6 Best Travel Board Games
What’s better than playing board games with your family? Board Games are an excellent way to spend time while traveling.
They will make everyone laugh, argue about who stole their piece, and have memories that last forever, no matter where or when in history this trip happened because, let’s face it, we all want our kids growing up thinking how cool Mommy was when she traveled abroad.
Portable travel board games are the perfect travel companions for those who need something to keep themselves preoccupied, whether it’s boredom or fatigue. Play them while you’re on your trip, and take some time away from thinking about how tiring this whole traveling process is.
There are a lot of good travel board games to choose from. In our guide, we will mention the 6 best travel board games to help you choose the one that matches your needs.
How To Choose The Right Board Game When Traveling?
There are a lot of travel version board games in the market, but there are different factors to look at when you choose the Best Travel Board Games. Here we go:
Portability
Portability is one thing that everyone looks for when buying good travel board games. You have to look at the size and weight of the board game. You do not want one that is too heavy to carry or too big for your kid to play in the back seat of your car.
You should look for something that is light enough so it doesn’t drag on the ground but still durable enough to take all sorts of abuse your journey might throw at it.
Is It Deep?
Some players enjoy games that offer some sort of challenge based on tactical skill, speed, or luck, and others want just to have fun with other games that depend on speed or luck.
Sure, there will be times when you want a lighter experience and other times when you look for a game that is extra challenging and strategic.
Easy To Learn
There are a lot of different reasons people might want to play games, but if you’re traveling, you need something that can be set up quickly without spending too much time learning how to play it. You don’t want a session to take up all your time or require too much energy from you when traveling. You just want to enjoy your trip and have a fun game.
Is It Fun?
There’s more than just strategy and luck in the board games. The best travel board games are those which will make you laugh and enjoy more on your trip with family and friends, making your journey unforgettable.
Number Of Players
This is an important factor as well; the travel board games come with a different number of players. You do not want to buy a game of two payers when traveling alone or when you are on vacation with a big group of friends and family; that will kill the fun. You want everyone to participate.
Price
Of course, price is an important thing when looking for the best travel board games. You want a game that suits your budget and matches your needs at the same time.
Codenames
Players : 2-8
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 15 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2015
The game goal is all about figuring out the codenames of the agents and finding clues and hints that will lead you to identify agents using investigative skills.
The rules are simple enough for anyone to understand, but it still offers some difficulty as players must use critical thinking in order to find answers or solutions to this agent mystery.
What makes the Codenames board game more interesting is that it has only two people who know the identities of these agents. These are called spymasters, and they have to give out one word as a clue so that their teammates can identify the agents.
You have to be careful because there is an Assassin who can ruin everything and cancel all the points. You also need to make sure that your team doesn’t identify the opposing team’s agents.
Codenames is a party game for 2-8 players that will keep you and your friends guessing the agent’s identities. Whether at home or on the road trip, it doesn’t matter where you are because Codenames provides endless fun and entertainment.
Pros
Cooperative team
A great choice for a traveling party game
Suitable for up to 8 players
Has simple rules
Pieces are not easy to lose
Cons
It may be a little difficult for younger kids.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for board games about travel for a big group of players, then the Codenames game is a perfect choice; you can play with 2-8 of your friends. Divide yourselves into two teams and start guessing what the agents are.
Bananagrams Duel: Ultimate 2 Player Travel Game
Players: 2
Ages: 7+
Game Time: 15 minutes
Complexity: Low
Release Year: 2020
This word game is similar to Scrabble, except with fewer things to remember and less complicated rules. Bananagrams Duel is a great game for two players. It’s not much different than the original version, but it is a portable model that you can take with you on your road to add some fun.
This portable version makes it even easier for friends who travel together to spend some entertaining time as they can compete in head-to-head battles while traveling.
In this game, You will be competing with other players to see who can build their word grid faster. For this travel edition game, you are working with smaller word cubes and no longer have a word grid. You can start your next play anywhere.
The cubes are small but not too much. So, even if one falls on the floor of your car, it should be easy enough to find.
Players will also like how they can follow banana-shaped cards and switch things up by playing with different themes. It makes for a more fun experience overall since each time will feel unique instead of just being another play-through without any surprises or innovation.
This portable edition of the game is perfect for kids because it is easy to learn, and it can be over too quickly. So if you are traveling with your family, the Bananagrams Duel board game will be your best choice.
Pros
Stored in a very compact, very fun banana-shaped travel case
No word grids
You can change the theme cards up the gameplay
It is designed for two players
Word cubes aren’t too small to lose easily
Cons
It May get boring for adults who like more complicated games.
Final Thoughts
For those looking for two-player board games, the Bananagrams Duel board game will be a perfect choice. This portable version is ideal for ages 7 and up. So if you want to have a short game while traveling with friends and family, this game will match your needs.
