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The 27 Best Travel-sized Games of 2024

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

2 player travel board games

Best Card Games

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

  • Tips for Buying

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

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

Monopoly Deal

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

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

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

Brass Monkey

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

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 LLC Taco vs. Burrito 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

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.

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.

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5 best travel board games to take on holiday this summer

Carry-on cardboard.

With vaccines rolling out it’s hopefully not long until we can once again shove ourselves into tiny airplane seats and lose our luggage on the way to stunning destinations around the world.

Whether you’re cruising around the Caribbean, sightseeing in San Marino or surfing off the coasts of South America, it’s always worth bringing a travel board game or two for those warm nights in the hotel.

Best travel board games

  • Railroad Ink Challenge
  • Tiny Epic series
  • Welcome to the Dungeon
  • Dice Academy

If you are taking cardboard abroad, you’re going to need portable board games that fit in your luggage alongside the rest of your holiday essentials.

1. Railroad Ink Challenge

Roll, write and ride your way across this travel-themed dice game

2 player travel board games

With travel on the mind it seems fitting that we start this list with a game all about train lines and roads - and thanks to a brand new entry in the series it also happens to be the newest board game of the bunch.

Railroad Ink, along with its new advanced version Railroad Ink Challenge, is a roll-and-write puzzler that can be enjoyed solo or with up to three other players. In the game you’ll spend a number of turns rolling picture dice and drawing whatever shapes and routes come up onto your wipe-clean board.

Each player board has the same arrangement of open train tracks and roads along each side of its 7x7 square grid. Your job is to draw the routes that pop up in each roll of the dice to try and connect those open paths together, with each connection worth more and more points if you can connect them all to the same route. You’ll also score points for filling in the centre squares of your board and for the longest unbroken railway and highway on your board at the end of the game.

Cover image for YouTube video

Railroad Ink is a delightfully simple game that can be picked up in a matter of minutes, hiding most of its complexities in the moment-to-moment decisions of each turn. You’ll need to gamble on certain dice rolls coming up in the future if you decide to strike out into new paths, as unfinished routes will lose you points in the final tally. Knowing where to put when and what will be the difference between victory and defeat - and as every player around the table is drawing from the same dice results, you’ll only have yourself to blame.

To step things up a notch, Railroad Ink Challenge adds some new scoring opportunities as well as an extra dose of complexity to the mix. Brand new buildings on the board can be connected to your routes in exchange for a special reward, while objective cards will have you racing against the clock or your competitors to fulfill them first in exchange for more points. Railroad Ink Challenge doesn’t necessarily reinvent the (train) wheel but it introduces a few new mechanics and concepts to give veteran players a fresh experience.

There’s a lot to love about Railroad Ink and it’s packed with plenty of replay value if you’re limited in the amount of games you can bring on your travels. While it’s probably the largest box in this list, it has a very small footprint on the table during plays. With just a handful of dice, a board and pen each you could very easily play this on a train table or flip-out airplane table without too much fuss. It's odd that there are so many great board games about trains , but this is the world we live in.

Buy Railroad Ink Challenge on Amazon US and Amazon UK .

2. Tiny Epic series

Tiny by name, Epic by nature

2 player travel board games

We’d be remiss to write up an entire list of tiny games and not mention at least one of the Tiny Epic series from Gamelyn Games. As you can probably guess from the name, each of the Tiny Epic games takes a popular genre or theme and condenses it all into the smallest possible package. There’s Tiny Epic Zombies, Tiny Epic Quest, Tiny Epic Galaxies, Tactics, Western, Kingdoms... The series already has a massive list of titles, and designer Scott Almes doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon with more already on the way thanks to Kickstarter.

What exactly is a Tiny Epic Game? Well, it depends on which one you pick up. While there are similarities between some of the titles, each is its own take on a different grander experience. Tiny Epic Zombies, for example, sees your players fighting off hordes of the undead in a bid for survival amongst the fluorescent lights and broken window panes of an abandoned shopping mall. Tiny Epic Quest follows your band of adventurers as they travel across a fantasy kingdom to fight goblins, delve into dungeons and source legendary items and spells. Zombies plays like a tabletop tower-defence game, while Quest is more like a movement puzzle with push-your-luck dice throwing.

The important thing is that all of these games, despite their absolutely miniscule packaging, can easily go toe-to-toe with games that far outweigh them in size and footprint. One of the most impressive aspects about the Tiny Epic series is the way Gamelyn Games is able to squeeze such big ideas into such small boxes. The components and solutions might get smaller and smaller, but their ideas never seem to shrink as a result.

Cover image for YouTube video

One problem you may run into with the Tiny Epic series is that the small box size doesn’t always mean that the game itself won’t take up much room when you start setting it up. Tiny Epic Quest sprawls across the table once it’s fully prepared for play - which is impressive if you’ve got the space for it, but pretty useless if you’re trying to squeeze the game onto an equally miniature playspace. Maybe avoid it if you’re looking for something to play on the train or in an airplane.

If you plan on picking up one game from the Tiny Epic series for your travels, go with Tiny Epic Galaxies, a dice-rolling strategy game in which you must seize control of planets to harvest their resources and grow your empire. As it’s mostly dice and cards it doesn’t eat up your entire table, making it an ideal travel space-based board game .

Buy Tiny Epic Galaxies on Amazon US and Amazon UK .

3. Welcome to the Dungeon

Dungeon-crawling in a travel-friendly package

Welcome to the Dungeon board game cards

Welcome to the Dungeon, we most certainly do not have fun and games. Instead we’ve got an absolute infestation of goblins, skeletons, dragons and demons. Whoever is bravest - or most unfortunate - out of you and up to three friends will need to delve into its depths in search of some lucrative treasure.

In Welcome to the Dungeon, you and your friends will be collectively building a dungeon full of creatures by taking it in turns to draw from a deck of cards. Each card will show an illustration of the type of monster you’re dealing with, but more crucially it’ll also contain a number and some icons to show how that creature might be defeated. Once you’ve drawn a card you can either place it into the dungeon facedown, so only you know what’s been added, or you instead remove it from the game in exchange for also removing one of the available pieces of equipment.

At the start of the game, the players each decide which character they’d like to play. There’s the warrior, the barbarian, the mage and the rogue. Each one comes with their own set of custom armour, weapons and spells. To try and avoid damage you can use your abilities and equipment to ignore the effects of certain monsters, leaving them for your companions to deal with later.

Cover image for YouTube video

Despite the name, only one of you sitting around the table will be forced to enter the dungeon each round. Instead of drawing a card from the deck on your turn - or if you can’t because the deck is empty - you can pass, removing you from the running. If everyone but you has already passed, it’s time to strap on your boots and light up your torch.

If you’re unlucky enough to enter, you’ll draw all the cards that you’ve collected in the dungeon one by one, discarding those that you can defeat with your equipment, and taking damage equal to the value on the card for each that you can’t. Make it through the deck with some health intact and you’ll earn one of the two victory cards you need to win the game. Die in the dungeon twice, and you’re out.

Welcome to the Dungeon becomes a game not just about dungeon-crawling , but of pushing your luck, knowing when to stick and when to fold. Do you go for glory and try to make it through the dungeon with your hide intact? Or do you ramp up the difficulty and watch your friends perish in the dark, claiming victory as the last player standing? Either way, it’s raucous good fun will leave you in stitches, and it takes up next to no room on the table - meaning you can travel far and wide in search of worthy (or foolhardy) adventurers.

Buy Welcome to the Dungeon on Amazon US and Amazon UK .

Guess your way through famous faces in this travel card game

2 player travel board games

Now we’re really getting tiny, because this Codenames-esque cooperative character guessing game for two or more players is literally just a deck of cards. Sporting one of these classic Top Trumps-style plastic boxes, Similo is an easy-breezy social deduction co-op game for all ages which will challenge your ability to communicate with limited information as you try to spot the differences and similarities from a range of different characters.

Depending on the set you choose you could be playing with fairytale characters such as Prince Charming and the Big Bad Wolf, or notable figures from history including Joan of Arc and Julius Caesar.

One player in the group acts as the clue-giver, while the rest will be trying to interpret their hints. At the start of the game, the clue-giver lays out a grid of 12 random characters face up for everyone to see. One of those cards is the character that all players are working to keep on the board until the end of the game - but only the clue-giver knows which one it is.

Each round the guessers have to remove an ever-increasing number of cards from the table: one card in the first round, two in the second, three in the third and so on until there is just one card remaining. If that card is the card the clue-giver has been hinting at, then everyone wins. Hooray!

Cover image for YouTube video

The clue-giver is able to give their team-mates one clue each round to help them narrow down their search. These clues aren’t spoken out loud - the clue giver can’t speak at all during the game - but instead delivered in a very specific way. At the start of the game, the clue-giver draws five random cards from the remaining cards in the deck. Each round, they must choose one of these cards to play either vertically or horizontally in front of their guessers. If the card is played vertically it means that the character you’ve just played is in some way similar to the card your team is trying to protect, while horizontally means the opposite - a lack of similarity.

The rules are as simple as that, but in play they become a lot trickier because you’ll have to weigh up those clues you’re given against an entire tableau of characters, each with loads of different elements to consider. Not to mention the clue-giver must just do their best with the cards they have available to them.

Similo is a fantastic travel board game for families on holiday, but it’s also just a great co-op game to play with some drinks at an airport bar when everyone’s a little too tipsy or jetlagged to learn something complicated. It’s a hub of debates and comes with some lovely illustrations, all in a single deck of cards.

Buy Similo Fables on Amazon US and Amazon UK .

5. Dice Academy

Few travel games are more portable than a handful of dice

2 player travel board games

Our smallest travel game on the list is also one of the best quick-playing board games out there. Dice Academy’s box is technically bigger than Similo’s - but if you look inside you’ll find just a handful of dice that are solid enough to just sit at the bottom of a travel bag unprotected, making this a highly flexible option for gamers on the go.

Dice Academy sees you and any number of friends battling it out to be the best word-knower of the bunch. The ten dice are split into five colours, with a letter die and subject die for each. The letter dice are pretty self-explanatory; they’ve got different letters on each side. The category dice, meanwhile, are covered in little pictures denoting the type of words you’ll be looking for. It could be the name of a country, a type of vehicle, a fictional character, or even just “something rectangular” - which is an absolute nightmare.

You roll the categories first, making sure everyone gets a good look at them and understands what they’re trying to guess. As soon as you roll the letter dice, the round begins. You and all the other players around the table will be racing in real time to try and think of words that start with the letter on one die and match the category on another. Country that begins with F: FRANCE. Tree or plant that begins with W: WYSTERIA. Item of clothing that begins with G: GILET.

Once you’ve thought of a word you’ll need to say it out loud and then grab the pair of dice you used to make your word, placing them safely in front of you (Unless someone else already grabbed them before you could get your mouth and hands to work properly.) Each pair of dice you pick up is worth a point, and you choose a total to play to at the start of the game.

Cover image for YouTube video

There’s only one complication that might trip you up, which is in theory very simple but becomes complicated in the rush to grab dice. You’re not allowed to grab a pair of dice that are the same colour. If you do, you have to put them back on the table and can no longer make any guesses for the rest of the round. The same rule applies if you grab a pair of dice and mess up, either because you thought a word started with a different letter or because it didn’t fit the category correctly.

That’s everything you need to know to play Dice Academy. You can learn in seconds and play for as long as you like.

The frantic scramble as you desperately try to think of literally anything rectangular that begins with the letter F is delectable. Dice Academy definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you love silly games that don’t outstay their welcome and enjoy getting shouty and racing against the clock then it’s a no-brainer. It’ll fit in the pocket of a pair of jeans and you can get it for about a fiver, making it the perfect travel game no matter how far you’re going.

Buy Dice Academy on Amazon UK .

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  • Jul 15, 2018

Best Travel Games for 2 Adults

Updated: Feb 9

Best travel games for 2 adults

If you're travelling as a couple and looking for travel-sized games to enjoy on your trip, here are my top 10 best travel games for adults to add to your packing list.

Some of the games on the list can be played by more than two people (which will be clearly stated in the description), but they are all equally fun with only two players. Also, some are perfect to play on the flight/train ride, while others will need a bit more space to set up so a better suited to while away an evening in the hotel once you've arrived.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases

1. Monopoly Deal

Best travel games for 2 people - Monopoly Deal

Number of players: 2-5

Monopoly is probably the board game for me - I was absolutely obsessed with it when I was a kid and could play it for ages. Given Monopoly's huge success all over the world, you will probably be familiar with this property development game and have played at least one of the many available versions.

By now, you will undoubtedly be wondering how on earth Monopoly managed to end up on my list of best travel games given that the size of its box is enough to fill a suitcase. Don't worry, I haven't lost the plot! And no, I won't be recommending the travel-sized version of this board game - tried that and everything was so tiny I could barely read and hold the cards, so thanks, but no thanks. But! There is still a way you can bring Monopoly with you on your vacation - choose Monopoly Deal, which is a card game, so size-wise it's no bigger than a pack of cards.

Apart from the size, the other benefit of going for Monopoly Deal is that it doesn't take too long to play with two players - the aim of the game is not to bankrupt the opponent but to collect 3 sets of properties - making it the perfect game for a travelling couple. It's a lot of fun and we actually end up playing it at home more often than the board version!

Shop Monopoly Deal on Amazon US

Shop Monopoly Deal on Amazon UK

2. Hive - The Pocket Version

Best travel board games for adults - Hive Pocket

Number of players: 2

Hive is one of the best travel games for adults I've discovered. It is a strategy game for 2 people where you and your opponent build a hive and the goal is to completely surround the Queen Bee tile of the opponent whilst keeping your own Queen Bee free. Each tile has a picture of an insect on it and each type of insect moves in a different way, so you have to plan out your move strategy when adding new tiles to the game.

It's kind of like chess in a way - you have black and white tiles and each can only go a certain way - however, I've found it a lot easier to learn than chess (which, to be honest, I am completely rubbish at).

There are a few different versions of the game available. For travelling, go for the 'pocket' version with smaller tiles, perfect for carrying around with you in a handy pouch (included). The pocket version also already includes the ladybug and the mosquito extensions.

Shop Hive Pocket on Amazon US

Shop Hive Pocket on Amazon UK

3. Struggle for Catan

Games to travel with - Struggle for Catan

Number of players: 2-4

The Settlers of Catan (also known as just Catan) is a very popular board game originating from Germany, but as most board games, it's bulky, so it's a good thing they've also created a card version of the game. It's called Struggle for Catan and you can easily throw it into your travel bag. I haven't played the big board game myself, but I've certainly heard of it, which I why I thought I would give Struggle for Catan a go.

The goal of the game is to be the first one to get to 10 points, which you accumulate by gathering resources and using them to build out your settlement. You need a bit of space to lay out the stacks of cards, but not too much, so you could probably just about play on two tray tables on a train/plane (although it's easier if you lay out the cards between the two players). In terms of the size of the packaging - it's tiny, so will fit in a handbag. I've got the German version of the game, but it's also available in English here:

Shop Struggle for Catan on Amazon US

Shop Struggle for Catan on Amazon UK

Games to take on holiday - Jaipur

A fun trading card and chip game for 2 players, Jaipur makes you and your opponent merchants buying and selling goods and camels at a market to acquire money chips. The winner is the one with the most money at the end of the round, so you have to plan a strategy of what and when to sell. Saving up and selling more goods gives you bonus points but also runs the risk that your opponent will snap up the good deals.

Whilst Jaipur's packaging is not the smallest compared to other games on this list, since the box also needs space for the chips, it's still perfectly portable. You will need some space to lay out the market cards and chips, so if you want to play on the road best if there's a table between you, but it's manageable with two tray tables as well.

Shop Jaipur on Amazon US

Shop Jaipur on Amazon UK

5. BrainBox - The World

Fun adult travel games - Brainbox The World

Number of players: Any

What could be better than a travel game that is actually related to travel? Ta-dah, I present to you BrainBox - The World. BrainBox is a type of game that involves looking at a card for a short period of time and then having to answer a question about what you saw. There are lots of different topics that you can pick from, like Nature, History, Science, Animals etc. The World, as the name implies, is focused on the different countries in the world, with 71 cards (1 country per card) covering information like the capital city, neighbouring countries, flag, typical animals, products etc.

The game doesn't require space for setup, but the box might be a bit too bulky for hand luggage depending on how big your bag is and what else must go in. You can, however, just take a smaller selection of cards with you and leave the box at home. Once you've learned all there is to know about the countries, you could look to expand your travel BrainBox collection with Cities of the World or World History - hours of fun guaranteed!

Since this post was put together, BrainBox seems to no longer available in the USA, but can still be purchased in the UK:

Shop BrainBox - The World on Amazon UK

6. Top Trumps

Games for traveling on a plane or train - Top Trumps

Top Trumps is a very easy to learn card game, where you and your opponent try and beat each other based on an attribute of whatever is displayed on your card. It's not just one game, but one that has lots of different variants, so you can choose the one that aligns with your interests the most.

Some Top Trumps versions, like cars and airplanes will have real-life attributes, such as size, speed, passengers, engine etc. Others, like Harry Potter, Minions or Big Bang Theory will pick up scenes or characters from a film or show and the attributes will be very subjective and made-up, like courage, honour, attitude etc. If your number for courage is bigger than the opponents number, you win the card.

I love Top Trumps because it's educational as well as fun - I've certainly learned a lot about the different models of classic cars and airplanes whilst playing. It's also the perfect game for travelling on a plane or train because it doesn't need any space to set up, so you can play it on the road as well as at the hotel.

Shop Top Trumps on Amazon US

Shop Top Trumps on Amazon UK

7. Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter

Vacation games for adults - Odd 1 Out

I am a huge fan of Harry Potter and have read the books and seen the films countless times, so it's no wonder I was very excited to try it in the Trivial Pursuit version. There is a full-sized version of this game as well, but for travel purposes opt for the bite-sized one. It all packs up nicely into a plastic wedge-shaped box, so it's very easy to take with you when travelling.

The game is about answering questions related to Harry Potter. You have six questions per card and roll the dice to determine which question you have to answer. The correct answer wins you the card. There is no setup required, apart from space to throw the dice.

This particular games implies that you, like me, are a Harry Potter fan, of course, as knowledge it required to get the answers right. But no worries if you aren't a fan, in which case, you can of course opt for a differently themed game, as there are several to choose from. How about The Beatles, Friends, or Big Bang Theory?

Shop Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter on Amazon US

Shop Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter on Amazon UK

8. Battleship

2 player travel games - Battleship Hidden Threat

Battleship is yet another famous game, of which several versions exist - you may have played it with the little plastic pins or perhaps, like me, you learned to play this game with just a sheet from a grid-lined notebook. I didn't expect to see a card version of this game, but when I came across it, I was very excited to try. The principle is the same as with normal Battleship, but there are a few fun tweaks to the rules that I will let you discover for yourself.

The packaging is small, but you will need enough space to lay out your ships when you start playing, so it's definitely one to keep in the bag until you arrive in your hotel and can set it up on a table or the bed.

Shop Battleship on Amazon US

Shop Battleship on Amazon UK

9. Love Letter

Best travel card games - Love Letter

Love Letter is a game of only 16 cards, so when we're talking portability, it's one of the best games to travel with (comes with a handy pouch too!). The goal is to navigate the people in the palace and deliver your letter to the princess before the other player. Cards represent the residents of the palace and each has a specific action you must complete.

The game is part luck part thinking/strategy. Since it's part luck, some rounds can be very short (they are likely to be longer with 3 to 4 players), but it's still fun and you play as many rounds as it takes until one person has won the majority of the little tokens - that person becomes the overall winner. Not much space needed for setup, so it's a great game to play while travelling on a plane or train.

Shop Love Letter on Amazon US

Shop Love Letter on Amazon UK

10. Mikado Wooden Pickup Sticks

Best travel games for adults - Mikado wooden pickup sticks

Number of players: 2-6

Something completely different from the traditional board and card games is Mikado - you have a pack of wooden sticks that you throw up in the air and when they land you and the 2nd player take turns picking up the sticks one at a time making sure you aren't moving any of the other sticks.

You do need some level floor or table space to play on, and since pulling out a stick requires perfect precision, it's not a game you can play en route where there's all sorts of rocking and shaking at precisely the wrong times, but once you've reached your destination, Mikado is bound to give you some fun moments.

Shop Mikado Wooden Pickup Sticks on Amazon US

Shop Mikado Wooden Pickup Sticks on Amazon UK

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20 Best Board Games for Travel for 2024 (+ Card Games!)

Want to know the best board games for travel? Here are some of the best travel board games for your upcoming adventures…

Board games for travel

The joy of being on the road is often the major reason we go on road trips. Sometimes there’s no zeal to do anything – just enjoy the air and time away. But even a short journey can quickly become boring when there’s nothing to do, especially if you’re traveling with someone, in a group, or with family. That’s why a good travel board game makes for a great addition to any packing list. They’re also great to keep everyone away from the TV in the evenings.

The best travel board games are an excellent way to pass the time whether on a trip or at home. From travel delays, long journeys, sleepless nights, or bad weather, board games for travel help kill the boredom. With this list, you can choose some of the best board games for travel. 

Best Board Games for Travelling 

There are tons of travel board games you can take with you on a trip, but you have to be sure they are sturdy, compact and designed for the road. Ranging from cards, boards, to dice, these are all the best board games for travel, for both kids and adults. 

Board games for travel

1. Monopoly Deal Card Game  

Monopoly is one of the most popular classic travel games you can enjoy with 2 to 5 players, but this is the portable version. It’ll keep you entertained for hours, whether at home or on the road. Collect three complete property sets of varying colours with the cards, and you’re the winner. 

Monopoly Deal Card Game

  • The fun of a monopoly game played with cards.

With Monopoly Deal you can pick up more properties on the way and receive rent from your opponent. This card version of monopoly is the perfect card game to keep you and your travel companions busy for hours. It is great for camping trips, long journeys, vacations, sleepovers, and just about anywhere else. 

Ben and I play this one a lot, or at least we did when we rented a VW campervan and went to rainy Wales. This is a great board games for travelling as it’s so compact.

2. Jax Sequence  

Jax Sequence is both challenging and fun, making it the perfect family game. It’s a board game for both kids and adults and allows 2 to 12 players. Using a card with you, and then placing a chip on the matching space on the board, you can win if you’re the first player to meet 5 in a row. 

All the while you’re trying to block your opponent or remove their chips, watch out for the jacks! 

Goliath Games Sequence | Five-in-a-row Fun for Everyone! | Family Strategy Game | For 2 or More Players, Ages 7+

  • Play a card from your hand, and place a chip on a corresponding space on the game board - when you have five in a row, it’s a SEQUENCE

This is one of those portable board games for travelling that offer fun for hours back at home and on the road. The game requires both strategy and a good amount of luck. It’s kid-friendly too.

3. Catan Traveler  

Catan Traveler is another exciting board game for travel with a space-saving box that reveals the variable board. The game allows for 2 to 4 players, so you and other players can plan together to keep your settlements, cities, and roads safe. It’s handy and easy to set up in only seconds. It comes with six double-sided board pieces, to be arranged randomly so that each play will be completely different.    

Catan Studios| Catan | Board Game | Ages 10+ | 3-4 Players | 60 Minutes Playing Time

  • STRATEGY GAME: Trade, build and settle the isle of Catan in this addictively fun strategy game previously called Settlers of Catan. Players control their own civilization and look to spread across a modular hex board in a competition for victory points

The game was designed for convenient portability, with a hex-shaped dice shaker, making it difficult to lost or drop it on the move. The cards are also held securely in holder trays.

4. Skip-Bo Card Game  

Skip-Bo , a sequencing card game perfect for camping trips and vacations, was designed by the famous UNO. You can create stacks of ascending cards, in sequence until there are no more cards left to play. The game can be played by 2 to 6 players.

Mattel Games Mattel 52370

  • Skip-Bo is the ultimate sequencing card game!

The Skip-Bo ‘Wild’ cards will help you to break off a tight situation. What’s more, you can play it as any number, while putting on your strategic thinking hat to defeat your opponent. The game is designed with bright colours and is quite easy to play. Be the first player to deplete all your Skip-Bo stockpiles to win the game.

After a game of Skip-Bo, you can re-shuffle and start all over. 

best travel board games

5. Loaded Questions On The Go Card Game  

This is a must-have travel game for road trips, especially if you’re travelling in a group. It’s a simple but super fun card game that offers hours of fun on the road and at home. It contains over 500 personality-filled, fun questions , and you can be the first player to get to the WIN space by matching other player’s answers correctly to your turn, and then writing the ‘favourite’ answer on the starred area. 

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There are no right or wrong answers, making it a fantastic way for the game to remain competitive while also getting to learn a little bit more about other players. This is the perfect travel game for passing the time on a long trip or during sleepovers. It requires 2 players.

6. Sorry! Game

This is one of those classic travel games where you drop manners to crush your opponent. Sorry! requires 2 to 4 players and as each player takes 1 to 2 cards, you can get 1 of your 4 pawns out of the start area and off around the game board.

Sorry! 2013 Edition Game

  • Classic Sorry! game is mystery-solving guessing fun

Like most of the travel board games on this list, you need strategies to win your opponents in this game of Sorry! You also need the luck to chase, slide, race, bump, and score your way around the board to end up as the first to move all your pawns home. 

That said, this is an updated version of the game. It’s perfect for all family outings, picnics, long trips and sleepovers.

