Board games became part of our life a little over two years ago. It started out when we met a board game enthusiast from Netherlands who has a collection of over 250 different kinds of board games.
In India the average population is exposed to games like Snakes and ladders, Ludo, Chess and oh yes… Monopoly! We aren’t even aware of the treasure trove of different kinds of board games that exist across the world.
Quite frankly you can’t blame us. Laying our hands on these elusive pieces is difficult.
Almost every single board game is more expensive in India when compared to other countries. At times these prices can be double or triple the original cost.
So, when our friend Sander introduced us to his collection a few years back, it was a revelation. Now we have our own tiny ever-growing collection!
Let’s not forget the subset of travel board games that we absolutely adore.
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Table of Contents
Travel Board Games
I remember being astounded when Sander handed us a game just before our trip to Indonesia. He treasures his games and the idea of traveling with one of his prized possessions really scared me.
What if I accidently damaged it? Or worse… What if I lost something?
Sander however was cool as a cucumber and insisted that board games make amazing travel partners. That was the start of a new phase.
A phase where travel always meant carrying a pocket sized game aka travel board games.
Here are a few travel board games that we tried out and really enjoyed. These are the ones that can fit into a traveler’s supplies easily.
Note that we have scoured for travel board games in so many different countries. One big realization is that they are the cheapest in the USA.
Hence, we’ve included links to the respective games on the US Amazon site. We did also have a good experience at Meeples Café in Malaysia which had a great collection and really reasonable prices.
They also have a great stock of travel board games for you to browse through. Make sure that you have this list handy or the store can get overwhelming with all the choices on display.
GlobeTrove is an amazon affiliate and receives an advertising fee for every successful purchase.
Requirements That Travel Board Games Should Meet
So, everyone who travels will probably have different requirements. Over time we have perfected our own. Don’t get me wrong… There are times when we make exceptions but that is usually if Shawn is travelling on a business trip and we are going to be in a single spot for a long time. Anyway, our requirements for travel board games is as follows.
- It needs to be light and not bulky: Weight definitely matters when you are backpacking and so does the dimensions.
- It should be a 2 player game at least: Shawn and I always travel together so the minimum number of players should be two. A game that requires a minimum of three players would be useless on the road now wouldn’t it.
- It should be fun: This sort of goes without saying. Board games for Travellers need to be particularly versatile. That means that every round should be different, or the game never gets old. Remember, you will probably just be carrying one or two games on your trip.
The Ultimate List Of Board Games For Travellers
So without further ado, we are going to go through the list of travel board games that we have found fit the above description. Bear in mind that people travel in different ways.
So when we talk about a game fitting in with a travellers weight restrictions, you need to consider what works best for you.
Backpackers prefer the smallest and most compact games while luxury travellers don’t mind carrying slightly bigger boxes.
You will need to explore a bit to find the perfect match with your signature travel style and the travel board games you carry.
1. Hanabi
Number of players: 2-5 (Best with 4) Board Game Geek Rating: 7.0 Details: Read More Here
Hanabi is a great game if you have a good memory (which I don’t!). The game comes in two forms: either tiles or cards.
We prefer the tile version because they are so much cooler to play with, but cards do the trick to.
It doesn’t matter which version you get, Hanabi is a small game which shouldn’t weigh more than a couple of grams. It can be played with as many as 5 players.
The game doesn’t require much space when laid out. So, it meets all our requirements for board games for travelers.
I love Co op games and this one is super fun. It’s easy to learn but difficult to master. You have great fun and the fact that you have limited community and a challenge to get better scores is really engaging. It’s super replayable because the cards and even the way people play changes.
Percival (read more reviews now!)
2. Qwirkle
Number of players: 2-4 (Best with 4) Board Game Geek Rating: 6.7 Details: Read More Here
Qwirkle is an easy and yet abstract travel board game. It doesn’t have a board to follow. Rather, you place the tiles down in your turn such that you either match colors or shapes. Each tile counts for a point. The rules of Qwirkle are so easy to follow!
If you manage to complete an entire set of either all six colors or all six shapes, then you make a Qwirkle. This means a bonus of 6 points!
Like Hanabi, Qwirkle comes in cards and tiles. It also comes in cubes. Again, we prefer the tile version.
Note that the version of Qwirkle that we carry comes in a traveller’s pouch. Qwirkle is one of my favorite board games for travellers.
