not, we also travelled with a game like Exploding Kittens, or Bohnanza stuffed somewhere in our luggage. Basically, we didn’t travel without a travel game!

Maybe you aren’t surprised that we then created our own travel game , because, why not? We had so much fun designing and infusing it with memories from the road. And we specifically made it small enough so that travellers like us could take it on the road.

But, why stop there? We also wanted to create a unique list of travel-themed games and portable games so that you can share in the fun. From epic board-top adventures to exciting pocket-sized escapades, these games are your passport to endless fun on the go.

Travel-Themed Games

Trip chaser card game.

Details: 2-6 players | 60 minutes

**Top Pick**

Trip Chaser is the ultimate armchair travel card game for competitive people. Get ready for a globe-trotting experience without the hassle of airport security, faster than you can say, “upgrade to first class.”

Prove who’s the most travel-savvy by buying, bartering, and gambling your way to various destinations. The more challenging a destination is to get to from North America, the more points it’s worth! But beware! There are event cards that can either help or hinder funding your travels. And a fun fact is that these event cards were designed around actual things that have happened in our travels. Like Dalene losing her cell phone in the Galapagos Islands, or Pete getting robbed in Mexico .

Such a fun card game! We took it on a road trip and played it with the whole family T. Joy – Amazon Review

This game sold out in Canada in under THREE weeks (it’s since been restocked), and has racked up some awesome reviews. Make space for it in your bag (you won’t need much – it’s wee!) and thank us later!

Fun fact: Place an order, plant a tree! One tree will be planted for every game purchased to help offset carbon emissions.

Shotgun! The Card Game for Road Trips

Details: 2+ players | 30 – 480 minutes

Say goodbye to road trip boredom and hello to endless laughter with this family card game designed to turn your drives into unforgettable adventures.

Whether you’re belting out tunes, tackling trivia, or taking on hilarious challenges, Shotgun! guarantees non-stop entertainment for the entire journey.

With over 200 cards packed with dares, questions, and more, no two games are ever alike – meaning the fun never stops, mile after mile.

Fun fact: This game came from the creators of the hilarious “What Do You Meme”.

Ticket to Ride

Details: 2-5 players | 30-60 minutes

All aboard for a journey through time and tracks with this board game that’s a hit among train enthusiasts and history buffs alike!

Ticket to Ride is a travel game which requires you to outdo your opponents by constructing the most epic train route across turn-of-the-century North America. From coast to coast, you’ll be charting a course to coveted destinations while navigating the twists and turns of railroad history. (The phone app version of this game is also very good and one that we play often.)

Fun fact: The creator said that the idea for Ticket to Ride came to him during a morning walk along the Atlantic shore in Beverly, Massachusetts, in 2003, when he struggled with a concept for a different train-themed game.

Around the World in 80 Days

Details: 2-6 players | 45-60 minutes

Around the World in 80 Days, derived from the Jules Verne classic, challenges players to travel the Earth in 80 days, facing obstacles and adventures as they go.

The first player to return to London wins, but there’s a twist! You left the city under suspicion of theft from Her Majesty’s bank; you must return without any Rumor cards and £10 or less to prove your innocence. Be careful, though – moving too fast drains your wallet.

Winning requires alternating between cautious and ambitious moves, waiting for the perfect moment to return to the city. It’s one of the most fun travel games out there!

Fun fact: Based on the classic novel by Jules Verne.

Discover: Lands Unknown

Details: 1-4 players | 60-120 minutes

In the unforgiving wilderness, survival is a team effort – but with a healthy dose of competition thrown in. In Discover: Lands Unknown , work together to scavenge for water, food, and tools crucial for staying alive.

Just remember, the wilderness isn’t giving up its secrets that easily.

Think: Choose your own adventure.

Fun fact: Every copy of this board game is unique, with randomly selected components creating a different land for players to explore.

The World Game

Think you know your world geography? The World Game is a card game that will test that knowledge about different countries and facts about each. It’s one of the travel games that is easy to learn and simple to play. Plus, it’s a fantastic way for anyone to learn about countries around the globe. There is also a World Game board game edition where players race around the world to discover famous landmarks along the way!

Fun fact: Did you know that Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia? We did because we’ve been there and we love that city. But if you didn’t, perhaps it’s time to brush up on your world geography.

Lost Cities

Details: 2 players | 30 minutes

Lost Cities is a two-player card game in which players embark on adventures to remote locations worldwide, seeking to uncover ancient treasures and artifacts. By mounting profitable archaeological expeditions to the different sites represented by the coloured suits of cards, players gain points to beat their opponents.

It’s a simple yet engaging travel game of risk and reward.

Fun fact: The game’s designer drew inspiration from his love for history and exploration.

Passport To Culture Travel Edition

Details: 2-5 players | 30-90 minutes

In Passport to Culture , players jet-set around the globe on a quest to fill their passports with stamps—it’s like a whirlwind vacation without the jet lag. Here’s the catch: to earn those stamps, you’ve got to flex your cultural muscles and answer questions about the diverse peoples and places you encounter.

Fun fact: The game includes more than 1,000 new and unique questions.

Lewis & Clark – The Expedition

Details: 1-5 players | 120 minutes

Explorers race from Missouri to Oregon, asking local Indigenous tribes for help. Set in the early 19th century, players of Lewis & Clark lead expeditions through the uncharted territories of North America. They face challenges along the way and make important strategic decisions to progress in a matter of hours, instead of months.

This travel game offers a rich historical theme and immersive gameplay.

Fun fact: On November 30, 1803, the United States purchased Louisiana from Napoleon. President Thomas Jefferson decided to send two explorers – Meriwether Lewis and William Clark – to discover it.

Backpacker: The Ultimate Travel Game

Travel the continents, taking photos in different countries. To win at  Backpacker  is one of the best travel games that r equires you to outwit your opponents to be the player who has returned home with the most photos.

Play your cards wisely as you globe-trot through continents, dodging sick days and missed flights like a pro. With bonuses, advice (both good and bad), and the occasional curveball from fellow travellers, it’s a backpacker’s dream – or nightmare.

Pack your patience, plot your path, and brace yourself for a journey where anything can happen – and usually does.

Fun fact: Founded by two avid travellers who wanted to capture the excitement and challenges of globetrotting in a tabletop game.

Monopoly Here & Now: World Edition

Details: 2-4 players | 60 minutes

Like the classic board game, Monopoly Here & Now: World Edition throws in a global twist!

One of the most popular travel games sees competitors buy famous landmarks from cities worldwide, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sydney Opera House.

Roll the dice, make deals, and watch out for surprises along the way. It’s Monopoly on a worldwide scale – get ready to wheel and deal your way to victory.

Fun fact: A public online vote chose the iconic landmarks featured in the board game.

Flags Around the World

Ready to show off your flag-recognition skills and become a globe-trotting trivia master? In Flags Around the World , you’ll spot flags, tackle country-themed questions, and rack up points.

Whoever ends up with the most points reigns supreme – it’s like winning the World Cup of trivia!

Fun fact: This is one of the travel games that holds the Guinness World Record for being the most widely played educational card game in history!

TABLETOPICS – Destination Anywhere

Details: unlimited players | unlimited minutes

Destination Anywhere isn’t about earning points, but it is the perfect addition if you want an excuse to talk about your travels (not that you need one)!

Whether you’re a globe-trotting wanderer or a weekend warrior, chances are you’ve racked up some seriously epic tales. This clever collection of icebreakers will have everyone swapping stories about their jaw-dropping escapades and wild getaways. Just no snooze-inducing slideshows are allowed.

Fun fact: No rules – just great conversation.

This That And Everything Canada

Details: 4+ players | 20 – 100+ minutes

As proud Canadians, we had to throw in a travel game that keeps us close to home! This That and Everything Canada is a perfect travel game for fellow Canucks and Canuck-curious comrades.

The concept is simple: where you and your team race against the clock to conjure up clues faster than a Mountie on horseback. From iconic Canadian landmarks to quirky cultural cuisine (think: ketchup chips), no topic is off-limits in this patriotic pursuit of guessing glory.

With each round lasting a mere 30 seconds, it’s a rapid-fire frenzy of descriptions, guesses, and inevitable fits of laughter. Can you paint a vivid enough picture of poutine or the elusive “double-double” to lead your teammates to victory? There’s only one way to find out!

So gather your toques, sharpen your wit, and prepare for a Canadian-themed showdown like no other.

Fun fact: Sorry, there’s no apologizing for the puns.

Other Games Made For Travelling

Settlers of catan – dice edition.

Details: 3-4 players | 60-120 minutes

Settlers of Catan is like the Olympics of board games, where players compete to build the most epic empire on the island of Catan. Being one of the planet’s most popular games, it’s awesome that it’s available in a dice version, which also makes it a great travel game.

With resource management skills that’d impress even the shrewdest CEOs and negotiation tactics sharper than a cat’s claw, you’ll trade, build, and strategize your way to victory. Collect sheep, wood, rock, brick and wheat, but always remember that every resource is a golden ticket to expanding your territory and outsmarting your rivals.

Plus, don’t forget to watch out for the robber – he’s like the neighbourhood cat who always knows where the treats are hidden and is out to get your resource cards! Seeing it’s one of our favourites, we’re pumped that it’s available in a travel games edition.

Fun fact: This popular game won many awards and became the first German board game to sell outside Europe. There are also many expansions, so the game will never become dull.

Scrabble To Go

Details: 2-4 players | unlimited minutes

Scrabble To Go is tailored for the adventurous soul – whether you’re a frequent flier, a railway rover, or simply enjoy day trips, this game is your perfect travel companion. It makes the hours fly by, when you’re flying.

With its portable case compact design, the letter tiles securely lock into the plastic grid game board, ensuring they stay put even during bumpy rides. Say goodbye to tile turbulence and hello to uninterrupted wordplay on the go.

Fun fact: Scrabble was originally called “Lexico” and later named “Criss Cross Words” before gaining its permanent moniker.

Exploding Kittens

Details: 2-5 players | 15 minutes

Prepare for a purr-fectly chaotic game night with Exploding Kittens – it’s like Russian Roulette, but with a hilarious feline twist.

Players take turns drawing cards, praying they don’t stumble upon the explosive kitty that spells doom. With cards to dodge disaster by peeking ahead, making opponents draw extra cards, or shuffling the deck, the tension mounts with every draw.

As the deck thins, the risk of encountering the explosive furball grows, leading to a climax of catastrophic kitty chaos. Perfect for the whole family, it’s a game as unpredictable as a cat on catnip and fits perfectly in a backpack.

Fun fact: Exploding Kittens is the #1 most-backed project in Kickstarter history and has sold over 11 million games.

Travel Cribbage

Details: 2-6 players | 30 minutes

A game where counting cards is encouraged, all wrapped up in a portable folding board with some tiny pegs. Your goal? Outscore your opponent by creating card combinations and racing around the board faster than a squirrel up a tree. And you definitely don’t want to get skunked!

With its mix of luck and strategy, cribbage is the perfect blend of brains and banter – just don’t get too confident when you’re ahead, or you might find yourself pegged back to square one.

Fun fact: Cribbage has been around since the 1600s. English Poet Sir John Suckling first popularized it.

Pass The Pigs

Details: 2-10 players | 30 minutes

Get ready for some oink-tastic fun with this portable beer and pretzels game! In Pass the Pigs , these aren’t your ordinary dice – they’re adorable mini pig with a dot on their right flanks, ready to roll into action.

The goal? Score 100 points before your opponents using these porcine pals as your dice. With each turn, you’ll toss the pigs and cross your fingers for a lucky landing in one of the scoring positions – from a “snouter” to a “leaning jowler,” there’s a whole barnyard of points waiting to be won (or squealed over).

Fun fact: This game was inspired while the creator was on vacation. See? travel pays off.

Travel Yahtzee

Like regular Yahtzee, Travel Yahtzee has an adventurous twist – perfect for road trips, flights, or even waiting for your next connection. It’s one of the best travel games to throw in a small pouch or backpack for easy access.

Roll the dice, score big, and aim for that elusive Yahtzee while you navigate the ups and downs of travel. With its compact design and portable dice cup, you can roll for victory wherever your wanderlust takes you.

Shout “Yahtzee!” from the top of the Eiffel Tower or the depths of the Grand Canyon – the world is your game board!

Fun fact: A fun fact about Yahtzee is that it was originally called “Yacht” and was created by a wealthy Canadian couple who developed the game during their yacht trips in the 1950s.

Details: 10+ players | 10+ minutes

This game takes us back to our youth! You fill in the blanks of a pre-written story with random words, and voila – instant comedy gold. Whether you’re concocting a zany adventure or crafting a ridiculous love letter, Mad Libs is guaranteed to bring the laughs.

This word game provides hours of fun, especially on a long airport layover.

Fun fact: The creators were brainstorming ideas for a new game when they realized they needed a quick and easy way to fill in the blanks in a story they were writing. They created a prototype by simply asking friends for random words to complete the story, and the hilarious results sparked the idea for Mad Libs.

Travel Boggle

Details: 6+ players | 10 minutes

Play the classic board game Boggle in miniature size. Another of our go-to travel games, Travel Boggle, tasks players to outplay their opponents in a set amount of time. Players write down as many words as they can find on the grid before time is up! Find the most words to win.

It’s typically meant for two or more players, but this travel game is also a perfect grab-and-go for one player to play a quick game alone to fend off a little boredom.

Fun fact: There are plenty of different versions of the travel boggle game, but this one is the world’s tiniest. And, cutest.

Trailblazers (Super Travel Edition)

Details: 2-8 players | 30 minutes

A travel game that’s all about flexing those brain muscles with a side of daring risk-taking! Trailblazers is the ultimate adventure for those who love pure spatial puzzling and thrive on push-your-luck route building.

It’s like being the Indiana Jones of the great outdoors, except with imaginary hiking boots or a trusty river paddle as your tools of choice.

With straightforward and highly approachable rules, this is one of our favourite travel games and is perfect for both on-the-go novice adventurers and seasoned trailblazers alike.

Fun fact: Inspired by real-life outdoor adventures and the thrill of exploring untamed wilderness.

We never leave home without a pack of cards, and if you see us delayed in an airport, this will be exactly what we’re doing! What’s toughest is finding good games for two players, but below you’ll find some of our faves.

It’s like hitting the links without the sunscreen and golf carts.

Your goal? To have the lowest score possible by swapping out high-value cards for lower ones, just like trying to improve your handicap.

But watch out for those pesky “sand traps” and “water hazards” – in this card game, they’re just sneaky ways to rack up points faster than you can say “fore”!

Play with a standard deck of cards .

It’s like solitaire on steroids, with a side of chaos and a dash of competitive spirit. This is a game that I have been playing with my family since I was wee – it works as a 2-player game but also with as many players as you can get. (More players = ULTIMATE chaos.)

Your goal? To get rid of your cards faster than your opponents while shouting “Nerts!” at the top of your lungs.

It’s a race against time, luck, and your own sanity as you frantically stack, slap, and swap cards to come out on top.

The goal of this card game is to be the first to discard all your cards by playing them onto shared piles in ascending or descending order.

It’s a frenzied frenzy of flinging cards and frantic finger-work as you race against your opponent to claim victory.

Tabletop Crib

It’s like the classic card game, but with a twist—instead of a traditional board, you play on any flat surface.

Your goal? To outsmart your opponents by scoring points with clever card combinations, all while keeping one eye on your hand and the other on the gravy boat. It’s a card game of wit, luck, and culinary prowess, where every play is as satisfying as a perfectly timed forkful of pie.

It’s like rolling the dice in life, except in this game, you get to control the chaos (kind of).

Your goal? Roll winning combinations and rack up points faster than your opponents, all while crossing your fingers for that elusive lucky streak.

It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows, twists and turns, with every roll bringing a new twist to the tale.

So grab those dice, roll the bones, and let the good times roll in the unpredictable world of Dice!

Play with a standard set of dice .

Games Accessories

If you’re anything like us, we’ve worn out original game boxes and the storage bags for the meeples, dice and other bits. Or we can never get the original game and pieces to fit back in the box the way it came. Thankfully, we found Bits Bins .

They have a big selection of game-piece storage solutions for cards, game pieces and other accessories. They have a large selection of high-quality choices in different designs and sizes, and they even have a small selection of bins made specifically for select games . Finally there’s an answer for us who want to keep our best travel games organized.

Similar Posts

Review: Kanetix.ca Travel Insurance for Canadians

A new iOS app for Canadians to compare travel insurance quotes.

Review: F-Stop Gear Mountain Series Tilopa BC

The rugged Tilopa BC backpack, designed by photographers for photographers.

Tips For Full-Time RV Living

Take your life on the road.

• Buying Guides

26 Best Travel Board Games (2024)

Battling boredom on long journeys? This ultimate list of the 26 Best Travel Board Games will equip you with endless entertainment options, transforming any aeroplane seat or car ride into a fun zone.

Forget staring out the window or battling for control of the in-flight entertainment system – these portable board games promise strategic showdowns, creative thinking, and hilarious moments of shared joy. So pack your bags, grab your game, and get ready to discover a world of entertainment that fits perfectly in your carry-on.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Best Travel Board Games

Here are 26 of the best travel board games guaranteed to keep everyone entertained on your next adventure:

1. P for Pizza Board Game

P for Pizza is the ultimate takeaway game for your holidays, combining the excitement of fast-paced wordplay with the fun of travel. In this engaging game, players must quickly shout out words linking a letter on one card to a category on another, making it a must-have addition to any family game list. Imagine a food starting with ‘P’ or a celebrity starting with ‘B’—the challenge is to be the quickest to win your slice of the pie. The first to collect six pizza cards and build a giant pizza slice wins. With colour-coded categories to indicate difficulty levels and a design friendly to those with red-green colour vision deficiency, this compact, plastic-free game is perfect for 2 to 4 players aged 8 and up. Easy to learn and quick to play, P for Pizza ensures family fun on the go—just be sure to have a real pizza ready if you get hungry!

Price : £11.99

Rating : 4.6 / 5

Popularity : 3,203 ratings

2. Qwirkle: Travel Edition

Qwirkle: Travel Edition is an engaging block game that seamlessly blends logic and strategy with simple, easy-to-learn rules. Players aim to create columns and rows of matching colours and shapes, scoring higher points by placing tiles that work in multiple directions. Ideal for travel, this edition features 3/4-inch solid wood tiles neatly packed in a zippered pouch, making it compact and portable. With 108 tiles and suitable for 2 to 4 players, Qwirkle: Travel Edition promises hours of strategic fun on the go.