7. Spot It!

Spot It! is an award-winning game that requires visual perception to test your reflexes and observational skills. With a keen eye and quick hands, and to win you’ll have to find the 1 single match between the 2 cards and the symbol, usually leading to a frenzy of fun while you and your opponents try to find it. 

Spot It

The game requires 2 to 8 players. And to make the game more exciting for travellers, this version is a combination of 5 different ways to play. It comes neatly packaged in a handy grab ‘n’ go tin. 

8. Qwirkle Board Game  

This travel-size board game of Quirkle is easy to play and fun. For a long time now, Qwirkle has grown in popularity for a lot of board game lovers. You can set up the game in seconds and it’s relatively easy to play from age 5. Expect each round to take around 45 minutes.

Mindware | Qwirkle UK Edition (NEW) | Board Game | Ages 5+ | 2-4 Players | 45 Minutes Playing Time

  • While Qwirkle is as simple as matching colours and shapes it also requires tactical manoeuvres and well-planned strategy

While Qwirkle is great as a board game for travel, it’s also great for home use so you can practice your skills. 

9. QuadPro Magnetic Travel Chess Set  

This Quadpro version of the chessboard game was specially designed for chess lovers on the move. It’s a foldable, plastic chess set magnetically attached to the bottom of each of the pieces to prevent them from going missing on the road. It maintains the 64-square playing field with the complete chess pieces.

OkidSTEM magnetic Travel chess set With folding chess board Educational toys for Kids and adults

  • 【HIGH QUALITY】OkidSTEM chess board game set Made of durable HIPS plastic with Fine texture, gives you smooth hand-feel while lightweight and portable.

This travel board game is a great way to pass the time in transit, camps, at school, or home. The QuadPro magnetic travel chess set is designed for compactness to keep it safe, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking either.

board games for travel

10. Magilano SKYJO

Magilano SKYJO requires 2 to 4 players and with a little bit of space in front of you, you can enjoy this travel card game. The game also requires strategies and with 2 face-up, 12 hidden cards, each player picks it, in turn, to take the top card from the draw or discard pile. 

SKYJO by Magilano - The entertaining card game for kids and adults. The ideal game for fun, entertaining and exciting hours of play with friends and family.

  • YOUR GOAL: Try to get as few points as possible through flipping, trading and collecting cards over the course of several rounds. This is only possible as long as a player has not uncovered all his cards, because then ends a round. So beware, keep a close eye on the game and be cautious and wary of the other player's actions!

Exchange 1 card from your 12 cards display, and keep doing so until you or other players have only open cards. When the round ends, then it’s time to add your cards for scoring with the lowest number to win.

It’s easy to play with and also portable. The game is addictive and can be enjoyed on the floor, table, or anywhere else.

11. Connect 4 Grab and Go Game  

Connect 4 Grab and Go is easy to play, and it’s all about lining up your counters in order to ensure 4 are arranged in a row. It could be up-down, left-to-right, or diagonal. As long as you have four counters sitting together in a direction, you’ve won.

It’s a competitive travel game to play on a trip and is also a fun way to pass the time in a group.

12. Boggle  

Boggle isn’t as popular as some of the other board games for travel on this list, and it can be a little challenging to get right the first time, especially for non native speakers. However, it is fun-filled and after the first few games, you’ll get it.

Hasbro Gaming Boggle

  • Head-to-head word search game

All you need to do is shake up the letters and flip the timer. After that, you then spot the words that appear as fast you can. It’s a competitive and fun game that tests your command of the English language as well as your ability to think fast.

13. Apples to Apples Party Box

Apple to Apples isn’t just exciting, but also hilarious and the perfect travelling board game to play away the time. It’s just as much fun to play at home as it is on the road. To win the game, you have to win the most rounds by playing a ‘red apple’ card to best match the round’s communal ‘green apple’ card, as selected by that round’s player. 

MAT-BGG15 - Mattel - Apples To Apples Party Box

  • Apples to Apples is the game of hilarious comparisons

With 63 Green Apple Cards and 441 Red Apple Cards, there are tons of crazy combinations you can find. Also, the game requires 4 to 8 players. Mattel is one of the most popular travel board games – and for a good reason.

14. Czech Games Codenames  

This exciting spy game of Codenames requires teams to compete to find out who can make contact with all of their teammates (agents) first. With 1-word clues, you and your agents must try to discover (guess) the words of your team colour, at the same time avoiding the ones that belong to the opponents. 

Codenames Czech Games Edition CGE00046 XXL, Mixed Colours

  • Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their CODENAMES.

To play this game, get your spy mode switched on and work as a team to win. It is a fun game you can play in a group and on trips. Another thing is to be on the lookout for double agents and any assassin trying to get you. Whether you lose or win, it’s still fun to pick up all the clues in this portable game. It’s for both kids and adults and requires 2 to 8 players.

15. Taco vs. Burrito  

Taco vs. Burrito is a fun, crazy, and strategic game that involves a food fight. One of the major reasons the game is popular is because it was created by a 7-year-old and funded through Kickstarter. 

board games for travel

If you enjoy card games and food combos, Taco vs. Burrito is the game for you. The game requires 2 to 4 players and you can use the cards dealt to start making any crazy food combinations you want. You can as well switch up the game with action cards for extra ingredients to win. 

Also, remember to keep an eye out for Order Envy or Health Inspector that can ruin your appetite and meal. This is a great travel board game for kids.   

READ MORE: Have a go at my Road Trip Quiz – see how high you can score!

16. Mattel Games UNO: Classic Tin Box  

Like most Mattel games, this classic box UNO game is one of the most popular classic travel games out there. Race against 2 to 10 of your opponents to rid yourself of your hand as you try to match cards on the board by either number or colour.

UNO Card Game with Collectible Storage Tin, Card Games for Kids, Adults, Families, Travel Game, 112 Cards and Instructions, Gift for 7 Year Olds and Up, HGB63

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

You can use special cards like Reverses, Skips, Draw-2s, and even color-changing Wild Cards to boost your chances of becoming the winner. The game is perfect for camp trips, family outings, sleepovers, campervan trips, etc. 

17. Smart Zone Games Hive Pocket  

This is a very strategic game that only requires two players. It’s a board game (can be played on any flat surface) that comes with its own travel bag. You and your opponent can break open the 22 pieces from the Hive Pocket to form the patterns to be used as the playing surface. 

Gutterhead - The Fiendishly Filthy Drawing Game - The Adult Board Game of Hilariously Dirty Doodles from the Makers of Beat That! - Great Stocking Fillers - Fun Party Game for Adults

  • 👉 TIME TO PLAY DIRTY! - This hilarious adult board game is perfect for your next trip, sleepover, stag do, hen do, or just a fun weekend night with friends.

The objective is to surround your opponent’s queen while keeping your queen safe. Anyone that surrounds their opponent’s queen first is the winner. 

18. Blokus Game  

Blokus is an exciting game that needs a strategy to win. The game requires only two players and can be enjoyed both at home and on the move. The rules are pretty easy to learn. Each player has to take turns to place their 21 pieces on the board to ensure that each piece touches another piece of similar colour – but it has to be at the corners. 

You can protect your territory by blocking your opponent’s moves at every turn to win. The game is made with wipeable, sturdy materials, making it perfect for road trips. 

19. Yahtzee

Yahtzee is one of the most timeless classic games, and for good reason – it’s portable, fun, and relies on a healthy dose of chance and skill!

In case you’re unfamiliar with the rules, Yahtzee is a game where the goal is to win the highest number of points by rolling three dice up to three times. Certain dice can be locked into place for the second and third rolls, so it’s important to plan your strategy accordingly.

This game’s player count is flexible depending on how many dice you have, and the best part is that it can be played online or physically. So if you’re stuck in the car and worried about little game pieces getting lost in the crevices, give the digital version of this game a try!

20. Solitaire

If you’re worn out and need to keep the kids quiet, why not have them try a game they can play by themselves?

That’s right – solitaire is the perfect game to try if you need that extra beauty rest on the road. The physical version of this game can be messy, what with all the cards and the order they need to be laid out in, but there are plenty of digital versions available.

The best board games for travel

travel board games

Travelling is a great time to play a board/card game or two. You’re in a beautiful new location, but it’s fun to keep your mind and hands busy, especially with kids around. Step away from the screens and invest in one of these great travel games for your next trip.

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The 40 Best Small Board & Card Games [Travel & Space-Saving Versions]

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Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

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Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

Countries Visited: 44 U.S. States Visited: 28

The 40 Best Small Board & Card Games [Travel & Space-Saving Versions]

1. Jax Sequence

2. scrabble deluxe travel edition, 3. connect 4 grab and go game — travel size, 4. take ‘n’ play anywhere — bingo, 5. quadpro magnetic travel checkers board  , 6. battleship grab and go game, 7. catan traveler, 8. monopoly grab and go game — travel size, 9. amazon exclusive pressman rummikub, 10. quadpro magnetic travel chess set, 11. yahtzee, 12. guess who board game  , 13. hasbro gaming jenga mini game , 14. blokus game, 15. smart zone games hive pocket, 16. take ‘n’ play anywhere — tic-tac-toe, 17. cinco linko, a strategy board game, 18. pressman mancala — real wood folding set, 19. sorry game, 20. pop-o-matic trouble grab and go game, 1. monopoly deal card game, 2. mattel games uno: classic tin box  , 3. taco vs. burrito — strategic card game created by a 7-year-old , 4. czech games codenames, 5. taco cat goat cheese pizza , 6. mattel games apples to apples party box, 7. family feud survey says card game, 8. magilano skyjo, 9. goat lords game, 10. kids against maturity , 11. punderdome: a card game for pun lovers, 12. playmonster 5 second rule game, 13. spot it, 14. unstable unicorns card game, 15. our moments kids: 100 thought-provoking conversation starters, 16. loaded questions on the go card game, 17. scattergories the card game, 18. oh fruck, 19. mattel games pictionary card game, 20. skip bo card game, 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.

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.

Board Game

Note: We’ve included board and card game options for 2 people (or more), kids, and families!

The 20 Best Small Board Games

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The 20 Best Small Card Games

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular board games right now.

Some of the best-selling and reviewed board games on Amazon are Connect 4, Sequence, Battleship, Sorry!, Monopoly, Checkers, and Uno.

What are the most popular board games ever sold?

While it can be challenging to get exact sales figures for board games that are sold, it is generally agreed that classic board games such as Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess, and Clue are the most popular board games of all time.

Do people still buy board games?

People still buy board games, and they are as popular as they ever were. For example, in the toys and games category of Amazon’s bestseller list, 5 out of the top 25 are board or card games.

What is the best card game for travel?

One of the best-selling card games on Amazon is UNO, where you race against your opponents to rid yourself of your hand as you match cards on the deck by either color or number. UNO is compact enough to take anywhere with you and can be a wild and noisy card game as you shout “UNO!” to win.

What is the best board game for young children?

Guess Who is a popular travel board game that is suitable for children ages 6+. With 2 travel-size game units, 48 character cards, and built-in face frames for easy viewing, kids will have hours of fun getting to guess each other’s new personas.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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The 13 Best Travel Board Games You Can Play Anywhere (Even on a Plane)

2 player travel board games

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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.

2 player travel board games

13. The Mind

2 player travel board games

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.

2 player travel board games

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.

2 player travel board games

11. Timeline

2 player travel board games

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

2 player travel board games

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

2 player travel board games

9. Hive Pocket

2 player travel board games

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!

2 player travel board games

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

2 player travel board games

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!

2 player travel board games

6. Zombie Dice: Horde Edition

2 player travel board games

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!

2 player travel board games

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.

2 player travel board games

4. Love Letter

2 player travel board games

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.

2 player travel board games

3. Fantasy Realms

2 player travel board games

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 player travel board games

2. Palm Island

2 player travel board games

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.

2 player travel board games

1. Dungeons, Dice & Danger

2 player travel board games

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.

2 player travel board games

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  • Games and puzzles

The Best Two-Player Board Games

Our picks for the best two-player board games pictured together.

Many of the most popular tabletop board games are designed for big groups—that’s what game nights are about, after all. But coordinating the schedules of a bunch of adults can be a puzzle more intimidating than the Saturday New York Times Crossword , so it’s nice to have options for a quiet night in with a partner, roommate, or friend.

Two-player games have come a long way since checkers, backgammon, and Battleship, and today the best of them are just as complex and enthralling as any group game.

We talked with experts, spent more than 25 hours researching, and played 34 different games to find the one-on-one games that most people will enjoy.

The research

Relaxing games, complex challenges, other good two-player board games, the competition, how we picked and tested.

Ideal for a pair of players who want to test each other’s abilities, these games are much more reliant on skill than luck.

They have high skill ceilings, so they continue to provide challenges for even experienced players. But these games also tend to be easy to learn, which helps new players progress quickly, even if they’re outpaced in their first few games by a more skillful opponent.

A chess-like game that’s fun to play: Hive

Game tiles from the board game Hive sprawled out on a table.

A chess-like game—featuring bugs!

In this quick tile-laying game, you attempt to surround your opponent’s queen. It scratches the chess itch without actually requiring you to play chess.

Buying Options

How it’s played: Hive is a game of placing and moving bugs, represented by tiles, in order to surround your opponent’s queen bee.

On each turn, players either place a new piece from their collection onto the table or move one that they placed in a previous turn. Each piece—a beetle, ant, or grasshopper—has a unique way to move on the table, and when a piece moves, it must not leave any other pieces stranded from the group (“breaking the hive”).

Once a player’s queen is surrounded—whether by their opponent’s pieces, their own pieces, or a combination—that player loses.

Why it’s great: Hive has all the tactical depth of chess but none of that game’s cultural expectations. This is a deeply strategic game that is simple to learn and play—on any one turn you can take just one of two possible actions—but it’s still deep enough to keep revealing new strategies, even after you’ve played dozens of games.

It also takes no time to set up. There’s no board to assemble or deck of cards to shuffle—just tiles in a bag—so you can jump right into playing.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: More so than the other games in this guide, Hive is a test of each player’s skill, which can be challenging for a new player facing an experienced opponent. But it’s still a simple enough game to learn that new players can gain ground quickly.

Duration: 30 minutes Rules: website Digital version: Board Game Arena

A block-sliding puzzle, but with wizards: Summoner Wars

The game board Summoner Wars with cards and dice on top.

Summoner Wars

Summon troops and sling spells.

This fun battling card game has a tricky movement puzzle thrown in for good measure.

How it’s played: A battling card game that takes place on a 5-by-8 grid, Summoner Wars feels like a mix of Dungeons & Dragons combat and a particularly tricky Legend of Zelda temple block puzzle.

You select a fully assembled deck representing one of six factions, each of which has unique powers and encourages different play styles. For instance, the Vanguard faction prioritizes healing and boosting its units’ power, while the Fallen Kingdom can power up some of its units by sacrificing others.

Players get a small supply of magic that they can use to summon units onto the board; turns consist of these summonings, unit movement, and attacks. The ultimate goal, of course, is to eliminate the other player’s summoner.

Why it’s great: Though Summoner Wars is as tactically deep and interesting as more elaborate war games we tested, such as Undaunted or Memoir ’44, it requires much less time to set up and learn.

The game mechanics are extremely well balanced: The magic you use to summon units onto the field is regained only when you eliminate enemy units (which can be tricky) or discard cards from your hand (an extremely limited resource).

Each faction deck functions with an internal logic that doesn’t lock you into a specific play style but instead rewards you for learning the faction’s strengths and weaknesses.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Despite feeling cramped in terms of card movement, the play grid occupies quite a large space on a table. Folks in smaller spaces, or those who like to have room for snacks and drinks on their play surface, may be annoyed by its sprawl.

In addition, the game doesn’t come with a deck organizer, so you need to supply a rubber band for each deck unless you want to spend time sorting them each time you play.

Duration: 40 to 60 minutes Rules: PDF Digital version: browser game

The platonic ideal of a deck-building card game: Star Realms

Cards from the game Star Realms lined up on a table.

Star Realms

Build an armada to blow up your opponent.

A big game in a small package, this is a wonderful deck builder that plays quickly and invites replays.

May be out of stock

How it’s played: Like the popular Dominion or Marvel’s Legendary , Star Realms is a deck-building game. Players “buy” cards from a shared market to power up their decks, deal damage, and eventually eliminate their opponent.

It grafts that basic system onto a wonderfully robust and interconnected world that rewards replays and accumulated game experience.

You start out with a very small deck of generic economic and martial ships, but you can quickly build a fleet of bases and ships from four different factions. When you play cards from the same faction together, they gain extra power. And because you and your opponent buy all of the available ships from a common market, you can keep track of what cards the other player picks up and try to foil their strategy.

Why it’s great: After a slow first couple of rounds, the game quickly ramps up. About 10 minutes in, you’ll suddenly find yourself buying space stations the size of planets and delivering haymakers as you and your opponent slug it out with your increasingly powerful decks. It’s especially competitive, too: Every game I’ve played has been a close match.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The art can seem a little dated at times, reminiscent of early-aughts sci-fi trade-paperback covers. And even though the game mechanics are generally easy to learn, we found the health system to be unintuitive and clumsy.

Duration: 20 minutes Rules: image Digital version: Steam , Mac App Store , iOS App Store , Google Play

A 10-minute robot-bureaucrat role-playing game: Inhuman Conditions

The board game Inhuman Conditions.

Inhuman Conditions

Role-play as a replicant.

In a tense but often silly five-minute interview, one player must deduce whether the player they’re interviewing is a human or a potentially murderous robot.

How it’s played: Each playthrough of Inhuman Conditions , which takes place over a five-minute timed interview, casts one player as a futuristic bureaucrat tasked with sussing out robots hidden in society.

The other player is their interviewee, someone who claims to be human but could secretly be a robot in disguise. There are even two types of evil robots: the “patient” sort, who are biding their time and trying to escape notice, and the “violent” ones, who are bent on overcoming their programming and killing the interviewer.

Why it’s great: Inhuman Conditions plays with the stress and anxiety inherent in interrogations without letting the experience become overwhelming. That’s partly due to the game’s absurd tone, but also because of the small touches in its design that flesh out the world and make the player comfortable within the confrontation. Ultimately, that’s what this game does best: It eases folks into one the most intimidating aspects of many role-playing games without their really noticing.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: All that said, this game may still seem intimidating if you’re not conversant with the role-playing genre. And role-playing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

If you’re not sure whether role-playing games are for you, the creators have released a print-and-play version on their website for free. They’ve also provided adapted rules for playing via Zoom (PDF) , so you can try it out before committing to buying the physical game.

Duration: 10 minutes Rules: PDF Digital version: none

Sometimes you don’t want to mercilessly grind your opponent into the dirt. Here are some options for lighter, more luck-based (but still interesting) games for a laid-back vibe.

A simple, quick, trick-taking game: The Fox in the Forest

Cards from the game The Fox in the Forest.

The Fox in the Forest

An easy-to-learn card game with a trick up its sleeve.

This game uses power cards and a unique scoring system to shake up a game-night staple.

How to play: Anyone who has played a trick-taking card game such as Spades or Hearts (or my family’s favorite, Oh Hell ) will be familiar with the main mechanic in The Fox in the Forest .

Each player gets a hand of 13 cards from the 33-card deck, and the goal is to win tricks by playing the highest-value card. Higher value can be relative, though: Every odd-numbered card modifies the game slightly, giving you powers such as switching out the trump suit or forcing the other player to play a certain card.

There’s another catch, too. You don’t want to win too many tricks, since the scoring system works on a curve. To get the most points, you should aim to win either zero to three tricks or seven to nine tricks. Winning four to six tricks gets you fewer points, and if you win 10 tricks or more, you get no points at all for that hand. At the end of each round, the scores are added, and the first player to reach 21 points wins.

Why it’s great: The Fox in the Forest sits at the perfect intersection of luck and strategy for a quick, low-stakes game.

The trick-taking mechanic is familiar to most people and simple enough for newbies to learn quickly.

And the game’s unique features, such as the added power cards, keep the decisions interesting enough to differentiate it from playing-card classics.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The box includes lots of little cardboard pieces for keeping score, but we found them more trouble than they were worth. Using a pen and paper was much easier.

Duration: 25 minutes Rules: website Digital version: Steam , iOS , Google Play

A quick and easy economic puzzle: Jaipur

The game pieces and cards from the game Jaipur.

A game of coins, commerce, and camels

This quick game is the most accessible economic game we’ve tested, with a focus on trade and hand management.

How to play: Jaipur is a set-collection game in which players compete to be the best trader each round.

To start, players draw cards from a common row that contains both materials (diamonds, gold, silver, cloth, spice, leather) and camels (essentially a less-valuable commodity that you can use for strategic purposes).

Every turn, you can either draw one card from the common row, trade cards from the row for cards you hold, or sell materials for points. You can also choose to pick up all the camel cards in the market, but that gives your opponent a whole new row of cards to draw from, making it a calculated risk.

Once three types of goods are sold out—or the market runs out of cards—the round is over. The scores are added up, and whoever has the most points from the round gets a Seal of Excellence. The player who earns two seals first wins the game.

Why it’s great: Economic games have a reputation for being overly complicated or dull, but Jaipur sidesteps all of that by keeping the decisions simple and the tone light.

Luck is a factor in this game, but the balance never swings so far toward luck that you feel like your decisions don’t matter. It’s a constant challenge to pull valuable goods from the market without giving your opponent an opportunity to do the same.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: This game is elegant and well designed, but after you’ve played through it once or twice, you don’t have much more to learn or explore.

Duration: 25 minutes Rules: PDF Digital version: Board Game Arena , iOS App Store , Google Play

The following games are more competitive than our relaxing picks, but they’re not quite as antagonistic as our duel-game picks.

They tend to offer multiple ways for players to win, and they usually involve competition over a shared resource supply, asymmetric powers for each player, or a mix of some or all of those features.

Players familiar with what are generally referred to as “ Eurogames ”( Catan being the classic example) will find a lot of similarities here.

Build a civilization more wondrous than your opponent’s: 7 Wonders Duel

The game 7 Wonders Duel sprawled out on a table.

7 Wonders Duel

A big game with a small player count.

In this complex, involved game, you keep track of multiple goals as you compete for a limited set of resources to develop the most impressive ancient city.

How it’s played: Your task in 7 Wonders Duel is to create a more magnificent civilization than your opponent—something you accomplish by building wonders like the Pyramids, the Hanging Gardens, and the Colossus.

Of all our picks, this is the one that feels the most like a modern multiplayer board game but pared down to work perfectly with two players.

You play the game over the course of three rounds. In each round, building cards are arranged into a pattern in the middle of the play surface, some face up and others face down. Players select building cards and either build them in their city, discard them to earn coins, or use them to construct a wonder.

Each building or wonder in your city not only earns you points or gold but also provides resources that make it easier for you to build more and more complex buildings, which earns you even more points and gold.

But having the most points at the end of the third round is just one way to win. You can also beat your opponent with military might, or you can win a science victory.

Why it’s great: This game feels a lot bigger than the other games on our list. You have many things to keep track of, on both your own and your opponent’s side of the board, as well as multiple ways to win.

Crucially, that abundance of options never feels overwhelming because of the game’s deliberate pacing. The wonders give you a target and a game plan for the first two rounds, but once you’ve accomplished those goals, the third and final round becomes a mad dash to the finish as you use the economic engines you’ve built to snatch as many victory points as possible.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: This game is probably the most intimidating of our picks—at least for tabletop gaming novices—due to its various win conditions and the amount of things to monitor and manage.

If you’re new to this kind of game, try to power through the challenging learning curve, and you’ll be rewarded with a complex, replayable experience.

Duration: 30 minutes Rules: PDF Digital version: Board Game Arena , iOS App Store , Google Play

Place workers and pull resources from the shifting sands: Targi

The game Targi with cards spread out on the table.

Collect resources from the shifting sands

This deceptively complex game asks you to do just one thing: place workers. But trying to figure out the best way to do that is surprisingly complicated—and fun.

How to play: Targi is hard to describe but surprisingly easy to learn.

The field of play is a grid of 25 cards. The 16 border cards are always placed in the same order and cannot be picked up by players. The nine inner cards consist of tribe and goods cards, which you can collect by placing workers on the border cards.

Both the border cards and the tribe and goods cards provide actions that players can take after placing their markers. The game ends when a player collects 12 tribe cards.

But since each tribe card has a different point value, the first player to 12 isn’t always the winner. These card bonuses allow for several different layers of strategy, and players must also contend with a robber that raids their supply of goods and gold at regular intervals.

Why it’s great: With just a few restrictions on how you can place your pawns, a game of Targi seems simple at first glance. But beneath the surface, you’ll find a wealth of complex decisions to make.

Trying to acquire the tribe cards you want can be maddeningly tricky, and since you can place workers only on unoccupied rows and columns, the placement options narrow quickly.

Those limitations would be a bummer in a more complicated game, but thanks to Targi’s rapid-fire pacing, you’re always thinking ahead.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: A few times during our testing, the game seemed to drag at the end—often because it became obvious who was going to win, and the last few turns merely became victory laps for the winner.

Duration: 40 minutes Rules: PDF Digital version: Board Game Arena

If you’re in the mood for an action-packed, neon-infused card game: Radlands is a post-apocalyptic deck battler full of Mad Max –style characters dressed up in a Miami Vice color scheme, and it’s a quick and exciting game to play. The limited ways you can generate water (the essential resource that allows you to play cards or carry out their actions) keeps the action tense as you try to pick apart your opponent’s defenses without overextending yourself. This game is not as easy to pick up as Star Realms and not as strategically interesting as Summoner Wars, so those are probably better options for most people. But if you like those games and are looking for a new take on that style, Radlands is a good option.