Connect 4 Grab and Go Game (Travel Size)
Players: 2
Ages: 6+
Game Time: 10-15 minutes
Complexity: Low
Release Year: 2014
Connect 4 Grab and Go is a simple game from the Hasbro brand that can be played by anyone, anytime. The rules are easy enough for even kids to understand.
Also, the game doesn’t take too much room on your floor or tabletop. You could play it throughout the day at home if you wanted with friends and family.
What makes Connect 4 travel version board games a great choice is that no matter where you play it, the experience remains constant. Whether playing the classic game version or this Grab and Go version, there’s always something to enjoy.
This game is all about strategy. The objective of the game is to get four in a row or block your opponent from doing this first; there’s no luck involved.
With 21 checkers at the start of each game, you have plenty of opportunities for connections. The design is also fantastic as it is easy to carry around and play anywhere. Also, it can be easily stored when not in use by simply folding up one side next to your playing grid.
Pros
It has very simple rules.
A great way to practice hand-eye coordination, even for adults.
Purely a strategy game; no luck is involved.
Cons
Checkers can fall out of the playing grid.
Final Thoughts
Connect 4 Grab and Go game is an all-time great board game that you can put up and start playing in seconds. You’ll be strategizing within minutes, not coated with dust from learning how to play.
This travel-themed game is perfect for road trips. It’s lightweight, easy to carry around wherever you go and has an interactive nature that will keep both partners entertained.
Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel Memory Game
Players: 2
Ages: 5-7+
Game Time: 15 Minutes
Complexity: Low
Release Year: 2005
Some people say the best board games for travel are those with no pieces to lose. This way, you can just focus on playing and not worry about anything dropping off anywhere or getting lost during playing.
The Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel Memory Game is an excellent choice for travel, with no small pieces that could be lost or left behind!
Slide the game card in place and start playing. Each player will open two windows. If the two pictures match, the door will remain open, and the player will score a point; if not, it will be closed. At the end of the game, the player with the higher score wins. the game depends on the memory strength
The set includes seven double-sided cards, so you will have plenty of options to choose from, as well as laminated cards for durability that ensures your kids won’t tear them up quickly as other games do.
This travel-friendly game is easy to learn for smaller kids from 5-7 years. Since this card game is made especially for small kids, the cards have colorful illustrations on the theme of colors, zoo, fruits, and more. This will help your kids to learn and play at the same time.
Pros
Solidly built
Game playing cards are laminated
No small pieces
Seven-double sided game cards provided
Sliding scorekeeper built into the toy
Cons
Small windows are designed for small hands
Windows can be loud when closed
Final Thoughts
What’s more fun than playing a game with your kids? If you want to make it even better, try out the Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel Memory Game.
This board game is a beautiful artwork. These provide a lot of entertainment for little ones as they learn new skills and have loads of laughs along the way.
Battleship Grab and Go Game (Travel Size)
Players: 2
Ages: 7+
Game Time: 15-30 minutes
Complexity: Low
Release Year: 2020
The Battleship Grab and Go Game is a perfect way to entertain your child on any road trip. The gameboard fits conveniently into the backseat.
The game is also perfect for people who are looking to have some quality time with their friends and family. It’s also a great option if you want an easy way of entertaining yourself at home, without spending too much money!
This portable game will take you back to your childhood with its smaller playing area, but it still manages to deliver the same experience. Some of these games may finish faster because they’re compact in size.
The game is great because it still offers the two players with their own boards to enjoy. You aren’t sacrificing anything by playing on a shared board, so this doesn’t make the experience any less enjoyable for you.
It’s always a concern when you have small pieces that could get lost in your game. Thankfully, these brightly-colored pegs are easy enough to spot.
Pros
10 ships to play with
Very compact
Two game units provided
Units open and block your opponent’s view easily
Different kinds of ships included
Cons
Pegs can sometimes be hard to place
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for some fun travel games to take with your family on vacation, Battleship Grab and Go Game will be your best choice. Whether you’re at home or traveling, this game always provides hours of entertainment.
Scattergories The Card Game
Players: 2+
Ages: 8+
Game Time: 15-30 minutes
Complexity: Low
Release Year: 2009
Good board game manufacturers find a way to take tried and true formulas and translate them well into board games about travel format; that’s what you’re getting with The Card Game version of Scattergories.
The Scattergories game is a great way to kill time on your next trip. In this version of the game, Gamers use cards. There are also letter and category decks that can be separated easily to prevent making a mess.
The portable version of Scattergories is just as much fun to play, with all the gameplay twists and turns that have made the household favorite such an enjoyable experience.
Slap and chat to win the card; this game comes with 2 decks of cards, the letter deck and the category deck. Once the category and letter combo is revealed, the first gamer to slap the “I Know” card and provide a suitable answer will get the card. When the game ends, the player with the most cards wins.
Pros
Cards are easy to store
Easy to play
Fast-paced game
Cons
Cards are susceptible to damage.
Final Thoughts
The Scattergories Travel Card Game is a great way to have a lot of fun with friends at home, on vacation, or to have a quick family game night. This game depends on speed; the faster player will win the game.