Price : £21.99

Rating : 4.7 / 5

Popularity : 4,007 ratings

3. Can U Find It First Travel Edition

abeec Can U Find It First Travel Edition is a compact and engaging travel board game perfect for families on the go. This new addition to Abeec’s range is designed for easy packing in your travel bag or suitcase, allowing you to enjoy a favourite board game wherever you are. Ideal for quick-thinking and fun-filled play, it’s suitable for kids aged 4-8 and can be enjoyed by all the family. The game features a double-sided board that provides endless entertainment, making it an excellent gift for children who love puzzles and family games. Players piece together the jigsaw board, draw an object card, and race to spot the item on the board, with the first to find it keeping the card. The set includes 4 double-sided jigsaw board pieces, 100 object cards, an object card bag, and instructions, ensuring varied and addictive gameplay.

Price : £9.99

Rating : 4.3 / 5

Popularity : 256 ratings

4. Sushi Go

Sushi Go is a fast-paced and engaging card game where players aim to create the best combination of sushi dishes as they pass by. Players score points for making the most Maki Rolls or completing a set of Sashimi, striving to gather the highest score and claim the title of sushi master. This game combines elements of probability, visual discrimination, and strategic thinking, making it a fantastic filler game for any occasion. With bright, quirky illustrations and simple rules, Sushi Go is easy for anyone to learn and enjoy. The game also involves set collection and hand management, with fun twists like dipping Nigiri in Wasabi to triple its value. However, be sure to save room for dessert, or it will affect your score! Sushi Go’s delightful theme and engaging mechanics will leave you hungry for more.

Price : £9.70

Popularity : 15,950 ratings

5. More or Less Card Game

More or Less is an engaging quiz card game that revolves around fun trivia questions. Players guess whether a given statement is “more” or “less,” such as whether sharks are older than trees or if more than 500,000 meatballs are consumed daily in Ikea stores. Suitable for two or more players aged 12 and up, the game’s simple rules make it accessible for children, teens, and adults alike, offering a 50/50 chance of guessing correctly even if you don’t know the answer. Beyond the entertainment, it provides educational value and lots of laughs. Expansion packs in “History,” “Geography,” and “Science & Nature” are available for those who want to broaden their trivia collection. Ideal as a gift, More or Less is perfect for birthdays, baby showers, travel, or sleepovers. Created by a small British company, this game offers a unique twist on trivia, encouraging players to rely on intuition as much as memory. Explore the full range of More or Less games for more trivia fun.

Price : £11.95

Rating : 4.4 / 5

Popularity : 4,679 ratings

6. PASS THE PIGS Dice Game

The Original Party Animals is the quintessential family and travel game for pig enthusiasts. Players aim to be the first to reach 100 points by tossing their pigs and scoring based on how they land—perhaps achieving a Leaning Jowler, a Double Snouter, or the elusive Piggy Back. The game comes in an elegant silver travel case, which includes a rulebook, scorecards, two pencils, and two pigs, making it both stylish and convenient. Its portability and simplicity make this addictive game perfect for on-the-go entertainment or home play.

Popularity : 1,523 ratings

7. Monopoly Hasbro Gaming Grab & Go Game

Monopoly Grab & Go is a compact, portable version of the classic Monopoly game, perfect for playing anywhere. It includes all the iconic properties, Community Chest cards, and Chance cards, ensuring an authentic Monopoly experience. Designed for 2 to 4 players aged 8 and up, this version features part storage within the game board for convenience. Trade your way to success and be prepared for whatever surprises the Chance and Community Chest cards bring. Monopoly Grab & Go offers a perfect, compact way to enjoy Monopoly fun anytime and anywhere.

Price : £9.86

Rating : 4.1 / 5

Popularity : 1,176 ratings

8. Azul Mini

Take your favourite family game anywhere with the travel-friendly Azul Mini. This strategic tile-placement game features a plastic overlay on the player board to keep your tiles securely in place and a plastic travel tray to prevent the factory display tiles from moving. In Azul, players become artisans tasked with creating stunning tiled mosaics by drafting tiles from a central market and placing them into rows on their boards. The simple rules involve selecting and playing tiles on your turn, but strategic planning is essential to score big points while disrupting your opponents’ plans. Over-collecting a tile type can cost points, while incomplete rows won’t score. Inspired by the historical azulejos tiles introduced by the Moors and embraced by the Portuguese king Manuel I, Azul challenges players to embellish the Royal Palace of Evora. Points are awarded based on tile placement, specific patterns, and completing sets, while wasted supplies reduce scores. The player with the highest score at the end wins.

Price : £19.99

Popularity : 335 ratings

9. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a high-octane, energetic game akin to Slap Jack and Irish Snap, brimming with hand-slapping excitement. This fast-paced and straightforward party game revolves around five key words—Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza. Players race to slap the central pile of cards when the card matches the spoken word, creating an atmosphere of thrilling chaos. The first to get rid of all their cards wins. With its unique name and addictive gameplay, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is perfect for any gathering. Suitable for 2 to 8 players, with a playtime of just 10 minutes, it’s ideal for ages 8 and up.

Price : £10.00

10. Bananagrams

Bananagrams is a fast-paced, anagram game that guarantees fun for everyone as players race to build crossword grids, driving everyone bananas in the best way possible. Both entertaining and educational, this game helps children learn to spell while having fun. Ideal for travel, Bananagrams comes in a compact, banana-shaped case, making it easy to pack and perfect for on-the-go entertainment. It also makes a thoughtful gift suitable for both boys and girls. The game is simple yet addictive, with players aiming to use all their letters to complete a word grid, with the first to do so being crowned “Top Banana.” Designed for 2-6 players aged 7 and up, Bananagrams requires no pencil, paper, or board, offering a portable and engaging experience wherever you are.

Price : £14.99

Rating : 4.8 / 5

Popularity : 31,545 ratings

11. Battleship Grab and Go Game

Take command of the seas on the move with Battleship Grab & Go, a compact version of the classic naval combat game. Each game unit cleverly opens to block your opponent’s view, adding strategy to the battle. Track your shots with red and white pegs as you deploy carriers, battleships, submarines, destroyers, and cruisers on the ocean grid. This portable edition includes everything needed for intense gameplay: 2 game units, 10 ships, and pegs for scoring. After the battle, store the pegs inside the units and slide them together for easy storage. Whether at home or travelling, Battleship Grab & Go ensures you’ll dominate the oceans in this thrilling game of strategy and skill.

Price : £10.99

Popularity : 3,133 ratings

12. 100 PICS Riddles Travel Card Game

Discover 100 RIDDLES TO SOLVE, a delightful collection of brain teasers perfect for entertaining and puzzling family and friends. This pocket-sized game packs a punch with its interactive format: open the four doors to reveal colourful question cards, make your guess, and slide to uncover the answer. It’s an ideal present or stocking filler for kids aged 7 and up who enjoy a challenge, offering hours of screen-free entertainment on the go—in cars, restaurants, planes, and trains. This handy travel activity not only entertains but also boosts vocabulary, spelling, and memory skills, making it a recommended choice by The Good Toy Guide.

Rating : 4.5 / 5

Popularity : 8,471 ratings

13. Rummikub Travel game

Rummikub Travel offers all the thrills of the classic numbers strategy game in a compact, portable format. Perfect for day trips or staycations, this fast-paced game of tile manipulation challenges players to be the first to clear their rack by forming number runs or sets. The smaller tiles and collapsible racks make it easy to pack and play anywhere, with the box lid doubling as a convenient pool for communal tiles. Ideal for 2-4 players aged 7 and up, Rummikub Travel ensures hours of engaging gameplay whether you’re on the move or enjoying a break closer to home.

Price : £14.90

Popularity : 2,373 ratings

Boggle is the ultimate head-to-head word search game where players compete to find the most words within a time limit to emerge victorious. Shake up the letters, flip the timer, and race against the clock to spot as many words as possible. Perfect for solo play, challenge yourself to beat your own high score.

Price : £8.99

Popularity : 6,405 ratings

15. 5 Second Rule Mini Travel Card Game

Discover the mini version of 5 Second Rule, a dynamic family card game designed for portable play wherever you go. Challenge yourself and others to name three things in just 5 seconds from each card—it’s a test of quick thinking and spontaneous answers! With 90 content cards featuring 180 questions, alongside PASS ON and SWITCH cards for added variety, this game promises lively entertainment and plenty of laughter. Whether you’re on a journey or gathered at home, 5 Second Rule Mini delivers fast-paced fun that everyone can enjoy.

Price : £8.49

Popularity : 1,829 ratings

16. Mini Colourbrain

Mini Colourbrain offers a travel-sized version of the popular party game, perfect for families on the go. With 120 all-new questions and a focus on quick play (around 20 minutes), it keeps things light and engaging. Teams work together to match colour cards to wacky questions (think Superman’s underpants!), earning points for correct answers and gaining an edge if other teams stumble. Easy to learn with a short playtime, Mini Colourbrain is a great choice for groups of 2-20 players aged 12 and up.

Popularity : 8,085 ratings

17. Cluedo Grab & Go Game

A travel-friendly adaptation of the classic whodunit, Cluedo Grab & Go condenses the suspense of Clue into a compact format. Players aged 8 and up (3-6 players) can use the all-in-one unit to store and track clues with the included detective notebook. The familiar gameplay involves using Guest, Room, and Weapon cards to solve the murder mystery, with secret passages on the game board adding a twist. With all components neatly stored within the unit, Cluedo Grab & Go is perfect for solving crimes on the go.

Price : £6.99

Popularity : 1,448 ratings

18. Mini Best of Kids Board Game

Mini Best of Kids shrinks the UK’s favourite family logo game down to a travel-friendly size. This mini edition features 58 all-new cards with a mix of Picture, Theme, and Potluck categories, all designed to keep kids entertained with funny questions. The fold-out board and compact box make it perfect for on-the-go fun, while the simple rules and 2-team gameplay ensure easy pick-up-and-play for ages 7 and up. This miniature version is sure to become a travel essential for families looking to keep everyone entertained.

Popularity : 1,190 ratings

19. OK Play

OK Play delivers addictive strategy in a compact, travel-friendly package. Players (2-4, ages 8+) choose a colour and race to create a line of five tiles, blocking opponents while developing their own tactics. This award-winning game (including “Best Family Game” from Imagination Gaming and a 2018 Parent’s Choice Award) is praised for its simple rules (learned in seconds), surprising depth, and durability – perfect for family fun on the go, with the box even clipping to your bag for portability. Be warned though, even young players can develop cunning strategies, so victory isn’t guaranteed for grown-ups!

Popularity : 3,493 ratings

20. Travel Chess Set 3 in 1 Set

This 3-in-1 travel set offers chess, backgammon, and checkers in a compact and portable format. The magnetic board and pieces ensure frustration-free play, even on the go, as pieces won’t fall off due to bumps or jostles. The folding board unfolds to reveal separate sides for backgammon and chess/checkers, making it a versatile choice for families. While the magnetic pieces make it ideal for travel, the set is also a great choice for home use, offering a quiet and mess-free way to challenge your strategic thinking or bond with your child.

Price : £15.98

Popularity : 1,868 ratings

21. 4 in a Row Game

A strategic travel must-have, the classic 4 in a Row offers fun for all ages. This 2-player game challenges you to be the first to connect four coloured discs horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The simple rules make it easy for even young children to pick up, while the all-in-one, folding design ensures convenient portability. Made with safe, high-quality materials, it’s perfect for keeping you entertained on the go, whether you’re on a plane, train, or car journey. Plus, the compact size makes it ideal for storing in hand luggage, and the quick reset time allows for endless rounds of fun.

Price : £5.95

Popularity : 2,665 ratings

22. Magnetic Snakes & Ladders

A travel-friendly take on the classic, Magnetic Snakes & Ladders offers frustration-free fun for families on the go. This foldaway board features magnetic playing pieces that won’t tumble off during play, ensuring a smooth journey from square one to the coveted 100th spot. The easy-to-learn rules make it a great choice for players aged 6 and up, while the compact size and storage within the board itself guarantee easy portability for entertaining car journeys or downtime at your destination.

Price : £6.14

Popularity : 131 ratings

23. Catan Travel Edition

Catan shrinks down to travel size with Catan Traveler: Compact Edition! This faithful adaptation offers the classic Catan gameplay for 2-4 players aged 10+ in a cleverly designed portable format. The board is built from six rearranging sections for variable layouts, and all pieces (including roads, settlements, and cities) have locking pegs for secure play. A built-in dice shaker ensures convenient rolling, while the two-player variant caters to single travel companions. With a compact size, quick setup, and the familiar Catan experience, Catan Traveler is a must-have for any Catan enthusiast on the go.

Price : £43.99

Popularity : 454 ratings

24. Sounds Fishy

Sounds Fishy redefines bluffing games for families and adults. This fast-paced, party game combines creativity with a dash of deception. Players invent wacky answers to outlandish questions, with the goal of convincing the guesser that their fabricated answer is the real deal. With simple rules and a focus on quick play, there’s no time to get bogged down – just dive in, unleash your imagination, and see if you can “reel in” the guesser. Packed with content for endless replayability, Sounds Fishy is a perfect choice for game nights or family gatherings, offering something for everyone – trivia buffs, creative minds, and even sneaky strategists.

Popularity : 1,766 ratings

Fuelled by deception and cunning, Coup is a fast-paced card game for 2-6 players ages 14+. In this game of intrigue, you represent a family vying for power in a corrupt Italian city-state. Each player holds two secret character cards, each with unique abilities like assassination or income generation. The key to victory lies in bluffing and manipulating your opponents. Will you truthfully claim to be a Duke, levying taxes, or will you gamble with a bluff, potentially losing your hard-earned influence? With quick rounds averaging 15 minutes, Coup is a perfect choice for a thrilling and portable game night on the go.

Price : £18.19

Popularity : 14,142 ratings

26. Rummy Game

This travel-friendly Rummy set includes everything you need for a fun game on the go. The pack includes 106 high-quality tiles, four sturdy playing racks, and a convenient zippered storage bag. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, the included updated rules and instructions make it easy to pick up and play. Rummy is a great way to challenge your mind and develop strategic thinking, while the social aspect makes it perfect for entertaining friends and family during your travels.

Price : £17.99

Popularity : 3,231 ratings

For more board game recommendations see these posts:

• 25 Best Board Games for 4-Year-Olds
• 25 Best Board Games For 5-Year-Olds
• 28 Best Board Games For 6-Year-Olds

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best board games for plane travel.

While any game on this list can be enjoyed on a plane, for aeroplane travel specifically, some games shine brighter than others. Here are a few key considerations: 

• Size and Weight: Opt for games with compact boxes and lightweight components that won’t take up precious tray space. 
• Playing Time: Aim for games with shorter playtimes (around 30 minutes or less) to ensure you can finish a round or two comfortably within the confines of a flight. 
• Complexity:  Stick to games with simple rules that can be learned quickly, especially if you’re playing with fellow passengers you just met.
• Fiddly Components: Avoid games with excessively small pieces that could easily get lost in the aeroplane environment. 

Considering these factors, some top picks for plane travel include card games (like Sushi Go! or Coup), tile-laying games (like Qwirkle Travel Edition), and quick strategic games like Bananagrams.

Should you play board games while travelling?

Absolutely! Board games are a fantastic way to elevate your travel experience in several ways. They combat boredom during long journeys, sparking laughter, friendly competition, and shared moments of connection. Travel games are compact and lightweight, making them ideal for limited spaces like aeroplanes or train cars. They also provide a welcome break from screen time, encouraging social interaction and strategic thinking. Whether you’re playing with family, friends, or even striking up a conversation with fellow travellers, board games can transform any downtime into an opportunity for fun and connection. So next time you pack your bags, consider adding a travel-sized board game – it might just be the secret weapon to a more enjoyable and memorable journey.

What are the best travel board games for 2 players?

For two-player adventures, this list offers a fantastic selection! Here are some highlights to consider:

• Strategic Showdowns: Chess (Travel Chess Set) and Azul Mini provide classic head-to-head battles that challenge your planning and foresight.
• Fast-Paced Fun: Sushi Go!, Bananagrams, and OK Play offer quick bursts of strategic thinking and competition, perfect for shorter journeys or keeping energy levels high.
• Wordplay and Trivia: Boggle, 100 Pics Riddles Travel Card Game, and 5 Second Rule Mini Travel Card Game test your vocabulary and general knowledge in a lighthearted way.
• Deduction and Observation: Can U Find It First Travel Edition challenges your visual acuity, while Cluedo Grab & Go lets you hone your detective skills as you solve a miniature whodunnit.
• Social and Cooperative: While some games on this list are purely competitive, options like Pass the Pigs and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza offer a more social and interactive experience, perfect for fostering laughter and connection.

So there you have it – 26 fantastic travel board games to keep boredom at bay and fuel the fun on your next journey! Whether you crave strategic battles, creative thinking exercises, or side-splitting laughter, this diverse selection offers something for every kind of travel companion.

But the fun doesn’t stop here! We want to hear from you too. What are your favourite travel board games? Share your must-pack picks in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

Related Posts

Comments loading...

17 Best Travel Games For Adults To Satisfy Wanderlust At Home

This post contains affiliate links to trusted partners. If you purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Looking for the  best travel games for adults to help satisfy your wanderlust at home?

If you’re like me, your Pinterest board is overflowing with photos of travel destinations, you’re stalking your favorite travel search engine for cheap flights, and you’ve binge-watched every travel documentary on Netflix. If a private jet showed up to take you to an unspecified locale, you’d get on, no questions asked.

You, my friend, have a serious case of wanderlust.

Wanderlust can be difficult to deal with when you can’t get out of town. Maybe your calendar is too full, you’re facing travel restrictions, or your budget just isn’t where you want it to be.

Thankfully, there’s a way to satisfy your craving for adventure from the comfort of your home with travel-themed board games!

We’ve rounded up of the best travel games for adults that will allow you to trek the globe for way less than the price of a one-way flight.

From conversation-starting cards to international adventures, you’ll be sure to find a game that’s right for you.

If you’re looking to plan the ultimate staycation or just want some fun stay at home activities for you and a similarly grounded travel buddy, we’ve got you covered!