If you’d prefer your war game to take place in Normandy instead of Narnia: Undaunted may be for you. A mix between deck-building games and straightforward war games, Undaunted is fun, easy to set up, and well balanced. It’s similar to Summoner Wars (which we liked slightly better in our play tests), so if you like the World War II theme better than swords and sorcery, you’ll have a great time with this game.

If the idea of “Battle Yahtzee” sounds appealing: Check out the dice-rolling superheroes of Marvel Dice Throne . In this game, each player selects a character from the Marvel Comics pantheon and gets a slate of powers and a set of six-sided dice. The players take turns rolling (and rerolling) dice much as in Yahtzee, but instead of checking off sets, they deal damage and use abilities to otherwise stymie their opponent. It’s a satisfying, easy-to-teach duel, and the designers have used the Marvel characters well. Each superbeing’s powers and abilities are true to their portrayal in the comics, which makes it easier for fans to pick up some of the gameplay mechanics.

If you want a more focused and intense version of one of our favorite beginner games : Splendor Duel takes all of the fun of the original (which already works well with two players) and adds a new layer of complexity and focus that’s tuned just for head-to-head play. Specifically, the Duel version adds new powers, tosses in a new precious material (pearls), and tweaks a few of the original’s core mechanics to juice up the gameplay, but it’s still focused on the same rewarding core.

Air, Land, & Sea is a quick, card-based battle game in which players try to gain control over the three titular theaters of combat. Gameplay is a bit like that of the card game War, with players strategically deploying cards in their hand to win battles. These battles continue until one player reaches 12 points and wins. It’s a fast and easy little game, but in our testing it wasn’t as interesting as Star Realms or as relaxing as The Fox in the Forest .

Boop is a game about cats pushing each other off a bed. It’s similar to tic-tac-toe, which makes it very simple to teach, but the added wrinkle here is that every piece you place pushes every other piece (including your own) one space directly away from you. It’s fun, cute, and great for younger players, but we found it a bit simple in comparison with our picks.

Catapult Feud is a dexterity game that does what it says on the tin: Each player controls toy catapults and uses them to knock over fortresses that the other player has assembled. In our research, we found the gameplay to be a bit too simplistic for most adults, but this could be a fun game for younger players.

Claim is a trick-taking card game with a multi-round twist where players use their cards to gather supporters to their side in a quest to take a murdered king’s throne. This one is well reviewed, and it looked like a good game in our research, but on BoardGameGeek it didn’t rate as highly as the card games we opted to play-test instead.

Codenames Duet is a two-player version of one of our favorite party games , and unlike our picks here, it focuses on cooperation. Players alternate giving one-word clues to their partner to get them to correctly guess which word in a grid is an “agent”—without accidentally selecting the hidden “assassin” card that ends the game. It works well enough, but it mostly just reminded me of how much I like the original game.

Crokinole , a dexterity game invented in the mid-1800s, features a wide, circular wooden board and small discs, and its gameplay is like a mix of shuffleboard and curling. Players alternate flicking discs, attempting to land their own in a center ring while bashing their opponent’s out. It’s widely popular, but the smallest playing boards are around 27 inches in diameter and cost more than $60. That’s a big investment of both money and space for just two players.

Cryptid: Urban Legends casts one player as a mysterious cryptid trying to escape a city and puts the other in the role of a scientist trying to track down and capture them. Players use cards to move three colors of cubes between the squares of the ever-shifting board. The cryptid player’s goal is to create a recognizable pattern, while the scientist wants the opposite. The game’s concept and play style are unique, but the experience never really clicked for me or anyone I played with. It’s difficult to manipulate the cubes without alerting your opponent to your plan, which they can easily squash, leading to a stalemate—which makes the very short play time feel like a slog.

Fog of Love is a role-playing experience designed to be the board game equivalent of a romantic comedy. Using hidden objectives and situation cards that make each playthrough follow a familiar act structure, the game seems to build a good framework for role-playing choices. But Inhuman Conditions is slightly less intimidating in terms of time commitment, and its role-playing can be less emotionally fraught, so we think it’s a better game of this type to try first.

Just like 7 Wonders Duel , Imhotep: The Duel is a scaled-down version of a popular multiplayer game . But while it’s enjoyable enough, Imhotep’s gameplay doesn’t condense as effectively as that of 7 Wonders. In my testing the two-player experience felt smaller and less substantial, and the few options you have on your turn don’t feel as impactful, which made strategy choices straightforward to the point of being dull.

Klask resembles a tabletop air-hockey table built by a particularly entrepreneurial woodshop teacher. It’s a dexterity game that combines magnets and reflexes, with your aim being to get a little plastic ball from your side of the board into your opponent’s goal. You do this by moving a pawn-like striker that is magnetically attached to a handle beneath the board. Little plastic magnets in the center of the board can attach to your striker and gum up the works. Klask is an exciting game to play and watch, and when I brought it to a game night with three of my friends, we had a good time setting up a quick little tournament. But it’s also quite large and fairly expensive for the amount of play time that most people are likely to get out of it.

Lost Cities is a card game where you push your luck by funding risky expeditions into various harsh environments. It’s an engaging concept, and games are quick, but we found several of the other card games we tested more fun to play—and almost all of them were easier to travel with than this game and its comically oversized box.

Memoir ’44 is one of the most accessible war games in production. It pairs the childlike fun of playing with little green army men with the feeling of a more involved battle game like the Standard Combat Series . Set in the European theater of World War II, this game is a great introduction to more tactics-heavy games like Undaunted. But it takes a long time to set up (it has a lot of little green army men), and it isn’t well balanced. And its frustrating movement system too often leaves you unable to control distant troops.

Odin’s Ravens is a card-based race between Huginn and Muninn, two ravens that serve the Norse god Odin. It’s quick and easy to get into, but the gameplay is shallow. The other card games on our list simply have more replay value.

Onitama is a quick and easy-to-learn chess-like game with just four pawns and a king. The main difference from chess is that instead of each piece having its own unique move, they’re controlled by cards. As you use these cards, they pass to your opponent, so the two of you are in a constant push-pull as you trade moves looking to get the upper hand. It’s a quick game—my playthroughs lasted about 15 minutes—but we enjoyed the depth of Hive more.

Patchwork is one of our beginner board game picks because of its simple and speedy play. The quilting-themed puzzler is easy to learn, and it has a 20-minute play time, so you can zip through multiple games of Tetris-like placing and arranging. But our picks here are better options for intermediate players.

Quoridor (pronounced like “corridor”) is a quick abstract puzzle in which players place walls and move a pawn between them. Each player has a supply of 10 walls and the goal of moving their pawn to the far side of the board first. On each turn, you can either move your pawn or place a wall to block your opponent. The game goes from friendly to cutthroat very quickly, and the simple concept makes it easy to teach and fun to play, but in our tests the shine wore off after only a few plays.

Rivals for Catan is a two-player card game set in the world of the wildly popular Catan. It seemed promising in our initial research, but it got lower scores on BoardGameGeek than the other card games we looked at, so we decided to exclude it from our testing.

Royal Visit is a tug-of-war in which each player uses cards in an attempt to convince a monarch to visit their duchy instead of the other player’s. But it didn’t rate as high as several other card games we saw in our research, so we opted not to play-test it.

Schotten Totten is a bit like an expanded Air, Land, & Sea in which you play cards from your hand with the goal of playing a higher-value set of three cards than your opponent, to win control of nine different control points (stones, in the game’s theming). It’s snappy, and the added tactic cards allow for plenty of strategic replayability, but we liked all of our duel picks a little more.

Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game offers a lot of interesting twists on the classic deck-building format. It plays a bit like Star Realms, but in this case each player picks a side (dark or light) and is allowed to purchase cards only from the market that’s associated with their side. In addition to using cards to attack your opponent directly, you can spend damage to eliminate opposing cards from the market, which leads to some fun strategic play. This game is a great pick for a die-hard Star Wars fan, but everyone else is likely to have a better time with Star Realms.

Till the Last Gasp is a two-player role-playing exercise that adds a few thoughtful design touches to help ease people into the role-playing experience. Through the course of the roughly 90-minute game, players spend dice to accomplish individual objectives that they’re given at the start. The game encourages dramatic storytelling but stops short of requiring it, focusing instead on manipulating the game area and one’s opponent with the dice. It’s plenty of fun with the right opponent, but Inhuman Conditions is a better intro to the genre.

Twilight Struggle is a fantastic game—one I really enjoyed learning during my initial testing for this guide—but its appeal faded quickly. Though I’ve revisited every other pick in this guide, I’ve never found myself coming back to this one. Long-term testing feedback from other Wirecutter staffers indicated that I’m not alone. It’s still a great game, but we’ve concluded that most people will get more play time and fun out of our other picks.

A variety of different board games pictured together.

To get an idea of what makes two-player board games successful, I reviewed lists and articles from board-game review sites such as Shut Up & Sit Down and Dicebreaker . I surveyed my Wirecutter colleagues for some of their favorite options. And I researched the most popular games on both Amazon and the BoardGameGeek forum .

To get experts’ perspectives, I also talked to Greg May, owner and operator of multiple New York City game cafés ; award-winning game designer Jeeyon Shim ; and Michele King , a communications professor and the director of William & Mary’s academic and applied esports program.

A lot of the features that make any game fun—being strategically balanced, having consistent play times, fostering satisfying interaction—are what we looked for when drawing up our list of two-player games to test. But outstanding two-player games have a couple of specific traits that are important to keep in mind:

  • They should be easy to learn.
  • They should be explicitly made for just two players.

And though you can find plenty of games that play well with two to four players ( Quacks of Quedlinburg , Small World , and Wingspan are all good examples), games that are intentionally designed for just two people usually provide the most complete two-player experience.

During testing, I played each game we considered with a rotating crew of eight friends and volunteers, and I used their feedback to augment my own experiences. After playing each game at least once (though we played most multiple times), we arrived at our picks.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.

Meet your guide

2 player travel board games

James Austin

James Austin is a staff writer currently covering games and hobbies, but he’s also worked on just about everything Wirecutter covers—from board games to umbrellas—and after being here for a few years he has gained approximate knowledge of many things. In his free time he enjoys taking photos, running D&D, and volunteering for a youth robotics competition.

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30(ish) Family-Friendly Games We Love Under $35

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UK-based blog for and by travel-loving women

2 player travel board games

10 of the Best Travel Board Games to Take on Holiday

Our guide to the best travel board games to take on holiday – for couples and families!

Although sitting on a beach soaking up the rays is a perfect way to recharge your batteries, for some people two weeks doing just that can make you go stir crazy. I love a bit of R&R as much as the next girl, but I can’t just lie around all day every day. So, when we have a day off exploring we often hang out at the bar and play some travel board games.

Travel-friendly board games

A lot of the best board games are sadly rather large and heavy – not great for packing in the suitcase, especially if you’re trying to stick to a small luggage allowance – but there are a number of games that are small and perfect to take on a trip with you.

Justin and I have some favourite two-player games that we always take with us when we go away as a couple then there’s another selection that’s perfect to take when we go away with the kids. Here’s our guide to the best games to take on holiday…

Best two-player games to take on holiday

Mr Jack is a two-player game is based around Sherlock Holmes – one player is the detective and the other is the criminal. As Sherlock your goal is to narrow down the list of suspects in just eight turns, while the criminal does everything that can to stop themselves from being found.

Compact and quick to play, this is a good one to get out before you head off for dinner. 

2 player travel board games

7 Wonders Duel

7 Wonders Dual has to be one of my favourite two-player games. The original 7 Wonders is one of our fave family games to play at home, so it was great to discover a two-player version to take on our travels, as it comes in a travel-friendly small box.

7 Wonders: Duel is resource-based game played over three ‘ages’, just like the original, but with subtle variations that makes the two-player version as challenging as the full size game.

You need a decent sized flat surface to play this, and it’s one of the longer two-player games on our list – potentially 30-45 mins but well worth packing!

10 of the Best Travel Board Games to Take on Holiday

This addictive strategy game is not restricted by a board and can be played on any surface. The object of Hive is to surround your opponents’ queen while protecting your own. There’s no setting up to do prior to playing, making this a quick starter.

Players square off as merchants trying to win the maharaja’s favour in this card game. Trade wisely to come out top!

Jaipur is another quick-play game, which takes around 15 mins to run through and is quite easy to pick up.

2 player travel board games

Best family/group games to take on holiday

Whatever you’re into there’ll be a version of Fluxx  that you’ll love.

The classic game is simple to pick up and with constantly changing rules every game is different. The game has become so popular that you can now get versions of everything from Firefly and Batman through to Monty Python and pirates . The game is just made up of a pack of cards so it’s really easy to take a few different versions with you on the plane…

10 of the Best Travel Board Games to Take on Holiday

Kawaii-styled game with cutsie sushi cards. Sushi Go! is pass and play 20 minute game that anyone can play – perfect for families. Weigh up which cards to keep and which to pass on to make the highest scoring sushi combinations…

2 player travel board games

Exploding Kittens

Another great card game, Exploding Kittens is small and easy to play on the plane or in the hotel. This was actually the most funded game in the history of Kickstarter and features weird and wonderful cards illustrated by The Oatmeal. Players take turns drawing cards until someone picks up an exploding kitten and Boom! They’re dead. Last one standing wins.

2 player travel board games

This dark and miserable game will make everyone laugh! Gloom is quite a unique game in that each player is assigned a family of five eccentrics and your goal is to make each of them as miserable as possible before killing them off.

Beware your competitors will be trying their best to turn their fates around, adding cards that increase their happiness while attempting to kill them with smiles on their faces. One of the weirdest games I’ve played, but great for kids with imaginations as you can create storylines that follow your characters untimely demises.

Although there is a large board for this game, it’s not essential for play, meaning Dixit is suitable for taking on trips. All you need are the picture cards and your imagination. One player is the storyteller providing a one work or sentence ‘story’, while the others pick from their cards the image they feel fits this best. Everyone votes and the one who ends up with the biggest score wins.

2 player travel board games

Sussed is very simple to play and is a great road trip game. The aim of the game is to rack up the most points by answering questions about the other players likes, dislikes and habits. This is great for tight nit groups of friends and families. Find out what people really known (and think) about you!

Pin for later!

2 player travel board games

Full disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links, which means that if you buy something via the link, it helps support our website. Please be aware there’s no extra cost to you though, so thanks for your support!

Suitcases and Sandcastles

By day Co-Editor Keri is a freelance journalist and copywriter, but spends most of her free time either travelling or planning her next trip!  A complete travel fanatic, she has a love of tropical climates, wildlife and afternoon tea (hence the creation of her Global Afternoon Tea Challenge!)

2 player travel board games

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24 comments.

What a useful guide! Christmas presents sorted!

Happy to help Liz – glad you liked our round-up! 😀

Nancy | MapandFamily

Great post – I only know two of these. We always used to take board games on uk family holidays cos we could fit them in the car (along with the kitchen sink!) but it’s trickier when you’re packing to fly. I like the sound of these travel sizes!

There’s so many small ones you could easily pop in a case without taking up much space Nancy – if you’re after something particularly small then a version of Fluxx is a great option!

I really love a good game – and I haven’t heard of most of these, so thank you for the tips. I think both my kids would love the Sushi Go game. #farawayfiles

have to say Sushi Go! was one of our kids faves too.

Oooh, there’s loads here we don’t know. Is it wrong that I like the sound of Exploding Kittens 🙂 #farawayfiles

Ha ha, it’s got nothing on Crimes Against Humanity, if you’ve ever heard of that one Claire?

This is a great post. Lost Cities is a game which we have turned to on many trips from trekking in South America to boating on the river Thames. Always good to have a game in the bag. I shall investigate some of these! #farawayfiles

Excellent stuff Angie – I’m off to check out Lost Cities, cheers for the recommendation!

Clare Thomson

Most of these are new to me and it’s always a good idea to have a few travel board games ready for long journeys or inbetween meals when you’ve got kids. Thanks for sharing these suggestions on #farawayfiles

Hope this has helped you find a few new ones to take on your travels Clare!

Annabel Kirk

This is so useful! I’ll definitely be referring back for Christmas presents, I hadn’t heard of most of these! #fearlessfamtrav

Happy shopping Annabel! x

Ariana - World of Travels with Kids

I’ve not heard of any of these, so this is an awesome list!!! #fearlessfamtrav

aww, thanks Ariana!

We love games and some of these we’ve never heard of! Exploding kittens is one of your favorites though! Great list. Pinning for future reference! #fearlessfamtrav

Hope this comes in useful then Lauren – enjoy!

Cath - Passports and Adventures

We have a huge collection of board games but are seriously lacking in the travel sized ones department, so this post has given me some great ideas of ones to add to our collection for our travels. #fearlessfamtrav

Glad to help Cath, there’s quite a few out there these days!

We love Sushi Go but haven’t tries the others so may need to do some shopping before our next trip! Thanks for linking up to #fearlessfamtrav this time around.

My pleasure, hope you discovered some new ones the family enjoys!

This Bristol Brood

Great tips! My kids are just getting to the stage where they can sit and play games (although we need to work on the losing…), will definitely look up some of these #fearlessfamtrav

Ah yes, the losing. Not the most fun to work through. Good luck! 😉

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8 great board games you can play anywhere

Leave the tabletop, take the games: Here are some great compact titles for your summer trips

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A collage image of four titles included in this list: Coin Age, Cult Following, Cubeo, and Dice of Pirates.

Ah, the great outdoors... Nothing is better than a good week camping, a trip to the beach, or a hike in the forest to celebrate the great summer weather. Birds chirping, water rushing, sun warming your skin, it’s a great change of pace from stuffy weekends gaming inside.

But after a few hours of those stunning natural views, you may find yourself a bit… bored. Wouldn’t it be great if you could bring more than just a pack of playing cards or a book for entertainment? There’s no need to daydream of your console or game table back home. We’ve compiled a list of eight great board games that are compact, have less components to lose, and are playable just about anywhere.

From two-player strategy and family-friendly titles to party games great for large groups, find something new to play au naturel this summer.

Hive Pocket

A red pouch that says “Hive Pocket” next to a bunch of tiles with bugs on them

  • $31 at Amazon

Sometimes you only have one other person interested in playing a game on a day out. Challenge them to a match of Hive Pocket ! This tile-layer is a sized-down version of the classic ( Hive) making it a great option for familiar but easily portable play. Your objective is simple: completely surround your opponent’s queen piece. Games move fast, but don’t underestimate this tile placement game - strategies and blocking tactics keep gameplay fresh.

The 26 tiles come in a handy pouch so you’re less likely to lose them. Every piece you play also stays on the “board” until the end of the game so there are no loose pieces to keep track of. Lay out the beach blanket, find a flat log, or dust off a picnic table - you can play anywhere. This makes the game great for travel, and we think the bug-themed tiles shine best in the great outdoors. Take it on the go this summer for some strategic play under the sun!

Dice of Pirates

A tin that says “Dice of Pirates” on it, styled like a barrel, next to some pirate-themed dice, tokens, and a small ship.

  • $23 at Target

Can’t find a flat surface to roll on? To play Dice of Pirates all you need is the game’s “box”.

It takes up the same space as a tin of mints, so you can definitely bring this refreshing luck-based game anywhere you roam. There is a small bag of tokens, a pirate ship, and seven dice — not much to keep track of even out on a summer trip. Ready to play? Each die has six different symbols: The more matching faces you roll, the more tokens you earn. Roll the dice in the tin (or on another surface) to rack up matches, earn tokens, and eventually win control of the ship.

Gameplay is quick, allows up to six players, and is easy for kids and folks who don’t often play board games to learn and enjoy. It’s definitely a great way to spice up a long day on the beach or pass some time while traveling this summer.

Cover art for Cubeo, with cubist text and black squares against an orange background.

Cubeo is an ultra-portable two-player game that is fast-paced, strategic, and only requires 12 six-sided dice and a flat surface to play on. The first one to merge their dice to a value over six wins. Block your opponent to get a leg up, or lay down a die to gain points.

Not only is the game quick to play and easy to learn, but you probably already have everything you need to play. Find the rules online and use your own dice (we recommend two different colored sets of six six-sided dice ) for an easy last-minute addition to your summer trip bag. Take it on a hike for some trailside fun that fits in your pack and is easy to play even on the ground… if you don’t mind dusting off your dice.

Cult Following

The box for the game Cult Following, which shows a cult figure on a hillside as sheep fall off.

  • $18 at Macy’s
  • $18 at Amazon

Choose Cult Following as your go-to party game for the summer. Each round, a few players blend prompts from their hand into a ridiculous cult. The rest of the group then listens to their pitches and decides which cult to join. Whoever gets two followers the fastest wins the round. Creative storytelling keeps this game engaging for groups of up to eight players (and countless onlookers).

The small box and limited cards make the game super portable and great for outdoor use. Discard used cards into the box lid so nothing gets lost as you play outside. To really get the cult initiation ambiance, bring it camping and play a few rounds by the fire after dark.

Find it on Macy’s or Amazon for $18.29

The box for Similo Fables, which shows two characters on the cover (a genie and someone holding a very red fruit) and prompts you to find out the secret charafcter.

  • $10 at Amazon

If cults aren’t your jam, Similo is a great choice. This card-based character guesser comes in tons of themes, from animals to mythological and historical figures. Grab your favorite pack and between two and eight players for this fun co-op deduction game. Play cards as clues to help other players guess your secret character. If they rule it out you lose, but if they guess right, everyone wins!

This game is another easy one to teach kids, friends, and relatives on the go. You can even pick up two different packs and mix-and-match them to add an extra challenge. Since it’s just a single pack of 12 cards, you can really play anywhere. Start deducing on the beach, by the trail, or at your campsite to keep summer boredom at bay.

Happy Salmon

The box for Happy Salmon, which is green and red with a happy salmon on it. It says it’s “a 90-second game that you will play for hours.”

  • $13 at Amazon
  • $13 at Target
  • $13 at Walmart

When you’ve had enough time lounging in the sun, get up and move with Happy Salmon. There are no turns, players just call out the action (like a high five or swapping places) from their deck and find someone to match with. When you find a match, perform the action and move to the next card in your pile. The first person with zero cards remaining wins.

The game comes inside a fake fish about the size of a banana, so it’s fun and easy to take to the beach or river (or anywhere else). Plus, it only includes cards, so there are no pieces to lose. Grab the family to get some energy out or a group of up to six friends to embrace some chaos. This game is fun for all ages and hilarious to play (or watch) in public.

Cover image for Coin Age, which shows a map and a collection of coins taking up space on it.

Don’t want to take a bag from the car to your favorite summer spot? You can still play Coin Age. Start an epic duel of area control on a single card with just change from your pocket. Place coins down to capture spaces and gain victory points. The player that ends with the most points wins.

This is the best complex gameplay you could want for a single card “board”. It’s quick, a true microgame, and packs a ton of strategy into every match. Print the card out before you leave the house and enjoy on any flat surface. Take it to the beach, poolside, or even on plane and car trips to your final destination. Lost a piece? It’s just a few cents and a single card you can replace.

Get the print-and-play instructions here , and make sure you have the coins to play!

The box for Fugitive, showing a pair of people filled with intrigue, and a shot of them running.

  • $30 at Fowers Games

If you can’t get enough deduction, Fugitive is a must-play. Bring it camping, picnicking, or on beach trips for an epic two-player chase that’s easily playable on any flat surface. The fugitive leaves a trail of clue cards and tries to escape before the detective can figure it out and catch them. Whoever succeeds in their goal first wins.

It’s fun, easy to learn, and a short time investment for a game on the go. This is another easy-to-teach game for older kids, family, and friends. Plus, there aren’t loose pieces to lose in the sand or dirt. Give this fun Clue -esque game a try as a boredom buster while you enjoy some time outside.

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Board games for 2 players to suit any budget in 2024

Get ready for date night or a quiet evening in

  • Best overall
  • Best card game
  • Best strategy
  • Best competitive
  • Best mystery
  • Best for travel

1. The quick list 2. Best overall 3. Best card game 4. Best strategy 5. Best competitive 6. Best co-op 7. Best RPG 8. Best puzzle 9. Best mystery 10. Best travel

No matter whether you're trying to prepare for Valentine's Day or just want something cool to play with your partner or housemate, board games for 2 players are always worth a look. Besides catering specifically for a pair, many are easily transported so can be taken with you wherever you want to go.

To point you in the right direction, we've pulled together what we'd argue are essential board games for 2 players - if you ask us, they're some of the best board games overall and should be in every collection. That includes something to suit any budget, skill-level, or interest.

Crucially, we always come back to these options ourselves when looking to break out a 2-player board game. Although there are new contenders landing on shelves each month, these always cut through the noise. 

Our bargain-hunting software is also on the job of finding you the lowest available price, too; it'll list the retailer with the best offer beside each entry.

Benjamin's been writing about board games professionally for over five years, but has been playing them ever since he was old enough to roll dice.

Board games for 2 players - quick list

Want to get stuck in as quickly as possible? You'll find a roundup of the top board games for 2 players below. Simply click on the links under each entry to find out more about them.