It is an easy game to explain to people, so if you make friends along the way it’s a great ice breaker.
“The tiles are made from wood and feel as if they will stay in good condition. The bag is also well made. Quirkle is colourful and easy to learn.
If you can play Dominoes and Scrabble you can play this. My grandchildren (8 and 6) picked it up easily and enjoyed it and were able to add up their scores.
It would have been even better if there had been some racks included for the tiles without having to buy them as an add on.”
Dorothy (read more reviews now!)
The downside is that you need a nice medium to big table to play the game. We’ve played it at restaurants and coffee shops too.
3. Lost Cities
Number of players: 2 Board Game Geek Rating: 7.0 Details: Read More Here!
Lost cities is a card game. It has a single long board in pack. The deck of cards comprises of five different colours representing the five different archeological expeditions that one can undertake.
The game progresses by stacking up cards in the correct order. Each successful expedition adds to your points while each unsuccessful one deducts a sum from your score.
Lost cities is easy to carry. It is slightly bulkier than Qwirkle and Hanabi but it doesn’t weigh much. Its bulkiness is largely attributed to the box that it comes in.
“My husband and I wanted to find some board game for 2 of us, to have some alternatives to watching Netflix during winter evenings. This game is a gem!
We started to play and it’s really hard to stop. It involves all your brain in thinking and decision making. And another cool thing about it – design aesthetics.”
Alice (read more reviews now!)
You can work around that by leaving the box at home but make sure you don’t damage the board when packing it.
4. Citadels
Number of players: 2-8 players (Best with 5) Board Game Geek Rating: 7.0 Details: Read More Here
Citadels is a super interesting card-based game. It comes in a small box which is both light and portable.
The best part about the game is quite likely the number of players that can play it simultaneously. We’ve played it with four players and with eight players. The rules change if you play with less than four players, but I digress.
The game requires people to take on roles as one of the characters in the stack. Each character has its strong suits and its shortcomings.
The aim of the game is to collect gold and to build buildings. Once a player builds his/her eight building the round comes to an end and the score is totaled.
The game does involve keeping a straight face which is really hard (at least for me!) and the joys of bluffing.
“Played this game once with a friend and immediately needed a copy to add to my game collection. This revised edition is super portable for travel, with or without the box.
Quality card material. Bought used off Amazon for a decent discount and the game was brand new with the box slightly dinged up. Very pleased all around.”
Mike (read more reviews now!)
The fun packed game is one of the best board games for travelers who are travelling in a group.
5. Forbidden Island
Number of players: 1-4 players (Best with 4) Board Game Geek Rating: 6.7 Details: Read More Here
Forbidden island is larger game and is probably not the first game that comes to mind when you think of board games for travelers.
We however pack the tiles together in a smaller zip lock bag or box. It definitely makes the board game more portable. We usually play the game with upwards of two players.
Forbidden island is a cooperative game which means that everyone is playing against the board. The objective of the game is to collect the treasures before the island sinks.
“We’ve taught Forbidden Island to many friends whose immediate reaction was, “I HAVE TO BUY THIS GAME.” It plays out like an action movie, always tense and exciting.
Perfect for families, but also works great with a group of adult friends.”
Erik (read more reviews now!)
Each person takes on one character and has his/her own special powers which can get you out of a tight scrape.
Since the board is made up of tiles, the layout changes every time you play it. Luck plays a large quotient in how quickly you win or lose the game.
6. PatchWork
Number of players: 2 Board Game Geek Rating: 7.6 Details: Read More Here
We first stumbled into this game in Malaysia. Patchwork may not come in the smallest box, but it is light and easy to pack.
The game is meant for two players and that makes it perfect for us.
The downside is that Patchwork is comprised of numerous pieces, so you definitely need a nice place to lay it out. A bed or a table usually works.
Players compete to use different patches to form the most aesthetic covering for their board. Each piece has its own bonuses and points.
“A game about quilting. That kinda threw me for a bit but everyone and their sister were raving about it so I had to find out for myself. Turns out, everyone and their sisters were right.”
TinTheC (read more reviews now!)
Pick a piece with two many points and you may run ahead too fast without covering your much of your square.
Pick one that covers a lot and you may not earn enough to buy more. That being said, money here is earned in buttons which I think is rather cute!