Table of Contents

Satisfy Your Wanderlust

Before we dive into the fun travel games for adults, I want to share this free travel personality quiz .

Answer 10 visual questions, and you’ll be told what type of trip you should take based on your answers.

You’ll also be shown suggested experiences — all unique, to take you #BeyondTheGuidebook — for each trip type!

Best Travel Games For Adults

1. Trip Chaser

Created by travel bloggers Dalene and Pete Heck of Hecktic Travels, Trip Chaser is an armchair travel game for competitive people.

Played by 2-6 players, the game mimics the act of travel, but without the need to pack a suitcase or spend $1000+ on a plane ticket.

You’ll collect and play destination cards in order to take trips around the world. Just make sure to plan your journeys strategically so that you have enough money to take each trip!

During the hour of play, expect a mix of challenges as well as enriching experiences to keep things interesting.

Bonus: The game is also packable to take on the road with you. And for every game sold, one tree will be planted via Ecodrrive (powered by Veritree).

2. Travel Banter

Created by a friend of the blog, Nicolette Orlemans of Culture Trav, this fun travel-themed game comes in the form of a deck of conversation starter cards meant to help you re-live some of your favorite trip memories and swap life lessons with your partners.

Questions come in five categories — Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Life & Lessons, Culture and People — and challenge cards will have you pondering the bigger picture.

While the cards are perfect for connecting with people you meet on the road, they’re also great for a night at home when you’re dreaming of your next big trip.

Moreover, you can use the cards to inspire some fun journal writing prompts related to travel!

3. Passport to Culture

Looking for the best travel board games for adults?

Well, if you binged too much TV and are now in need of some fun Netflix and Chill alternatives for travelers , Passport to Culture can help!

In this board game, you’ll travel the world and test your cultural knowledge, all from the comfort of your own home.

With 636 travel trivia questions and 60 possible cultural scenarios, you’ll definitely expand your knowledge — and will probably also discover a new location to add to your travel bucket list!

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Jamie (@reissj) on Feb 22, 2018 at 12:59pm PST

4. Monopoly: National Parks Edition

In this version of the classic property trading game, you’ll plan a cross-country trip to visit over 60 of the parks and historic sites in the United States National Park System while learning a little more about the parks themselves. Go hiking in Sequoia National Park , have an adventure in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains , explore the otherworldly landscapes of Joshua Tree , and more.

The best part?

You can play while supporting the parks themselves, as a portion of the game’s proceeds goes to the National Park Foundation.

5. Around The World In 80 Days

Inspired by the classic Jules Verne novel , you’ll race the other players to be the first to travel around the world from London in just 80 days.

As with all travel, success in the game requires a fair amount of strategy, as you’ll have to manage your savings wisely and make the right moves to come out victorious!

Note that to purchase this travel game, you’ll need to check sites like Amazon, eBay, and BoardGameGeek to find copies.

Bonus: After playing, click here to watch the classic film by the same name.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Jogos na Caixeta (@jogos_na_caixeta) on Aug 20, 2019 at 3:20am PDT

6. Ticket To Ride

Train fans and history buffs alike will love this two-to-five player board game that’s constantly listed as one of the best travel games for adults.

Compete to create the longest train route across turn-of-the-century North America, traveling to different destinations around the continent.

Already conquered the original?

Check out the rest of the series, with versions set in Germany , Europe , London , India , and more. If you love travel-related games, you’ll easily become addicted to this collection.

Ever wanted to help build one of the most awe-inspiring — and unfinished — cathedrals in the world?

In Sagrada, you’ll use dice to create one of the intricate stained glass windows in the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! Privacy Policy .

I agree to be sent email.

This subscribes you to the Jessie on a Journey email list. You can unsubscribe at any time.

A little strategic know-how and artistic flair will take you far in this game, while the gorgeous game pieces will transport you to the storied Spanish basilica.

8. Forbidden Desert

In this game for two-to-five players, you’ll search an ancient desert to find a legendary flying machine buried somewhere in the rolling sandhills.

You’ll have to survive the elements and work with your teammates to succeed in this travel-themed board game that will take you to another world, all from the safety of your own living room.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Lisbon Board Gamer (@lisboardgamer) on Sep 17, 2019 at 3:45pm PDT

9. 7 Wonders

How many of the Seven Wonders of the World can you check off your travel list?

In this travel game, you’ll play as one of the leaders of the ancient world, work to expand your empire and build architectural marvels.

The game moves quickly so you’ll stay engaged and enjoy leaving your mark on history.

10. Discover Lands Unknown

For those who love games about traveling the world, Discover Lands Unknown will easily become one of your favorites.

The board game challenges you and your fellow players will find yourself marooned in the harsh wilderness, searching for survival essentials. As the game goes on, you’ll work together to find your way home.

Each copy of Discover Lands Unknown is unique, featuring different mixes of environments, characters, and storylines; much like traveling, every gaming experience is different!

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by onemainemama (@onemainemama) on Dec 21, 2019 at 5:47am PST

This fun game is perfect for outdoor adventurers who might find themselves stuck inside for a while.

It tests your knowledge of the great outdoors while giving you some inspiration for your next camping trip.

Grab a copy of the game’s travel edition to bring along on your next adventure.

12. Ridley’s World Tour Travel Trivia Card Game

Looking for a game that’s a little less complicated — and more travel friendly? Look no further than Ridley’s World Tour Travel Trivia Card Game.

This 2+ player travel game includes 80 questions as well as bonus facts and offers the perfect way to show off your knowledge of world wonders and cultures to your travel-savvy friends.

13. Who Knows Where ?

This fast-moving and easy to play geography board game has 1,000 questions on capitals, major cities and towns, events and facts, major tourist sites and more.

The game’s board is also double-sided, featuring a world map with borders and country names for easier play on one side, and a topographical map on the other for more of a challenge.

As you learn about some of the coolest places on earth, you’re bound to get a few ideas for your next trip.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by The Restless Wonderer (@slshowell86) on Feb 2, 2019 at 4:56am PST

14. Backpacker – The Ultimate Travel Game

Travel bloggers will love this game in which players compete to be the one to bring home the most photos.

In this travel-friendly card game, you’ll trek around the world, visiting as many places as possible without getting sick or missing your plane.

No two rounds of Backpacker are alike, so you’ll want to keep playing this one for a long time.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Mark (@boardgaminginthe6ix) on Feb 29, 2020 at 8:53pm PST

15. Tokaido

In this gorgeous board game, you and your fellow players will travel through Japan across the “East Sea Road.”

Along your way, you’ll indulge in many cultural experiences, collecting interesting things to become the most initiated traveler.

For those who want to relive the memories of their travels to Japan , or those itching to take a trip to the island nation, Tokaido is a great way to experience the country from afar.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by @parempi_kuin_kimble on Feb 1, 2020 at 4:03am PST

16. Scotland Yard

Anglophiles rejoice!

In this game, you’ll travel through London to track down the criminal mastermind Mister X, a fugitive of Scotland Yard.

You’ll traverse the city by taxi, bus, and underground, visiting great London landmarks like Paddington Station and Piccadilly Circus.

For travel lovers who want to get their Sherlock Holmes on, Scotland Yard is the perfect way to spend an evening in.

17. Globe Runner

With adjustable levels for different ages and abilities, this geography board game is perfect for travel-loving kids and adults.

Use your knowledge of countries, capitals, flags and more to race your fellow players around the world.

As you “travel” to different countries, you can share some of your own stories and get some inspiration for your own travel bucket list.

What would you add to this list of best travel games for adults?

Enjoyed this post on the best travel games for adults? Pin it for later!

Pinnable travel-themed games infographic:

Related posts:

About Charlotte Dow

Charlotte Dow is an NYC-based writer and communications professional specializing in digital storytelling. She is a recent graduate of the M.S. in Public Relations & Corporate Communication program at NYU's School of Professional Studies.

Hi, I’m Jessie on a journey!

I'm a conscious solo traveler on a mission to take you beyond the guidebook to inspire you to live your best life through travel. Come join me!

Want to live your best life through travel?

Subscribe for FREE access to my library of fun blogging worksheets and learn how to get paid to travel more!

Turn Your Travel Blog Into A Profitable Business

Subscribe to my email list to snag instant access to my library of workbooks, checklists, tutorials and other resources to help you earn more money -- and have more fun -- blogging. Oh, and it's totally FREE! :) //  Privacy Policy . 

Check your inbox for your welcome email + resource library password!

Great list! Sagrada looks amazing!!!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Top 13 Best Games For Travel (2024)

Sharing is caring!

This article contains affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you’re going on a road trip or a long plane journey, then you really do need the best games for travel to pass the time while you’re in the car or in the air.

Traveling interstate or overseas can be very time-consuming, so you really need either family, adults’, or kids' games for traveling to keep everyone occupied. Unless you want to hear ‘are we there yet’ for the zillionth time!

What makes a good travel game, and what are the best travel board games, card games, and classics to invest in?

This post covers it all, whether you want a travel edition of your favorite family game, something aimed at adults or a game that will teach the kids a few things while they have a ton of fun. 

🏆 Best travel game for toddlers : Disney Eye Found It

🏆 Best travel game for families: Monopoly To Go

🏆 Best travel game for teens: Compact Catan

🏆 Best travel game for couples: American Trivia

Whether you’re seeking traveling games for adults, toddler travel games or road trip games for couples, this guide will help you find the perfect mini-travel games for your next adventure.

👍 ARE YOU TRAVEL OBSESSED? Join ‘Our Travel Obsession' Facebook group!

Best Games For Travel-Comparison Chart

Are you ready to dig in? Then fasten your seat belt and let’s take a closer look! Here are 13 of the most awesome airplane and car games for road trips and overseas travels. 

Road Trip? When you’re done here, check these out:

Road Trip Prep You Need To Do Before Every Trip | Road Trip Snacks Everyone Will LOVE | Travel Gifts for Kids of All Ages

Best Traveler Games – An In-Depth Review

Travel catan, best for families ~ ages 10+ ~ number of players: 3-4.

This special Catan travel edition is made for playing on the go. It’s one of the best games for traveling because the whole concept is built around settling in a new place and building a home from there on. 

The board is hexagonal, with four storage drawers on board for all the pieces. Cards are more compact than usual and also come with their own travel storage case.

The drawers for the smaller pieces can be locked shut so they don’t stray when you’re on the move. 

This is one of those ideal road trip games for families and is good when you have a fold-down table to play on while traveling by airplane, RV, or car. It’s simply a scaled-down version of the usual Catan game. 

We’re obsessed with:

• Scaled-down version
• Travel-related theme
• Locking drawers for pieces

Not so hot:

• Not compatible with Catan expansions

Travel trivia

Best for teens ~ ages 14+ ~ number of players: 2+.

Road trip trivia games can really help to pass the time as they keep everyone’s minds active. Our favorite for a long journey by car is American Trivia, a travel card game that contains 1,000 questions.

This game for two or more players is aimed at ages 14 plus, so it’s good for families with teens or couples.

There are five categories of trivia – History, Geography, Sports, Pop Culture and General.

Unlike other traveling games there are no small pieces to lose, just question cards and score charts. The question cards are dual-sided, which saves space. 

Playing this game can sharpen cognitive skills and also teaches those taking part all about US sports, major landmarks, history, tourist attractions, geography, famous Americans and popular culture. 

• No small pieces
• Learn all sorts of facts
• 1,000 questions included
• For teens and adults only

Travel Monopoly

Best for teens ~ Ages 8+ ~ Number of players: 2-4

Don’t get mixed up between the Monopoly travel edition with a world tour theme and Monopoly Grab and Go for travel! The latter is the one you want – it’s a more compact and portable version of the classic. 

If you want travel board games to pass the time they don’t come any better than this. With a dozen hotels plus 32 houses to add to the board, it’s likely to take some time before a winner is declared!

All the color-coded spaces you expect to see and the usual Community Chest and Chance cards are here.

The only difference between this and the bigger Monopoly vacation games you may play during the winter holidays is the size – and the fact that the playing tokens are made from plastic. 

• All the features of the bigger game
• Game can pass a lot of time
• Favorite board game
• Smaller size makes it a bit harder to see

Disney Eye Found It picture game

Best for toddlers ~ Ages 3+ ~ Number of players: 2-6

If you want travel toddler games for preschoolers and their siblings, this is one of the best around. It has a Disney theme, and comes from respected games brand Ravensburger. There is also a Marvel version if you prefer.

57 cards are supplied and these feature favorite characters from Disney movies such as The Lion King, Moana, 101 Dalmatians, Lilo & Stitch, Sleeping Beauty and more.

Clear instructions are provided and preschoolers can develop manual dexterity, hand to eye coordination and counting skills while playing. 

The game involves exploring a dozen Disney worlds to discover the hidden treasures within places like Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood, Alice's Wonderland and Peter Pan's NeverLand.

If you’re en route to Disney World, you must buy this one!

 We’re obsessed with:

• Wide-ranging Disney theme
• Colorful cards engage preschoolers 
• Develops counting, coordination and dexterity skills
• Short playing time of around 15 minutes only

Travel chess set

Best for couples ~ Ages 6+ ~ Number of players: 2

A magnetic travel chess set is one of the most sought-after games of all. The portable chess set featured is lighter in weight than a wooden magnetic chess set, and more compact than many of those too.

The set includes a magnetic chess board, which is perfect for traveling as the pieces won’t come off easily.

This pocket chess set is made from plastic, to make it more lightweight, and a smooth finish makes the pieces comfortable to hold. 

Don’t expect any travel chess board to be too magnetic, as that would make it impossible to move the pieces! This is the best travel chess set available at Amazon right now.

It attracts high ratings and the size strikes just the right balance between portability and being player-friendly. 

The portable chessboard folds up for storage and a travel pouch is also included.

• Ultra lightweight
• Super smooth finish
• Folding board with carry bag
• Made from plastic

Best for kids ~ Ages 5 to 8 ~ Number of players: 2

Bingo for kids and adults is an easy and fun travel game for all the family.

One we like is the US License Plate Game by Melissa and Doug, a company renowned for its high-quality and long-lasting toys.

The fifty mainland states and their capitals are featured, and during gameplay, kids will learn to recognize each unique license plate. 

This product can be used to play an I Spy game or to plot your road trip route. The pieces flip up, so as they’re attached they won’t roll around the car or get lost.

Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this twist on the classic bingo game develops social, critical thinking, and memory skills. Not that the kids will notice, as for them it’s simply a fun game!

• American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed
• Teaches 50 US state license plates
• Flip-up pieces
• Heavier than some

Rummikub travel

Best for families ~ Ages 8+ ~ Number of players: 2-4

Rummikub is one of the most fun road trip games around and this version comes in a handy travel tin so you can keep it all together easily.

It’s a strategy game that’s simple to pick up, and suited to anyone aged from eight upwards. 

As with rummy, each player places their numbered tiles in groups and runs when it’s their turn. This variant is smaller in size than the usual Rummikub game, and it’s one of the best travel games for adults and kids to play together. 

It’s a classic game, simply more compact and portable than usual to make it ideal for traveling by car or airplane. 

• Strategic game
• Simple to learn
• Travel tin stores it all
• Tiles can slip off during play

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Best for kids ~ Ages 7+ ~ Number of players: 2+

If you want to play these car trip games, you can either hunt around for a road trip scavenger hunt printable or simply buy a ready-made game.

When you want the latter, the recommended pick is the Briarpatch Travel Scavenger Hunt card game. 

If you want card games to keep them busy for hours, then buy this one! It can last the entire trip as kids need to look around for the objects listed while traveling.

There are 54 cards in all and things to look out for include cars of certain colors, road signs and license plates containing specific letters.

This game can also be a multi-sensory experience, as there are also amusing Hear It, Smell It and Feel It cards. For these, players need to listen for sounds, sniff for scents and feel for bumps. 

• Multi-sensory cards
• Long loved ‘I Spy’ game
• Develops observational skills
• May be long gaps between spotting items

Travel Backgammon set

Best for couples ~ Ages 14+ ~ Number of players: 2

How to improve on a travel board game? Make a roll-up version that’s so travel-friendly. Backgammon is one of those ideal games for adults and older kids, and this is one seriously covetable set.

The game is hand-sewn in Germany and made from genuine leather. It was designed to offer incredible, long-lasting quality and to be one of the very best games for travel available today. 

A Seal of Approval from National Parenting has been given to this game and it weighs less than half a pound.

You can store all the pieces in the zippered pocket provided for this purpose and it rolls up to under the size of the smallest umbrella. 

• German design
• Genuine leather
• Pocket for storage of pieces
• Pieces may roll away during play

Travel Cribbage board

Best for teens ~ Ages 8+ ~ Number of players: 2-3

The Cribbage board we’ve chosen here is great because there’s onboard storage for all the cards and pieces. That makes it stand out from other Cribbage sets.

This is one of the best traveling games for two to three players aged eight or over. 

The absorbing game combines luck and skill, so you never know who will end up in front. This set is made from solid wood with a smooth finish, so it feels and looks good.

Everything you need is stored in the hinged compartment, including all the pegs and cards. 

The company behind this has even listened to customer feedback, and as a result, has enlarged the storage compartment to make it even more user-friendly.  

• 2 or 3 players
• Smooth solid wood
• Good-sized storage compartment
• Pegs may go astray

✔ PRO TIP: Make sure you grab your free packing checklist ! It has everything you'll need in an easy-to-use PDF checklist that you can use over & over!

Travel Yahtzee

Best for families ~ Ages 8+ ~ Number of players: 2+

Yahtzee To Go is the travel variant of the mega-selling game. The dice cup is supplied with a lid, so you can close this when playing in the car.

This is among the best road trip games because of the compact size, which means it barely adds any weight or bulk to your load.

There are five dice, a lidded cup and 100 score cards included with travel Yahtzee.

What’s nice is that printed instructions also come with it, and these are easy for kids to read, understand and follow by themselves. Ideal when they’re in the back and mom and dad are in the front. 

The dice are the usual full size, so they’re easy to roll, even for kid-sized hands. It’s among the most fun travel games for every player, and once you've tried it, it’s obvious why this game is a classic.  

• Full size dice
• Simple instructions supplied
• Shaking dice in cup can be a bit noisy

Travel Connect 4

Best for kids ~ Ages 6+ ~ Number of players: 2

You can buy a Grab and Go version of Connect 4 like the Monopoly set listed above, or you can go for this super cute miniature version.