Best 2-player board game overall

This game challenges you to give the villains  their  happy ending, all while sabotaging your rival in delightfully wicked ways. If you ask us, it works best as a head-to-head. Read more below

Best cheap board game for 2 players

Of all the 2-player board games in our collection, this is arguably the one we come back to the most. As well as being very easy to get the hang of, its gameplay is hugely satisfying and more-ish. Read more below

Best strategy board game for 2 players

Although it streamlines the original so that it'll work with just two people, this version of 7 Wonders loses none of its predecessor's bite. That's because you're still able to use any kind of strategy you want. Read more below

Best competitive board game for 2 players

If you fall into the 'very competitive' category, you'll love this board game for 2 players. It's deeply cunning and should delight fans of head-to-head grudge-matches. This is a more streamlined version of the original Splendor, but we reckon it might actually be better. Read more below

Best co-op board game for 2 players

How hard is it to stop your star-attractions from eating everyone? Jurassic World lets you find out, and the result is a compelling blend of strategy and teamwork where your choices matter. Read more below

Best RPG board game for 2 players

Due to its gritty fantasy setting, branching storyline in which your decisions make a difference, and gameplay with an absurd amount of depth, Jaws of the Lion is a must-have for fantasy fans or tabletop RPG players.  Read more below

Best puzzle board game for 2 players

Hunting down a game for a relaxed date night? This exercise in pattern-making is surprisingly serene, so we'd definitely recommend adding it to your collection. The Tetris-like action of matching the perfect tiles together combined with a light competitive edge is almost meditative, but there's plenty of strategy. Read more below

Best mystery board game for 2 players

Tasking you with out-sleuthing Holmes himself, this 2-player board game is all about solving dastardly crimes before your time is up. Due to immersive props and mysteries you can really get your teeth into, we'd highly recommend it. Read more below

Best travel board game for 2 players

Although it requires a decent amount of table-space, this is the perfect 2-player board game to bring on vacation because it doesn't take up much room in your bag. It's also a great workout for your gray matter - you're racing to build your own crossword, making this speed Scrabble on steroids.   Read more below

Best board game for 2 players overall

1. disney villainous.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

✅ You're looking for a game you can learn and play together long-term: Every character has a unique play-style and goal, so Villainous is the sort of game that gets better with each match - you need time to master their quirks. Because facing different villains encourages all-new strategies, it's very replayable as well. ✅ You're a big Disney fan: As you can probably tell, this is a love-letter to Disney films both new and old. If you adore the House of Mouse, there'll be plenty for you to appreciate. 

❌ You're expecting something for families or kids: Even though it adapts some of the most beloved family films of all time, Villainous is tactical enough that casual players will bounce off it. Younger children might struggle too. ❌ You don't have patience for complex rules: Villainous is relatively complicated, so it's not going to be for you if strategy isn't your jam.

What you need to know: What happens if evil wins? You get to find out with Disney Villainous. Allowing players to mess around in a Disney-themed toybox, it's all about giving classic baddies their happy ending... and screwing over anyone that tries to stop you. Crucially, playing it as a head-to-head board game for 2 players is better than battling it out as a group. In all our years with Villainous, we've found that playing with just one other person makes for a more focused and enjoyable experience.

How it works: Don't be fooled by that family-friendly theming - Villainous is hiding layer upon layer of strategy beneath its gorgeous artwork. You see, characters have a unique objective and play-style inspired by their movie, and that means they all handle differently to one another. They also come with their own board to explore at your leisure. However, that's not to say it's a laissez-faire experience. The game encourages you to explore your wicked side, and you can send heroes to harass your foes as a result.

Just be warned: it takes a hot minute to get your head around the rules, and it's not the easiest to explain.

Gameplay: While Villainous shines when played in a group, tackling it as a pair gives you space to learn the characters' ins and outs rather than being swept up by the chaos of a larger melee. And make no mistake, 'chaos' is the right word. That title isn't just a name; it's a mindset you'll need to embrace. The quickest path to victory is throwing a wrench into another player's schemes, and more people means more carnage. That's no bad thing, of course, but it's a little less focused. Seeing as genuine skill is rewarded here, battling head-to-head feels more tactical. There aren't as many variables to consider, so you can really hone in on your villain's skills.

Delightfully wicked GamesRadar + review

Because each of these baddies is so distinctive mechanically speaking, this is the sort of game that benefits from repeat play as well. It'll take you a match or two to understand how they work, and different match-ups provide all-new challenges. (Especially if you add the Disney Villainous expansions .)

The bottom line: So long as you have the patience to learn its rules, you'll find a smart and engrossing 2-player board game that can keep you busy for a long time. As we mentioned in our review, there's "enough depth and spice to keep you playing for months."

  • Read more: Disney Villainous review

Best card game for 2 players

✅ You want something very replayable: There's no 'right' or 'wrong' way to play Jaipur, so you've got room to experiment every time you sit down at the table. When combined with the game's easy setup and quickfire nature, it's supremely replayable. ✅ You want a good travel game: Jaipur doesn't take up much real-estate in play or when packed away, so it's a great choice if you want a game on the go.

❌ You want a multiplayer game: Sadly, Jaipur can only be played with two players - there's no way to add more people into the mix. (Trust us, we've tried.) ❌ You want a complex strategy game: Despite having more than enough strategy to be going on with, Jaipur may not be a fit if you want something particularly crunchy - it's light-hearted on the whole.

What you need to know: Jaipur is the poster child in terms of good board games for 2 players. Even though it's the definition of 'accessible', there's a hidden depth beneath the surface that allows you to experiment along the way. It's delightfully moreish too, making it a contender for any list of the best card games .

How it works: Putting you in the shoes of a trader from the Indian city of Jaipur, you've been challenged to become the best businessperson around and earn an invite to the maharajah's court. (In other words, collect as many points as possible.) How you get there is up to you, though; players have room to test a variety of different strategies, and there are no wrong answers. Should you buy and trade cheap items quickly, or is it better to chase expensive goods that get you a larger payout in the end? You'll have to decide quickly, because the sooner you trade an item, the more points you'll get. That means your foe could beat you to the punch if you don't cash in your wares fast enough.

Gameplay: Every match of Jaipur is a balancing act. The question of whether you should sell fast or hold out for a bigger payday is captivating, because there's always the risk that your opponent will get there first.They may figure out what you're collecting and go for the same thing to stop you in your tracks, too. It's surprisingly thoughtful - more so than you'd expect from a quick and seemingly lighthearted game.

While we're on the subject of 'quick,' that makes Jaipur ideal for traveling as well (along with the fact that it doesn't take up much space in play or packed away). Yes, it's a shame that you can't play with more than one other person. But seeing as everything is so laser-focused as a result, that's no bad thing.

The bottom line: There's no dead weight to Jaipur. It's a great example of how to do a lot with relatively simple mechanics. So far as we're concerned, it's as close to a must-have as you can get. 

3. 7 Wonders Duel

✅ You want something tactical that isn't mega-complicated: Matches of Duel don't take too long, but there's more than enough strategy under the surface to keep you engaged for the long haul. ✅ You don't have enough time (or people) for the full 7 Wonders: This trimmed-down version of the iconic strategy game is less of an investment than the original, so it's a solid alternative if you're low on time or players.

❌ You want something with loads of depth: Although it's a great strategy game, 7 Wonders Duel isn't the meatiest option out there in terms of tactics. To make it suitable for 2 players, certain options have been removed. ❌ You're expecting it to be exactly the same as 7 Wonders: Because certain features have been taken out or tweaked to accommodate fewer players (not to mention a lower run-time), Duel may disappoint if you're expecting the same breadth of options offered in the original game.

What you need to know: Despite rewinding the clock to a time of antiquity, this board game for 2 players isn't some dusty relic. A more focused version of the eternally popular board game for families , Duel drills down into what made the original excel whilst cutting back its runtime.

How it works: Challenging you with leading an ancient society to greatness, you can achieve victory in Duel through amassing military might, scientific advancements, or points won through culture. Want to snuff out your opponent's civilization via force of arms? Go ahead. Would you prefer to lead the charge on learning and academia, meanwhile? That's no problem either. As per the original, Duel gives you ownership over its mechanics in a way few other games do. Alright, so there aren't as many options as the 'full' 7 Wonders. But you can still find enough to chew on.

Keep a close eye on what your rival is up to, though. Because you achieve your goal by collecting cards from that central pile, it's possible for an opponent to grab the ones you need if they suss out your plan. That means you can't lose track of what they're doing while devising your grand strategy - not unless you want to fall behind, anyway.

Gameplay: Duel cuts away the fat of its predecessor for a leaner, more streamlined alternative. Besides having a shorter run-time, there's slightly less to juggle - it's a good entry-point to the series. However, that doesn't mean it loses any of the franchise's magic. Instead, this two-player spin is able to zero in on the best bits from older versions.For example, you only have to select one of three approaches rather than being overwhelmed with options. There's an elegance to it.

The back-and-forth of it all has a greater impact than the original, too. It feels like a real head-to-head in a way the old 7 Wonders doesn't, mostly due to the fact that every decision will benefit you or hinder your opponent.

The bottom line: Duel distills everything we love about the series into one neat package. It's a fantastic adaptation that gives you a shot of 7 Wonders' signature strategy… all without the fluff.

4. Splendor Duel

✅ You love a challenge: Would you call yourself a competitive player? If there's nothing you enjoy more than dominating the tabletop battlefield, this will hit the spot thanks to its tense gameplay where one wrong move could spell defeat. ✅ You haven't played Splendor before: If you're new to the series, this is the one to get. It may seem similar to the original Splendor at first glance, but certain tweaks and new features make Duel the better choice overall.

❌ You already have Splendor: We'd argue that this is the superior game, but it might be a little too similar for anyone that already owns its predecessor. ❌ You don't like randomness in games: While it's pretty excellent in every other regard, Splendor Duel can be at the mercy of its randomly-drawn card market. If you're looking to win by collecting gems of a single color (one of the new victory conditions), you're stuffed if it doesn't come up - and it won't be your fault.

What you need to know: This smaller, more focused version of Splendor sits in the Goldilocks zone of board games for 2 players; it's both accessible and tactical. That's a rare mix.

How it works: On the surface, Splendor Duel revolves around gem crafting. But in reality, it's about being quicker and more savvy than your opponent. This is an efficiency exercise; you’ve got to make better, tighter purchases than your opponent. Deciding when to act is a similar tightrope walk. 

Gameplay: Timing matters in Splendor Duel. It's a delicate sort of dance; players can deny their rival gems if they make clever selections, or ruin each others' day with special ability cards. Opponents also get an advantage if you redraw the gem pile because you didn't want anything from the existing selection, so you've got to think hard about when you want to restock. Combined with its constant sense of one-upmanship, Duel demands that you're on the ball.

A superior game in almost every regard GamesRadar+ review

But why make a 2-player version of Splendor when the original game can be played head-to-head already? As our review says, "not only does this play a lot more distinctively than its minor rules changes would suggest… it’s actually a superior game in almost every regard." Even though its new victory conditions are beholden to luck of the draw, it's still snappier than the original.

The bottom line: Thanks to its simple but rewarding strategy, Splendor Duel is a winner when it comes to lighthearted - or not so lighthearted - competition. It may not have the 'wow' factor of bigger games, but this 2-player alternative punches well above its weight nonetheless. 

5. Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar

✅ You want a game about collaboration and shared choices: Teamwork is essential in The Legacy of Isla Nublar, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to show it off - be it by herding dinosaurs, solving puzzles, or deciding where you'll place your park's facilities. ✅ You enjoy Pandemic or Horrified: If you've played either of those games, you'll love this one. It cribs bits from both for a compelling, edge-of-your-seat experience where you're often racing against the clock… and the odds.

❌ You can't commit to multiple sessions: Seeing as it'll take weeks for you to finish this game in its entirety, we'd steer clear if you're short on time. ❌ You don't like the pressure of permanently changing your board: Because the barriers and buildings you'll be placing are stickers, you can't change your mind about where they should go once they're down.

What you need to know: Think you can handle Jurassic Park better than its creators? The Legacy of Isla Nublar lets you give it a good go. Along with tense gameplay and consequence-driven mechanics, it improves on the 'legacy' format (where your decisions follow you) by providing something so much more replayable than its peers. Hold onto your butts, because few cooperative board games can match it.

How it works: Although it allows you to play through each movie, this game also fills in any gaps between them with original stories. Naturally, dinos running amuck during said adventures is a given… so you've got to keep them in line. 

That's easier said than done. Aside from trying to break through any barriers you've erected, they'll do their best to chow down on park guests as well. Seeing as you have other objectives you need to complete at the same time (which often feature unique mini-games), stopping them becomes a delicious Catch 22 conundrum. Mix in legacy mechanics that give you the ability to create your own unique board for use in a separate game type - not to mention freakin' dinosaurs - and you've got a satisfying experience that combines the best bits of Pandemic and Horrified. 

Gameplay: Board games are at their best when something unexpected happens, and suddenly you're flying by the seat of your pants. The Legacy of Isla Nublar is a great example. During one game, we were playing as geriatric park founder John Hammond and had to fend off a T-Rex with nothing more than a cattle prod. Emergent moments like this make it one of the more memorable 2-player board games out there, and tackling it as a pair gives you greater control of how it all pans out.

The real fun begins when you start creating your own board, though. Every barrier and building is permanent, ready to be used in a separate, endlessly replayable game mode. Sure, the game requires commitment due to its campaign. But few other Legacy games do this - they're more of a one-and-done deal.

The bottom line: Yes, The Legacy of Isla Nublar leans on ideas we've seen before - there are hidden mechanics and branching character upgrades, namely. But thanks to a wealth of extras scattered throughout the campaign (like its mini-games and the ability to create your own dinosaurs), it has a flavor all its own.

  • Read more: A T-Rex beat me up in Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar, and it was awesome

6. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

✅ You want an epic adventure game: Jaws of the Lion has you dungeon-delving across the land, so it should be what you're looking for if you find yourself hankering after some classic fantasy. ✅ You want your choices to matter: This game puts greater emphasis on your decisions than many others do. To be precise, you can choose how the story develops and mold your character with numerous upgrades.

❌ You want something simple: Gloomhaven's strength is also its downfall. Because it's a lot deeper than most games, it's a lot more complicated as well. ❌ You're expecting it to be as deep as standard Gloomhaven: This is a prequel to the original Gloomhaven (not to mention its sequel, Frosthaven) that was designed to be an accessible entry-point for newcomers. That means it's not as big or as fiendish as its predecessor.

What you need to know: If you grew up drawing fantasy maps and playing imaginary swords and sorcery like we did, this 2-player board game will feel like those memories distilled into cardboard and plastic. With an expansive world and heroes you can make your own through upgrades, it fosters a feeling of genuine adventure from the start.

How it works: As well as being a classic dungeon-crawler, Jaws of the Lion reacts to your choices. Thanks to a branching storyline, the kingdom will respond to the decisions you make. This is tracked through stickers on a map that is permanently altered by your journey, and secret mechanics (like new characters) are unlocked along the way. When you add a combat system that relies on cards and strategy rather than the luck of dice, there's a real feeling of agency that's matched only by the best tabletop RPGs .

Gameplay: While there is a learning curve you'll need to endure (Jaws of the Lion's deeper than most board games for 2 players), the payoff is greater as a result. The world of Gloomhaven is one you can happily lose yourself in, and because you'll spend hours leveling up your characters, you'll probably grow quite attached to them by the end. Mix in combat that rewards genuine skill and you have a potent mix on your hands.

Alright, so you can technically play with up to four people. We hear you. But tackling it as a pair allows you to take more ownership of the narrative. It's less of a hassle to line up your schedules for the next session, too.

The bottom line: If you've ever been tempted by OG Gloomhaven or just want to live out your adventuring dreams, Jaws of the Lion is a fantastic entry-point. It's a lot cheaper and is more accessible than its predecessor, but still offers the same highs. 

7. Patchwork

✅ You want a satisfying puzzle to solve each game: Despite being a competition, you're working on your own quilt pattern in Patchwork. That means you're free to figure out how you want all those pieces to fit together yourself. ✅ You don't want anything too complex: The setup for this game may seem complex, but it really isn't. Patchwork is an incredibly chilled-out experience that's perfect for a relaxed evening in.

❌ You want something with lots of strategy: There's not a huge deal of strategy to speak of here, so anyone hankering after deeper tactics should look elsewhere. ❌ You want a game for lots of people: Because Patchwork is limited to two players, you won't be able to add more people to the mix.

What you need to know: There's something oddly soothing about this 2-player board game. A serene exercise in fitting Tetris-like tiles together, it's the sort of easy-going distraction that's perfect for date night or a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's not overly competitive either, so fallings-out will be kept to a minimum.

How it works: Your aim is simple - build a quilt before the timer runs out. Fortunately, that process is much easier in Patchwork than it would be in real life. Players 'buy' patches to slot onto their board with buttons, and this earns them buttons in return. They can then buy more patches that earn them even more buttons. It's a satisfying domino effect, and whoever collects the most buttons at the end will win. 

Gameplay: Naturally, there's a catch to all this. To be precise, certain patches cost more to buy and each one advances the timer forward a set number of spaces. That means splashing out on a lucrative tile now might limit what you can do later. What's more, you'll lose points if you leave spaces on your quilt unfilled. 

The result is an engrossing push-and-pull that draws you in quickly, and you won't want to put Patchwork down once you've got a taste for its smart yet simple gameplay. While it's a shame that you can't add more people to proceedings, it's a good chill-out option because it's not overly competitive.

The bottom line: It may not be the deepest board game for 2 players, but it excels in every other respect. If you want to kick back and relax, Patchwork should be on your radar.

8. Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

✅ You like escape rooms: At its core, this game is very similar to an escape room. You have a limited amount of time to solve puzzles, sift through props, and work together to crack the case. ✅ You love whodunnits: If you can't get enough of crime drama and love theorizing on a baddie's master plan, this will be right up your street. Think you can do better than Poirot or Holmes himself? Now's your chance to prove it.

❌ You want something chilled out and easy: This is the opposite of a game like Patchwork - it can be intense and a little bit stressful, especially when the timer gets close to running out. It's genuinely quite hard too. ❌ You want something replayable: Consulting Detective is, by its very nature, a one-and-done deal. It's hard to put the genie back in the bottle once you know the solutions, after all.

What you need to know: Even though it's 40 years old, Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective still deserves a spot on any list of board games for 2 players. Intriguing, immersive, and challenging enough that victory will make you feel like a damn genius, it's one of the top board games for adults who fancy themselves as an armchair detective.

How it works: Casting you as a member of the Baker Street Irregulars (a group that keeps Holmes up to speed on what's happening in London), you'll work your way through numerous original cases ranging from a mummy's curse to a murder on the Thames. Your aim is to solve those crimes before the great detective himself figures them out. 

Gameplay: As you'd expect, this is pretty difficult - which makes sense, considering that you're going up against Sherlock Holmes. A strict time-limit doesn't help either. But you won't mind; each copy of the game comes with a set of props, clues, and case files to work through that are tremendously immersive. Indeed, they offer an atmosphere you're unlikely to get anywhere else. 

Playing in a pair only enriches that mood. It's the best way to avoid a 'too many cooks' scenario where everyone's struggling to be heard. However, just be aware that these adventures aren't exactly replayable - once you know the solution, you'll probably not be able to repeat the experience unless you have a very short memory.

The bottom line: Despite having hit shelves back in the mists of 1981, Consulting Detective still has it where it counts. Even though it's not endlessly replayable, the experience more than makes up for that. 

9. Bananagrams

✅ You want something very portable: This game can spread out a bit at the table, but packs away to a much more reasonable size thanks to the little, zipped bag it's stored in. ✅ You want a mental workout: Due to its speed and nature as a word game (along with the fact that all those words must connect), this will really test your abilities.

❌ You want something easy-going: You're in a race against your rival to finish a crossword, so Bananagrams is the opposite of 'calm.' ❌ You get easily frustrated: Your opponent pulling ahead and forcing you to add new tiles to the letter pile is inexplicably annoying… particularly when it happens in quick succession. If you struggle with losing, we'd suggest something else.

What you need to know: Hold your skepticism for a moment; word game or not, Bananagrams is a stroke of brilliance. Besides being oh-so portable, it can be enjoyed with almost anyone, anywhere.

How it works: The idea isn't complicated; each player gets 20 or so single-letter tiles, and they have to put them into a crossword. When you've finished (which is harder than it sounds if you get a handful of ‘q’), you have to take another one that's added to the same crossword. The rub is, your opponent's got to take a new tile as well… regardless of whether they’ve finished their own pile yet. The only thing that helps is the fact that they have to yell "peel" first.

Gameplay: Needing to take a new tile every time someone uses up theirs leads to mounting pressure as your unused letters grow in number. And because your goal is to be the first person who gets rid of all the game's spare tiles, it's a race against time to create a crossword that actually makes sense. That tension mounts when you can see your opponent getting close to finishing, and reaches a crescendo when they yell the dreaded "peel." This is a case in point for why Bananagrams is better as a 2-player board game - it's less manic (but still frustrating nonetheless).

Being able to swap your letters around when you run out of space takes things up a notch. It really gives your gray matter a workout, and while that will understandably turn some people off, it's a thrill for those who love word games.

The bottom line: Frantic, cerebral, and tense, this is a must-have. We take Bananagrams with us on most of our vacations because it's so easy to sling in a bag or suitcase, and it's genuinely engaging.

Board games for 2 players - FAQ

What are the most popular board games for 2 players.

Even though it's tough to work out what the most popular board games for 2 players are overall (it's hard to find data on sales), we can hazard a guess. Classics like Azul, Ticket to Ride, Codenames Duet, and Pandemic are always high up on the list if you search through Amazon's bestsellers, while Splendor brings up the rear. 

However, one of the most surprisingly popular offerings was the Pokemon Trading Card Game. More specifically, the Battle Academy starter set is doing really rather well in terms of Amazon sales right now.

Are any of those the ultimate board game for 2 players, though? Realistically, no - that honor would go to chess. Yes, it's surprising. But in terms of sales, chess shifts three million units per year. We suspect that's more than all of the above combined.

It's a different story if we're talking average customer reviews

It's a different story if we're talking average customer reviews, though. Amazon puts strategy epic 7 Wonders Duel near the top of the pile, while Patchwork, and Jaipur (a fantastic board game for 2 players) also dominate thanks to extensive positive feedback. We'd certainly agree with the latter, and would add Disney Villainous into the mix as well. In our opinion, it's one of the best 2-player board games ever made.

What is a fun 2-player board game?

It's hard to go wrong with King of Tokyo (which usually costs $45 at Amazon ), Jaipur (available for roughly $25 ), Hey, That's My Fish! or Tacocat Spelled Backwards ( weighing in at $15 ) if your main requirement is 'fun'. All of these options are a blast thanks to fast-paced gameplay that's both satisfying and easy to learn, so we have no trouble recommending any of them.

What is the top board game to play with 2 players?

In our opinion, the best 2-player board game has to be Disney Villainous ( available from Amazon for $40 ). Besides being very replayable, its clever blend of tactics and skulduggery make it an engrossing way to spend an hour or two. It's also smartly designed and beautiful to boot.

We often see Battleship (which you can buy for $12 or so ) cited as a good choice as well if you want something more old-school. While it has flaws, it's a family favorite for many and is truly timeless.  

Want to let off some steam and delight your guests? Check out our guide to the very best party board games .

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Benjamin Abbott

As the site's Tabletop & Merch Editor, you'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news. I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and can normally be found cackling over some evil plan I've cooked up for my group's next Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

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The Gamers Guides

Best 2 Player Travel Board Games

for Couples

There’s nothing quite like spending some quality time with your partner, and what better way to do that than by playing a fun board game together? Not only will you get to spend some fun, quality time together, but you’ll also get to test your skills and outwit your opponent.

If you’re looking for some great two player board games to play with your partner, then look no further. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best ones out there. So, whether you’re looking for a game that’s strategic, challenging, or just plain fun, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the best two player travel board games for couples:

1. Ticket to Ride

This classic game is a must-have for any board game lover. It’s a strategic game that will test your skills and your ability to think ahead. In the game, you and your opponent compete to see who can build the most train routes across the map.

2. Pandemic

If you’re looking for a game that’s both strategic and challenging, then Pandemic is definitely the game for you. In the game, you and your opponent work together to try to cure four deadly diseases that are spreading across the world. It’s a game that requires teamwork and strategy, and it’s sure to keep you both entertained.

3. Carcassonne

This tile-based game is another classic that’s perfect for couples. In the game, you and your opponent compete to see who can build the most impressive medieval city. It’s a game that’s both strategic and fun, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Catan is a game that’s perfect for those who love strategy games. In the game, you and your opponent compete to see who can build the most settlements and acquire the most resources. It’s a game that’s sure to test your skills and keep you entertained for hours on end.

5. The Resistance

The Resistance is a game that’s perfect for couples who love a good challenge. In the game, you and your opponent try to complete missions while avoiding being caught by the enemy. It’s a game that’s full of suspense and intrigue, and it’s sure to keep you entertained until the very end.

6. Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is a game that’s perfect for couples who love a good adventure. In the game, you and your opponent work together to try to collect all of the treasure from a sinking island. It’s a game that’s full of excitement and suspense, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Hanabi is a game that’s perfect for couples who love a good puzzle. In the game, you and your opponent work together to create the best fireworks display possible. It’s a game that’s both challenging and fun, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

8. Sheriff of Nottingham

Sheriff of Nottingham is a game that’s perfect for couples who love a good negotiation game. In the game, you and your opponent take turns playing as the sheriff and the merchants. It’s a game that’s full of strategy and intrigue, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Tsuro is a game that’s perfect for couples who love a good game of chance. In the game, you and your opponent compete to see who can stay on the path the longest. It’s a game that’s both fun and suspenseful, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

10. Scrabble

Scrabble is a game that’s perfect for couples who love a good word game. In the game, you and your opponent compete to see who can create the most words using the tiles that they’ve been given. It’s a game that’s both challenging and fun, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Table of Contents

Best Board Games For 2 3 Players

Playing board games with two or three players is a great way to spend some time with friends and family. There are many different games that can be enjoyed by smaller groups, and today we’re going to take a look at some of the best.