Patchwork is ever changing since the arrangement of pieces changes each time. That is what I like about it!
Despite the size of the box, I love to take Patchwork along when I travel with a suitcase. It gets a little difficult when backpacking. It is one of those perfect travel board games in the market.
7. Jaipur
Number of players: 2 Board Game Geek Rating: 7.4 Details: Read More Here!
When I heard the name Jaipur, I did a double take.
Yes! My friend Janet has often told me about the fabulous board game that she absolute loves. Its name just happens to be Jaipur!
Being from India, I thought that was cool. So, when we stumbled across it in a board game shop in Singapore, we just had to add it to our collection.
Bonus points for this game include that it comes in a small light travel friendly box, definitely involves strategy and quite a lot of camels!
If you asked me which is my current favorite among the list of board games for travelers, I would definitely say Jaipur. That is if you are traveling as a couple. (If it’s a group then its Citadels).
“My husband and I wanted more games we could play together, and this one is great! It’s a good balance of luck and strategy, fairly short, and unique.
I usually prefer collaborative games, but this one has just the right of competition. Made for only two players. Would recommend!”
Julia (read more reviews now!)
The aim of the game is to collect and sell goods. The quicker you sell goods the higher the points you get. The more goods you sell, the better bonus points you get!
It is a thin line to walk and that is what makes it so much fun!
8. Sushi Go
Number of Players: 2-5 players (Best with 4) Board Game Geek Rating: 6.9 Details: Read More Here!
I’ve heard about Sushi Go through the forums on Facebook but I did not have the opportunity to play the game until recently when I visited a board game café in Brunei.
At first glance, I did not expect much from the game and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The game comes in a nice metal container which was great in our books because we hate when our board game boxes get damaged when travelling.
The box however is a bit bulky but the game itself can be repackaged into something smaller if you want to. So that itself is a big bonus.
“Christmas present to grandkids. They report playing the game and really like how different levels of challenges there can be made for older or younger kids.
Said they like playing as their family game night. Happy with purchase. Daughter going to buy as gift for friends.”
Sandi (read more reviews now!)
So far we have played Sushi Go with two and three players and found that it plays well. The game is card based and rather quick once you get the hang of it.
Another great thing is that no game is ever the same because of the variety of choices you can make and because of the large enough deck of cards.
You would need a pen and paper or even a tissue would do keep the score. Definitely on my list of board games for travelers and I can’t wait to get my own copy!
9. Catan Dice Game
Number of players: 1-4 players Board Game Geek Rating: 6.8 Details: Read More Here!
Catan Dice Game is very similar to the larger popular Catan Game.
In fact, it was of the two board games for travelers that we took on our first backpacking trip.
The game is extremely compact and a lot of fun. You do need to carry a pen or pencil for this one as it requires scribbling down on a sheet quite a bit.
It was on loan to us from a friend when we first travelled and we did consider getting ourselves a copy but somehow we never did get around to doing it.
I may have to put a note in somewhere so I don’t forget the next time an opportunity arises.
“This is the perfect game to just keep in your car or travel bag. I’ve used it several times this week while waiting for an outdoor show to start and another time pass time between activities.
It’s definitely not Catan as you know it, but it’s easy to pick up and explain to other players (not really a skill based game, just dice rolling / luck). Would definitely recommend as a travel game to have on hand.”
Kathryn (read more reviews now!)
10. Carcassonne
Number of players: 2-5 players Board Game Geek Rating: 7.4 Details: Read More Here!
Now Carcassonne may not be the first game to pop up on your list of board games for travellers. I think that the game however is surprisingly portable if you remove it from the main box and find a smaller one to stack them in comfortably.
Then again, it also depends on how many expansions you add to it. Lol!
The base game is rather fun for two players but add more players to the mix and I find that it gets over a bit too fast or maybe I enjoy the game so much I wish it would take longer.
There is one downside to this game though. It takes a lot of table space so don’t expect to play it on a plane or when you are on the move.
“If you like games that make you think of strategies and are still simple to learn and play, get this game. Absolute love this game! It may be my new favorite game.
Catan was probably my favorite game previously, if that gives you a hint at the kind of games I like.:
David (read more reviews now!)
It does make a perfect companion once you reach your destination.
11. Virulence
Number of players: 2-5 Board Game Geek rating: 6.7 Details: Read More Here!