In fact you can buy these tiny ‘World’s Smallest’ games for travel as other options too, including Jenga, Pictionary, Scrabble and many more. (You can select these other little trip games when viewing the product listing at Amazon.)

A case contains all the counters and the grid that you need to play. You really can take these travel and car games anywhere, as they’re small enough to fit into the palm of your hand!

Whether Connect 4 is among your favorite games to play on a road trip or you just can’t resist super cute scaled-down stuff, this is such a fun item to carry, show off and play. 

• Ultra compact
• Super adorable
• Other games available
• Tiny pieces can get lost easily

Minecraft magnetic travel puzzle

Best for solo players ~ Ages 8+ ~ Number of players: 1

Sometimes the best magnetic games for travel are those you can play alone. This Minecraft game for ages eight and up is perfect for that.

Like other travel games that are magnetic, it’s also simple to keep track of all the pieces. 

There are 40 challenges provided with this, so it’s like a number of travel magnetic games in one.

A top pick among games for car journeys for a solo player, and also of course for any fan of the construction computer and console game!

You get nine magnetic Minecraft pieces plus full instructions and the 40 challenges that vary in difficulty from starter to expert.

The fact that these travel games for the car fold out like a book also means you don’t need a table-top to play. 

• Magnetic board
• Ideal for Minecraft fans
• Younger kids may take longer to understand game

The Best Travel Games – What To Look For

What type of game do you want to play? Are you thinking of board games for travel for two to four players, or printable road trip games to give to the kids?

There are card games, trivia quizzes, games of strategy, all-time classics, and challenges to complete.

A balance of various types of games is ideal. It’s not advised to take just one game when you have a long trip ahead of you with so many hours to fill. A selection of different types of games for traveling is best. 

Adults or kids

Who’s playing? You might want to get your hands on travel games for a toddler, travel games for adults, teens, or kids, or those to play as a couple or family. 

Number of players

Also, how many of you are likely to play at once? For you, the best board games for travel might be suitable for two players, or you might want a game that four can play at once. 

Older kids & adults may get bored playing a game suited for younger players and little ones may not understand games intended for an older player.

We’ve included the age range and number of players at the top of each listing, to help you decide between the best travel board games, card games, and many others. 

If you want car travel games, then think about how the game is likely to fare when you’re moving about. What happens at high speeds, or when you travel around a tight bend?

The best road trip games for adults and kids will be designed to cope with the motion of traveling by air or road! Magnetic travel games, for example, can be good for this, as the pieces stay put. 

The size and weight will matter if the space is tight. Such as when traveling with a carry-on, or when the kids’ stuff has already filled up the entire trunk. 

This is why the games included in this guide are travel-friendly, lightweight versions that don’t take up too much room. 

Best Games For Travel for kids & adults FAQs

What are some road trip games.

You can buy games to play on long car rides that are card games, games based on I Spy, board games, games of strategy and more.

Some of the best board games travel are scaled-down versions of well-known games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Connect 4 or Catan. 

Classic games like backgammon, chess, cribbage and more are also available to play as car games on the road. The sets are often smaller, lighter in weight and more portable than the standard versions. 

Can you play games on a plane?

For many simple games, it’s not a question of ‘can you bring games on a plane’ but whether or not it’s really practical to play on board.

In fact plane travel is often smoother than car travel – except when there’s a lot of turbulence en route.

As planes have fold-down tables, that provides you with the perfect playing surface for a small travel sized game. Just be aware of any parts that may be sharp or could be used as weapons, as they could be confiscated!  

Can you bring video games on a plane?

Can you carry video games on a plane, and what about consoles? You can, and these can go in either carry-on or checked baggage.

If you take a console on board, though, do be aware that staff may need to take it apart as part of their security checks.

Get more information about taking full-sized game consoles through security HERE .

A small, hand-held gaming console plus some headphones (so you don’t disturb other passengers) is the most practical choice. 

See specific Federal Aviation Administation rules regarding electronic devices on places HERE .

How do you travel with board games? 

Board games are fun games to play while traveling. You can take them on a plane or in the car. You may need a stable surface such as a table or spare car seat to play. 

Boxes may be opened by airport security staff as part of their checks before boarding a plane. For travel, it’s best to place the playing pieces into ziplock bags and use a strong cardboard box for the board.

A more compact and especially designed version, such as a travel Monopoly game, will be simpler to pack. 

Can I bring card games on a plane?

You can. Travel card games can be carried in checked or carry-on bags. Do keep in mind, though, that packs containing the cards may be opened before clearing security.

What are the best travel games?

The best travel games are lightweight and portable. The top child, teen and adult travel games are any that will stop passengers from getting bored, basically, but the best ones are also easy to store and carry.

It makes sense to pick the most compact grown-ups' and kids’ travel games you can find.

That way you have space for more of them in the car or on the airplane, reducing the chance of everyone getting fed up long before reaching the destination! 

Which airplane and road trip games will you play?

There are so many fun games for car rides and plane trips – this post really just gives you a starting point. From a travel card game for little ones to road trip games for two adults, there are plenty to pick from for sure. 

Travel-size board games, magnetic checkers or chess, card games travel and more are all great options.

Our top tip is to take along a good mix of the best games for travel, so no one runs out of things to do before you get anywhere near your destination.

Until next time…

About The Author

My mission is to inspire and empower families to prioritize travel now, creating unforgettable memories and deeper connections with their loved ones.

I provide guidance and practical solutions to help busy parents integrate travel into their lives, fostering joy, fulfillment, and stress-free adventures. Don’t wait until it’s too late; the time to travel is now . Learn more about me & My Travel Obsession here .

My Favorite Travel Booking Apps & Websites

⭐ MY TRAVEL OBSESSION:

• Products & Services – My Travel Obsession's travel planning products, services, and freebies!
• What To Pack – See all of my personal favorite travel items.
• Travel Resources – Resources that I use most when planning, booking & traveling.

🏡 FOR FINDING GREAT PLACES TO STAY:

• VRBO – My #1 recommendation for family-friendly lodging options.
• Expedia – My favorite for hotel bookings.

🚗 FOR CAR & RV RENTALS:

• Discover Cars & Sixt – My favorite sites for rental cars worldwide.
• Turo.com – Rent a car from an individual owner – It's like VRBO for cars!
• RVShare – Rent an RV for your next family road trip!

🚁 FOR ACTIVITIES, EXCURSIONS, & TOURS:

• Viator & Get Your Guide – The best sites to find and book activities & excursions.
• Gypsy Guide – An AWESOME audio tour app. ALWAYS check to see if they have a tour available.

🩺 FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE:

• SafetyWing – The lowest-cost travel insurance out there. Several options starting as low as $42 for 4 weeks of coverage.

✈ FOR FINDING GREAT FLIGHT DEALS:

• Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) – My #1 recommendation for saving big $$$ on flights. Sign up for a free 14-day trial.

🥾 FOR HIKING:

• AllTrails – THE APP for hikers. I recommend paying for the pro version so you can use the navigation feature while hiking.

Once you're done here, head to the homepage to explore or jump to one of these categories: Te x as Travel ~ US Trav e l ~ International Travel ~ Travel Tips & Tricks ~ Travel Gear & Gadgets ~ What To Pack ~ Travel Planning ~ Shop

The 25 Best Travel Board Games (You can Play at Home)

Sharing is caring!

Table of Contents

THE BEST TRAVEL BOARD GAMES THAT’LL FIT IN YOUR SUITCASE

As a family that travels often, one of the ways we fight boredom and reduce screen time is through board games. Travel board games are a great way to pass the time, have fun, and spend quality time together.

Disclosure: “Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Board games are a great activity on a rainy day . Whether you are at home, at the airport, on the beach, or on an airplane, these are the best travel board games to take along with you or play at home.

Related Post: Best Travel-Themed Board Games

Backpacker – The Ultimate Travel Game

• Recommended Age: 10 years old and up
• Number of Players: 2-6

Don’t let the name fool you, the Backpacker – The Ultimate Travel Game is a great travel game for couples, families, and friends. This portable game can fit in your backpack or pocket while traveling .

The objective of the game is to return home with the most photos. No two adventures are the same so you can hang out on the beach, trek through the jungle, visit the different continents, or hang out at a bar.

The possibilities are endless, and you are sure to run into unexpected experiences as you travel the world. This is the ultimate travel game that everyone will enjoy.

Backpacker Travel Game Price

Monopoly Deal Card Game

• Recommended Age: 8 years old and up
• Number of Players: 2-5
• Included: 110 cards

The classic game of monopoly has been shrunk down to Monopoly Deal Card Game . Unlike the original, this version can be played in 15 minutes, so it’s the perfect board game for traveling.

The elements of this game are a little tricky, so you have to be on the lookout for debt collectors and deal breakers. You can steal properties, demand money, or swap properties, so trust no one.

This new and portable travel game is fun for families and doesn’t take forever to play. You will enjoy this class game with a few modern twists.

Monopoly Deal Card Game Price

Games on the Go

• Recommended Age: Varies (suitable ages are on the cards)
• Number of Players: 2+
• Included: 50 cards

Games on the Go is the ultimate portable travel game for families. It is so small that you can take it everywhere.

Although this is meant to be a game played in the car, you can play it anywhere. It’s a great way to keep boredom at bay during long car rides or dinner.

This travel game doesn’t have a winner. The objective is to get families and friends to interact in a fun way.

Games on the Go Price

Related Post: 15 Travel Games for Toddlers

Bananagrams Word Game

• Recommended Age: 7 years old and up
• Number of Players: 1+
• Included: 144 tiles, instructions, and a travel bag

Bananagrams is a fun word game that can be played anywhere. This version has large letters, making it easier to create words on the go.

For families with younger kids, this is a great travel game to help them with spelling and reading. What better way to keep busy while at home or on vacation than playing games?

Everyone from young kids to seniors will enjoy this portable travel game. Plus, the bigger letters and tiles make it easier for the young at heart to participate.

Bananagrams Word Game Price

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Included: Travel bag, 4 trays, and 106 tiles

Rummikub is one of the most popular board games. Now it is travel size and includes a travel bag, making it easy to throw in your carry-on.

This game is easy to learn, quick to play and requires some skill, and a little luck. The goal is to be the first player to clear your rack.

To play you need to use the numbers to create sets of 3 or more tiles. The sets can be the same number of different colors or a run of consecutive numbers of the same color. If you don’t have anything you play you can draw a tile from the pile.

The joker tile makes things interesting, so be sure to be on the lookout for it.

Rummikub Price

Qwirkle Travel Board Game

• Recommended Age: 5 years old and up
• Included: 108 tiles, rule book, and travel bag

Qwirkle Travel Board Game is a tactical game, all about strategy. You can think of it as Scrabble with shapes and colors instead of letters.

You have to combine logic and strategy to create columns of matching colors and shapes. This is the perfect game for kids to learn critical thinking skills.

You have to think several steps ahead, so it’s more than just a game. Qwirkle lessons that can be applied to life.

This is one of the best travel board games for kids and adults. You can play anywhere, especially at home.

Qwirkle Travel Board Game Price

Grounded for Life

• Recommended Age: 12 years old and up
• Number of Players: 2-12
• Included: 500 cards

Grounded for Life is a fun family game that can be taken on the go. I will warn you, things will get interesting.

The person that comes up with the funniest sentence is the winner, so be creative. This is one of the best travel games for a family vacation and will have you laughing all night.

You may need to give the kids a pass for this game. Have fun!

3 Up 3 Down Price

• Included: 112 cards

The original UNO game is known all around the world, so I didn’t include it in this list. The latest version, UNO Flip is a twist on the original game.

Instead of playing with one side of the cards, you play both sides. When you think you have going to win, you may have to flip the card over and play different colors.

As if the different colors weren’t enough, the rules are slightly different. Remember to review the rules. They aren’t what you think. You’ll be surprised what is in store. It’s nice to have a new twist on a classic game.

UNO Flip Price

Taco vs Burrito Game

• Number of Players: 2 -4
• Included: 24 ingredient cards, 32 action cards, 4 tortilla holders, 4 quick start cards, and 1 rulebook

Can you believe the portable card game Taco vs Burrito was created by a 7-year-old? This is one of the most popular and best-selling card games on Amazon.

Although the concept of the game is basic, it takes some strategy to win. The action cards and send the game into different unexpected scenarios.

Can you create the weirdest meal? This game is fun for the entire family, which makes it perfect for your next family vacation or family game night. Although it isn’t the most portable travel game on our list, it is one of the most fun,

Taco vs Burrito Price

Catan Dice Game

• Number of Players: 1 – 4
• Included: 6 dice and playing map (pen or pencil needed, but not included)

The Catan Dice Game is a fast and fun dice game that can be played with one player if you are a solo traveler. It can be played in 15-30 minutes, so it’s a fun and quick travel board game.

The premise of the game is to build a road, city, or building. As you finish building you record your points on the provided score sheets. The person with the highest number of points is the winner after 15 turns.

You’ll need to make tough decisions on whether to build a city or settlement, depending on the specific situation. You’ll need to use some strategy and critical thinking to make the best decision.

Good luck, and happy building.

Catan Dice Game Price

Phase 10 Card Game

• Number of Players: 4 – 6
• Included: 108 cards

I recently learned how to play Phase 10 , and I must admit I love it. For some reason, it took me a while to learn (I’m biased and didn’t want to abandon UNO), but now I am on a roll.

The concept is easy, but it takes a little time to learn. To win the game you have to work your way through each phase on the card provided.

I will warn you, this game can get a little addicting. The first 10 phases remain the same, but you can find additional phases online.

The game only gets more fun after you master the game and use the more difficult combinations.

Plus, the tin holder is the perfect storage container for traveling.

Phase 10 Card Game Price

Loaded Questions On The Go

• Included: 200 Question cards, answer/score pad, and two pencils

If you are looking for one of the ultimate road trip games then look no further. Loaded Questions On The Go is a fun family-friendly question-and-answer game that can be played anywhere.

In this fun family game, you write down your answer to a series of questions and try to guess who answered what. the questions are interesting, so be prepared to get creative.

There are different versions, so if you have younger kids, the Loaded Questions Junior may be best. Although this is the family-friendly version, there is a more explicit adult version that’ll make things interesting.

Loaded Questions On The Go Price

Clue Card Game

• Number of Players: 4+
• Included: 84 Cards (including characters and clues)

Clue is one of my favorite games, so I’m happy there is a travel version small enough to fit in your luggage, backpack, or even pocket. The Clue Card Game is slightly different from the original, but you will still have fun.

The concept is the same, you have to use the clues to find the killer, but there is no board. Kids will enjoy putting the clues together and solving the mystery.

Since this is the card version, it is slightly easier than the board game. If you are an expert at Clue, you’ll pick this up in no time.

Take this murder mystery card game with you on your next vacation. You can play on the beach, on the airplane, at the airport, or while eating dinner. What better way to bring the family together than finding a killer?

Clue Grab and Go Price

​Pictionary Card Game

No products found.

• Number of Players: 3+
• Included: 88 Picture cards and 66 Clue cards

In the newest version of the Pictionary Card Game, you can combine two games into one.

Pictionary is mashed with Charades to create a fun game that families will love. The best part, there is no drawing involved.

Kids of all ages will love this game, especially energetic little ones because they can act out the photos or use them as clues.

All you have to do is use the photos to great clues, while your teammates guess the answer. If you don’t want to use the cards, act them out. The possibilities are endless.

The first team to score five points wins the game, so guess fast.

• Recommended Age: 6 years old and up
• Included: 54 Jenga hardwood blocks

Jenga is my wife’s favorite game. We take it everywhere we travel, and it is always a lot of fun.

Although this game isn’t travel-size, it is small enough to fit into your suitcase without taking up a lot of space.

For competitive families, this is the perfect travel game. If you aren’t familiar with the game, the objective is to pull out a block and place it on top of the tower without making it fall.

The more people, the more fun, so get everyone to join in the game.

Jenga Price

Yahtzee to Go

• Included: 100 scorecards, 5 dice, and game guide

The classic game of Yahtzee is now available in a travel-size container. Yahtzee to Go is the same as the original game in a smaller package.

The rules are the same but are small enough to take in the car, on the plane, or to a friend’s house.

There are a few complaints about the noise of the dice when shaking inside the cup. This shouldn’t be an issue for families playing on a rainy day. I’m sure the fun will drown out the sound of the dice inside the cup

Note: The pencil isn’t included, so you’ll need to have one if you plan on keeping the score.

Yahtzee to Go Price

What Do You Meme? Family Edition

• Cards Included: 300 Caption cards 65 Photocards

If you love seeing memes, then this is the perfect game for your next family game night. What Do You Meme? Family Edition is a game based on some of the most popular memes online.

This game seems to be a hit with teenagers. The objective of the game is to create the funniest meme using photo and captions cards.

There is a rotating judge for each round that decides the winner. The first person to win 5-7 rounds is the winner.

Remember, this is the family version, so it is tamed in the captions. Many of the caption cards focus on poop or fart because we all know kids find that funny.

So if you are looking for a fun and creative game to take on your next vacation, try this game.

What Do You Meme? Family Edition Price

Grandpa Beck’s Cover Your Assets

• Cards Included: 110 ( 2 decks of 52)

Grandpa Beck’s Cover Your Assets is a fun game that the entire family will love.

The objective of the game is to reach 1 million dollars in assets. You have to use wit, cunning, and strategy to build your assets.

It is the perfect travel board game for a rainy day or family game night. Although the recommended age is 7 years old, kids as young as 6 could join in the fun.

Plus, it helps kids with their math skills. You can’t beat a night full of learning, laughter, and fun.

Grandpa Beck’s Cover Your Assets Price

Lost Cities Card Game

• Number of Players: Only 2 players
• Included: 54 Expedition cards, 18 wager cards, rulebook, and game board (double-sided)

The Lost Cities Card Game is a fun travel-themed game that has been modified to be travel-friendly. This is their latest version, which packs more fun in a small package.

Lost Cities is the perfect 2-player game for adults and kids that enjoy a challenge. The objective of the game is to complete your expedition. You will need to use strategy, card tactics, take risks, and have a little luck.

This is a great game for kids that are struggling with math, they can learn while having fun. Plus, it’s quick with most games lasting less than 30 minutes.

Lost Cities Card Game Price

Apples to Apples: Marvel Edition

• Number of Players: 4-8

Apples to Apples is a popular game, so Marvel lovers will appreciate the new Apples to Apples: Marvel Edition .