One of our favorites is Ticket to Ride. This game is all about collecting and completing train routes across America. It’s perfect for two or three players, and it’s a lot of fun to see who can connect the most cities.

Another great game for three players is Betrayal at House on the Hill. This game is all about exploring a haunted house and trying to survive the horrors that await you. One player will be the traitor, and it’s up to the others to figure out who it is. This game is full of surprises and thrills, and it’s always exciting to see who will be the victor.

If you’re looking for a game that’s a bit more lighthearted, we recommend King of Tokyo. In this game, players take on the role of giant monsters battling it out for control of Tokyo. It’s a lot of fun to knock your opponents around and crush their buildings, and the game is perfect for players of all ages.

Finally, we recommend Carcassonne. This game is all about building a medieval landscape, and it’s perfect for players who enjoy strategic games. Players must carefully plan their moves in order to score the most points, and the game can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

These are just a few of the great board games that can be enjoyed by two or three players. If you’re looking for a fun, engaging game to play with your friends or family, be sure to check out one of these titles.

Best Adult Strategy Board Games

There is something about board games that just brings people together. Maybe it is the nostalgia factor, or the sense of community that is created when people huddle around a game board. Whatever the reason, board games are more popular than ever, and there are now more adult-themed board games than ever before. Here are some of the best.

Pandemic: This game is all about working together to save the world from a series of deadly diseases. Players must race against the clock to find cures for the diseases before they take over the world.

The Resistance: This game is all about deception and betrayal. Players are divided into two teams, the Resistance and the Spies. The Resistance tries to complete missions while the Spies try to sabotage them. The game is won or lost based on the players’ ability to deceive one another.

Ticket to Ride: This game is all about building railways across the United States. Players must collect different coloured cards in order to build their railways. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Carcassonne: This game is all about building a medieval landscape. Players must place tiles and claim pieces of land in order to score points. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

These are just a few of the best adult strategy board games available. Whether you are looking for a game that will test your strategic skills or a game that is full of laughs and betrayal, there is a board game out there for you. So gather your friends, pull out the game board, and get ready for some fun!

Best 2 Player Board Games 2022

There’s just something special about playing games with someone else, face-to-face. It could be the shared excitement of competition, the pleasure of strategizing together, or the simple joy of spending time with someone you care about. Whatever the reason, nothing beats a good old-fashioned board game when it comes to spending quality time with someone else.

If you’re looking for some great two-player board games to add to your collection, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites, from classics like Chess and Checkers to modern favorites like Pandemic. So whether you’re looking for a game to play with your spouse or your best friend, we’ve got you covered.

Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world, and for good reason. This classic game of strategy is both challenging and rewarding, and can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

Another classic board game, Checkers is perfect for players who enjoy a good strategic challenge. The goal is to capture all of your opponent’s pieces by jumping over them with one of your own, and the gameplay can be surprisingly complex.

If you’re looking for a light, fun game to play with someone else, Doodle God is a great option. In this game, players work together to create new elements by combining different elements from a shared pool. It’s a great way to test your knowledge of the elements, and it’s sure to provide plenty of laughs.

Pandemic is a modern favorite that has quickly become a classic. In this game, players work together to save the world from a series of deadly pandemics. It’s a tense, challenging game that will keep you on your toes, and it’s perfect for gamers who enjoy a good cooperative challenge.

Hanabi is a unique game that is perfect for two players. In this game, players work together to create a series of fireworks displays. However, they can only communicate by giving each other information about the cards in their hand, which makes for a challenging and engaging game.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a tile-placement game that is perfect for players who enjoy a good strategic challenge. In this game, players compete to build the most impressive fortifications by placing tiles and using their meeples to claim territory. It’s a complex game that provides plenty of opportunities for strategy and planning.

Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan is a popular game that is perfect for players who enjoy a good economic challenge. In this game, players compete to build the most impressive settlements by trading resources and building roads and settlements. It’s a complex game that provides plenty of opportunities for strategy and planning.

These are just a few of our favorite two-player board games. Whether you’re looking for a classic game to play with your friends or a new game to add to your collection, we’re sure you’ll find something you love on our list. So grab a friend and get ready to have some fun!

Best Board Games For 10 Year Olds

When it comes to finding the best board games for 10 year olds, there are a few things to take into account. The games should be challenging enough to keep the child engaged, but not so difficult that they become frustrated. They should also be enjoyable, so the child wants to keep playing.

Some of the best board games for 10 year olds include classics like Monopoly, as well as newer games like Ticket to Ride. These games are all relatively easy to learn, but can be quite challenging to master. They are also all quite enjoyable, so the child will want to keep playing.

Another great option for 10 year olds is The Settlers of Catan. This game is a bit more complex than some of the other options, but it is still easy to learn. It is also very engaging, and provides a lot of excitement and suspense.

Teresa Richardson

I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.

I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.

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Best Travel Board Games

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

The Best Two-Player Board Games, According to Experts

Portrait of Dominique Pariso

Board games are an entertaining way to pass the time — and a little more stimulating than staring at a screen. While many board games require groups of people to play, there are a lot of worthy ones that don’t. So, to find the best two-player games for couples or roommates to play together, we asked ten gaming experts about their favorites. “In the realm of two-player board games, there is something for every taste,” according to Taryn Gregory, an inventory lead at Guardian Games . Below, she and our nine other board-game experts share the two-player board games they pull out over and over again that will appeal to everyone from beginners looking for a lighthearted fantasy caper to advanced players looking for a vexing strategy game . While the majority are made for two players, there are some that can be played by more people — but our experts say those ones are often the most fun when played by just two. To make it easier for you to find the right one for you, we’ve organized the games by their level of difficulty — beginner, intermediate, and advanced — leading each category with games that got the most recommendations.

Best two-player games for beginners

Patchwork

Four of our experts recommended Patchwork , created by accomplished game designer Uwe Rosenberg, as one of the best two-player games for beginners. The game challenges players to strategically collect different pieces to create a quilt. Greg May, owner of The Uncommons and Hex & Company , calls it “the perfect game for couples” that is sure to delight “fans of Blokus or Tetris .” Scott Cooper, owner of Blue Highway Games , says Patchwork is his retailer’s best-selling two-person game because, although the rules are simple to understand and it only takes about 15 minutes to play, the “subtle strategy keeps it interesting.” May agrees: “Games are usually quite close, and there are just enough layers to keep you coming back without dragging things out.”

Codenames: Duet — The Two Player Word Deduction Game

“ Codenames Duet takes one of the best party games and tweaks it to make an excellent cooperative game,” says May. Three other experts also highly praised the word-deduction game as easy and fun. The rules are relatively straightforward: “Players make associations between words as they cooperate to identify targets with a limited number of guesses,” explains Cooper. And both May and Lauren Bilanko, a co-owner of Twenty Sided Store , note that there are versions of the game specifically geared toward fans of different franchises, including Harry Potter, Marvel, and Disney.

'Wordle The Party Game'

Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo just bought the newly released board game-edition of Wordle. Designed with two players in mind, Wordle comes with 120 pages of blank grids so you can make up your own words while trying to stump your opponent, instead of relying on a randomized batch.

Bohnanza

Strategist writer Lauren Ro , who admits she finds most board games “needlessly complicated and mind-numbingly boring,” says Bohnanza converted her from a game skeptic to a board game lover. “I didn’t think I could ever love a game, but this is the only one I actually look forward to playing and introducing to friends,” Ro says. “It’s fun. It’s fast. The artwork is delightful. Best of all, it’s easy to learn, even for a dolt like me.” The concept is simple enough: Each player is a bean farmer who plants different varieties of beans; players harvest their crops in exchange for gold, and the more beans you harvest, the more coins you collect. However, the game dictates that you play with a fixed hand, meaning you have to play it in the order the cards were dealt or drawn, which makes things a bit more complicated since your hand dictates which bean you can plant in each field at each turn. But players can barter with one another to trade beans, putting their strategy and negotiation skills to the test.

Omega Virus: Prologue

Board-game blogger Eric Yurko recommends Omega Virus: Prologue, which he describes as a “real-time card-laying space station construction game.” In it, players have identical decks of cards (some locked with keys) and need to restore three structures to fight the computer virus infecting the space station, he explains. “However, all of the cards need to be unlocked, first, and that’s done by laying cards so that the rooms on the cards form shapes depicted on Location Cards, revealed at the start of each round.” He especially likes that the game is “very small and light,” and adds that “given how fast it plays, Omega Virus: Prologue is great to play when you’ve only got 15 minutes.”

Santorini

Santorini , which three folks told us about, is our experts’ second most-recommended two-player board game for beginners. Eric Yurko, an American Tabletop Awards committee member and game reviewer for his own site,  What’s Eric Playing? , calls it his all-time favorite because the game “combines great art with very simple play.” Board game designer  Rob Sparks is another fan, telling us you can “learn to play in just 30 seconds” and that the game “will have you building various domed towers its namesake island is famous for as you navigate the beautiful board.” Yurko also loves this building element, noting that “as players build up the board it mirrors the famous imagery of Santorini itself.” According to him, at the start of each game every player gets assigned a Greek god that grants them a different rule-breaking power, which makes “for a very quick and fun game” as the gods interact with each other. “It plays really, really well with two players,” promises board game enthusiast and Cartamundi tabletop games ambassador  Sean Amdisen-Cooke , who adds that “it’s very accessible, so kids can also play.”

Raccoon Tycoon

Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo discovered this game by way of her “strategy-game connoisseur” brother — it quickly became a game-night staple. According to Corsillo, Raccoon Tycoon combines the fast play of Ticket to Ride with the social interaction of Settlers of Catan , “but is more engaging and fun to look at.” Like Ticket to Ride , a player will win the game by collecting the most points, “but there are multiple ways to earn them — amassing wealth and owning railroads, towns, or buildings — so it’s harder to get bored.” Corsillo also notes that part of what sets Raccoon Tycoon apart is “the intricate, uncanny illustrations ,” designed by painter Annie Stegg . “Every time I play, I discover some clever detail that makes me laugh,” she adds. “Another perk is that you can play with as few as two people or as many as five, and though you have to pay attention to multiple things at once, it’s not so complicated that a beginner or child couldn’t win on their first time playing.”

Cascadia

If you’re looking for a “quick, snappy” game that is easy to pick up, but “still has a bit of substance to it,” Yurko suggests Cascadia , which he calls “one of my favorite casual games of 2021.” The goal of the game is to create a Pacific Northwest ecosystem by collecting animals and tiles, “but each animal scores differently depending on which of its scoring cards is in play at the start of the game.” Yurko says this allows for “a wide variety of different strategies to emerge across one or multiple games,” which keeps the gameplay dynamic. Plus, Yurko has one word to describe the work of game designer Randy Flynn: “exceptional.” He also says that it’s a game he’s shown to lots of other players who inevitably “end up just as excited about it as I am.”

Hive: A Game Crawling With Possibilities

Both Gregory and Bilanko recommend Hive , which Gregory describes as “a bit like chess in strategy and movement, with great pieces and no board.” The main objective is to use hexagonal tiles that are each adorned with a different bug and have unique rules to surround your opponent’s queen bee. According to Bilanko, “It’s fast to learn and easy to play, but the strategy keeps it complex, whether it’s your first time playing or your hundredth time playing.” The game’s resin tiles also make it easy to travel with: “It’s portable, so it’s great to take to the beach or on a train or to a bar, because you don’t have to worry about cards blowing away or getting spilled on,” says Bilanko.

Crokinole

Sparks compares Crokinole , a game that dates back to the 19th century, to kind of like playing shuffleboard, calling it a “fantastic game of skill and strategy that has stood the test of time.” Players take turns flicking discs from the outermost ring with the goal of getting them to the center of the board to score points — and knocking their opponent’s discs out of the way (making them lose points) in the process. Sparks says there is one rule that makes this a bit more challenging, though: “The discs you flick must hit an opponent’s to be kept in play,” he explains, making it even more competitive.   

Nova Luna Board Game

Yurko told us that Nova Luna is similar to Patchwork but builds on that game’s design “by adding tiles that depend on other adjacent tiles.” He calls it “colorful yet abstract,” adding that “it’s very simple to teach to new players, but strategic enough that experienced players are still having a blast with it after multiple games.”

KLASK Board Game

Scandanivian game Klask bills itself as a cross between foosball and air hockey, during which players face off using a magnetic handle and striker as they try to score goals against each other. “It’s a simple addition to a tried and tested game which adds a whole depth of strategy,” notes Sparks. While a simple enough premise, Klask adds an extra level of difficulty by placing magnetic traps along the board: Get too close and one will stick to your striker, and if you get caught twice, your opponent scores and a new round begins.

Odin's Ravens

According to Sparks, “Inspired by Norse mythology, Odin’s Ravens is simple to play, with delightful artwork and interesting choices that will delight anyone looking to ‘get away’ for half an hour.” According to legend, each morning, Odin releases a pair of ravens to fly around the Earth and report back to him. This lore is what inspires gameplay: “Naturally, the ravens have become quite competitive, and it is up to you and another swift soarer to circumvent the world and get back to Odin first,” says Sparks of this racing-style game.

Morels

To play Morels , gamers forage for mushrooms that they then either sell for money or cook for points. Cooper calls it a “30-minute, light strategy game from an independent game designer.” It’s designed for players aged 10 and up, so it’s also great for kids.

Archaeology: The New Expedition

Archaeology: The New Expedition has players adopt the role of an archaeologist excavating historical sites for relics and treasures to sell to the highest bidder. Dr. Michael James Heron of Meeple Like Us , a board-game review site with a focus on accessibility, describes it as being “quick to play, whip-sharp, and surprisingly exciting.” If you’ve played the game before, you may notice that the newer, redesigned version has higher-quality art.

Imhotep: The Duel

In Imhotep: The Duel players try to win the game by unloading ships from a shared waterfront and earning points by collecting six different types of goods, according to Andy Matthews, the founder of board-game review site Meeple Mountain . “This game is everything I want a two-player game to be: It’s streamlined, it’s tactical, and it’s fun,” he says. Typically, playtime runs 30 minutes, and “in an average game, you might only get 15 or 20 turns.” Because there are a limited number of choices during each turn, every decision is important, he adds.

Sushi Go!

For a lightning-quick, pick-and-pass-style card game, Bilanko loves Sushi Go! , which she says is very easy to learn but still fun enough to play over and over again. The aim is to collect cards to create collections of dishes for different point values, and whoever scores the most points wins.

Circle the Wagons

Matthews describes Circle the Wagons like this: “Face off against your opponent in this wallet-sized game to see who can build the best Old West boomtown.” To do so, you need to collect cards and strategically place them to build large blocks that meet the variable scoring conditions, he explains. The game is suitable for ages 8 and up, so you can even play it with kids.

Best intermediate two-player games

7 Wonders Duel

This two-player adaption of the popular 7 Wonders board game has “players navigate three rounds, gaining buildings to accrue resources, gold, technologies, and military might,” says Sparks. “It’s hard to understate how well this game packs a traditionally long and complicated gaming experience into just thirty minutes.” Amdisen-Cooke agrees: “What I love about this game is how well it has taken the regular 7 Wonders game and turned it into a really enjoyable two-player experience.”

The Fox in the Forest

“ The Fox in the Forest is a fun, medium strategy game with really lovely art , making it a game to enjoy while relaxing,” according to Gregory. The card game’s general objective is to score more points than your opponent by winning more tricks. Cards feature various characters, and players use them to change the trump suit and take the lead, according to Daniel Kilbert, owner of The Compleat Strategist . It’s ideal for players who prefer a a bit of fantasy in their gaming.

Carcassonne: 20th Anniversary Edition

According to Yurko, “ Carcassonne turns 20 this year, and the classic has returned with an anniversary edition that boasts new art, some new tiles, and a new mini-expansion.” Yurko adds, “I’ve always loved it as a two-player title, as players work to build (and control) cities, roads, farms, and monasteries across a sweeping landscape.” While the gameplay is “very simple,” the complexity and fun come from its numerous expansions, making it a game you can play for years to come.

Railroad Ink Challenge: Lush Green Edition

“ Railroad Ink has been one of my favorite game series for a while, and Railroad Ink Challenge: Lush Green and Railroad Ink Challenge: Shining Yellow adds more to the excellent roll-and-write with new challenges, goal cards, and 20-something additional expansions that add everything from subways to aliens to weather,” explains Yurko. Like the original Railroad Ink — which was featured in both our best one-player board games and best board games for Zoom stories — players roll dice to build out a network of railroads. “Special locations on the board, when you draw a route in them, give you extra benefits, and this all combines nicely to make a game that plays well with two.” “Of the two, I slightly prefer Lush Green (it has different expansions than Shining Yellow ), but I don’t think you can go wrong with either version if you’re looking for a quick and portable game,” he concludes.

Mandala

Mandala is a recently released favorite of Amdisen-Cooke, who calls it “a gem.” While at first it “may seem like a simple and straightforward card game, once you play it, you realize that there’s a lot of depth and interesting strategic choices to it,” he says. Two players are tasked with collecting cards of six different colors, “but the point value for each color is only determined throughout the game — and these values will likely differ for the two players,” he explains. “There are so many nuances, and each round you’ll have to make interesting decisions to secure your preferred colors — while also making sure that your opponent doesn’t get the colors that will score them the most points.”

Kingdomino

“In Kingdomino , players use tiles featuring different land types to build kingdoms within a set-size grid,” explains Amdisen-Cooke, who says that, while it involves some strategy, the game can also easily be played with kids. Its name — a portmanteau of kingdom and domino — nods to how you play it: Players can only add a tile to the grid if the one it abuts contains a matching land type to theirs (like how you’d match dominoes). Suitable for up to four players, he says it is one of those games that’s most fun played with just two because the rules allow for building an even bigger grid (a.k.a. kingdom) for one-on-one play. “I love this variant,” Amdisen-Cooke adds, “it’s super-fun and allows you to potentially build some really high scoring kingdoms.”

Paris: La Cite de la Lumiere

“With vibrant artwork, a chill vibe, and subtle yet serious strategy, Paris: La Cite de la Lumiere will light up your dark nights many times over,” promises Sparks. In the first half of the game, players take turns building streets in Paris “and securing various peculiarly shaped buildings,” Sparks explains. Then, in the second phase, “the objective is to place your buildings as close to the streetlights that illuminate the city” as possible, he adds. “It is a truly gorgeous two-player game with an affordable price tag.”

That’s Pretty Clever

Amdisen-Cooke suggested That’s Pretty Clever for our Zoom-compatible board games post , but notes it’s also great for two players IRL. The main objective is to earn points by choosing from six different-colored dice for chain-scoring opportunities on your scoreboard. But you must choose wisely: Any dice you don’t pick for yourself that has a smaller value can be stolen by the other players. And if you end up loving the game, you can kick things up a notch with Twice as Clever , which has the same concept but “is slightly more complex.”

Raptor

For fans of Jurassic Park , Sparks suggests Raptor , where players either take “command over a cohort of field scientists, capturing baby raptors and bringing down the mama raptor by any means necessary, or wreak havoc as the raptors themselves, controlling a boss-like dinosaur that will gobble up scientists.” If the scientists capture three out of the five baby raptors, they win. If the raptors eat all of the scientists or help three baby raptors escape, they win.

KERO

“ KERO is an action-packed two-player game set in a postapocalyptic wasteland à la Mad Max ,   where players assume the roles of two clans that are trying to survive,” explains Amdisen-Cooke. “The game is played over three rounds, where each clan tries to secure the best territories (and as many territories as possible), while desperately attempting to not run out of kerosene.” He notes that the most fun part of the game is the frantic dice rolling element, because players have to try to roll the best numbers before the sand in the timer runs out. “Your final dice rolls then determine which resources you have available that round, and how you can spend them.” While this may sound like a difficult game, Amdisen-Cooke says it’s simple enough to be played with older kids.

Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small

According to Amdisen-Cooke, “ Agricola is an absolute classic in the board-game community, and this version is specifically designed for two players based on its parent game.” While the game, at only 30 minutes, is “fast and fun,” he promises you still “get such a huge game experience with a lot of depth and choices.” Players roleplay as farmers seeking to make the most out of their land. While that sounds simple enough, “you’ll need to prioritize and make clever strategic choices, especially as there are multiple paths to victory,” he says. Amdisen-Cooke adds that the design and quality of the game are top-notch: It has “stunning components and beautiful animal-shaped wooden meeples,” he says. Heads up: Only a few are left in stock!

The Quacks of Quedlinburg

The Quacks of Quedlinburg is one of Amdisen-Cooke’s “all-time favorite games” to play with two players. “It’s a push-your-luck-style game where players draw blindly from their ingredient bags,” he says. Some ingredients will help you gain points and coins which you then spend on more resources. “But if you draw too many of the wrong ingredients, your pot will explode and you’ll have to make the hard choice between getting only victory points or coins,” which will put you behind your opponent, he explains. It combines both strategy and luck to create “a really enjoyable experience,” he promises.

Tiny Towns

Bilanko describes Tiny Towns as a “resource management game,” in which players attempt to construct their own towns using the cards and pieces available on the board. Tiny Towns is designed for two to six players, so couples or roommates can play by themselves or whip it out when hosting a larger game night. “It’s really versatile and it scales really well,” Bilanko says.

Haven

Bilanko also loves Haven, because it “really immerses you in the story.” The intense battle-strategy game pits players one on one, challenging them to either attack or protect woodland creatures that live in a fantastical forest. “The artwork is phenomenal and it has a good level of complexity,” she says.

Caper

Caper combines elements of a drafting card game (players start with a handful of cards and then take more to build a stronger hand) with a whodunit-style murder mystery along the lines of Clue . But unlike Clue , which is best played with a group, this is perfect for a pair, says Bilanko. “Usually you see mechanics like this in games where you have to have three or more players, because of the intrigue level.” The game allows players to hire and equip a crew of thieves, who then attempt to plunder famous sites across Europe. It’s wacky, colorful, and fun, according to Bilanko, who adds, “The artwork is amazing to look at.”

Star Realms

Star Realms is a “medium-weight strategy game that plays quickly,” says Gregory, so it’s suitable for players who like a challenge but don’t want to spend their whole afternoon on the same game. The game combines elements of deck-building as you seek to build up your military, as well as the interactive component of trading-card-style combat as you face off to attack your opponent.

Parks

If you’re longing for the outdoors but stuck inside, Heron says to try the “clever and beautiful” Parks , which he describes as “a wonderful, evocative hike through the National Park System of America.” The game features 48 unique illustrations from over 35 artists, as well as 102 color-coded wood tokens that feature 12 delicately carved animals native to the country’s parks. And don’t worry about losing the pieces: The game contains one box organizer and two removable resource trays to keep things organized. Players take on the role of two hikers as they navigate different trails, collecting memories of the different places they visit. The game is played in four rounds, each one representing a different season, with the trail tiles being shuffled and rearranged before players begin the next round.

Shōbu

For a more tactile game, Matthews suggests Shōbu , an abstract strategy game where players take turns maneuvering their stones on four different boards, hoping to push their opponent’s pieces off. “If all four of a player’s stones are lost on any single board, the game ends in victory for their opponent,” he explains. It’s similar to chess, Matthews says, but better designed with wooden boards and river stones that give the game “an air of thoughtfulness.”

Best advanced two-player games

The Castles of Burgundy

According to Amdisen-Cooke, “ The Castles of Burgundy is a classic that works well for just two,” even though it’s suitable for up to four players. The main objective is for players to create expansive estates, and while he says that its five rounds make gameplay “definitely on the more involved end,” Amdisen-Cooke promises this is “a game that is extensively praised in the board-game community.”

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island

Sparks tells us that this game invites you to “play as the fabled Robinson Crusoe as he and his crew become shipwrecked on a cursed island and must explore, hunt, shelter, and hopefully escape the island before it’s too late.” He adds that the game is considered “one of the all-time greatest survival board games,” making it a particularly relevant one to consider these days. While he notes there a lot of rules that make it complex, Sparks says it’s well worth the effort to learn. “What you’ll find is a dynamic and tense game that will have you cheering at every lucky card draw and dreading everything else. It’s utterly brilliant.”

Arkham Horror Card Game

Arkham Horror is “a rich storytelling experience filled with unique encounters, secrets to uncover, and a campaign that unfolds whether you win or lose,” according to Sparks, who calls it “a great game to get lost in with a buddy.” It blends together a traditional card game with role-playing elements as players take on the roles of two investigators — each with their own particular strengths and weaknesses — who attempt to solve mysteries. “This experience of mystery and horror is totally worth your attention,” he promises. And after you’ve played it again and again, “there is a smorgasbord of expansions you can get to breathe further life into this living card game.”

Rivals for Catan

Rivals for Catan has “a lot of the elements that makes the classic Catan such a great game” but is specifically designed for just two players, explains Amdisen-Cooke, who calls it “a must-play for Catan fans.”

Twilight Struggle Deluxe Edition

According to May, Twilight Struggle is “widely considered one of the best two-player games — and one of the best games of all time.” The historical game takes about three hours to play, and simulates the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. Gregory calls it a “perennial favorite among hardcore gamers” that is “very strategy heavy.” It can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but she says it’s worth the investment because “every card is unique and interesting” and the game play has a “fine-tuned balance and variety of options.” (Gregory especially recommends it for anyone who likes to play Risk.)