Virulence may not have the highest board game geek rating, but I fell in love with the game after the first round. A friend brought it over as a filler game for board game night.
The idea behind the game is simple. Each player is a virus, and you won’t to infect as many people as you can without encountering vaccines along the way.
The game progresses quickly and is aimed at anyone above 8. It comes in a small packable box and works great as a travel board game too.
It can even be packaged into something smaller since it just has cards and four die. Another thing that I liked about the game is that after a few games, it does not get boring.
Definitely something I’m going to add to my collection as soon as I can.
“I bought this for my wife for Christmas and we both found it to be very fun!
Simple mechanics (bidding, deck building, card management, card collecting) and very fast to learn!Cool little game for parties or as a warm-up for more complex games.
Art is well done, (mostly images of viruses and bacteria) and the tie-breaker dice are also nice to look at.
Recommended!”
Michael (read more reviews now!)
12. Kingdomino
Number of players: 2-4 players Board Game Geek Rating: 7.4 Details: Read More Here!
We recently got a chance to play Kingdomino in a board game café. It had piqued our interest since we had seen it mentioned in many of the board game communities on Facebook.
The game reminded me of a variant of Carcassonne but in this case there are two big differences. One is that you are building your own kingdom around your starting tile.
The second one is that while the cards are shuffled, they are placed according to the numbers on the back.
“This is such a great game for families, friends, couples, etc. It is so versatile and relatively easy to learn and play.
Plus, the pieces are fairly high quality and I know they will last!”
Erin (read more reviews now!)
Randomness is preserved but you get a chance to see which tile you pick and you have a choice.
The game is really simple. It is fun and would definitely appeal to people who are travelling with kids.
If you find the right box, you can package the game into a remarkably small space which is what puts it on our list of board games for travelers.
13. Splendor Duel
Number of players: 2 Board Game Geek Rating: 8 Details: Read More Here!
One of our all time favorite games has always been Splendor. The issue with Splendor is that it plays well with 3-4 players so it only came out when we had company. The larger issue (pun intended!) was that the Splendor box is pretty large so it isn’t really portable. We did repack it into smaller boxes whenever we traveled.
As luck would have it, in 2022, they released Splendor duel. We only got our hands on it recently during our road trip through Europe. The game has excellent gameplay.
It is basically Splendor for two players. Most of the gameplay mechanisms of the original game have been retained but you do have to wrap your head around the new aspects of the game.
“Splendor Duel is a great 2-player update for Splendor. There are more win conditions as well as special card abilities, and you draft gems from a board with a variable layout, all of which make the game more interesting and less predictable.
The components are really nice, especially the poker-style chips and the privilege scrolls. The whole game packs into a small box, so it’s something you could travel with, though the table footprint does take up some space. The rulesheet is clear and straightforward, so it’s an easy to learn game that leaves a lot of room for strategy and growth the more you play. One of my favorite quick games!”
Vee (read more reviews now!)
Unlike the original Splendor, here you have special privileges (which I keep forgetting to use!) and you have to fight for the pearls (which are always in short supply!).
All in all, it is a highly engaging game. Why is it a great travel board game? It is small which makes it portable, it has great replayability so I generally don’t mind taking just one travel board game and I absolutely love the cute tokens!
14. Rhino Hero
Number of players: 2-5 Board Game Geek Rating: 6.9 Details: Read More Here!
Okay so I know I’ve talked about this one as a travel board game for preschoolers but it is a really great game for adults too. The idea is that there are a lot of building cards and cards that (for lack of better word) form the walls. Everyone gets dealt their own cards and they use them to build the tower.
“A great filler, beats Jenga hands down. Family, friends, kids with enjoy the the chance to scale the heights.”
David (read more reviews now!)
The twist is the rhino. Some cards have a rhino on them and you have to move the rhino from one card to another. This really changes the way the weight is distributed and the higher the tower, the more difficult it gets.
Want to make it even harder? Try it after having a few glasses of beer. Hahaha! Anyways, the box of Rhino Hero is small which makes it super portable. Replayability is not an issue either. You can play with anywhere between 2-5 players which makes this super awesome if you travel in a group!
15. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (46,203 Reviews) Price: $9.84 Details: Read more on Amazon!
Taco Goat Cheese Pizza is such a fun game. The game literally fits in my palm so you know how small the box is. It is totally card based so once you open the uber cute box, you’ll find a mix of cards as you can see above.