Apples to Apples: Marvel Edition Price

BEST TRAVEL BOARD GAMES FOR KIDS

Travel board games are one of the best ways to keep kids busy while traveling.

They are a screen-free way to spend time together and have fun. Here are some of the best travel board games for kids.

Related Post: Best Road Trip Toys for Toddlers

Travel Scavenger Hunt

• Recommended Age: 2 – 8 years old
• Included: 96 Flashcards

Travel Scavenger Hunt is one of the best road trip games for younger kids. It’s the perfect travel game for kids from 3 to 6 years old.

Not only is this game fun for toddlers, but it is also educational. Help your little one find the objects on the flashcard to improve their memory, recognition, concentration, and awareness.

These flashcards are perfect for little cards, so they are the perfect travel game for kids. Take this with you on your next road trip or family vacation.

Note: There are different educational versions of this game to help your kids learn numbers, letters, and shapes.

Travel Scavenger Hunt Price

Countries of The World Travel Game

• Included: 50 cards and 1 game box

Let’s be honest, Americans are notoriously bad at geography. Countries of The World is the perfect travel game that helps kids and adults learn about countries around the world.

There are 100 countries to identify, and it fits in your pocket. The rules are simple. Use the picture and unscramble the words to guess the country. At the end of the game, the person with the most correct answers is the winner.

This portable travel game can be played alone or with family and friends. See who really knows the countries around the world.

Countries of The World Travel Game Price

Connect 4 Grab and Go

• Number of Players: 2
• Included: Grid playing board, 21 read checkers, and 21 yellow checkers

Connect 4 Grab and Go is the travel version of the original game. Connect 4 is one of my favorite games from my childhood. My siblings and I played this game all the time, and always had fun.

The travel version is the same as the original, except for the smaller pieces. I will say the chip holder is a little annoying.

Since the chips are smaller, the holder is small. Putting the checkers in the holder will test your fine motor skills, which can be a little challenging in a car.

Connect 4 Grab and Go Price

• Recommended Age: 4 years old and up
• Included: 54 cards

The best-selling travel game for young kids is Travel Scavenger Hunt . It is one of the best ways to keep kids, especially toddlers, busy on road trips or while running errands.

The game is easy. All you need to do is see, feel, or hear the thing on the card. You may be wondering why I said feel or hear instead of seeing because this game gets all your senses involved.

Kids of all ages will enjoy this fun road trip game. The first player to discard 10 cards is the winner, so keep your eyes and ears open.

I SPY: Travel Card Game for Kids

• Recommended Age: 3 years old and up
• Included: 48 cards and instructions

A classic that has been played forever is I-Spy. It usually involves picking random objects and guessing the item. This version of I SPY has cards with objects to find.

Since this is the travel edition, all of the objects have something to do with travel. Kids and adults will have fun finding the objects on the cards.

If you have an energetic toddler, this is the perfect game to play in the airport to burn some of that energy. Time flies when you are having fun, so take this on your next family vacation.

I SPY Travel Card Game for Kids Price

World of Disney: Eye Found It Card Game

• Included: 57 cards and the instructions

The World of Disney: Eye Found It Card Game is a lot of fun for kids and adults who love Disney. The board game is now available in a travel version.

Kids learn attention to detail, and matching skills, and hone their observation skills. Some of these are things my wife says I need to learn (I always ask her where things are instead of looking lol).

To win, be the first one to find all of your objects and discard your cards. Good luck!

World of Disney Eye Found It Card Game Price

Apples to Apples: Disney Edition

• Included: 360 Cards

The classic game Apples to Apples gets a makeover with Disney, with the latest Apples to Apples: Disney Edition . If your little one is a Disney fan, this is the perfect travel game for them.

Apples to Apples is easy for anyone to play, especially younger kids. You can easily pack this game in your backpack to play at the airport, on an airplane, and in the car.

This is one of the best board games for traveling families . Be sure to watch out for the poison apple. Even if you aren’t a frequent traveler, you can play this game at home after dinner.

Apples to Apples: Disney Edition Price

Check out our other travel toy and activity guides:

• The 25 Best Travel Toys for Babies
• 20 Toys to Keep Toddlers Busy on an Airplane
• 25 Beach Toys for Toddlers
• Our Favorite Travel Toys for 3-Year-Olds
• 15 Travel Games for Toddlers
• 20 Fun Travel Toys for 4-Year-Olds
• Our Favorite Headphones for Toddlers
• 20 Screen-Free Road Trip Toys for Toddlers
• 10 Mess-Free Travel Activities for 2-Year-Olds
• 50 Road Trip Activities for Toddlers
• LeapFrog Tablets for Toddlers to Promote Learning
• 20 Educational Travel Toys for 5-Year-Olds
• 15 Fun Airplane Activities for Toddlers
• The Best Learning Tablets for Toddlers
• 20 Snow Toys for Toddlers and Big Kids

Related Posts

KidCo Peapod Travel Bed Review

The 10 Best Umbrella Strollers for Travel

The 10 Best Sit and Stand Strollers

The 21 Best Travel-Themed Board Games

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Screen Rant

The 10 best travel games for adults (updated 2022).

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

• Type of Game Board game
• Age Recommendation 8+
• Game Duration 20 minutes or less
• Type of Game Party, fill-in-the-blank
• Age Recommendation 17+
• Game Duration 30 to 60 minutes
• Type of Game Card game
• Game Duration 15 - 45 minutes
• Age Recommendation 6 years and up
• Game Duration 10 to 60 minutes
• Age Recommendation 8 years and up
• Game Duration 5 to 10 minutes per round
• 9.20 /10 1. Editors choice: Hasbro Gaming Clue Diced!
• 9.50 /10 2. Premium pick: What Do You Meme?
• 9.60 /10 3. Best value: Monopoly Deal Card Game
• 9.35 /10 4. QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set
• 9.80 /10 5. Dutch Blitz
• 8.50 /10 6. Go Trio
• 8.35 /10 7. Blockbuster and Chill
• 9.00 /10 8. Moose Farkel
• 9.07 /10 9. Bananagrams Duel!
• 8.80 /10 10. Pass The Pigs

Whether you’re waiting for appetizers at a restaurant, it’s started raining on your camping trip, or there’s just an awkward lull in conversation at a bar, it’s nice to have a game on hand to pass the time. There are compact, portable games for every taste, group size, and mix of ages to get the party going.

The best travel games for adults combine easy-to-learn rules, enough of a challenge to keep everyone interested, and often a reason to laugh into one small package that easily slips in a backpack or purse.

Our list of games below offer something for everyone from card games , dice-based games, to pop culture-based games, to your favorite classic board games made portable, to a ridiculous addictive game that will have you and your friends rolling tiny pigs. Make sure you have one of the best travel games for adults ready for your next flight, road trip, or trip to a café!

1. Hasbro Gaming Clue Diced!

To make the classic game Clue travel-friendly, Hasbro cut out the board and pieces for a quick dice-rolling version that offers just as much fun and suspense as you try to crack the case. The game supports three to four players that are eight years or older, making this a family-friendly pick to pass the time camping, and at hotels and airports. At just over half a pound, it's a lightweight option and the snap-shut compact case securely holds all the pieces.

Clue Diced! keeps the classic confidential case file envelope, and to play, you roll the suspect dice and bonus dice. Unlike the classic game, two of the six suspects are guilty — one using their brains and one using their brawn to commit the crime. Unlike the original, gameplay only runs about 20 minutes. Don't worry, this easy-to-learn version of the game has maintained all your favorite characters from Miss Scarlet to Professor Plum and the tiny detective pad to keep track of your suspicions is downright adorable.

There are two game modes depending on the level of challenge you're looking for. Detective Game is the basic mode and there's a more challenging way to play called Master Detective Game for more advanced gameplay.

• Elements of the classic game, made travel-friendly
• Family Friendly
• Quick gameplay
• Fun for 3 to 4 players
• Type of Game: Board game
• Age Recommendation: 8+
• Game Duration: 20 minutes or less
• Brand: Hasbro Gaming
• Compact size
• Secure carrying case holds all the pieces
• Limited number of pieces
• Stickers must be added to dice the first time playing

2. What Do You Meme?

If you're looking for the ultimate party game for a large group of adults, What Do You Meme? will fit the bill. This card-based game can be played by anywhere from three to 20 players over the age of 17 because of some mature — and hilarious — content. To make it more family friendly, you can easily remove any caption cards you find too risqué for younger teens, as the memes themselves are not inappropriate.

Each round of the game entails choosing the funniest caption for the image of one of 75 famous memes. The person judging rotates for each round. This game would be a fun icebreaker for a group of newly acquainted friends, but would be even better with a group that knows each other well, because knowing the judge's sense of humor can help in the choice of caption. There are 375 captions, so the possibilities are nearly endless. For larger groups, the meme can be placed on a small easel that comes with the game, but it works just as well flat on a table if you're playing in a busy bar or restaurant. The game runs from half an hour up to two hours. Get ready for some cry-laughing!

• Pop culture game
• Fun for 3 to 20 players
• Players should be 17 years or older
• Type of Game: Party, fill-in-the-blank
• Age Recommendation: 17+
• Game Duration: 30 to 60 minutes
• Brand: What Do You Meme?
• What's Included: 360 caption cards, 75 photo cards, easel, bonus rules
• Endless meme-to-caption possibilities means lots of replay
• Easy to play
• Can add expansion packs to keep it fresh
• Not family friendly due to mature content

3. Monopoly Deal Card Game

This simplified version of Monopoly is fast-paced, and it still offers enough of a challenge to ensure you end up with a Park Place-based grudge against friends and family. Unlike the three-hour slog that the original Monopoly can be, the game runs briskly for two players (as short as five minutes), although 15 is more likely. Scaling all the way up to five players, the game takes about 45 minutes, which is still hours less than a full-fledged Monopoly game.

The object of the game is to collect all the properties in three different colors. The action cards add a twist to the game, as you can earn money through rent, steal other players' cards, and collect birthday money from them. One relief? There's no banker in this version of Monopoly — but there are debt collectors! The durable set of cards are affordably priced and will more than earn a spot in your backpack, purse, or luggage. You can also still "pass go" with a special card, as well as force a deal, or build a house or hotel. The action cards can also be used as money if you prefer to keep the cash over using them for their action purpose.

• Card-based version of classic Monopoly
• Easy to throw in a backpack or purse
• Length of gameplay depends on number of players (less players equals shorter games)
• For 2 to 5 players
• Type of Game: Card game
• Game Duration: 15 - 45 minutes
• Brand: Hasbro
• What's Included: Cards and instructions
• Number of Players: 2-5
• Shorter gameplay than the original
• Family friendly
• Games can run 25 minutes for 5 players

4. QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set

Whether you're a longtime chess player, got hooked after seeing The Queen's Gambit , or you're hoping to learn how to play, this folding travel set lets you easily take chess to a coffee shop or on a trip. The board measures just under 10 inches in each direction, folding in half for travel to bring the whole thing down to about 5 by 10 inches. It's well sized to pack up but not too small for comfortable everyday play.

The well-formed plastic pieces are on the light side, keeping the weight of this set manageable enough to throw in a backpack. The board has tiny support feet to keep it stable and to prevent slipping on slick tabletops as well.

The felt-bottomed magnetic pieces work well to prevent scratching of the board and pieces from sliding into the wrong spot, making this is a good choice for moving vehicles like a plane, boat, or train. The magnetism also helps prevent players from knocking over a piece during gameplay. This well-priced set comes with a handy velvet bag to hold the pieces, which store inside the folding board itself for maximum portability. Instructions are included if you're a little rusty on the rules or a first-time player.

• Travel version of the classic game
• Well-formed pieces for comfortable play
• Folding game board
• Included instructions
• Age Recommendation: 6 years and up
• Game Duration: 10 to 60 minutes
• Brand: QuadPro
• Magnetic feature prevents pieces from accidentally shifting
• Folding board keeps the game compact
• Support feet on the bottom of the board prevent sliding on tables
• Weighs less than a pound
• Plastic pieces not very substantial

5. Dutch Blitz

Dutch Blitz has roots in the Amish country area of Dutch Pennsylvania. This card-based game eschews turns, making it a fast-paced romp that tests your hand-eye coordination as much as your strategy.

Each player has 40 cards in their own color and design (plow, pump, carriage, or pail.) The red and blue cards are the Pennsylvania Dutch Boy cards and the green and yellow cards are the Pennsylvania Dutch Girl cards. The goal of the game is to use up your cards in numerical order from one to ten in the central group Dutch Piles, using up your blitz pile as swiftly as possible. The hand ends when someone empties their blitz pile and yells "blitz!" Blitz cards left over at the end of a hand are deducted from any points you earned by playing cards into the Dutch piles.

Each player also has their own Wood and Post piles. The Wood pile is placed to the player's right and is created from cards in the player's hand. The three Post piles are kept on a player's left side, organized in descending order and also boy-girl-boy arrangement, and they act as a replacement area throughout the game.

The first player with 75 points wins the game and the key is to move quickly, as all players are playing at the same time. While the rules are a little more involved than some card games, once you get the hang of it, it's a unique game that will hold everyone's attention.

• Unique card game
• Originated in Pennsylvania Dutch country
• Not turn based
• Up to 4 players
• Age Recommendation: 8 years and up
• Game Duration: 5 to 10 minutes per round
• Brand: Dutch Blitz
• Fast-paced game
• Can print additional scorecards for free directly from the Dutch Blitz site
• Requires significant table space for all the card piles

This eye-catching game will remind you of tic tac toe -- in a good way! GoTrio is the travel version of Otrio , a hit game meant for four players. The easy-to-teach rules are deceptively simple: get three in a row or in a single spot. Taking this game to the next level, the colored peg and two concentric circular pieces offer three different ways to win. Getting all of your pieces in one spot is one way to win, as is getting all your pieces in one size in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row. The third way to win is by getting one piece of each size in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row as well.

This travel game is can be used by two to three players, and this highly-rated, addictive game has a quick playtime of about 10 minutes. While it can be played by children as young as eight, it requires enough strategy and planning ahead to entertain and intrigue adults as well. Thanks to its limited number of pieces and handy carrying case (which snaps securely shut), this game is easy to tuck in a backpack or purse for hours of fun at restaurants and bars, or on flights, road trips, or camping.

• Three ways to win
• Portable carrying case snaps closed securely
• Similar to tic tac toe, taken to the next level
• Game Duration: 10 minutes
• Brand: Marbles Brain Workshop
• Quick playtime
• Simple to learn
• Eye-catching design
• Not for single-player use

7. Blockbuster and Chill

Miss Blockbuster date nights? The compact VHS tape-themed packaging of this game will take you back in time. Grab a bowl of popcorn and curl up on the couch in front of the coffee table with this nostalgic teamwork-driven trivia game that is perfect to take on vacation. While only two players can play at once, it's a great fit for nights where not everyone is up to playing a game.

The game can be played on its own or added on as an update to the hit original Blockbuster game. While you don't need to be a major movie buff to win, it definitely helps to have seen a few movies! Speed is of the essence during your timed turns as you try to get your partner to correctly guess their mystery movie title by saying famous movie quotes, using charades-style acting, or describing memorable scenes.

Remember late fees? They are worked into the gameplay too — once you have three, the game is over. Yeah, we didn't miss them either. Players are forced to get creative with the categories on the popcorn cards like "movies with sharks" and "movies that aren't suitable for kids" before time runs out. An optional included app helps time the one-minute rounds for each popcorn card, keeping the game moving along nicely as you alternate who picks up a popcorn clue card. Setup and cleanup is a breeze with this game and all the components fit neatly in the box.

• Nostalgic trivia game
• Involves teamwork
• Limited playing pieces
• Timer-based turns keeps gameplay length predictable
• Age Recommendation: 14 years and up
• Game Duration: 20 minutes
• Brand: Big Potato
• Can be added on to original Blockbuster Game, but plays well on its own
• Snappy gameplay
• Perfect for date nights
• No plastic pieces
• Limited to two players
• Younger players may not be familiar with all the movies

8. Moose Farkel

Farkel is a fast-paced dice game that's perfect for camping and road trips. It can be played anywhere you have a small, flat surface to roll the dice, like a restaurant or bar. For maximum portability, Moose Farkel comes in a pocket-sized carrying case and weighs less than two ounces.

The rules to Moose Farkel are handily printed on the inside lid of the case, so there's no worrying about losing them. Anywhere from two to six players can play, offering this game more flexibility as far as group size goes than many other travel games. While it can be played by anyone eight years or older, adults with a competitive streak will be just as engaged.

Gameplay involves rolling the six moose-themed dice with the goal of reaching 10,000 points before the other players. There are point values for individual dice and combinations of numbers (or moose) and a player can set aside dice from each roll to save that value and then re-roll the remaining dice in hopes of upping their score. However, this can be a risky venture. If a player rolls all non-scoring dice, they have "farkled" and lose all of their points from that turn. Once a player is happy with the score they've rolled or has farkled, they pass on the dice to the next player for their turn.

• Dice-based game
• Risk-taking gameplay
• For 2 to 6 players
• Type of Game: Dice game
• Game Duration: 20 minutes and up
• Brand: Farkel
• Portable and lightweight
• Rules printed on lid
• Highly rated by reviewers
• Need flat space to roll dice

9. Bananagrams Duel!

Challenge your friend or significant other to a duel with this travel-friendly twist on the original Bananagrams game. Each round is only about a minute long, as you and your opponent create a crossword-style set of words using any of the letters on your half of the dice. The aim is to use all 12 of your lettered dice in your crossword set, and the first player to do so yells "banana," winning a banana card for that round. An optional version of the game lets you gain one extra banana for each pair of rhyming words in your set. Once you've won 10 banana cards, you've won the duel.

This is a fast, family-friendly game reminiscent of Scrabble that will bring out players' competitive sides as they race against time -- and their opponent. There are also a few different ways to play to keep things fresh. One is a themed version where one of your words must meet the theme of the category card for that round (think sports & games, fruits, etc.) Another more challenging way to play involves working with the letters as they're rolled.

The small size of the carrying case and limited amount of table space required to play make it a no-brainer while you're waiting for appetizers to come out or any time you have 10 minutes to spare.

