Games are great ice-breakers and time-killers while travelling. However, the best board games are often not luggage-limit-friendly. So, here I’ve compiled my suggestions for the best travel games, which I personally travel with or have played while on my travels.
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1. Ticket to Ride: New York
I love Ticket to Ride and I’ve been known to get very competitive during a game, so I was pleased to find Ticket to Ride: New York, which is a travel-sized version.
This fast-paced version of the game only takes about 15 minutes to play, making it ideal for a quick airport layover or when you don’t have time for a full-length game. Players race to claim routes and connect famous New York City landmarks using taxis instead of trains. Its small box and quick gameplay make it perfect for travel.
2. Bananagrams
If word games are your style, Bananagrams is a fantastic travel option. It’s a fast-paced, portable alternative to Scrabble or Boggle (also favourites of mine) that comes in a banana-shaped pouch, making it easy to pack.
Players race against each other to build their own word grids using letter tiles, and the game is fast, fun, and easy to learn. This was a game I travelled with during my years teaching English and often came in handy for language learning.
There’s now a World’s Smallest Bananagrams that’s even smaller and lighter.
3. Love Letter
Love Letter is a quick, simple card game that packs a lot of strategy into a small package. With just 16 cards, players must outwit their opponents by eliminating them or winning the affection of the princess through clever card play.
I was first introduced to this game by a fellow traveller in Cyprus and it did’t take long before I got my own pack. Its compact size and easy-to-learn rules make it a perfect travel game for couples or small groups.
4. Uno
A classic card game, Uno has been a travel staple for years. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and quick to play, making it great for players of all ages. The goal is simple: be the first to get rid of all your cards while using special action cards to block or outsmart your opponents.
The biggest obstacle is deciding the rules before play or realising part way through that every country and culture plays slightly differently!
It’s the perfect game for families or friends to play on road trips, flights, or even at the beach. Just don’t play with Argentinians. They take it very seriously.
5. Dobble / Spot It!
Dobble (known as Spot It! in some regions) is a fast and frantic card game that’s perfect for travel. The game features circular cards with various symbols, and players race to spot the matching symbol between two cards.
It’s quick, easy to learn, and comes in a small tin, making it ideal for packing in your carry-on or backpack for quick games during downtime. I’ve found it’s also a fun way to learn a language: I’ve been challenging myself to play in Spanish.
6. Connect 4: Grab and Go
Everyone loves a good game of Connect 4, and the Grab and Go version makes it easy to bring the fun wherever you go. This smaller, travel-friendly version of the classic game lets you drop checkers into the grid to see who can get four in a row first.
It’s easy to set up and play during a train ride, at a café, or a bar (it gets better the more you drink, trust me), providing simple yet addictive entertainment.
7. India
You may know this game, or a similar version of it, by the names of Trouble, Ludo, Sorry, Parcheesi, Frustration, or something else. But when my boyfriend and I were stuck inside during rainy season in the Dominican Republic, our Airbnb only had one game it was called India.
We got so addicted that we bought the full game and travel with it now, playing doubles against each other, or roping others into our ongoing competition.
The game is played by moving tokens around the board based on dice rolls, with the goal of getting all your tokens to the center before your opponents. It’s a fun, competitive game that works well for families or groups of friends
8. Spoons
Spoons is a classic card game that’s perfect for travel. All you need is a deck of cards and some spoons (or any other small objects you have handy).
Players race to collect four of a kind, and once they do, they grab a spoon from the center. The fast-paced action and simple rules make it perfect for groups of any size, and since it requires minimal equipment, it’s easy to play anywhere. It’s a great ice-breaker but watch out: it can get aggressive!
9. Werewolf
Werewolf is a social deduction game perfect for larger groups. You may also know it as Mafia or a version with a few extra rules called Secret Hitler. There’s also a popular TV version now called Traitors.
Players take on hidden roles as villagers or werewolves, and the goal is for the villagers to figure out who the werewolves are before they take over the village.
With minimal components (you can use playing cards or pieces of paper with the roles written on them), Werewolf is great for travel, especially with friends or family looking for a game that involves bluffing, deduction, and a bit of role-play. It’s perfect for long evenings at a campsite or a group setting.
Honorable Mention: Backpacker Bingo
Special mention goes to a game that I invented (not sure I can truly claim that, but oh well) called Backpacker Bingo! Give yourself a point (or a drink) when you come across these stereotypes while travelling!
More Travel Games
Whether you’re looking for something strategic, quick, or just plain fun, there’s a game on this list to suit your travel style. These also make great gifts and stocking stuffers for the traveller in your life.
Do you have any other travel game recommendations? I’m always looking for more, so let me know in the comments below.