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is a “challenging, absorbing, and quietly immersive” game that asks players to sift through a box of old newspapers, narrative vignettes, and clues to solve a mystery that “puts you and your partner right at the center of the story,” says Heron. It’s best for those with some time on their hands or those who like a challenge, because “it’s a slow-paced, cerebral affair of poring over evidence and making deductive leaps.” The box contains ten different mysteries and can even be played solo if your roommate decides to tap out.

Push Fight

For an abstract strategy game that’s a little more challenging than Shōbu , Matthews loves Push Fight , which he says “hums like a perfectly tuned engine.” Each player has five pieces: Three large, square pushers and two small, rounded pawns, which you must navigate around a 26-space board. “The object is simple: Push just one of your opponent’s pieces from the board,” he says. But the tension of the game lies in the small size of the board. “Every move carries huge importance, and one misstep can spell instant doom,” according to Matthews.

War of the Ring

For true board-game aficionados (or Lord of the Rings fans), Sparks suggests War of the Ring , which he calls “a frankly ridiculous two-player game of Middle-earth fantasy that will melt your brain the first time you play it but still somehow leave you longing for more.” He warns that the average playtime rivals how long it takes to watch the trilogy of films itself. “It’s really not for the faint of heart, but if you can penetrate War of the Ring’s thick, armor-clad rule book, and find a buddy brave enough to join you, what you’ll find is one of the richest, true-to-text experiences any Tolkien fan could ask for.”

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The 25 Best Travel Board Games (You can Play at Home)

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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.

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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

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

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

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

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

Rummikub

  • 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

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

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

UNO Flip

  • 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

Taco vs Burrito

  • 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

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

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

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

Clue Grab and Go

  • 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

Pictionary Card Game

  • 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.

Pictionary Card Game Price

Jenga

  • 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travel Scavenger Hunt

  • 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

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

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

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

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The 10 Best Umbrella Strollers for Travel

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Best Baby Carrier for Travel

The Perfect Toys for Keeping your Toddler Busy on an Airplane

The Perfect Toys for Keeping your Toddler Busy on an Airplane

Best LeapFrog Tablet for 2-Year-Olds

Best LeapFrog Tablet for 2-Year-Olds

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GameCows

Best Travel Board Games

By: Author Bryan Truong

Categories Board Games , 2 Player Board Games , Round-Ups

Best Travel Board Games

I love traveling and I love board games. Perfect combination, right?

Whether you’re on a plane, stuck in the DMV, or out enjoying a nice day, there’s always time for a board game. That doesn’t mean you need to carry around an entire backpack full of big-box games. Some games are perfectly suited to travel, and can even fit into your pocket (you too, ladies). 

Let’s check out some of the best travel board games that you can always take with you!

2 player travel board games

Table of Contents

Our Top Picks for Best Travel Board Games

In a hurry? Check out our favorite travel games below.

Sushi Go!

Best Travel Games

Tiny epic galaxies (or any tiny epic).

Tiny Epic Galaxies Single Player Board Game

Players: 1-5 Playing Time: 30-45 min Ages: 14+ Complexity: 2.15/5

Honestly, any of the Tiny Epic series deserves a spot on this list.

Each one uses a different set of mechanics and themes and comes in a tiny box (usually with cool-looking meeples). 

The amazing thing about these games is that even though they’re all designed to be very compact, each one has a ton of gameplay. 

They’re constantly putting out new games and you’re bound to find something you like that easily fits in a backpack.

What we liked

It nicely balances the risk and luck of the dice with an element of important decision-making thrown in too.

Tiny Epic Galaxies is one of my favorites, and they manage to put an entire galactic conquest game into a handful of cards. 

What could be better

The Tiny Epic series are tiny games and sometimes feel like a distillation of larger tabletop games. Tiny Epic Galaxies doesn’t have a lot of depth, but definitely a lot of enjoyment will be had.

Tiny Epic Galaxies

More Tiny Epic Games!

Tiny Epic Pirates

Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 15 min Ages: 14+ Complexity: 1.27/5

Your spies are hidden throughout the area and it’s up to you and your team to successfully recover them from the field!

Codenames is an easy-to-learn party game in which players try to locate their team’s hidden spies on the board, without accidentally hitting a civilian or an assassin. 

It’s primarily a word game where one player gives simple hints to try and guide their team to the correct card on the board.

Codenames is a critically-acclaimed party game and is great for traveling. We’ve played it in parks and on trips with friends and have never lost a tile!

Codenames works well with a higher player count, but if you’re only traveling with a small group, this one might not work as well. There’s also always a bit of downtime (silence) as the Spymaster formulates a clue.

Codenames

It can be a highly tense experience and works well with larger groups . If you don’t normally have a lot of players on-the-go, you can check out Codenames Duet which is designed for 2 players.

More Codenames Games!

Codenames: Duet

Secret Hitler

Secret Hitler Board Game

Players: 5-10 Playing Time: 45 min Ages: 13+ Complexity: 1.74/5

Political ramifications aside, Secret Hitler is one of the most popular social deduction games out there. It cautions players about the seemingly quick rise of fascism and the comments on the political systems that allow it to rise. It’s mostly lying and screaming at your friends, though.

Secret Hitler is a ton of fun and can fit into a very small package. You could probably just take the whole game and fit it into an envelope if you wanted to travel light. There’s also a free print-and-play version available on their website that can be printed and cut out smaller than the original if you’re unconcerned with card stock or at-home print quality. 

Secret Hitler is one of our favorite hidden traitor board games. It’s so much fun trying to figure out who is who in the game and with the right group, can be a real hoot!

You definitely need 5 players for this game and the right group of people that don’t get easily frustrated. Also, some players may not like the theme of this game and find it insensitive.

Secret Hitler

Players: 2 Playing Time: 30 min Ages: 12+ Complexity: 1.47/5

Jaipur is a very colorful card drafting game.

Players take on the role of merchants and need to successfully navigate the wide world of commerce.

Sell camels, buy goods, whatever path you take it’s all up to you. The more goods sold, the cheaper the price gets. Be careful though, if you wait too long you may miss out on some sweet deals.

Jaipur is very small with only cards and some tokens, which makes it easily packed away for travel. 

Jaipur is the perfect 2-player card game to take on a couples’ holiday or vacation. It’s easy to learn and the set collection mechanics are well executed, with just enough strategy and interaction that work with the theme.

While it’s fun to get to market faster than your opponent, make interesting trades, and save up for big sales. the random card draw can feel pretty arbitrary at times and really mess up a good strategy.

Jaipur

Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 15-25 min Ages: 8+ Complexity: 1.22/5

Dominos has always been a classic travel game. When I was on deployment in the Navy, inevitably there was a game going on down below decks somewhere. 

If you’re not so much into the classics and are looking for something a bit more exciting and modern, Kingdomino takes the similar concept of Dominos but turns it into a fun little civ builder. 

Players are in charge of their kingdom and need to match up tiles to build the kingdom with the most points. 

It folds down even smaller than most domino sets as well. The domino tiles are cardboard instead of heavy plastic or stone. 

Who doesn’t like dominoes? Kingdomino is a fun, easy, and quick game to play. We love to use it as a warm-up at game night or to decompress after a more complex strategic head-scratcher.

Kingdomino is a great filler game, but not interesting enough to keep a group’s attention for very long. It’s good for travel and killing time but the replayability is a bit lacking.

Kingdomino

Love Letter

Love Letter Board Game

Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 20 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 1.13/5

The entire game is 16 cards. I’ve known guys with more credit cards in their wallets. 

Love Letter is probably the most portable game I’ve ever seen and our deck has seen some serious use. It’s the perfect quick game to pull out and play wherever you are. 

The designers have managed to put a very solid deduction/bluffing game into only a handful of cards and it’s a game that will see continuous use.

We LOVE Love Letter. This game is endlessly entertaining, so quick to play and engaging for everyone. We’ve also taught it to non-gamers in about 2 minutes.

Make sure you sleeve your cards. We’ve had this game for ages and would not have been able to play it for long without some durable card sleeves.

Love Letter

If you don’t like the theme or artwork, there are tons of other versions with different fandoms, so you’re guaranteed to find something good. 

More Love Letter Games

Lovecraft Letter: A Love Letter Card Game

Players: 3-6 Playing Time: 30 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 1.25/5

I first played For Sale with Kendra’s family when we first started dating. Her uncle Carl introduced me to the game and it’s a lot of fun. I didn’t do particularly well. 

It’s a fun family-friendly bidding game where players try to gain the most amount of money by bidding on various properties. 

It’s part of a series of games from Eagle-Gryphon Games that fit perfectly together on the shelf, so when it’s not in your travel bag, it looks amazing on the shelf. 

I’m a little weird about my board game aesthetics. 

For Sale is a great auction game with two distinct halves to the game. There is a lot of fun packed into its small box and has entertained us for hours. The rules are easy to learn and the gameplay goes by quickly. You’ll definitely want to play again!

We highly recommend playing with the “round-up bid” rule when it comes to paying for properties. The biggest problem with rounding down is that there is too great a disparity between the 2nd-highest bidder and the winner, leading to contention.

For Sale

Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 15 min Ages: 8+ Complexity: 1.16/5

Sushi Go! is a very cutesy game, but it’s also an excellent game. Players collect sushi cards to add to their “menu”. Each different type of sushi is freaking adorable and scores differently. The player with the most points at the end of the meal wins.

It’s an awesome gateway game , very easy to learn, and great for families and kids. The entire game is a handful of cards, so it can easily be taken and played wherever you go.

If you’re not into adorably cute sushi, check out the multilingual edition with some creepy alternative artwork.

Sushi Go! is a quick pick-and-pass game that moves fast and gets everyone involved. It’s so easy to teach to newbies and small enough to take and play anywhere!

There’s not much depth of strategy here, as it’s pretty much just a shuffle and card drafting game.

You can check out our full review of Sushi Go! Party here . 

Sushi Go!

Hive or Hive Pocket

Hive Board Game

Players: 2 Playing Time: 20 min Ages: 9+ Complexity: 2.32/5

Hive is an excellent 2-player game that only requires a flat surface and a set of tiles. 

Players place their insects on the board attempting to encircle the opposing queen. 

It reminds me a lot of Chess, but a little more modern.

Hive Pocket is a fantastic abstract strategy game similar to Chess, but it can fit in your back pocket.

I don’t have anything negative to say about Hive or Hive Pocket. It just may not be suitable if you’re traveling in groups since it is only for two players.

Hive

There’s even a special travel-size version that’s the full game, just pocket-sized and fits in a small bag.

Hive Pocket

Lost Cities: The Card Game

Lost Cities Card Game

Players: 2 Playing Time: 30 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 1.48/5

Who didn’t dream of being Indiana Jones as a kid? I mean I still do, but that’s beside the point. 

Lost Cities is a simple press-your-luck card game where players try to mount ever more profitable expeditions.

It’s a fantastic 2-player travel game in its own right, but they’ve made it easier than ever to grab and go with the Lost Cities To-Go edition (if you can find it). 

It’s even smaller and easier to play wherever you may be. 

We’ve always been a big fan of two-player games and lost Cities is a fantastic-themed game. It’s easy to learn and a fun way to pass the time.

If you don’t care about the theme, then there isn’t too much here for you.

Lost Cities Card Game

Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 30-60 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 2.02/5

Citadels is a simple role-based card game.

Players secretly choose roles at the beginning of the round to gain an advantage while trying to build up the city for the most victory points. 

It’s simple to learn and offers a ton of variety for players. 

Most of the game is cards with only several tokens to keep track of money. It’s an easy choice for players on the go. 

The role-based gameplay adds a lot of replayability to a simple card game. Citadels can pull double duty as a travel game and in your regular rotation.

Citadels is another game that has a larger box, but the components only actually fill about a 1/4 of the box. If you wanted to you can place all the cards and components in a more travel-friendly version.

Citadels (Revised)

Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 15 min Ages: 13+ Complexity: 1.41/5

Coup is a handful of cards and some tokens. The box is small enough to carry around in a pair of men’s slacks (sorry ladies but your pockets suck). 

The box can even pull double duty if you take out the insert. Then you’ll be able to fit a few other games. I managed to fit Love Letter and a Munchkin deck into my Coup box while traveling. 

It’s a great hidden role game that I’ve had a ton of success introducing newbie gamers to, and it’s great for getting to know people during your travels or at a bar. 

Coup is one of our favorite travel games. After years of traveling, we still have the same beat-up box of cards that come with us. The box also pulls double duty since it also holds our Love Letter cards as well.

It can be played with two players, but it’s not nearly as fun. It quickly becomes stale until you add more players.

Coup (The Dystopian Universe)

Forbidden Island, Desert, or Sky

Forbidden Board Game Versions

Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 30 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 1.74/5

These come in a little bit bigger packages than most of our travel games. 

The majority of the boards in both games are made of tiles, and can easily be transferred into a smaller box for transport. The Forbidden series are fantastic challenging cooperative games and personally Forbidden Desert is my current favorite.

  • Forbidden Island
  • Forbidden Desert
  • Forbidden Sky

Players have to rush around the board and search for either relics or pieces of their broken airship (depending upon which game they’re playing) and then escape before everyone dies. 

It’s an excellent way to get a big box game on the go. 

These are extremely fun cooperative games that each have a really cool theme. The components and tiles are all beautifully done.

The box is a little big for traveling, and if you remove the inserts, the components only fill about 1/4 of the box.

Forbidden Island

Tides of Time

Tides of Time Board Game

Players: 2 Playing Time: 15-20 min Ages: 8+ Complexity: 1.56/5

Tides of Time is another 2-player card game on the list. Perfect for a duo on the go.

Players compete by building up their civilization over the course of several rounds. In each round, players will draft cards for their kingdom and score at the end of the round.

One building is leftover from each round as a relic of the past to help gain some bonus points. 

It’s a quick, lighthearted civ builder that works very well on the go and doesn’t need much table space. I love civ-builders and it’s always nifty to have an entire civilization sitting in your back pocket.

Finding good 2-player games in a travel size can really be a mission and Tides of Time fills the role perfectly.

The only negative thing I could say is that I wish they had a version that upped the player count. It’s a great game and perfect for a duo traveling, but any other friends joining will need to take turns playing or playing something different.

Tides of Time & Tides of Madness Bundle

The Great Dalmuti

The Great Dalmuti Board Game

Players: 4-8 Playing Time: 60 min Ages: 8+ Complexity: 1.29/5

This is a bit of an oldie and could probably be played with a modified standard deck of cards, but you’ll miss out on all the fancy artwork of these cards.

In The Great Dalmuti, players will try to be the first to go out. With each turn, players try to play cards into the center to finish off their hand of cards before everyone else. 

It’s simple enough to teach anyone and is a great time waster. 

The Great Dalmuti is a great travel game since it can be used with an official deck or any standard pack of cards. You won’t get the fancy artwork, but the game itself won’t change drastically.

The Great Dalmuti is a simple game that’s literally designed to waste time. There’s no final score or winner. You simply play until you give up.

The Great Dalmuti

Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 15 min Ages: 6+ Complexity: 1.14/5

Pairs is a rather simple game.

The object of the game is to… not get pairs. 

For some reason that irritates me, but the 55-card deck is simple to play, easy to learn, and can fit in your back pocket. 

It’s a great game to take to the bar and perfect for groups.

If you’re into print-and-play you could also make your own deck as a fun DIY project. (We did.)

I love the simplicity and different themes of Pairs. It’s a classic card game and it’s even more fun when you take the time to make your own custom deck.

There’s nothing wrong with a deck for Pairs. It’s simple and fun but doesn’t have nearly as much utility as a standard deck of cards.

Pairs

Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 25 min Ages: 8+ Complexity: 1.69/5

What happens when you have a crew full of incompetent illuminators? 

They misplace all the fireworks and threaten the whole celebration!

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened in Hanabi , so it’s up to the bumbling pyrotechnicians to fix their mistake. Players will have a handful of cards but won’t be able to see their own hands. Instead, they’ll see everyone else’s cards.

Players need to play the fireworks in successive order to perform the most spectacular show possible… or they fail and disappoint everyone.

Hanabi’s no-speaking mechanic makes for a great change-up in games. Having to rely solely on your wits and attention to detail really focuses a group.

Enjoyment of Hanabi is very dependent on group dynamics. If you have players that are easily distracted or not interested in the mechanics of the game, then it’s going to be difficult to get into.

Hanabi

Players: 3-6 Playing Time: 60-120 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 1.81/5

People either love or hate Munchkin. Personally, I’m a fan of the game, and Kendra and I play it all the time.

Any of the core sets of the game are about the size of 2 large decks of cards. It can start to take over the table with all the equipment and upgrade cards, but it’s a quick and dirty D&D -inspired card game where you get to stab your buddies in the back. 

What’s not to love?

Munchkin is full of silly irreverent puns and “gotcha” gameplay. It’s a great travel game, especially for aggressive players.

By itself, Munchkin is about the size of 3 decks of cards. Munchkin has so many accessories and different boxes and it would be fun to have an official travel box. You can still put it in a smaller box and nothing about the game changes, though.

Munchkin: Deluxe

Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 30 min Ages: 7+ Complexity: 1.60/5

As you might be able to tell from the name of the website, we like farm animals . Goats are no exception. 

Goat Lords is a simple card game with wacky artwork. Players will attempt to build the largest goat herd for the most amount of points, but as with all of these types of games , it’s never that simple.

Players will have several action cards to steal and gain more goats.

My personal favorite is the Escape Goat!

It’s dumb and silly, but it’s fun and can fit easily into your travel bag on the go. 

The goat puns are some of the best. You could even call them the G reatest O f A ll T ime.

It’s great for kids and adults with awesome senses of humor, but for those who aren’t fans of goats, they might get bored after a few playthroughs.

Goat Lords

Exploding Kittens

Exploding Kittens Card Game

Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 15 min Ages: 7+ Complexity: 1.09/5

I freaking love the Oatmeal comics . The author is such a weird dude, and his drawings of children are usually pretty spot-on.

Exploding Kittens is a handful of cards, so it’s as portable as you want it to be. 

The object of the game is to simply not explode. That may be something we all excel in on a daily basis, but it’s actually rather difficult in-game. 

The artwork is straight from the creator of the Oatmeal. If you’re a fan of his work, you’ll be a fan of the game.

Kittens that explode + amazing artwork = an awesome game. If you’ve already played this one, check out our list of 5 games like Exploding Kittens to try something new!

The gameplay is really only suited for larger groups of people. It can be played with a smaller number of people, but it’s not nearly as fun.

Exploding Kittens

Unstable Unicorns

Unstable Unicorns Card Game

Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 30-45 min Ages: 8+ Complexity: 1.53/5

If ever life gives you the option, always choose to be a unicorn. That must be a bumper sticker somewhere. 

Unstable Unicorns is the adorable card game where you try to build the most impressive stable of unicorns. It’s filled with absurd and often irreverent depictions of unicorns and depending upon the expansion, can be completely kid-friendly or 100% adult-only . 

It’s silly, adorable, and can easily sit in your travel bag. If you’ve already played all you can of this silly card game, check out 5 games like Unstable Unicorns for something new to try!

The artwork is absolutely adorable. It’s one of the best things about the game.

The game is extremely portable, but the rules and gameplay are quite simple. It’s fun, but for only a limited amount of time.

Unstable Unicorns

Bananagrams

Bananagrams Travel Game

Players: 1-8 Playing Time: 15 min Ages: 7+ Complexity: 1.31/5

Bananagrams is silly.

I mostly am attracted to dumb-looking things, which may be where my love of Bruce Campbell movies comes from, but that’s beside the point. 

Bananagrams is a classic word game in the vein of Scrabble but it comes in an adorable cloth banana bag. 

It’s simple, and great for families. Bananagrams even comes in multiple languages which is great if you want to practice your language skills while traveling. 

Bananagrams by its nature extremely portable. It’s basically like shoving a Scrabble board into your back pocket.

It’s perfect for a travel game, but it’s not as complex as Scrabble . It can even be a little hectic at times, as players race to create words.

Bananagrams

Players: 3-4 Playing Time: 60-120 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 2.30/5

The smash-hit Catan now comes in all flavors and varieties from Game of Thrones to historical recreations. It’s such a simple concept, but it’s also very easy to sink hours and hours of your life into the game.

If you’re a crazy person like me, you can also bring along Catan wherever you go in case the need to trade sheep for wheat strikes your fancy. 

Catan: Dice recreates the well-loved sheep-driven economy with a handful of dice that’s more similar to Yahtzee than Catan, but still fun.

If you want a more authentic Catan experience you can pick up Rivals for Catan which reproduces the Catan gameplay but alters it for a 2-player experience.

There are a few different versions that make Catan very portable. Rivals of Catan is probably the best version and it still feels like the classic game.

Catan can be pretty brutal if you’re playing with the right/wrong group of people. It has Monopoly-level powers to end friendships.

CATAN

For the purists among you, they even make Catan Traveler, which is a complete Catan board that fits within its own travel case and folds up. 

CATAN Traveler Edition

Carcassonne

Carcassonne Board Game

Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 30-45 min Ages: 7+ Complexity: 1.90/5

I love Carcassonne . It’s so simple yet so much fun. I think most of my family members actually have a copy tucked into the glove box.

This simple tile-laying game can easily be transported in a cloth draw bag. If you get the Traders & Builders expansion it comes with a bag the perfect size, or any fancy cloth bag works well.

It’s one of the first non-Parker Bros games that most people play… and there’s a reason for it. It’s an amazing gateway game with lots of replayability and can be played almost anywhere.  

Carcassonne is perfect for traveling. All you need is the bag of tiles and meeples and a table or flat surface to play on.

If you play Carcassonne long enough, you’ll eventually get a little bit bored with the base game. Luckily, there are tons of different expansions out there to change up the gameplay and scoring mechanics.

Carcassonne

If you’ve already played Carcassonne, check out our list of games like Carcassonne for a new challenge!

Tikal Board Game

Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 90 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 2.78/5

Tikal is different from a lot of games on this list because it is a big box game.

There are not a lot of those on this list because… well, they come in a big box and they’re harder to travel with.

Tikal is here because Kendra’s cousin Nick showed us how he made it travel-friendly. The board itself is a little unnecessary and only really needs the starting tile locations. 

Nick actually traced out the starting tiles, threw all the components in the bag, and it actually worked well as a travel game. You’re probably not going to be able to take it out in the pub, but he takes it with him camping , and to music festivals when he has some downtime. 

If you’re looking for a big box in Ziplocs, then Tikal is where it’s at. 

Tikal offers a lot of strategies. Between blocking players off from sections of the map and strategically prioritizing dig sites, there are plenty of different options to choose from.

Tikal isn’t necessarily a travel game, but it’s a game that comes in a big box that could easily fit into a small tin. They could easily make a microgame box out of Tikal, but for marketing purposes, it’s a normal size box.

Tikal

Players: 3-6 Playing Time: 15-45 min Ages: 10+ Complexity: 1.12/5

There’s something fascinating about sugar skull artwork. 

Skull is a beautifully designed, yet simple game. Players have a set of flowers and a singular skull card. Players try to set down cards while tricking their fellow players to call their bluff.

If a bluff is called and a skull is revealed then that player loses a card.

I absolutely love the artwork of skulls. The cards and components are really cool looking and quite distinct. Simple, yet hard to master with only a handful of cards, Skull makes an excellent travel game.

Skull is a bluffing game that’s simple and fun, but a lot of players compare it to simplified poker. Just be careful, the cards are coaster-shaped and you could easily mistake them for a drink coaster and set a drink or two down on your cards. 

Skull

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best travel board games!

The weirdest place I ever played a board game had to have been at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles in the US). I was bored out of my mind and was playing a card game with my brother when we were children. Before you knew it, all of the other kids stuck there were playing with us and we actually had fun.

What’s your travel game story? Did your favorite game not make the list?

Leave a comment below — we’d love to hear from you.

Bryan Truong

Before starting GameCows with his wife Kendra, he used to teach English Language Arts in the US. He combined his love of gaming with education to create fun game-based learning lessons until he eventually decided to run GameCows with Kendra full-time. He’s known for pouring over rulebooks in his spare time, being the rule master during game night, and as the perma DM in his DnD group. Bryan loves board games, writing, traveling, and above all his wife and partner in crime, Kendra.

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The 11 Best Travel Board Games – Play Outdoors and at Home!

Best Travel Board Games

Looking for the  best travel board games you can take on your outdoor adventures and play at home ? Then check out this roundup of the top traveling board games that are lightweight, compact, fun, and that make for the perfect road trip activities for kids !

(Disclosure: Hiya, superstar! Certain links to products and/or services are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission for any purchases that you make. This will not be at any cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

Table of Contents

  • 1 My Top 3 Choices of the Best Travel Size Games
  • 2 Intro to this Roundup of the Best Travel Board Games
  • 3.1 Bringing Everyone Together
  • 3.2 Great for Mental and Physical Health
  • 3.3 Support the Development of Reasoning Skills and Social Interactions
  • 3.4 Perfect for Unwinding After a Long Day Hiking
  • 4 The 11 Best Travel Board Games
  • 5.1 Other Considerations on Monopoly Deal Card Game 
  • 6.1 Other Considerations on Ticket to Ride
  • 7.1 Other Considerations on Connect 4 Grab and Go Game -Travel Size
  • 8.1 Other considerations on Hasbro Yahtzee to Go Travel Game 
  • 9.1 Other considerations on Cluedo or Clue Grab and Go Game -Travel Size
  • 10.1 Other Considerations of WE Games Cribbage and More Travel Game Pack
  • 11.1 Other Considerations on Peradix Magnetic Travel Chess Set 
  • 12.1 Other Considerations on Travel Hungry Hippo 
  • 13.1 Other Considerations on Apples to Apples
  • 14.1 Other Considerations on Classic Game Collection Chinese Checkers 
  • 15.1 Other Considerations on Pictionary Travel Version Card Game
  • 15.2 Liked this article? Save it to your favorite Pinterest board!