• Easy gameplay
• For 2 players
• Multiple ways to play
• Timed gameplay for predictable game length
• Type of Game: Word game
• Age Recommendation: 7 years and up
• Game Duration: 10 minutes for 10 rounds
• Brand: Bananagrams
• Rounds are only 1 minute long
• Doesn't require much table space
• Requires a flat surface to play

10. Pass The Pigs

While a game featuring tiny pigs may not seem like an adult game, this one truly brings home the bacon. Pass the Pigs challenges two or more players to roll tiny spotted pigs to score as much as possible, with points from each roll adding up to be a player's score for that turn. The risk is that you'll roll a "pig out," which is when the two pigs are each laying on opposite sides. This roll forfeits all the points you earned on that turn, and it becomes the next player's turn. Even worse is the "oinker" roll where two pigs are resting and touching, which brings your score for the entire game back to zero. Don't be surprised is everyone is ducking to table-level to verify that roll was, in fact, a "double leaning jowler," which is a rare and high-value roll.

This portable travel game features a clear carrying case that neatly keeps your pigs safe, as well as the instructions, a handy point card, a small pencil, and a scorecard. It fits well into a backpack or purse and can be a family friendly game to play with kids and teens -- but it can be a cutthroat race to 100 points, regardless of players' ages.

• Dice-like pig game pieces
• Included pencil and scorecard
• Clear carrying case
• For 2 or more players
• Brand: Winning Moves Games
• Portable size
• Addictive gameplay
• Need a flat, level surface to roll the pigs

Do Travel Versions of Classic Games Measure Up?

Many of your childhood favorites have been improved by revamping them into a more portable form. Gone are the tiny, fussy plastic pieces that used to end up under the couch, replaced by a set of cards or dice. The simpler form of these games allows for faster gameplay, keeping everyone involved and having fun. Freedom from the Draconian sets of rules and three-hour board games of your youth means players who would normally forego playing will get drawn in.

How To Choose The Best Travel Game For Your Group

While everyone's taste differs, most people have a few things in common when it comes to what they love about playing games.

People that love to laugh and employ their creative side will gravitate towards word-based games and games that let them showcase their sense of humor. Nothing goes better with a beer (or latte) than a game where everyone is trying to be the funniest. There are no true "losers" in a game where everyone is cry-laughing.

Have a group that loves to one-up each other? Look for a board, card, or dice game that appeals to players' competitive nature. Speed-dependent games up the ante, as do games that require more strategy than luck.

Traditionalists love the opportunity to take their favorite game on the road, which is where magnetic versions or games in a small carrying case come in. There's nothing quite like saying "check mate" in public!

Knowing the mix of ages that will be playing is key as well. Some of the best travel games for adults contain mature content you may not feel comfortable playing with a small child -- or your grandma. For the right group, however, there is nothing funnier than some off-color laughs to pass the time.

What To Look For In A Travel Game For Adults

The best travel games for adults have a few things in common: a small, lightweight footprint that won't take up much space in your bag or luggage being the most important. It's also important to choose one that has a limited number of pieces, to make set up and clean up fast and easy.

A simple set of rules is optimal for when you don't have much time -- like when you're waiting for a meal. Conversely, more rule-heavy and strategic games can hold attention longer for camping or at bars where you're not in a rush.

Whether you're looking for a quick laugh or an intense head-to-head duel, one of the above travel games will have you covered!

• Buyer's Guides

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! Screen Rant has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

Going on a road trip? These games will help you pass the time 

From classics like Scrabble and Uno to newer hits that prioritize conversation and connection, these games will appeal to everyone in the car.

No matter where you’re going on a road trip, travel games can be a great way to pass long hours in the car and create lasting memories.  

( Looking for ideas on where to go? Here are 25 essential drives for a U.S. road trip. )  

The best travel games should be small and light enough to pack with you. They should appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. And of course, they should provide hours of entertainment.

With that in mind, the classic card game Uno is our top choice for best overall travel game. It’s compact, fun for everyone, and easy to pack and pull out when the mood strikes.  

But it’s not the only one. We considered portable games in several categories too. From classic board games to Ping-Pong inspired matches, here are the best travel games to take on your next road trip.

The best travel games by category

We break down the best travel games based on different categories like board games, card games, and more.  

The best travel board games

Purple cow magnetic backgammon  .

One of the best travel board games is backgammon, considered the national game in many countries across the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This portable version of the classic board game is magnetized so the pieces don’t slide around. Simply open the case, roll the dice, and play. The board may be smaller, but the strategy remains the same.  

Keep in mind:   The magnets on the pieces aren’t the strongest but do a good enough job of staying mostly in place.  

Product details: Number of players: 2 | Ages: 5 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 |   Size: 6 x 3 inches  

Portable Puck Shot

Sturdy wooden pucks and a Baltic birch wood case make this portable hockey board game ideal for car trips, camping, or spending a cozy evening in a cabin. You don’t have to be a hockey lover to enjoy this fast-paced game either. It involves a simple sling that fires wooden pucks across the board at your opponent’s goal.  

Keep in mind:   The Portable Puck Shot game is a bit large and heavy, making it more suitable for a road trip than for carrying onto a plane.  

Product details:   Number of players: 2 | Ages: 6 and up | Minutes to play a round: 5 | Size: 17 x 10.25 inches  

Scrabble to Go

Buy it now on   Amazon

It’s not hard to see why Scrabble is one of the most popular board games around. It appeals to players across generations, stimulates the brain, and can spark fun debates. This miniature version comes with snap-in tiles that make it easy to play on bumpy car rides or pick up later, after a break.  

Keep in mind:   The tiles on this mini version are small, which may take some getting used to for some players.

Product details: Number of players: 2 to 4 | Ages: 8 and up | Minutes to play a round: 25 | Size: 10.63 x 2.50 x 10.63 inches

Best travel card games  

Song survivor.

This travel card game is a great way to kick off singalongs in the car or hotels after a long day of travel. Developed by Black-owned small business Doin’ The Most, the game involves drawing cards with one word, prompting each player to sing a song containing that word. If a player messes up the lyrics or can’t think of a song in time, they’re out. This card game is designed for players (and crooners) 13 and up, with easy and hard modes to help make the game as challenging as you want.  

Keep in mind:   Not everyone is into singing outside of the shower, so consider your audience of fellow players before bringing this one along.  

Product details: Number of players: 2 and up | Ages: 16 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 | Size: travel size  

52 Essential Conversations

The premise behind this intriguing travel card game springs from the idea that the art of engaging conversation never goes out of style. It’s a “social-emotional” learning game designed to get players thinking and talking about topics that can help people—including kids—open up, improve social skills, and spark creativity. The cards come in a small tin box, making them easy to keep organized and bring anywhere.  

Keep in mind: Although this travel card game is designed for players 5 and up, some questions lean more adult. If you’re playing with a multigenerational group, you can skip the questions better suited to adults or take them out of the deck before you play.  

Product details: Number of players: 2 and up | Ages: 5 and up | Minutes to play a round: NA | Size:   3 x 2 x 1 inches

This popular family card game is equally fun to play while traveling. You can go head to head with just one other person or as many as 10. The objective is to be the first person to get rid of all your cards. But achieving that goal depends on the luck of the draw. Just don’t forget to shout “Uno!” when you’re down to your last card. We love that this version comes in a sturdy tin for safekeeping.

Keep in mind:   This version of Uno incorporates graphic symbols on the cards so players with colorblindness can play too.  

Product details: Number of players: 2 to 10 |   Ages: 7 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 | Size: 3 x 2 x 5 inches

Exploding Kittens

Easy to learn and loads of fun, Exploding Kittens is a cheeky card game loosely based on Russian roulette. Players draw cards, but use strategy (plus special “immunity” cards) to avoid drawing an “exploding kitten” card. With its compact size and lack of any additional game pieces, this card game is a hilarious way to pass the time while traveling.

Keep in mind: This card game is available in English, but other languages (German, Spanish, Italian, and French) are in the works.  

Product details:   Number of players:   2 to 10 | Ages:   7 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 | Size: ‎4.41 x 6.38 x 1.5 inches  

Best travel games for adults

Pepper pong.

This portable spin on Ping-Pong and pickleball is one of the best travel games for adults. About the size of a shoebox, the game sets up virtually anywhere in a matter of seconds. Place the foldable net (called a Fence) on a picnic table at the park or any other relatively flat surface, and you’re good to go. The game’s three ball sizes (called Peppers) give you options for how aggressively you want to play. You can also feel good about purchasing this portable travel game—the makers say they donate a set to a recovery center or addiction-focused homeless center with each set they sell.  

Keep in mind:   There’s no official age minimum for this game. If you can swing the racket you can play. You’ll need a flat surface to set up.

Product details: Number of players: 2 to 4 | Ages: 3 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 | Size: 12 x 7 x 4 inches

The Hygge Game

Buy it now at   Uncommon Goods

Hygge is the Danish word for coziness and the basis for this 300-question portable travel game. The questions are designed to foster meaningful conversations among friends and family members. Play it during long car rides, in a candlelit, hygge-inspired restaurant, or anyplace where you want to spark fun and thoughtful connections.  

Keep in mind: Some of the questions go pretty deep and might surprise people who prefer more superficial lines of interrogation.  

Product details: Number of players: 2 and up | Ages:   14 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 |   Size:   5.70 x 5.70 x 1.80 inches

Parents Are Human

Like the Hygge Game, Parents Are Human is a card game that fosters understanding and connections. This specific deck (others are designed for friends, romantic partners, and siblings) focuses on immigrant families, making it a great game for family road trips. Each set includes 50 question cards and 20 action cards in English on one side and another language on the other ( Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, and Thai).

Keep in mind:   Some reviewers say you can’t play this card game many times with the same people.  

Product details:   Number of players: 2 and up | Ages:   13 and up | Minutes to play a round: NA | Size: ‎3.81 x 2.81 x 1.44 inches

Where Should We Begin

This traveling card game stems from relationship therapist and author Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin podcast and is ideally suited for adults. Cards with topics like “A dream I’ve never shared” and “One of the things that is keeping me up at night” help travel companions learn more about each other in an approachable way.

Keep in mind: Many reviewers prefer not to use the dice and pull randomly from the deck of cards instead.  

Product details: Number of players: 2 to 6 players | Ages: 18 and up | Minutes to play a round: NA | Size:   9.4 x 4.9 x 2.6 inches  

Best travel games for kids

Nex playground.

This compact game console works as a portable travel game that the whole family can play while on the road. The colorful cube uses motion sensors (with controllers or wearable gear) for family-friendly competition. Just plug Nex Playground into a TV and tap the library of more than 20 games and experiences ranging from dance-offs to sports competitions and activities like jumping in puddles with favorite cartoon characters.  

Keep in mind: You’ll need floor space of about 8 feet by 8 feet to play, since the game requires moving around. If you’re in a small hotel room or other tight space, that can be challenging.  

Product details:   Number of players: Up to 4 | Ages: 5 and up | Minutes to play a round:   5 | Size: 2.83 x 2.83 x 2.83 inches

Kanoodle Ultimate Champion

Popular on TikTok, this puzzle game can easily pack up and go with you on your next road trip. It comes with over 500 puzzles and a timer, challenging family members to use problem solving and spatial reasoning skills to beat the clock in time.  

Keep in mind:   This game requires two AAA batteries to operate.  

Product details: Number of players:   1 | Ages:   7 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 to 30 | Size: ‎5.75 x 2 inches  

Play Monster Take ’N Play Bingo

Kids can spend hours playing this traveling bingo game. The animal-based bingo cards are built into a metal case that closes for easy storage and transport. Two players take turns spinning the spinner and placing magnetic markers on the matching animals.

Keep in mind:   The magnet is built into one side of the marker pieces, so they’re not the strongest at staying put on the board. However, this game is hard to beat for an affordable and fun option.

Product details: Number of players:   2 | Ages:   4 and up | Minutes to play a round: 5 | Size:   1 x 6.50 x 6.50 inches

Pass the Pigs

Families will get a kick out of this adorable dice game that involves rolling a pair of pig-shaped pieces to score points. The first player to score 100 points wins. It’s also a great game to play anywhere while traveling, since it only requires a flat surface to play, plus the pigs, scoring pads, and pencils fit in a small plastic storage case that easily tucks into a backpack.  

Keep in mind: Small parts could pose a choking hazard for younger kids.  

Product details: Number of players:   2 | Ages:   7 and up | Minutes to play a round: 15 | Size:   1.63 x 4.25 x 9.25 inches

Our review process  

The best portable travel games are compact and light enough to take on a road trip or flight, can be contained in a case, and are still fun after multiple rounds of play.

Size:   Travel games shouldn’t be large and heavy. They should be small and light enough to fit easily into suitcases and carry-ons.

Multiplayer: Games for two or more players are best, since the whole point of travel games is to keep everyone entertained.  

Fun-factor: Travel games can help stave off boredom between activities, while you’re in transit, or during travel delays. So make sure you choose games that appeal across ages, interests, and have enough variety for the long haul.  

Tips for buying travel games

Size of the game

When it comes to the best travel games, size matters, whether you travel with just a carry-on suitcase or don’t want to bulk out your checked baggage. Look for games that are contained in a case small enough to fit into a backpack. On road trips, you can get away with larger games, especially if you’re driving your own vehicle.  

Game ratings and popularity

A game’s ratings and popularity can give you a good idea for whether or not it will work for your needs. A sure-fire tip is to look for reviews by customers with similar travel styles and companions as your own.  

Players’ ages

It goes without saying, but you’ll maximize fun by packing travel games that are appropriate for everyone in your group. Consider bringing a couple of games–one for spending time with the kids and another for adults.  

Time it takes to play a round

When shopping for the best travel games, keep in mind that some people can take longer to finish a game than others. Consider your travel companions’ attention spans and choose accordingly.  

Frequently asked questions

Are there travel-sized board games?

Yes, many classic and unique board games come in travel sizes. Some even have travel-friendly modifications, such as magnets to prevent pieces from sliding off the board and carrying cases that keep everything contained.  

How do you know if a game is good for traveling?

Some games are better suited to travel than others. Card games with a carrying case and board games that don’t have too many loose parts (or are magnetized) tend to be good options for the road. Consider the size and weight of the travel game’s carrying case too. Make sure there’s enough room among everything else you’re packing for your trip.  

What are the best travel games for an airplane?

Since space is limited on an airplane, look for games that don’t take up more room than a typical airplane tray table. You’ll also want travel games that can handle turbulence and that you can quickly and easily pick up, in case you need to get out of your seat for a neighbor.  

Related Topics

• PRODUCT ROUNDUP
• FAMILY TRAVEL
• TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE

You May Also Like

Don't leave for the beach without these essentials

The best packing cubes to save space and keep you organized

The best carry-on luggage to make your next plane trip a breeze

Get ready to hit the road with these road trip essentials

Is this the ideal Swiss road trip?

How to take the ultimate Florida road trip

AI can help you plan your next trip—if you know how to ask.

• Environment

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

10 Best Travel Board Games: Travel-Sized Options

We take pride in providing authentic travel recommendations based on our own experiences, which is documented through our travel photography and writing only about places we have personally visited. We may earn a commission when you purchase a product or book a reservation. This has no influence on our recommendations. For more information, please read about our approach to travel publishing. Learn more ›

Written by Kyle Kroeger

A board game is a great way to spend time as a family on a trip. These are the best travel board games. Over the years, I’ve found that there are generally two types of travelers.

On one side, you have the folks who like to relax as much as possible while on a bus, car, or plane. They may pick a book to read, listen to music or podcasts, or make light conversation.

On the other side, you have travelers who are so excitable or prone to boredom during the trip that they need something to keep themselves preoccupied and focused on.

Portable board games are ideal travel companions for those with energy to burn or boredom to quell. Play them while you’re on the road and take your mind off your fatigue and remaining long journey. Check them out yourself and see if you want to bring them for your next vacation .

TL;DR: Our Top Picks by Category

Best travel board games, 1. bananagrams duel: ultimate 2 player travel game.

Are you looking for the best 2-player travel board games? In that case, I recommend checking out Bananagrams Duel. If you’re familiar with the regular version of Bananagrams , you can pick up on this portable version quickly.

The goal remains the same. You must compete with the other player and see who can build their word grid faster. For this version of the game, the word cubes are smaller, and the word grids are no longer present. Start your next game anywhere you want!

Although the word cubes are small, they haven’t been downsized too much. Even if one falls on the floor of your car, you should be able to find it quickly enough. I also like that you can follow the banana-shaped cards and play with a theme if you want to. Change things up to have a different playing experience.

My main issue with this portable edition of the game is that it can be over too quickly. Adults may find that it gets old in a hurry. It’s still great for kids, though.

• Perfectly suited for two players
• Word cubes aren’t too small to lose easily
• Stored in a very compact, very fun banana-shaped case
• No more grids needed
• Theme cards can change up the gameplay
• Games can finish too quickly
• Can get boring for adults

See Related: Must-Have Travel Accessories

2. Battleship Grab and Go Game

Hasbro is one of the leading brands in the toy industry and has been for decades. It should come as no surprise that Hasbro travel board games are readily available. For this entry, we’re spotlighting their Battleship Grab and Go Game .

You’ve played Battleship before, right? Hasn’t everyone? Barely escaping the finishing blow on your last warship is thrilling, and landing that final blow yourself is even more exciting!

This portable board game does its best to emulate the experiences you had as a kid. For the most part, this smaller edition of the board game delivers a similar experience. Some games may finish faster because of the smaller playing area, though.

I love that both players still get a game unit each. You’re not compromising by playing on a shared board. With a game like Battleships, it’s natural to worry about some small pieces potentially getting lost. Thankfully, the brightly colored pegs are easy enough to spot.

Handling the pegs is another matter; sticking them in place sometimes can be tough. Simply put, Battleships is just a ton of fun. This portable version should be considered among the best travel board games, even with the peg issues accounted for.

• Two game units provided
• Units open and block your opponent’s view easily
• 10 ships to play with
• Different kinds of ships included
• Very compact
• Pegs can sometimes be hard to place
• Storage unit could be better

See Related: Can You Use Data on a Plane?

3. Catan Dice Game

Players in the mood for commerce, business, trade, empire-building, and exploration can also find a travel game that caters to their interests. The Catan Dice Game may be one of the best available travel games.

The regular Catan Game is a very immersive and time-intensive experience. It’s the kind of game you can pick up as a real hobby and put several hours into.

You may have been interested in Catan for a while now. If so, you’ll love this new spin on the game. If you’re new to Catan, this portable version can be a great introduction to the cult classic.