My Top 3 Choices of the Best Travel Size Games

Best for fast-paced entertainment and strategy : Monopoly Deal Card Game

Best for creative games -you don’t need to draw : Pictionary Card Games

Best card deck game for solving mysteries : Clue Grab and Go

Intro to this Roundup of the Best Travel Board Games

Being stuck at home these days can drive some of us close to nuts, especially when you have run out of new things to do. That may be an exaggeration, but if you are a budding outdoorsy-head more used to looking over cliffs than out of windows, it’s somewhat of a close experience.

But, staying indoors is the safest and the wisest thing at present to fight off the pandemic. Let’s focus on the bright side. The pandemic has granted most of us the luxury of time! You have now the chance to spend time at home doing what you have been putting off for months.

So, take some time off to unwind and relax by doing something entertaining. This is when a couple of good board games come in handy! For families with kids, some of these games can actually stop the little ones from wreaking havoc when outdoors. Moreover, they are one of the best activities you can do when camping with kids .

Benefits of Playing Board Games

Bringing everyone together.

Even during your normal routine, board games are a great way to bring all your family members together and spend some quality time with them. From old to young, introvert to extrovert, workaholic to idlers, they are perfect for everyone alike. We even have some road trip games for couples .

Great for Mental and Physical Health

But, that’s not it. Playing board games is good for your mental and physical health -and will  help you stay sharp over the years  as well! 

They keep you entertained, happy, and laughing like a buffoon sometimes, which helps in lowering stress, anxiety, and blood pressure. Yup, laughing is healthy friends!

Support the Development of Reasoning Skills and Social Interactions

For children specifically, board games are  proven to support the development of logical and reasoning skills . They also teach young children to be patient while improving social skills of interaction. 

Perfect for Unwinding After a Long Day Hiking

Personally, playing board games with my friends makes me feel so relaxed -which is why I can’t imagine a good camping night without some sort of a board game! They have always been a part of my camping adventures. After a long day of hiking, we set camp, prepare dinner, drink some wine, and prep for a good board game. They also make a fun camping gift !

The 11 Best Travel Board Games

Below, I have rounded up a list that covers all age categories . The best thing about them is they not only come in handy to play at home these days but also ideal to take when your traveling adventures resume! Some of them are even travel-themed taking you to some of your dream destinations!

One thing to note about these travel board games is that they are compact and lightweight in size and therefore may not be the most durable things. Best thing? They are interesting nevertheless!

Monopoly Deal Card Game

Best for:  A fast-paced travel size monopoly game that doesn’t last forever -like the original version 

2 player travel board games

Buy on Amazon

Players:  2-5 

Ages:  8 + years

Theme:  buy and sell property

Size:  card deck 10 x 13

Weight:  100gm

Amazon rating:  4.8 (6846 reviews)

  • Compact 
  • Affordable 
  • Fast-paced which makes it one of the best travel card games out there
  • Cards could be sturdier 
  • Some rules aren’t explained in the guide – you might have to check online or make up your own rules!

Other Considerations on Monopoly Deal Card Game 

For those who are used to defining Monopoly with its traditional set of cards, money, and the iconic board, the idea of a card game might be off-putting. But, do give it a try and it will be one of your favorite mini travel games!

Ticket to Ride –Europe

Best for:  Anyone who loves travel around the world games!

Players:  2-5 players 

2 player travel board games

Theme:  Travel – earn points by connecting cities

Size:  11.8 x 11.8 x 3 inches

Weight:  1.2kg

Amazon rating:  4.8 (3372 reviews)

  • You don’t need the original version of Ticket to Ride to understand this 
  • Added features -more than the original version
  • Easy to learn the rules so appeal to both experienced and new gamers
  • Can be too bulky to take around 
  • It takes around 60 minutes to complete. If you are looking for a quick game, this isn’t the one.

Other Considerations on Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride travel is a very educational game for both adults and kids with a chance to learn geography. It can be confusing at first but gets very interesting once you are familiar with the rules! However, if you already own the original version, investing in this may not be a great idea. Also, this is more of a ‘travel from home’ game -not a travel size game, unless you want to take it along with you anyway!

Connect 4 Grab and Go Game -Travel Size

Best for: Parents looking for a fun board game to keep their kids occupied for hours!

2 player travel board games

Players:  2 players

Ages:  6 + years

Theme:  Connecting the same colored chips in a row

Size:  6 x 8 inches

Weight:  Approximately 200gs

Amazon rating:  4.4 (630 Amazon reviews)

  • Simple rules and set-up makes it easy to play
  • Light in weight 
  • Stimulates brain development and hand-eye coordination 
  • Less durable 
  • Only 2 players at a time

Other Considerations on Connect 4 Grab and Go Game -Travel Size

Travel Connect 4 is very similar to tic-tac-toe except that you cannot insert chips from the middle as the game works by dropping connectors into the grids. You have to connect 4 chips of the same color in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal row. It’s one of the best travel board games for kids with simple rules. Also great for parents to have fun too!

Hasbro Yahtzee to Go Travel Game

Best for:  A perfect dice game to try out your luck

2 player travel board games

Players:  2 or more

Ages:  8+ years

Theme:  A dice game based on probability. Get the highest score within the given rounds!

Size:  5.4 x 5.2 x 3.1 inches

Weight:  200gs

Amazon rating:  4.7 (177 reviews)

Pros: 

  • Compact packaging 
  • Any number of players can take part in the game
  • Reasonable pricing 
  • The rattling noise when dice are shaken in the plastic container 

Other considerations on Hasbro Yahtzee to Go Travel Game 

If you are looking for strategy games board games , this one’s for you. Don’t forget to take a pencil along with you as the travel Yahtzee package doesn’t come with one. 

Cluedo or Clue Grab and Go Game -Travel Size

Best for: Anyone who loves a game of suspense and full of clues that need to be solved. Also great if you want to be a Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie for the day!

2 player travel board games

Players:  2-6 people 

Ages:  8 years and up

Theme:  Mystery-solving 

Size:  1.9 x 6.3 x 9.2 inches

Weight:  160gs

Amazon rating:  4.2 (196 reviews)

  • Very compact and light in weight
  • Cheap price 
  • Improves reasoning skills, strategic thinking, and attentiveness
  • Takes around 45 minutes to complete – not a drag!

 Cons:

  • Some users have complained that the letters in Cluedo travel game are too small to read
  • Lacks in durability
  • Playing consecutively can make you feel bored.

Other considerations on Cluedo or Clue Grab and Go Game -Travel Size

For many of us, travel Cluedo or Clue is a comeback of the nostalgia of our childhood. It’s suspenseful and keeps players competing enthusiastically. Although it’s ideal for 8 years and up, some might find it difficult to catch up with the instructions and the method to play the game. But, once you get the hang of it, this is one of the travel board games you could wish for! 

WE Games Cribbage Travel Game Pack

Best for:  Any card game enthusiast who likes a competitive, fast-paced play. The ultra-lightweight makes it one of the best travel games!

2 player travel board games

Players:  Normally, 2-4 people. However, this board is designed for two which is the ideal number. 

Ages:  9 years and above

Theme:  A card deck game played by scoring points

Size:  Cribbage board 3.8 x 2 x 1 inches

Weight:  The entire package is approximately 200gs

Amazon rating:  4.5 (188 ratings)

  • Great quality, the wooden board is designed with a seamless finish
  • Light in weight, ideal for you backpacking journeys
  • Reasonably priced
  • The foldable track makes it compact sized and easy to carry.
  • The game only takes around 20-30 minutes to play. 
  • Y ou can also play other games with the extras available
  • You might find the instructions too complicated to understand (I suggest using online sources).
  • Only 2 can play on this board.

Other Considerations of WE Games Cribbage and More Travel Game Pack

The travel cribbage set consists of a portable cribbage board, metal pegs, standard deck of cards, five wooden dice, and a handy pouch to hold them all in. While the highlight is Cribbage, you can play eleven other games using the set (instructions are available for all the games).

Like every standard deck card game, Cribbage is all about good strategy and a pinch of luck. If you are a beginner, it’s easy to get frustrated at the hands of your expert partner. haha. But, once you master the game, you would want to play in a row!

Magnetic Travel Chess Set with Folding Chess Board

Best for:  People looking for a great portable magnetic chess set, checkers set, and travel backgammon set together! The 3-in-1 package won’t make you regret leaving one of them behind.

2 player travel board games

Players:  2 

Ages:  6 years and up

Theme:  Strategic board games

Size:  9.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches

Weight:  989gs

Amazon rating:  4.6 (360reviews)

  • The chess and checkers pieces stay in place as it’s magnetic. You won’t have to worry turbulence or a car break throwing off them anymore.
  • The size of the board is comfortable enough for adults as well
  • The clasp holds the board well once its folded
  • The felt bottom of the pieces prevent scratches on the board
  • Backgammon is not magnetic 
  • Not very compact 

Other Considerations on   Peradix Magnetic Travel Chess Set 

You can easily store the pieces inside the folded board. These types of travel board games are proven to stimulate logical thinking and support brain development, great for kids and adults alike.

Hasbro Travel Hungry Hippo Game

Best for:  Toddlers and kids as an ideal fun time activity and one of the best games for travel!

2 player travel board games

Ages:  4 years and up. I would say, Hungry Hippos travel game is safe enough for toddlers as well with adult supervision 

Theme:  Feeding hippos, gobbling marbles 

Size:  2 x 6.3 x 9.2 inches

Weight:  300gs

Amazon rating:  3.2 (109 reviews)

  • The plastic covering ensures marbles don’t get lost and make it safe around small kids as well.
  • Small and easily portable 
  • Budget-friendly 
  • Build quality is low
  • Can be too noisy to be played on the plane 
  • Marbles can get stuck if it’s roughly handled

Other Considerations on   Travel Hungry Hippo 

If you prefer to play the game with more players, you can go for the standard 4-player version. But it’s larger in size and not easily portable as the marbles aren’t enclosed in a plastic covering like the travel-hungry hippos version.

Apples to Apples – On the Go

Best for:  Teens! This is a milder version of Cards Against Humanity with lots of humor to keep you rolling on the floor

2 player travel board games

Players:  4-10

Ages:  12 years and up

Theme:  Answering questions 

Size:  7.9 x 2 x 7.8 inches

Weight:  650 g

Amazon rating:  4.1 (51 reviews)

  • Light and compact
  • Fun for adults as well
  • Many people can take part in the game!
  • The storage case can be smaller as there’s additional space after storing the cards

Other Considerations on Apples to Apples

According to the majority of the reviewers, it’s one of the best travel games for teens . However, the game may can have content/wordings that some might find offensive. Again, it depends on how you take it. If you are particular about such issues, especially when it comes to children, this might not be the best choice. 

Chinese Checkers and Traditional Checkers

Best for:  A travel Chinese checkers game that many can enjoy!

2 player travel board games

Players:  2-6 players

Theme:  Strategic board game with marbles

Size:  11.5 x 11.5 x 9.0 inches

Weight:  Approximately 500 grams  

Amazon rating:  4 (273 reviews)

  • An easily portable Chinese checker travel game
  • Two travel-size board games in one (Chinese and traditional checkers)
  • The marbles can roll away from the holes easily
  • Average build quality 

Other Considerations on   Classic Game Collection Chinese Checkers 

Many Chinese checkers boards available online that allows 6 people to play are not easily portable. In that sense, I think this is a great, lightweight choice, although there’s a compromise on the quality aspect. 

Pictionary Travel Version Card Game

Best for:  Anyone who wants to enjoy Pictionary even without a board -and folks who don’t want to draw!

2 player travel board games

Ages:  3 years and up

Theme:  Guessing 

Size:  1.9 x 9.2 x 14.5 cm

Weight:  159gs

Amazon rating:  4.2 (318 reviews)

  • Compact and light in weight
  • No drawing required
  • Less choice compared to the original version

Other Considerations on   Pictionary Travel Version Card Game

Pictionary’s easy rules make it a joy to learn and play! This is a very engaging and interesting game that can go on for hours. As the game it’s more about putting pictures together -which are the drawings from the cards- it’s great for people who are shy to draw!  

Liked this article? Save it to your favorite Pinterest board!

2 player travel board games

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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

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  • 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

Bananagrams

  • > Lightweight
  • > Needs just 2 players

Travel Monopoly

Travel Monopoly

  • > Self-adhesive board
  • > Up to six players

Exploding Kittens

Exploding Kittens

  • > Easy to understand rules
  • > Small to pack

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity

  • > Strictly for adults
  • > 4-20 players

2 player travel board games

The Date Game That’s Actually Fun

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

Boggle

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

Battleship Grab & Go

Battleship Grab & Go

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

Dobble

  • > Game for almost all ages
  • > Metal carry tin

Pass the Pigs

Pass the Pigs

  • > Doesn’t require adult supervision
  • > Simple to understand

Buckle Toy Bizzy

Buckle Toy Bizzy

  • > Specifically designed for pre-school children
  • > Educational

Connect 4 Grab & Go

Connect 4 Grab & Go

  • > Easy to set up

Farkle

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

2 player travel board games

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Bananagrams

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

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!

Exploding Kittens

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.

Cards Against Humanity

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!

2 player travel board games

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.

Boggle

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

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.

Dobble

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!

Pass the Pigs

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.

Buckle Toy Bizzy

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

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.

Farkle

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.

2 player travel board games

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Codenames

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.

Catan

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Uno

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.

OK Play

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!

2 player travel board games

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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.

2 player travel board games

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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.

2 player travel board games

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Ralph Cope

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2 player travel board games

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.

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16 of the Best Travel Board Games for Kids 2024

Travel Board Games 2

If your family loves travelling, then having some of the best travel board games for adults and kids at home is brilliant for keeping the passion alive between trips.  Not only do the best travel games for kids, keep the whole family entertained, it’s also a fun way to teach the kids about the wonderful world we live in and its people, particularly right now if you’ve stuck at home and looking for things to do.

So if you’re looking for some fun ways to keep the entire family entertained during these periods of world travel bans, then I highly recommend you check out this list of fun travel themed board games.  In this travel games for children guide– I’ve listed a range of great travel games for kids of all ages.  Whether you’re after the best travel games for toddlers or the best travel games for adults and kids to enjoy together, this guide covers it all.

Luckily for us, we love to travel AND playing board games, so it was actually heaps of fun putting this guide together and I may have even found some great ideas for our next board game purchase.

This post may contain compensated links.  Please refer to my disclaimer  here  for more information.

Page Contents

  • 1 Best Travel Board Games for Kids 
  • 2 Comparison Table: Best Travel Games for Kids
  • 3.1 Age Appropriate – Difficulty
  • 3.2 How Many Players
  • 3.3 Time to Play
  • 3.4 The Fun Factor
  • 4.1 Ticket to Ride
  • 4.2 Travel Card Games: Countries of the World II Card Games
  • 4.3 Explore the World
  • 4.4 Pandemic
  • 4.5 Passport to Culture
  • 4.6 GeoBingo World
  • 4.7 Flags Around The World
  • 4.8 The World Game
  • 4.9 The Continent Race
  • 4.10 BrainBox – The World
  • 4.11 Around the World
  • 4.12 Backpacker – The Ultimate Travel Game
  • 4.13 The Scrambled States of America
  • 4.14 Great States
  • 4.15 Travel Blog
  • 4.16.1 Do you want to keep this handy for later? 
  • 4.16.2 Click on one of the images below to save it to Pinterest.

Best Travel Board Games for Kids  

To come up with this list of travel board games for family, I’ve asked for recommendations from our followers, other family travel bloggers as well as researched the best selling travel games on Amazon.  I have no doubt there are a million other fun travel games, but this is a pretty good list to get you started.

Comparison Table: Best Travel Games for Kids

Don’t have time to read the entire review on the best travel board games for adults and kids to play together?  Below is a handy table of all the games in this guide with some brief information and a link for where you can buy the games online.

Keep reading below for further information on these games.

How to Find Great Travel Games

Before we get into the reviews on popular travel board games for kids, I want to give you some tips on how to go about finding the best board games everyone will love.

While going through this guide, think about the following factors:

Skip this section if you just want to see our list of recommended travel games.

Age Appropriate – Difficulty

Obviously the best travel games for 3 year olds, is not going to be the same as the best board games for teens.  While most board games have an age range on them, I think parents need to consider their children when determining if the game is age appropriate for them.

Some of the top board games for older kids involve a lot of critical thinking.  However depending on your child, even younger children may still enjoy the challenge of playing these games. 

On the other hand, even if the game says its age appropriate for your child, perhaps they have a short attention span (like my daughter), or simply don’t have the necessary skill set to play the game and therefore won’t enjoy it.

When it comes to age, I’d also consider the ages of all your children and see if you can find at least one game that kids of all ages will enjoy.

How Many Players

Before purchasing a game, consider how many players are likely to play at any given time.  There is no point buying a game that is best played with four people if you’re a family of three.  Alternatively, if you have three children, you’re going to want to buy a game that can accommodate at least three players.

Make sure you read reviews – some games are just best played with larger groups, while other games are better suited to smaller groups.

Time to Play

When it comes to the best board games toddlers will love, you’ll probably want to look for games that don’t take long to play or games where you can play in rounds.  Whereas if you’re looking for the best board games, teenagers will enjoy – then games that take at least an hour or more to play are probably going to be more enjoyable for them.

Mind you as they say “a quick game is a good game” – sometimes it’s good to have a game that won’t take long to play – so consider this when purchasing.

The Fun Factor

Of course when it comes to board games for kids, they’ve got to be fun!  I had so much fun playing board games with my brothers and sisters when I was young.  Gosh, I remember us being in fits of laughter half the time (and then of course there were times when we almost killed each other)!

When it comes to fun kid’s board games – there is so much choice – you’ve just got to think about what will suit your children.  Younger kids will appreciate games that make them laugh, while older children might enjoy the more serious types of games.

Top Travel Themed Board Games 2024 Reviews

Let’s get into it and in no particular order, check out some of the best travel themed board games currently available!

Ticket to Ride

2 player travel board games

One of our newest games that we like to play as a family is Ticket to Ride .  This is a brilliant family game, particularly for families looking for fun travel games adults and kids will enjoy together.   

There is a range of different versions of Ticket to Ride with each version set up as a continent or country such as Europe , New York , India, Germany, Japan and other.  Across the board, there is a range of train stations with routes in between.

Each player has a range of routes that they must complete.  Points are provided for completing the routes (you lose points if you don’t complete your routes), as well as building the routes along the way.  There are bonus points also given out for the longest route across the board.  The aim of the game is to be the player with the most points at the end.

If you’ve played this game for a while and want to add some new challenges, you can also buy an expansion kit which changes it up a bit.  Also if you have younger children there is also a junior version called Ticket to Ride – First Journey which is suitable for kids 6+.

For families with older children or who are looking for fun board games, definitely get yourself Ticket to Ride – I’m a big fan of this one.

Number of Players : 2 to 5 players

Age Range : 8+

Time to Play : At least one hour

Click here for more information or to buy now

Travel Card Games : Countries of the World II Card Games

2 player travel board games

Countries of the World II Card Games one of the cheap and easy travel card games that the family can play anywhere, anytime.

This card game has 30 cards each with three hard and three easy questions – so a total of 180 questions.  Each player takes it in turns to roll the die, which determines which question on the card they are asked.  The questions are true or false and multiple choice style trivia questions.

If the player gets the answer correct, they win the card.  If they get the answer wrong, the card goes to the bottom of the pile.  Once all the cards have been won, the player with the most cards wins.  

Number of Players : 2-8

Age Range : 7+

Time to Play : 30 -45 minutes

Explore the World

2 player travel board games

For the young curious traveller, Explore the World is a great game to learn more about the world.  It’s a simple game to play, without any complex rules and suitable for children from around age 7.

Each player takes it in turn to spin the wheel and depending on where it lands players are asked a range of questions or asked to complete a fun challenge.  Questions are about cities, animals or flags.  Get the question right and move along.

The winner is the first person to make a round trip.

Number of Players :  2-6

Time to Play : Around an hour

2 player travel board games

With what’s going on the world right now, perhaps Pandemic is a little too close to home – or perhaps not – I’ll let you be the judge of that one.  Whatever your thoughts Pandemic is one of the most popular games currently around.

If your kids aren’t great at playing competitive games together, Pandemic is great as it requires players to work together.  With Pandemic, players must work together to stop four different life threatening diseases that are spreading across the world.  Players must work together as a team to find cures and save the world.  So with this game, either all players succeed, or all players lose.

The way this game works is each player is assigned a character, such as a Medic, Research, Quarantine Specialist or scientist.  During each player’s turn, they choose between different actions, including travelling around the world, build research centres, share information, treat infections and work towards finding a cure.  However while this is happening, the diseases spread and so it’s a race against time and also about how the players work together.

This game certainly is a little challenging, and younger kids will benefit from playing with their parents. The thing I like about this game is that you can make it a bit more of a challenge if you have older children as you can add more diseases on the board.

Number of Players : 2- 4 players

Time to Play : Around 45 minutes

Passport to Culture

2 player travel board games

For families with older children and looking for something a little more challenging – Passport to Culture is a good one to consider.  Like the previous game, Explore the World, players must travel across the globe and answering questions about world culture as they go.

Each player starts at the airport and then takes it, in turn, rolling the dice and moving around the globe.  As players travel around the board, they are asked multiple choice questions relating to different cultures around the world.  If you get the answer right, you get a stamp in your passport.  The aim of the game is to collect all ten stamps in your passport.

Given the questions are multiple choice – this makes the game enjoyable for kids of all ages.  Even if they don’t know the answer, they can at least have a guess and the more times they play, the better the chance of getting the questions right.  Plus they are learning things about the world too.

Age Range : 10+

Time to Play : 30-45 minutes

GeoBingo World

2 player travel board games

If you’ve got some tiny ones, then a good game for the family to play is GeoBingo World .  Like the name suggests this is a simple bingo style game based on geography.  There are 8 bingo boards with 25 countries on each and the first player to get to five countries in a row wins.

This is an excellent way for kids to learn about different countries around the world. It would also be a good one to pack if you’re looking for travel toys for a road trip as it’s reasonably compact.

Age Range : 4+

Time to Play : 10-15 minutes

Flags Around The World

2 player travel board games

Another trivia style game, Flags Around The World , has players learning to recognize flags as well as learn other information about countries around the world. 

In Flags Around The World, players take it in turns to choose a flag, which they then must say which country it belongs to and what the country is capital is.  If the player is correct, they score points.  The aim of the game is to collect flags from each continent.

What I like about this game, is there is the option to play using multiple choice questions, which makes it easier for the young ones to join in.  Plus as they get more familiar with the game, you can remove the multiple choice answers.  

Number of Players : 2-6

Time to Play : 45 – 60 minutes

The World Game

2 player travel board games

The World Game is a geography card game, where you score points by competing in a range of geography based challenges.

To start the game every player receives 20 country cards.  Each country hard has four facts about the country on it, with each fact allocated different points.  Players take it in turns comparing facts, and the player with the highest scoring fact wins.  When a player wins, they take their opponent’s card.

Along the way, there are also challenges where players are tested on their knowledge about flags, locations, capital cities and continents.

The game ends when one player has won all the cards.

What’s good about this game, is that the entire game is not based on answering questions, so kids of all ages can get involved.  

Number of Players : 2-5

Time to Play : 30-60 minutes

The Continent Race

2 player travel board games

Can you believe that The Continent Race was created by a bored 6 year old!  Young Byron created this game as he has a passion for geography which he wanted to share with other kids.

Players race around the globe collecting country cards – you can either play at the beginner level and collect cards from 3 continents or the advanced level and collect country cards from 5 continents.  For each continent, players are required to collect a certain amount of country cards.

Each player starts with seven country cards.  Players then take it in turns taking a card from the deck and discarding one in their hand.   Once the player has the correct number of country cards from a continent, they can put those sets of cards up and continue play.  The winner is the first player to collect the required number of country cards from each continent.

This is an excellent easy to play game and given there are no trivia style questions to answer it is, suitable for kids of all ages.

Number of Players : 2 or more players

Time to Play : 30 minutes

BrainBox – The World

2 player travel board games

If you’re after a simple, quick and easy travel themed game, then check out BrainBox – The World . 

This is a memory type game where players take turns drawing cards, having ten seconds to memorize its pictures and facts.  The player then passes the card to another player, rolls the dice, and the other player will ask them the question that corresponds with the number on the dice.    

If the player gets the question right, they keep the card, if not the card is returned to the BrainBox and it’s the next players turn.  The winner is the player with the most cards after 10 minutes.

This is a straightforward game to play with no complex rules and given it’s a card game, it can be played anywhere at any time.

Number of Players : 2 or more

Time to Play : 10 minutes

Around the World

2 player travel board games

Around the World is a great game to teach kids all about people, places, cultures, geography and languages of the world.

Players are each provided with scorecards which have 12 spaces with different colours.  The different colours represent a different category of questions.  Each time a player answers a question correctly, they can add a token to the corresponding category on their scorecard.  The aim of the game is to be the first person to fill up their scorecard.

To play, players take turns in rolling the dice and moving along the board accordingly.  Depending on where you land, you will need to pick up the appropriate card and answer the question.  If you’re correct, you will receive, token for your scorecard.