Catan travel games can be completed in around 30 minutes but remain fun. The included pieces are also well-detailed. Travel-friendly Catan also makes sense for family outings. Up to four players can join in on a game, so nobody has to be left out.

I do not recommend the Catan Dice Game to those expecting the regular version. Due to the way the game has been downsized, you may find the playing experience unsatisfying. It can be tough for those who already know what regular Catan is like.

• Accommodates up to four players
• Detailed pieces provided
• Games can be finished in about 30 minutes
• Easy to bring for travels
• Great for new players interested in trying regular Catan
• Might not offer a satisfying experience to veteran Catan players
• You’ll need a pen to play

4. Codenames Board Game

Codenames is one of those sneakily addictive board games that you’ll easily get hooked on. There are a lot of strategies involved in this type of game. You have to meticulously lay out your plan of attack together with your team.

If you end up making contact with the assassin, you could find yourself in heaps of trouble! Codenames is one of the best travel board games because it works best for large parties, and travel-size board games typically aren’t meant for that many players.

Codenames is also easy to get into. Once you understand how the game is supposed to work, you’ll start hanging on to each reveal. The manufacturers have included a handy carrying pouch that holds the game easily to make the game more portable.

The downside is that the game doesn’t work as well if you’re playing one-on-one. I don’t think it’s fun to experience that way. Consider that when thinking about whether or not to purchase this game.

• A great choice for a traveling party game
• Suitable for up to 12 players
• Carrying pouch provided
• Pieces are not easy to lose
• Games can be completed in about 15 to 20 minutes
• Not a good choice for two players
• Not the best game for younger kids

See Related: Best Van Camping Equipment

5. Connect 4 Grab & Go Game Travel Size

Connect 4 is one of the most well-known and accessible board games ever. After learning the game’s mechanics, you can quickly put it up and start playing rounds endlessly. It’s an all-time great travel board game.

What makes Connect 4 such a good travel game is that the experience is not affected no matter where you play it. Whether you’re playing the regular version or this Grab and Go version, the experience remains the same.

Both players get 21 checkers each at the start of the game. That means you have plenty of opportunities to make those connections. I also like the way the tray is designed. You can fold it next to the playing grid to compact the whole thing.

The design of the playing grid itself is a bit problematic. Because of how the holes are designed, the checkers tend to fall out of them. You’ll likely open one of your bags and find the checkers scattered inside.

The whole thing also feels a bit flimsy. It may get damaged if you handle it too roughly or store it incorrectly. Keep that in mind when traveling with this portable toy.

• Allows you to enjoy the complete Connect 4 experience on the go
• 21 checkers provided to each player
• Checkers tray folds up next to the playing grid
• Becomes very compact when folded
• Easy to assemble
• Checkers can fall out of the playing grid
• The item feels somewhat flimsy

See Related: Best Travel Security Products

6. Melissa & Doug Store Flip to Win Travel Memory Game

What are the best board games to travel with? Some will say that the best travel board games are the ones that come with no pieces to lose. That way, you can focus on the game and not worry about anything dropping on the ground.

The Flip to Win Travel Memory Game from the Melissa & Doug Store is a personal favorite because of that; no small pieces, but easy-to-find cards!

You have to slide the game card in place and start playing. The set includes seven double-sided cards, so you and your kids have many options. The cards are also laminated so that they won’t tear easily.

You’ll have to tell your kids to be careful when playing. The windows tend to be jarringly loud when they’re shut normally. Your kids must learn to close it slowly to avoid disrupting other passengers.

• No small pieces
• Seven-double sided game cards provided
• Game cards are laminated
• Sliding scorekeeper built into the toy
• Solidly built
• Windows can be loud when closed
• Small windows are designed for small hands

See Related: Best Travel Drones

7. QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set

Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should stop exercising your mind. Playing a few chess matches is an excellent way to keep your mind sharp. The QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set is among the best travel-size board games.

I love the way QuadPro has scaled down the chess pieces without sacrificing much in the way of detail. The pieces don’t look or feel cheap at all. The one complaint about the chess pieces is that they don’t stick to the board equally well.

Some pieces have seemingly been outfitted with better magnets than others, or maybe it’s the shape and size of the pieces. It’s not great, considering the game sells itself as magnetic.

As for the board, it’s very smart and clean-lined. It can be on the delicate side; the black paint on the board can be scratched easily, so be careful. You don’t need ample space to start playing. Even a small surface will do, and that’s why I rate this classic as one of the best travel board games.

When you’re done playing, you can store all the pieces inside the foldable board. The board has a good catch to secure it, so you can expect the pieces to remain there. It also comes with a handy travel pouch .

• Chess pieces are well detailed
• Foldable chess board provided
• All the pieces fit inside the board easily
• You can play even on a small surface
• Small pouch provided
• Black paint on the board can be scratched easily
• Magnets vary in strength

8. Scattergories The Card Game

Good board game manufacturers will find a way to take a tried and true formula and translate it well to the travel format. That’s precisely what you’re getting in The Card Game version of Scattergories !

For this version of the game, players use cards. Letter and category cards are provided, which can be separated easily to avoid making a mess.

This portable version of Scattergories may have introduced some tweaks to the original game. Still, the experience you get remains delightful, and it’s the same kind of fun you’ve come to expect from playing this household favorite.

There is a lot to like about this portable game, but I found the categories lacking as it is scaled down from the original. It won’t take long before the game starts to feel repetitive.

• A great twist on a classic game
• Cards are easy to store
• Cards will not move all over the place while in storage
• Games can be finished in 30 minutes
• Works for up to four players
• Cards are susceptible to damage
• More category cards would be welcome

See Related : Best Travel Movies

9. Scrabble Deluxe Travel Edition

Our list of the best travel board games would not be complete without Scrabble . For this article, I want to draw your attention to the travel-friendly version of Scrabble by the WS Game Company.

You would expect a full Scrabble set to be heavy, but that is not the case at all with this item. The wooden case only weighs one and a half pounds.

The case also uses magnets to keep it shut when you’re traveling. I also love how the case looks when it’s closed – it’s pretty fancy. Weight can be an issue with the tiles, but it’s not because they’re heavy.

If anything, they’re too light, which can lead to them falling off the board after minor bumps. Ensure you keep the tiles out of play inside the bag so you don’t lose them. I want to mention that the text on the board is relatively small. Those with poor eyesight may struggle to read the board properly.

• Very lightweight
• The case looks elegant when closed
• Magnets keep the case tightly shut
• Tiles can be stored inside the board
• A pouch for the tiles is also provided
• Tiles are too lightweight
• Writings on the board can be tough to read

See Related : How to Pack Formula for Air Travel

10. Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere Checkers

Checkers is a good game to play while in transit. It involves a lot of engagement, but it’s not quite as demanding as chess. If you’re a traveling checkers fan, check out the Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere Checkers. It is arguably the top iteration of travel checkers’ board games.

You’re getting 12 magnetic red checkers as well 12 magnetic black checkers. They stay on the board pretty well too. The checkers won’t get dislodged even if your vehicle goes over a bump .

However, note that the checkers will not stick to one another via magnets. That can be a problem if one of your pieces has been kinged. The checker on top may fall off quite often.

The markings on the checkers tend to rub off quickly too. You can still play even if the markings rub off, but it’s lame that they’re so fragile. Overall, I regard this as one of the better travel board games. It’s a faithful recreation of a popular game and translates well to a portable package.

What are the best travel-sized board games for toddlers?

Some of the best travel-sized board games for toddlers include Spot It! Animals , HABA My Very First Games – First Orchard , and Peaceable Kingdom Snug as a Bug in a Rug . These games are compact and easy to carry and designed to be engaging and educational for toddlers. They promote skills like color recognition, counting, and teamwork, making them perfect for travel entertainment.

What are the best board games for plane travel? Answer:

The best board games for plane travel are compact, easy to set up, and offer engaging gameplay. Examples include Ticket to Ride: New York , Bananagrams , and Travel Qwirkle . These games are small enough to fit in a carry-on bag, don’t require a lot of space to play, and can entertain players for a flight. They’re excellent for keeping both children and adults entertained during travel.

Related Resources

• Best Road Trip Books for Kids
• Best Roadtrips in the USA
• How to Go on a Road Trip with Kids

The Best Travel Games

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.  Learn more .

Our Picks For The Top Travel Games

1. mattel games uno family card game & storage case tin travel game, 2. briarpatch scavenger hunt for kids road trip search & find cards travel game, 3. gamie mini magnetic board games, 4. regal games reusable shutter slide travel bingo cards travel games, 4-count, 5. coogam travel tangram magnetic puzzle book travel game, 6. ja-ru pocket travel tic tac toe plastic board travel games.

Mattel Games

Uno family card game & storage case tin travel game.

This is the classic Uno game in a storage-friendly format. You'll get a sturdy tin box filled with 112 cards and gameplay instruction, so it can take many bumps in the car. Uno is easy to learn and play, and is suited for ages 7 and older.

Destination Fun This set of UNO cards comes in a storage-friendly tin for hours of fun while traveling.

Scavenger Hunt For Kids Road Trip Search & Find Cards Travel Game

This fun scavenger hunt involves simply monitoring the world outside your vehicle as you travel. You'll get 54 cards, each displaying a sound, sight, smell, or feeling card. The game is designed for two or more players aged 7 and up.

Keeps Little Ones Busy Children will have a blast using all their senses to complete this road-based scavenger hunt.

Mini Magnetic Board Games

With these board games for kids 7 and up, you'll get a total of 12 games. Each game is compact and individually boxed for use when traveling or waiting in a doctor's office. The pieces are magnetic, so you won't have to worry about them sliding off the game board when going over bumps in the road.

Handy Pick Just a few of the skills your kids will learn with these board games for kids 7 and up include spatial reasoning, problem solving and math skills.

Regal Games

Reusable shutter slide travel bingo cards travel games, 4-count.

In this set, you'll get four reusable Bingo cards in a handy travel format. Each card has a shutter slide that you move to mark off an item once you've found it. Slots depict items commonly found on road trips like traffic lights, billboards and farm animals.

Fun for Groups Get the whole family in on the fun with this set of Auto Bingo cards designed for portable play.

Buying Guide

If you’re a parent of one or more younger children, you may gravitate toward a car trip for a variety of reasons. Traveling with your own vehicle makes it easier to manage temper tantrums, since you don’t have to worry about disrupting other travelers. You also have the flexibility to take bathroom breaks and enjoy a roadside picnic or a meal in a restaurant whenever you want.

But travel by car isn’t without its challenges. The line, “Are we there yet?” has become synonymous with family road trips for a reason. Bored and impatient backseat travelers will likely turn to parents for entertainment, and when that happens, you may find yourself scrambling for something to do. That’s where a good backseat travel game can come in.

The criteria for a good travel game differs from what you play at home. If you’re just looking for something to pass the time when you arrive at your destination, like a card game for the whole family, portability is the main requirement You’ll need one that can fit easily into a suitcase, unless you have extra room in your truck for larger board games.

MORE:  4 Tips and tricks for smooth road trips with kids

For the car, there are some travel games that the whole family can enjoy. A scavenger hunt-style game can work well, allowing everyone in the vehicle to participate. Keep in mind that your backseat passengers probably won’t have a table between them, so a board game that is magnetic or has no separate pieces is ideal.

What to Look For

• While it’s nice to have activities to occupy your children while you’re in transit, don’t forget that you’ll need something to do once you arrive at your destination, too. A game for your hotel room or vacation rental can be invaluable if you find yourself stuck inside on a rainy day, or you’re looking for something low-cost to do after dinner.
• If your travel game has removable pieces, make sure you have a plan for keeping them together. Otherwise, you could be finding small pieces under and between seats later. A game with magnetic pieces is a good option for avoiding this. Also, be sure to have a way to store it all while you’re traveling.
• Scavenger hunt games can be fun, but some aren’t geared toward interstate travel. If the game has you trying to locate stop signs and pedestrians, you might have a tough time making it work during long stretches in the car. Keep that in mind and go with something a bit more highway-friendly.
• Check the age recommendations of the travel game you’re considering. Some can be too advanced for younger children.
• Most travel games are designed for two or more players. This can be tough if you have a solo backseat traveler. If that’s the case, look for games that will engage everyone in the car without being too distracting.
• If you’re opting for a travel-size version of a game, make sure it comes with instructions. More portable formats can leave this important detail out. Most popular games will likely have instructions online, but this won’t necessarily be the case with a newer game.
• Kids can also get restless while waiting in restaurants, amusement park lines, and other vacation-related spaces. A good game can be a great way to power throughout those waits and make the time pass.
• Travel games also work just as well for other modes of transportation, such as riding on a train or bus and flying in an airplane. They’re great during airport layovers. Just know that game cards and some game pieces may show up as unidentifiable shadows in x-rays, which means you may be flagged going through airport security. You might wish to take games out of your luggage and place them in trays with your shoes and laptop as you pass through security checkpoints.
• Before leaving home, make sure you have everything you need for your games. You might need writing utensils to keep score or to fill in the blanks on your activity pad.
• MORE:   How to prepare for summer road trips so you save money

Travel Game Rankings

More to Explore

Check out a few more road trip essentials:

• The Best Car Cup Holder For The Backseat
• The Best Car Garbage Can
• The Best Portable Toilet

Latest Reviews

From our partners

Oakland A's play final game at the Coliseum: Check out the best photos

The Athletics played their final game at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday afternoon, defeating the defending champion Texas Rangers, 3-2 .

The game marked the end of an era — after 57 seasons in Oakland that saw the A's make 21 playoff appearances, win six pennants and four World Series championships, the team is bound for Sacramento and then, eventually, Las Vegas.

Understandably, Thursday's game produced a wide gamut of emotions. Imagn Images and Getty Images photographers were there to capture it all.

Check out some of the best photos from the final A's game at the Oakland Coliseum:

All things A's: Latest Oakland Athletics news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

This Sci-Fi Comedy With 95% on Rotten Tomatoes Turns Time Travel Into a Twisted Love Game

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

The Infinite Man is an example of a great sci-fi premise meeting great execution. Dean ( Josh McConville ), an awkward scientist who has to over-complicate everything, sucks himself, his girlfriend Lana ( Hannah Marshall ), and her ex, Terry ( Alex Dimitriades ), into a time loop in order to “improve” his and Lana’s relationship. Despite it being Hugh Sullivan 's directorial debut, he has such a great grip on the narrative and character arcs that it means we are never confused by which timeline variant we are following. This is greatly helped by the terrific performances from all three cast members, particularly Josh McConville, who brilliantly leads this film. In need of an easy watch with likable characters and an interesting plot exploring engaging themes? Then this is a brilliant 85-minute film that teaches screenwriters and engages cinephiles, leaving you with many ideas to delve into even after watching The Infinite Man .

Dean Is His Own Worst Enemy and the Best Part of 'The Infinite Man'

Dean is such a fun character to watch throughout this film, his hunched-over figure and constant scientific babbling are both endearing and frustrating. However, it's the way that Dean ties himself up in more and more complicated loops that keeps this film twisting and turning in an entertaining way. He begins the film believing that Terry is his greatest enemy as a romantic rival. Terry knocks him out, and he wakes up thinking that Lana is telling Terry they should run off with a few beers to the beach. However, through the time loops, we see that it was a future version of himself Lana wanted to run off with. The great part about this twist is how it flips the villainous role, exposing how Dean is the true core of the issues in his relationship. It's a great mid-point in the movie that advances yet flips the protagonist's goal, making him focus inward rather than outward.

Whilst he’s his own worst enemy, Josh McConville’s performance as Dean is the best thing about this film , as his arc from a stuttering mess who needs Lana to someone willing to work on himself by himself, is brilliant, especially when future versions of himself interact. Director, Hugh Sullivan, in an interview with Moveable Fest , considered it an "extraordinary performance" that McConville was able to act opposite himself, and he truly does an incredible job. The confident swagger McConville shows to his past self when he hands him the note, proving to know the future (yes, explaining this film in words is as difficult as it seems), is such a new side to the character. The present Dean's certainty about the future seems almost unimaginable, yet his journey reveals how his future self becomes his greatest antagonist. This evolution serves as a natural progression for a scientist, drawing confidence from observation and experience.

'The Infinite Man' Explores Fascinating Ideas Around Toxic Relationships

Whilst this is a comedy, the exploration of how time travel can represent the repetitiveness of a relationship that just won’t work, no matter how much you both want it to, adds a tragedy to The Infinite Man . Having seen the effort Dean has put into winning Lana, he has to accept he must wait and improve himself. In an interview with Flixist , Hugh Sullivan said he saw "time travel" as "a good metaphor for the various flaws" within Dean , and how it forces Dean to address his own issues is done very well, giving depth to The Infinite Man .

These Low-Budget Movies Became Some of the Best Blockbusters

Sometimes low-budget movies go on to become all-time blockbuster films. How many of your all-time favorites were made on a shoestring budget?

The final scene of a future Dean appearing to Lana with chocolates and flowers, as she told the original Dean she wanted, is upsetting despite what should be the comforting knowledge that Dean will figure it out. Seeing this character grow, and seeing what he will become, we are still unsure if this 'final future' is truly final, or just the next step in a turbulent relationship. It shows how well the time travel aspect of this film is handled that we don't see it as a deus-ex-machina solution to Dean's issues, but just a tool to expose them.

'The Infinite Man' Brilliantly Makes the Most of Its Limited Budget

The Infinite Man is an incredible example of maximizing a smaller budget . Despite there only ever being three actors on screen at any time, we feel like there are far more due to the multiple versions of Dean, Lana, and even Terry that all contribute to their arcs, brilliantly merging past, present, and future versions of the characters without confusing the audience. For example, Terry is such an MVP who has a decent arc in the end, proving to not be Dean’s enemy, but someone simply on a parallel journey trying to win Lana the same way Dean is.

Not only this, but somehow Sullivan is able to make sure the setting of The Infinite Man , a deserted holiday town, never becomes boring . Sullivan, in an interview with SBS , explained that "writing to" this limited setting was helpful, as he was able to write in creative ways in order to craft a film that "feels a little richer and more expansive" than the simple budget it was working with. One of the main reasons Sullivan succeeds in this goal is that, despite being in identical rooms, because of the wilder and wilder situations that Dean, Lana, and Terry find themselves in, there isn't time to notice this same scenery. We enjoy the cat-and-mouse game of future versions of these characters hiding from their past selves in identical rooms because it heightens the tension and comedic irony of not knowing where the next Dean will come from.