This game is easy to learn, but it does require children to answer trivia questions, so it is best for older children.  It’s a great way for everyone in the family to expand on their world knowledge.  

Number of Players : 2 to 5

Time to Play : 45 – 60 minutes

Backpacker – The Ultimate Travel Game

2 player travel board games

Another great card game about travel, Backpacker – The Ultimate Travel Game is based on a backpacker travelling the world.

The idea of the game is that you travel around the world, visiting different countries and taking photos as you go.  Along the way, you may have special experiences which lead you to take more photos.  The winner of the game is the person who has taken the most photos. 

Each player starts with five cards and then takes turns drawing a card and playing a card.  There are two types of cards – a country card and an event card.  Country cards show how many photos you took at a particular country, while event cards are special cards that combined with the right country card can earn you bonus photos or may even cost you points.

This is a really great game as its quite different from the usual trivia type travel games.  Plus given its just a card game, it’s small and easy to take travelling with you.  Perfect for playing on the plane or while waiting for a flight.  

Age Range : 12+

Time to Play : 1 hour

The Scrambled States of America

2 player travel board games

For families living in the USA or have a particular interest in the states, then The Scrambled States of America is a fun game to play.

Each player starts with a map of the USA and five state cards.  The remaining state cards go in the centre next to the red deck of cards.  Players then take it in turns flipping over the card from the red deck of cards and reading what the card says. 

Each of the cards provides some sort of challenge that all players must compete in, and the first person to complete the challenge correctly wins the card.  Challenges could be, for example “find a state with a capital city starting with S or T”.  In this case, if one of the player’s state cards have a capital city starting with S or T, then they can complete the challenge and get an additional state card.

The game ends when all the state cards are gone, and the winner is whoever has the most state cards.

This is a fast paced game – think snap – but the rules can be a bit complex to understand at first.  Once you get the hang of it though, it’s a pretty fun game for the whole family.  

Number of Players : 2-4

Time to Play : 20 minutes

Great States

2 player travel board games

Another game for families with an interested in the USA – Great States   is a little more trivia based, so is a great game to play if you’re headed to the states for a trip and want the kids to learn a little more about the country.

Players take it in turns flicking the spinning wheel and then picking whatever card the wheel lands on.  The player is then required to answer the question on the card before the 60 seconds timer runs out.  The answers to the questions can be found on the board game, which makes it great for young players learning about the USA.

If you answer your card correctly, you get to keep it.  The aim of the game is to be the player with the most cards at the end of the game.  

Travel Blog

2 player travel board games

If you want something different from standard travel trivia games, Travel Blog  is a good to consider. 

With Travel Blog, basically you are a travel blogger who needs to find the cheapest ways to travel to the various destinations for your assignments.  The aim of the game is to be the player with the most money at the end of the game.

To start, you need to decide if you’re going to use the USA or the Europe map and then place the chosen map face down, so you can’t see it.  Each player then chooses a colour and gets the travel cards and tokens to match.

Players must then analyze the starting cards and decide which two states to visit, based on the fewest number of border crossings.  Players are then required to pay the bank according to the number of border crossings.

Travel Blog is placed over seven different rounds, and while each round is similar, they do change slightly. 

This is quite a unique game, and the rules are a little complicated, so does take a bit of getting used to.  Nevertheless, it’s great to have a travel themed game that isn’t based on answering trivia based questions.  

2 player travel board games

Perhaps you’re a little surprised to see the classic board game Monopoly on the list, but think about it, with stops on the board like Kings Cross Station and Trafalgar Square, this would have to one of the original travel themed games. 

While you’re all probably familiar with the original Monopoly board – there are plenty of other versions too.  Versions available you can get are National Geographic , Melbourne , New Zealand , Sydney , Adelaide , Brisbane , Perth and even a World Edition .

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the concept of Monopoly, but in case you’re not – Monopoly is all about going through life, buying and selling real estate, paying taxes and even winning the odd beauty contest along the way. 

Players start at GO and move around the board by rolling the dice.   You can purchase vacant properties as you land on them, or if they are already owned, you will need to pay the owner rent for landing on them.  As your real estate portfolio expands, you have the option of building houses and hotels on your land, which then allows you to charge players more money when they land on your property.  The game ends when all players but one are bankrupt. 

If your little one is a bit too young for Monopoly, there is Junior Monopoly .  Junior Monopoly is suitable for kids around age 5, although it’s really simple to play and we had Myla playing it probably from around age 4.

Number of Players : 2 to 6 players

Time to Play : At least an hour or more

I hope you found this guide on the best travel themed board games useful to see another amazing resource about board games, be sure to check out Board Game Friend .  If you’re looking for more things for kids that love to travel, check out guide on travel themed books here or our kids gift guide here .  

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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The Washington Post

10 games to pack for getting competitive on your next group trip

If your trip packing list doesn’t include a game or two alongside your underwear and passport , consider this your sign to start.

Games are a perfect way to fill little gaps, like the lull between leaving the beach and getting ready for dinner or after a big meal and bedtime. They’re also great for getting people off their phones, getting to know your travel crew better or resuscitating the group’s waning energy.

There are classics, such as the easily-packable Uno or good old-fashioned Yahtzee, but you could also shake things up with one of Italy’s most famous card games, a mysterious board game made by Neil Patrick Harris or a pared-down, sped up version of Monopoly.

Here are 10 suggestions, no screen time required.

1. For a conversation starter: Hive Pocket

Small enough to play on an airplane tray table, Hive Pocket is the shrunken travel-friendly version of Hive, a two-player strategy game that takes inspiration from chess. Even though the game has very few rules to learn ( you can read them here ), travel writer Sebastian Modak calls Hive Pocket “a pretty cutthroat brain-burner” and a “surefire conversation starter” that’s great for making friends on the road. It’s such a hit, Modak has brought it along to at least three continents.

2. For the solo traveler: Box One

If you’re traveling alone or are the only one in the group feeling up for a game, behold Box One. Described as an “ever-evolving game of trivia, codes, puzzles, and discovery” and sold exclusively at Target, Box One was created by actor Neil Patrick Harris based on his interest in immersive theater and escape rooms. Kenny Malone, a co-host for NPR’s “Planet Money” podcast, was so delighted by Box One’s whimsical twists and turns and secret gadgets that, despite it being a one-person game, he wound up pulling in his whole family to get involved. The game is on the clunky side, so it’s not for the carry-on-only but totally doable if you have space in your car on a road trip. Harris told the Strategist that it’s “tricky to describe without revealing everything” so we won’t get too into the rules but know that it takes about an hour to play.

3. For the beach: Molkky

Molkky is a Finnish wooden throwing game you can play out in the elements, making it great for camping, cabins in the woods and beach rentals. Molkky comes with 12 wooden pins and a bigger throwing pin. Players take turns trying to knock over pins, and the first to 50 points wins ( here are the official rules ). Aja Frost, co-founder of the Platonic Love newsletter, says her friend group is obsessed with the easy-to-learn game. Despite it being a lightly physical activity, being good at other hand-eye sports doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be good at Molkky, which levels the playing field.

4. To impress Italians: Scopa

A card game that dates back hundreds of years, Scopa was invented in Italy but has passionate fans around the world. Pull out a deck in public, expect to attract some Italians, says Marissa Burkett, a strategy consultant who lives in Paris and often travels for work. “It’s competitive and loud and lovely,” she said. “I always have it in my purse.” The “trick-taking” game is played with two people with the goal of winning a number of points determined at the beginning of the round (a common goal is 21). “It’s easy to learn but hard to be good at, so you can welcome new people easily into the game,” Burkett said. You can read more about the rules here .

5. For the word nerds: Quiddler

Less formal than Scrabble and easier to pack, Quiddler is a game for word lovers and book worms. The goal of the game is to come up with words with all of the letters you’re distributed. Points are scored by the value of your cards, the length of your words and how many words you come up with; more on the ru les here . Fans of the game like that it’s addictive and easy for newcomers to pick up, making it good for rowdy groups. You can play with up to eight people, or if you want to practice on your own so you can beat your friends later, it can also be played solo.

6. For tots under 4: First Orchard

When toys and books stop impressing your little one and you’re not ready to pull out the tablet, try My Very First Games: First Orchard . Recommended for kids 2 to 3, it’s a toddler-approved version of the board game Orchard wherein players work together to pick fruit from trees before a raven. By The Way travel reporter Hannah Sampson says her 2-year-old loves the board game, but it’s fun for grown-ups too. It’s great for teaching kids about organization and taking turns.

7. For chaos: Dutch Blitz

Created by a German immigrant who relocated to Pennsylvania Dutch country in the 1930s, Dutch Blitz is a card game described by fans as fast, competitive and chaotic — there are no turns, everyone plays at once. You’ll need to read a little to get the rules (or watch this tutorial ), but think of it as part solitaire, part Nerts . The original game is good for up to four players, but you can buy an expansion pack to play with even more.

8. For a couple’s trip: Bananagrams

Writer and pie maker Erika Dahlby and her husband, Zach, love Bananagrams so much that they took it on their honeymoon to Europe. Fortunately, it didn’t take up too much room in their luggage. The game comes in a banana-shaped bag about the size of a toiletry kit. The rules are easy: Empty the banana bag of its tiles, each of which is printed with a letter and place each face down. Dole them out according to how many people are playing (between two to eight people) and race to use them all to make words on their own grid. Here’s more on how to play .

9. For the multigenerational trip: Monopoly Deal

Monopoly takes an eternity to play. Monopoly Deal is the opposite of that. While still real estate-themed, this quick-playing card game can blow by in 15 minutes and can get so heated that you’ll want to play back-to-back games, says Meredith Carey, deputy editor at Tripadvisor. The gist is to get three sets of buildings, while trying not to let other players steal from or bankrupt you in the process ( here are the full rules ). It’s recommended for players 8 and older, and can be played with two to five people (although Carey has had fun playing with up to six).

10. For big laughs: Telestrations

Think telephone meets Pictionary, and you get Telestrations . You don’t have to be a good drawer to play; in fact, the worse you are, the funnier it is, says By The Way editor Amanda Finnegan . Every person gets an erasable pad and begins drawing a word picked from a card (everyone is drawing a different word). Then, the pad gets passed to the person next to you, and they have to guess what you drew. This gets repeated in the circle, alternating between drawing and guessing, until your pad returns to you — and the end result is usually nowhere close to what you originally drew. Finnegan says her family is still talking about drawings and guesses during beach trips years ago.

10 games to pack for getting competitive on your next group trip

20 Best Two-Player Card Games for Your Next Night In

Who needs Netflix when you can go all in on these super fun games of skill and chance?

a man holding a stack of cards, focus on the cards, woman with cards is out of focus in front of him

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

Sure, cards might sound a little...stuffy, but hear us out. Loads of card games (like, for example, Cribbage) have been around forever, and that's because they're an absolute blast to play . There's nothing like some friendly competition to liven things up, amirite? Especially when we've put together a killer list like this, filled with favorites you can purchase, from Talk, Flirt, Dare, a spicy little activity meant to bring couples closer, to Unstable Unicorns, a hilarious strategic contest you'll want to play over and over.

Of course, we've also included classics you don't need anything more than a pack of 52 standard cards to enjoy, like War and Spades. And just in case you're looking for something fun to do with your kiddo , you'll also find a couple of great card games for all ages below, too. So dig out the deck and get set for some seriously festive and fast-paced action. You can thank us later.

Exploding Kittens

Exploding Kittens

The legendary strategic card game that started out on Kickstarter and went on to sell a record-breaking 11 million+ copies, Exploding Kittens is aimed at kids as well as adults. Players draw cards until someone pulls an incendiary feline, losing the game—unless they happen to have a "defuse" card.

Talk, Flirt, Dare

Talk, Flirt, Dare

Three games in one, Talk, Flirt, Dare is all about encouraging greater intimacy between couples. Cards direct players to answer questions about their partners, or complete a romantic dare. According to online reviews, the game is great "for couples that are starting to date," "led into hours of great conversation and thought-provoking answers" and even makes a fun activity during long drives.

deck of red and white playing cards face down on a black background

All you need is a standard 52-card deck for this simple but endlessly entertaining game that begins with splitting the cards evenly between two players who place them in a pile without looking at them. Play starts with each player turning over their cards at the same time. Whoever has the highest card wins the round and collects both cards, with the player who eventually collects all the cards winning the game.

War happens when players draw two cards with the same value, in which case each must pull two cards from their stack, placing one face down and the other face up. The player with the highest card wins the war and collects all six cards.

Old Maid Card Game

Old Maid Card Game

The quintessential kiddie card game gets a nifty update, with diverse characters to help promote inclusivity and cultural awareness. You know the drill: collect the most paired cards without getting the Old Maid. Good for ages four and older.

MONOPOLY Deal Card Game

MONOPOLY Deal Card Game

Monopoly fans rejoice! The property-trading board game favorite is now available as a fast-paced, card-based activity for two to five people that can take less than 15 minutes to play. Collect three complete property sets and win it all, but keep a lookout for "Deal Breaker" and other cards that could put you in the poor house.

RELATED: The 26 Best Board Games for Kids in 2024

Canasta Card Game Set

Canasta Card Game Set

A legit obsession in the 1950s, Canasta is often played by four people paired into two teams, but it's plenty fun for two players, too! The goal of the game, which is in the Rummy family, is to combine cards of the same rank (a meld) and "go out" by playing all of your cards. This set includes cards with point values, score pads, and a rotating card tray holder.

...I should have known that! Trivia Game

...I should have known that! Trivia Game

There's no board needed with this easy-peasy trivia card game that comes with more than 400 questions like "Is a penguin a bird?" and "How long did Sleeping Beauty actually sleep?" Made for adults, it can be played with two people asking the questions back and forth. But instead of scoring points for each correct answer, you lose points for each wrong answer!

four jack playing cards fanned out against a black background

Pretty much all you need to do in this frenetic (and somewhat gleefully violent) card game is slap the Jack each time it's revealed. The entire deck is dealt at once, with each player receiving 26 cards, which are kept face-down. Players take turns turning over one of their cards at a time, with the fastest player to slap the Jack after it appears winning all of the cards that have accumulated in the pile. The game continues until someone has collected all of the cards.

Couch Skeletons

Couch Skeletons

Designed specifically for two players of any age, Couch Skeletons is a card game as easy to learn as it is quick to play. Players attempt to cover the couch cards in their skeleton cards before their competitor does, knocking each other's cards off along the way.

Reviewers have raved, noting, "I love the fun art style and the fact that it's a two-player game. Which means my partner and I can play together without needing any other people. The rules are simple to understand, but the strategy involved in the game makes it really interesting and engaging."

Pinochle Game Pack

Pinochle Game Pack

Another hugely popular game, Pinochle requires a special 48-card pack made up of two cards each of nine through ace, which are included in this handy set. Players score points through melds and "trick-taking," or winning a round in which each player has placed a card from their hand face up in the middle of the table. Great for two players, or two teams of two playing against each other.

close up of a jack and ace of spades playing cards, the head and shoulder of the jack is visible with the ace behind it

You don't have to be in a casino to enjoy Blackjack. No, really. We promise. The dealer deals two cards to their opponent and then two to themselves, one face up, one face down. Numerical cards are worth their numerical values, while face cards are worth 10 points and aces can be either one point or 11 points.

The objective is to get as close to 21 as possible, without going over. Depending on the value of their cards, players can "hit," and receive another card, or "stay" and keep their current cards and score. Want to up the ante? Play Vegas-style and bet pennies, peanuts, or poker chips!

UNO Card Game

UNO Card Game

This version of the classic family card game, which can be played by as few as two and as many as 10, comes in a convenient, travel-friendly tin case. See who can discard their cards first by matching them to the card on top of the deck. Of course, there's a catch: "special action cards" that can change the game in an instant!

Get The Picture Card Game

Get The Picture Card Game

Sure to keep you on your toes, this word puzzle game features cards with images you sound out to form the names of celebrities, historical figures, fictional characters, or bands. Best for older teens and adults.

a deck of cards spread out through the air with the four aces turned over with faces showing and the rest face down

Another beloved trick-taking game, Spades is played with a regular deck, typically to 500 points. Players take turns drawing cards until they each have 13, choosing whether or not to keep or discard each card. If the players keep it, they must draw and discard a second card from the draw pile. If they discard it, they must keep the second card.

Before each round, players estimate how many tricks they will take during the round. Play begins with one competitor playing a card to the middle, which the second competitor must beat with a higher-ranking card from the same suit. Spades trump everything. The player with the highest-ranking card takes the trick and leads the next trick.

A player who bids the correct number of tricks gets 10 points for each trick bid. A player whose tricks won exceed their bid gets one point for each additional trick won. If a player bids more tricks than they won, they lose the amount bid in points.

Go Fish Card Game

Go Fish Card Game

Is there anyone who hasn't played Go Fish? Easy enough for even the littlest littles to play (especially with this deck's vibrantly colored, adorable graphics!), this game is all about matching cards into sets of four of a kind. Whoever matches the most sets, wins.

Rummy Card Game Kit

Rummy Card Game Kit

You can't go wrong with Gin Rummy, the melding favorite for two people. Be the first player to reach 100 points (or more, if you prefer) by building sets of three or four cards sharing the same rank and runs of three or more consecutive cards in the same suit. Just don't forget to eliminate your "deadwood," cards not used in a meld! This kit features two standard decks of 54 cards, a score pad and instructions.

Unstable Unicorns Card Game

Unstable Unicorns Card Game

With more than a million copies sold around the planet, this ridiculous (in a good way) strategic card game has earned a legion of fans. The aim here is to collect seven unicorns while using Magic, Instant, Upgrade, and Downgrade cards to stop your opponents from doing the same.

You gotta love a game with manufacturers who make statements like, "We are super proud to have created a game that allows people to share meaningful experiences while actively working to screw each other over." For from two to eight teens or adults.

Crazy Eights

the four eights from a card deck, fanned out against a black background

Super simple to learn (and honestly, isn't THAT a bit of a relief after Spades?), Crazy Eights is a shedding card game in which seven cards are dealt to two players, with the remainder placed face down on the table. The top card on the pile is turned face up, and players must match rank or suit. If they can't, they draw cards from the pile until they draw a matching card. Eights are wild and can be played on any card, with the player who plays one naming the suit the other player must then play. The first player to go out wins.

The Couple's Bucket List

The Couple's Bucket List

This game is said to help couples "build a deeper connection" and "rekindle your love." We don't know about all that, but it sure sounds like fun—a box full of cards filled with intriguing date ideas that just might spice up your relationship.

RELATED: 100 Fun Romantic Date Ideas Near Me

Cribbage Board Set

Cribbage Board Set

A card game that uses a board and metal pegs to keep track of points, Cribbage can be enjoyed by two to four people, aged from around eight on up. Invented by the Brits in the early 17th century, it involves scoring points by playing various combinations of cards, including pairs, flushes, runs and cards that total 15.

Typically, the game goes to whoever reaches 121 first, though it may also be played to 61. This set features everything required for play, including the folding wooden board, metal pegs and deck of playing cards.

Headshot of Jill Gleeson

Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.

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COMMENTS

  1. The 27 Best Travel-sized Games of 2024

    Catan Studio Catan Board Game. Amazon. View On Amazon $44 View On Target $44 View On Walmart $44. Why We Love It: This modern classic is a fan favorite — and, although layered, it's easy to ...

  2. 2 player travel friendly games

    By far my best travel/outdoor game! : My newest addition to this category. Small to pack (don't bring the box), small footprint to play, good gameplay to feel like it's bigger brother, good replayability with the 4 different map, super low component count and can be played solo or with more than 2 if required with is and added bonus.

  3. 10 Best Travel Board Games: Travel-Sized Options

    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.

  4. The best Travel Board Games 2022

    5. Dice Academy. Few travel games are more portable than a handful of dice. If you can find room for ten dice in your bag, you can play Dice Academy wherever your travels take you. Our smallest travel game on the list is also one of the best quick-playing board games out there.

  5. Best Travel Games for 2 Adults

    If you're travelling as a couple and looking for travel-sized games to enjoy on your trip, here are my top 10 best travel games for adults to add to your packing list. Some of the games on the list can be played by more than two people (which will be clearly stated in the description), but they are all equally fun with only two players. Also, some are perfect to play on the flight/train ride ...

  6. 20 Best Board Games for Travel for 2024 (+ Card Games!)

    1. Monopoly Deal Card Game. Monopoly is one of the most popular classic travel games you can enjoy with 2 to 5 players, but this is the portable version. It'll keep you entertained for hours, whether at home or on the road. Collect three complete property sets of varying colours with the cards, and you're the winner.

  7. The 40 Best Board Games and Card Games [Travel Versions]

    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.

  8. The 13 Best Travel Board Games You Can Play Anywhere (Even ...

    6.8 on BGG. Buy on Amazon. 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. The Best Two-Player Board Games

    Patchwork is one of our beginner board game picks because of its simple and speedy play. The quilting-themed puzzler is easy to learn, and it has a 20-minute play time, so you can zip through ...

  10. 10 of the Best Travel Board Games to Take on Holiday

    7 Wonders Duel . 7 Wonders Dual has to be one of my favourite two-player games. The original 7 Wonders is one of our fave family games to play at home, so it was great to discover a two-player version to take on our travels, as it comes in a travel-friendly small box.. 7 Wonders: Duel is resource-based game played over three 'ages', just like the original, but with subtle variations that ...

  11. 8 great board games you can play anywhere

    Cubeo. Image: Marek Kolcun. Cubeo is an ultra-portable two-player game that is fast-paced, strategic, and only requires 12 six-sided dice and a flat surface to play on. The first one to merge ...

  12. Board games for 2 players 2024

    8. Best puzzle. 9. Best mystery. 10. Best travel. No matter whether you're trying to prepare for Valentine's Day or just want something cool to play with your partner or housemate, board games for ...

  13. Best 2 Player Travel Board Games

    Here are some of the best two player travel board games for couples: 1. Ticket to Ride. This classic game is a must-have for any board game lover. It's a strategic game that will test your skills and your ability to think ahead. In the game, you and your opponent compete to see who can build the most train routes across the map.

  14. Small 2-Player Games for Travel

    Hi Hive Mind, looking for very small (best at 2) player card games. Easy to travel with and published after 2019. Thank You! Hi Hive Mind, looking for very small (best at 2) player card games. ... I am travelling to Africa and want small games to leave with my gaming friends. Hobby board games are just so cost-prohibitive to get there. Give ...

  15. 44 Best Two-Player Board Games

    Twilight Struggle Deluxe Edition$57 now 7% off. $53. According to May, Twilight Struggle is "widely considered one of the best two-player games — and one of the best games of all time.". The ...

  16. The 25 Best Travel Board Games (You can Play at Home)

    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.

  17. Best Travel Board Games

    Find the best best travel board games for a road trip suitable for both Adults and Kids. Whether you're on a plane or stuck in the DMV, there's always time for a board game. ... Finding good 2-player games in a travel size can really be a mission and Tides of Time fills the role perfectly. What could be better.

  18. The Best Travel Board Games for Adults to Play

    Forbidden Desert also features a time element, where your party must complete the task before the desert takes you. You can play with 2-5 players and the game will usually last around 45 minutes. BUY LINK. Our Recommendations for Fun Travel Board Games for Adults. The best travel games are often as simple as a deck of cards.

  19. Best travel board games 2023

    Scout is the perfect travel board game for several reasons. Firstly, it's compact, with a box that could fit in a small handbag. Secondly, its components are cards and very few tokens - all of which are hard to lose when playing on a cramped table. And lastly, it's fantastic fun.. Scout is a trick-taking card game where each player is a ringmaster scouting talent for their circus.

  20. The 11 Best Travel Board Games

    3.1 Bringing Everyone Together. 3.2 Great for Mental and Physical Health. 3.3 Support the Development of Reasoning Skills and Social Interactions. 3.4 Perfect for Unwinding After a Long Day Hiking. 4 The 11 Best Travel Board Games. 5 Monopoly Deal Card Game. 5.1 Other Considerations on Monopoly Deal Card Game.

  21. Best Two Player Pocket / Portable Games

    A list with the best two player (best played with 2) Pocket / Portable board games. :star: Best Played with 2 Players :star: Can take it everywhere with you (travel or Cafe) :star: Small size :star: Portable :star: Easy Setup :star: Simple Rules :star: High Replayability

  22. 21 Best Travel Games (for Your Next Trip in 2024)

    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.

  23. 16 of the Best Travel Board Games for Kids 2024

    The answers to the questions can be found on the board game, which makes it great for young players learning about the USA. If you answer your card correctly, you get to keep it. The aim of the game is to be the player with the most cards at the end of the game. Number of Players: 2-6. Age Range: 7+.

  24. Best Travel Games

    What are the best travel games, or games that are compact enough to take and play on a plane or in a car? ... Long car trip - Looking for games to play (not just board games!) T. Nomad . @tommynomad . Added May 15, 2008 Full Date. This is a good thread for car games. ... I think it is a fine little two player game too. Give GeekGold . Tip .

  25. 10 games to pack for getting competitive on your next group trip

    By The Way travel reporter Hannah Sampson says her 2-year-old loves the board game, but it's fun for grown-ups too. It's great for teaching kids about organization and taking turns.

  26. 20 Best Two-Player Card Games for Your Next Night In

    A card game that uses a board and metal pegs to keep track of points, Cribbage can be enjoyed by two to four people, aged from around eight on up. Invented by the Brits in the early 17th century, it involves scoring points by playing various combinations of cards, including pairs, flushes, runs and cards that total 15.