The Infinite Man is a film that flies by and should be held up as an example of great scriptwriting and direction. It's amazing how easy it is to follow despite the complex narrative and concept, a testament to Sullivan and the performances of the actors involved, with Josh McConville providing a powerful leader the audience can follow throughout the film. The way time travel is used to explore the repetitiveness of relationships and flawed individuals is fascinating and keeps the limited setting and budget engaging throughout, making the scope of this film feel far broader than it is. Overall, this is an incredibly impressive directorial debut and a fantastic addition to the sci-fi genre.

The Infinite Man (2014)

Dean attempts to create the perfect romantic weekend for his girlfriend Lana using time travel. However, his obsessive tinkering with time spirals out of control, leading to multiple versions of themselves, tangled timelines, and a chaotic loop that challenges their love and reality itself.

The Infinite Man is available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.

WATCH ON TUBI

• Movie Features

• Foreign Films

• Grooming Awards
• How to Tie a Tie
• Best Coffee Beans
• How to Shape a Beard
• Best Sweaters for Men
• Most Expensive Cognac
• Monos vs Away Luggage
• Best Luxury Hotel Chains
• Fastest Cars in the World
• Ernest Hemingway Books
• What Does CBD Feel Like?
• Canada Goose Alternatives
• Fastest Motorcycles in the World

6 best things to do in Austin, according to a local

Check out a local's guide to the best things to do in austin, texas, including where to swim, eat, drink, and more.

Lots of people visit Austin, Texas . In fact, the latest stats show that Austin gets over 30 million visitors each year. Those travelers often visit destinations like central 6th Street (the “dirty six”) and Rainey Street, which are both … great if you want a really loud, sloppy night. But there’s so much more to do in Austin, and it’s all way cooler than hanging around a bunch of other tourists in a cheesy bar.

If you really want to explore the city’s vibe (and escape the wailing thirtysomething “woo girls” having a bachelorette party), visit these destinations instead. Trust me, you’ll have a much better experience and see more of what makes Austin truly special.

Explore Zilker and Barton Creek

Zilker is a massive 361-acre park, and it’s located directly in the middle of the city. You can walk there from downtown and once you’re there, you can get some amazing skyline views. Zilker is home to miles of hiking and biking trails, but most famously, it has Barton Springs Pool. A 68-degree, spring-fed public pool, Barton Springs is a must-visit during the summer. Not only does the cold water feel amazing when it’s 100 degrees outside, but it’s also a social hub for locals. Everyone goes to Barton Springs in the summer, so it has a fantastic community feel.

• Don’t make these mistakes when visiting the Smoky Mountains in October
• Don’t expect to get a good night’s sleep at these popular vacation spots
• Smoky Mountains soon to see road closures for maintenance

But my personal favorite is Barton Creek. Barton Springs is fenced in and costs $5 dollars ($9 dollars for y’all who don’t live in Austin). But through the fence, the water flows down a creek into the Colorado River. The creek is completely free, and in my opinion, way more fun. People play music, bring their dogs, lounge on their paddleboards, and jump into the creek from rope swings. It’s a really fun time and is a great way to explore Austin’s famous outdoorsy vibe.

Dine on South 1st Street

Yep, I know … all the websites talk about South Congress Ave. and how amazing it is. They’re not wrong. It’s definitely great to stroll down South Congress because it has a lot going on, but for the best food, go one street over to South 1st. For starters, South 1st is still far less developed than South Congress, and many of the restaurants sit under the shade of large trees and have great creekside patios, giving it a way more chill and local feel.

Grab some Vietnamese fusion at Elizabeth Street Cafe, elevated fine dining at Lenoir, or some quirky vegetarian fare at Bouldin Creek Cafe – a spot that’s a total Austin institution and shows off the old “Keep Austin Weird” spirit that initially made ATX so special. On top of South 1st’s many restaurants, you’ll also find coffee shops, bakeries, ice cream shops, and more.

Chill out at a rooftop pool

As I said before, summers in Austin are hot. And to be honest, Austin can be pretty hot long before and after summertime. You can have 90+ degree days from May through October. That’s why almost every apartment complex in the city has a pool. For locals, hanging at the pool is a big part of life.

There are also tons of hotels in the city that have really awesome rooftop pools. I feel like Austin has a bit of Miami vibes when you’re at a pool since many have poolside bars and DJs playing music. Some hotels, like the JW Marriot, even sell day passes for the pool area. The best rooftop pools in town are the Marriot, JW Marriott, Fairmont, W, and Austin Proper.

My personal favorite, though, is the Marriott because next to the pool is a rooftop lounge Zanzibar . The vibe isn’t pretentious or influencer-obnoxious, and is instead, super chill with great views of the city, icy cold drinks, and great topical-inspired snacks like ahi tuna guacamole and plantain chips served with pineapple salsa.

Listen to live music

Austin is known as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” and as much as I normally hate local bands (seriously, to me, they sound like amateur hour at karaoke night), I have to admit that Austin is loaded with some legit talent. What also makes Austin so cool is that there’s such a wide array of talented musicians from different genres. You can find venues for bluegrass, folk, punk, rock, and more. There’s even a busker who performs on South Congress sometimes with an electric violin, and even they’re fantastic.

On top of local music, Austin also gets big-name musicians who come through town, so you can find any type of music you want. Some iconic local institutions include the Continental Club, Stubbs BBQ , and Hole in the Wall, or check out bigger musicians who come to perform at ACL Live and the Moody Center.

Visit during an event

Austin has some seriously cool events throughout the year and the city’s vibe completely changes when something big is going on. The two major events Are South by Southwest ( SXSW ) in the spring and Austin City Limits (ACL) in the fall.

SXSW has gotten so big it’s almost hard to explain what it is anymore. It’s an ideas festival where prominent voices come to share their stories and innovations in TED Talk-style panels. But it’s also huge for entertainment and has a yearly film festival that premieres massive movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once and Civil War . It also has its own music festival and a whole series of events for the gaming industry … as well as events for travel, sustainability, food, AI, and more. This year Delta even came and opened up a pop-up lounge, and Amazon Prime Video created an apocalyptic wasteland to promote its show Fallout . Whatever your interests are, I guarantee you that someone at SXSW is doing an event for it.

ACL is the other massive annual event. It’s one of the biggest music festivals in the country and takes place over two weekends. Each year the festival gets massive headliners and tons of smaller indie acts, too. In 2023, there was a total 140 performers. Everyone from the Foo Fighters to Paul McCartney and Dua Lipa has played ACL.

Other big events throughout the year include Fantastic Fest, one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the world, the annual U.S. Grand Prix F1 race, the Moontower Comedy Festival, and if you’re one of the athletically inclined among us, there’s also the Austin marathon and the CapTex triathlon.

Venture away from 6th Street to find the city’s coolest bars

Austin has tons of fun and unique bars where there’s lots more to do than just drink. My favorite spot in town is Cidercade . This arcade bar sits on the river and has a great outdoor patio overlooking the water. Inside, there are over 150 arcade games, pinball machines, skeeball, and more, and the bar serves over a dozen varieties of Bishop hard ciders. During the day, it has a good number of kids, but it becomes 18+ after 9 p.m. (s0 go at night for the best experience).

Another great spot is Cosmic , which now has two locations, though the South Austin spot is the more famous one. Grab beer, wine, or coffee and sit under large trees strung up with camp lights as you play board games and listen to music. There’s also a big array of food trucks on the property serving up some seriously good eats. The outdoor setting makes Cosmic feel inviting and casual while still being really fun. It’s great for a Friday night or Sunday afternoon.

Another personal favorite is the Hula Hut . Technically a restaurant, the Hut sits right on the lake and has a massive deck overlooking the water. Lots of people visit to sit on the deck and grab an app or two (which are all Polynesian takes on Tex-Mex favorites) while sipping on some of the establishment’s signature drinks like the Hu-La-La and the boozy Lake Austin Lemonade. It’s not exactly Hawaii, but with drinks and snacks this good, you won’t care.

Editors’ Recommendations

• National parks, monuments, and seashores close in preparation for Hurricane Helene
• Planning a fall car rental? These U.S. cities offer the best and worst deals
• AAA shares the top fall travel destinations for 2024
• Forget cruises: An Alaskan wilderness road trip is the ultimate adventure
• National Park Service lifts campfire ban for Olympic National Park

Travelers planning a trip to the United Kingdom in 2025 will need to budget for an additional fee as the country rolls out its long-awaited electronic travel authorization (ETA) system. Starting November 27, 2024, all non-British and non-Irish citizens will be required to obtain an ETA or an eVisa before entering the UK.

The new policy mandates that eligible non-Europeans apply for an ETA ahead of their travels, with the requirement taking effect on January 8, 2025. Eligible European travelers will also be impacted, as they will need to apply for an ETA starting March 5, 2025, with enforcement beginning on April 2, 2025.

The gorgeous city of Rome is complete with amazing historical attractions and unforgettable experiences. But while the Eternal City offers endless attractions, its strategic location makes it the perfect base for exploring more of Italy’s stunning landscapes, historic towns, and iconic sites. Searching for a medieval village? No problem. Want to relax on a sunny beach? Sure thing. Looking to visit ancient ruins? There are plenty of spots for that. No matter what you are in the mood for, there are many incredible day trips from Rome that promise to enhance your Italian adventure. So, if you’re planning a trip to Rome, it’s worth setting aside a few extra days to discover the gems just beyond the city walls. Pompeii

Time to get there: 2 hours by car, 4 hours by train

Looking for a beach vacation spot that guarantees pristine waters and immaculate shores? The results are in from the Blue Flag International Jury 2024, showcasing the countries with the cleanest beaches in the world. The Blue Flag is one of the most respected global symbols of excellence when it comes to environmental sustainability, cleanliness, and safety. To earn the prestigious "Blue Flag" distinction, beaches must adhere to rigorous environmental standards, from water quality to safety measures and accessibility. These countries are home to the cleanest beaches in the world. Which countries are home to the cleanest beaches?

Spain takes the crown with a staggering 639 beaches, earning the coveted Blue Flag status. In fact, Spain has held the title for the most Blue Flag beaches since the system’s inception, and it’s easy to see why. Among the country’s top beach destinations, Isla Antilla offers golden sands and calm waters in the southwest, perfect for a relaxing retreat. The Corinto beach in Valencia is a hidden gem, known for its serene atmosphere and crystal clear waters. If you find yourself in Mallorca, then check out the Cala Ferrera Cove, which combines dramatic cliffs with turquoise seas.

• Sports Betting
• Sports Entertainment
• Sportsbooks
• Betting Apps
• Editorial Standards

Breaking News

Fever vs. sun game 2 prediction: wnba playoffs odds, picks, best bets.

Domination. That’s the best way to describe the Connecticut Sun’s Game 1 performance against the Indiana Fever. Connecticut won by 24 points at home against one of the hottest teams over the past month.

The Sun got incredible outings from two-way star Alyssa Thomas and Marina Mabrey, who knocked down five 3-pointers on a 42% clip off the bench.

Further, the Sun shut down star rookie point guard Caitlin Clark, holding her to just 4-of-17 shooting.

Will the Sun string together another awe-inspiring outing behind elite defensive pressure on Clark, or will the superhuman rookie find a way to extend the series for the Fever?

Fever vs. Sun odds

Fever vs. sun prediction.

(7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Connecticut ranks first in defensive rating, first in opponent points in the paint, first in opponent fastbreak points, first in opponent turnover percentage, fourth in opponent effective field goal percentage and fourth in defensive rebounding percentage.

The Sun’s exceptional defense was on display for Game 1’s entire 40 minutes.

They held an Indiana team that has shot 47% from the field and 40% from behind the arc since returning from the extended break to a meager 40/21/75 shooting split.

DeWanna Bonner was sensational in defending Clark, while Thomas put up a triple-double, and Mabrey finished with a playoff career-high 27 points off the bench.

Indiana has very little playoff experience, which showed toward the end of the first half and the entirety of the fourth quarter.

Still, don’t expect the Fever to shoot as poorly in Game 2; they had the WNBA’s best post-break offense for a reason.

As usual, Connecticut’s defense was great, but Indiana had plenty of opportunities and open looks that it failed to convert.

Additionally, the Sun shot close to 50% from the field and 50% from behind the arc, which is partially due to Indiana’s matador-like defense.

However, it is borderline unreasonable to expect a team that ranked eighth (out of 12 teams) in effective field goal percentage to have another lights-out shooting night in Game 2.

Check Out the Best Sports Betting Sites and Apps

• Check out the best sports betting sites
• Download the best sports betting apps

Fever vs. Sun pick

The Sun opened as seven-point favorites but the line has since been bet down to six.

While I would prefer a three-possession spread, in this do-or-die spot, six points is still too wide for a Fever team that has been one of the best in the W over the past month. 

Pick: Fever +6 (-110, Caesars )

8 Best JRPGs With Time-Travel Mechanics, Ranked

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

6 Forgotten Villains in Classic JRPGs

Best jrpgs featuring reluctant heroes, ranked, 6 most ambitious final fantasy games, ranked.

Time mechanics can be some of the coolest features in games if implemented well. For example, Loop Hero finds players in a wasteland trying to rebuild the world one death at a time before everything reverts. Then there are games like Braid which gives players direct control over time powers. They can rewind time in case they made a mistake which is also true for various Prince of Persia games.

6 Best PS2 RPGs That Never Came To America

These PS2 RPGs spread across Japan, and Europe in some cases, but never North America.

What about games from Japan, specifically in the JRPG genre? There have been quite a few titles that have used time concepts well, so let’s get to a few examples. Some are classics while others may have flown under the radar initially. There are some spoilers.

8 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

Giving players the ability to relive choices, tactics ogre: let us cling together, your rating.

Your comment has not been saved

Typically in games, choices made are final and to see new results, players have to replay the game or reload a save. The PSP version of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together , which is full of choices that branch out the timeline, added a new way to interact with time. When needed, players can go into a timeline that represents every major and minor choice made in the game and how that choice branches off. It’s not a time-traveling element that characters acknowledge in the story. It, however, is a nice quality-of-life feature for players to enjoy and to get away from replaying the game dozens of times.

7 Fire Emblem Awakening

Making babies with a loophole, fire emblem: awakening.

Fire Emblem Awakening did a lot of great things in the Fire Emblem series like adding a casual mode for Westerners for the first time, even though it had been done in Japan before. Relationships played a factor in the series up to this point but they got more extreme here. Two characters could conceive a child and there was no perfect pairing. That child would then pop out of a time hole all grown up and ready for battle. Lucina, for example, was the result of time manipulation. It’s one of the strangest time mechanics in games. While players cannot directly control the flow of time, it’s still a clever use of it.

6 Bravely Default

A climactic twist of time, bravely default.

Bravely Default felt like a spiritual successor to the classic Final Fantasy games for the most part. There was a Job system, turn-based combat, elemental crystals, and so on. About a third of the way through, players would discover a twist: time distortion.

Despite appearing in famous, classic JRPGs, these villains didn't exactly achieve the status of memorable in their respective games.

The game resets itself, forcing the characters to go through the events again this time with new knowledge. It’s another example wherein the time mechanic is not controllable but it is a vital part of the story as players will be stuck in this time loop several times and can affect changes depending on choices made. It was all because of Airy, the fairy companion, who tried to keep the party in this loop.

5 Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time

Two brothers become four, mario & luigi: partners in time.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time was the second entry in the brotherly RPG series . This time, an alien invasion causes time holes to open up, forcing Mario and Luigi through. They find their infant versions about to be destroyed, so they team up to fight back the alien invaders. Players will hop back and forth between the past and present, making little changes to move forward. It’s more of a story mechanic than anything else, but the ability to interact with all four characters helped put a spin on the active turn-based battles.

4 Final Fantasy 13-2

Using monsters to fix the past and future, final fantasy 13-2.

Final Fantasy 13-2 was a direct sequel to the original which put Serah as the lead. Lightning is missing in a time rift and Serah meets Noel, someone who helps keep peace of the flow of time, to aid in her search. A little Moogle accompanies him who can help facilitate time travel. Players will go through multiple eras trying to correct imbalances in time while seeking Lightning out. There aren’t many cases where doing one thing in the past will affect another, but completing a mission will fix the flow thus opening up new junctions to time travel into. The biggest twist to gameplay was the party members as Serah and Noel could add a monster to their third-party slot.

3 Radiant Historia

Using time to redo mistakes, radiant historia.

Radiant Historia has a dark opening wherein the main character, Stocke, loses a battle and gets his patrol wiped out. He then gains the power of time travel via a magical grimoire. The first thing he does is scout out the ambush that killed his party, thus getting an advantage to save his comrades.

These JRPG characters may have hesitated initially, but they were heroic in the end in their respective, epic adventures.

That’s one example, but there are a lot of puzzle-like scenarios like this that players need to solve to move forward. From changing the minds of characters to getting past monsters, there are some truly challenging setups in this turn-based RPG . It’s the first real direct implementation of time travel as a usable mechanic on this list.

2 Dragon Quest 7: Fragments Of The Forgotten Past

Piecing the puzzling past back together, dragon quest 7: fragments of the forgotten past.

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is one of the most challenging in the Dragon Quest series thanks to its non-linearity. Players will find puzzle pieces in ruins and once all are connected they will take the party to a new place in time. Solving problems of the past will unlock more puzzle pieces but sometimes they can be hidden too. The overall goal is to put all puzzles together in this temple which is supposed to fix all of time and to stop an evil power from reawakening again. It’s a rewarding game overall to help put time back on track plus the class system, called Vocations, gives players a lot of reasons to enter battles.

1 Chrono Trigger

One of the firsts to do it, chrono trigger.

Chrono Trigger was one of the first JRPGs to implement time travel as a story function and a gameplay mechanic . The game started simply with time rifts opening up around the world that connected to other eras. One may transport the party to the Middle Ages equivalent while another could take them to the future. Solving main quests and side quests would affect the world from erecting a bridge to reforesting a desert area. Eventually, players got to control a flying time-traveling airship called Epoch, giving them more opportunities to explore the various eras of time. Besides this cool gimmick, the turn-based combat system, music, and art style have helped Chrono Trigger remain a timeless classic.

Will Final Fantasy ever fly too close to the sun with wild ideas?