Every player is dealt a hand. It obviously follows the theme Taco Goat Cheese Pizza.
“Fun, clean, family friendly game. Easy to learn and fun for all ages. Quick games so players can jump in and out or swap. Could easily extend the game with another pack of cards. Lots of laughs! Buying for Christmas gifts this year!”
Lyn (read more reviews now!)
You have to shout out Taco Goat Cheese Pizza depending on whose turn it is. If you place the card that matches your word you have to place to your hand on it. I always get this wrong and even though we play it with the kids, they’ve grasped the game super fast. It makes for a lot of laughter and giggles.
Not only is this a great family game, it is a great travel board game, filler game and party game. Plus its very cheap compared to many of the other games. Makes it an ideal pick!
Board Games For Travellers That We Will Be Adding To Our Collection
Collecting board games isn’t just a hobby. It soon turns into a passion and you begin to network with like minded people.
Don’t know people who play board games, well then you teach them how and soon you have newly recruited board game addicts! Hahaha… (Read as an evil laugh!)
You have no idea how far the Pandemic has reached where we are concerned (Board game enthusiasts I hope you got that pun!)
One of the best ways to know about board games is to consult Boardgamegeek a website designed for nerds just like us. The other way is to get in touch with fellow geeks.
When Shawn’s friend Riza heard that we were putting together an article about board games for travellers he sent Shawn a list of a couple of travel board games that fit the description.
A members of Everything Board Games Community , Travis Drake and Mike Inguagiato suggested a few too! Since I haven’t played the games, I’m just going to add a list of them and update them as we add them to our collection.
16. Beer And Bread
Number of players: 2 Board Game Geek Rating: 7.5 Details: Read More Here!
Beer and Bread is another cool 2 player board game that was released in 2022. I haven’t actually played this one yet but we were searching for a good present for our friend and this one really fit the bill.
The idea behind this game is that there are two villages who jointly produce beer and bread. In order to do this they cooperate and share resources. There is a lot of friendly competition though.
“This is such a cute little game. It’s not complex but also has enough variety for replayability. I highly recommend this game for couples wanting to enjoy an immersive game with a really cute theme.”
Raydan (read more reviews now!)
The game spans over six years (figuratively of course!). During that time you have to balance your liquid aka beer and bread production. Obviously, the village that scores the most points wins.
Beer and Bread seems pretty fun and not one of those ultra competitive games. It also works pretty well as one of the travel board games. It is pretty portable. I’ll admit that it isn’t the smallest game on the list though. The downside is that you need a proper playing space because it has a couple of small components.
The game works for two players only so it works well if you are traveling with a spouse or a friend.
17. THE RESISTANCE: Avalon
I absolutely LOVE playing this game. So happy my awesome cousin introduced me to it, like friends do.
Why is Avalon great? Thank you so much for asking! It is fun, fascinating, and endlessly replayable.
While I often pretend to hate it to maintain my street cred, the honest truth is that it’s my favorite way to spend time with my friends. Certainly beats ax throwing and might even be better than watching Attack on Titan. 10/10
Margaret (read more reviews now!)
18. Exploding Kittens
“It takes one or two times playing the game, referring to the instructions, to get it down. Once you get the hang of it, it’s fun. It’s definitely strategic.
My 11 year old enjoys it but I have to coach her to think about what she’s doing to get the best outcome.
That’s a good thing though. We play, the two of us, to practice strategy before inviting her dad to play.
JKC (read more reviews now!)
19. Forbidden Desert
“This is another masterpiece from Matt Leacock.
It is a little more complex, and a tiny bit harder to learn, than his previous game in the series, Forbidden Island. Which, by the way, is just as excellent.
This game is easy to set up and infinitely re-playable. A superb value for the money.”
Ted (read more reviews!)
20. Epic Quest
Now first thing to say. this is a tiny box but it takes up a lot of table space when set out.
that aside this is a great game that my board game friends loved (and some of them have high standards) and it really feels like the older Zelda games.
I highly recommend it.
M. Smith (read more reviews now!)
21. Kororo: Avenue of the Kodama
“Fun, quick game with variability and more choices than you would think. Like that the boards are dry erase and double sided.
Like the goal cards that add an extra twist. Easy to play over Zoom with friends while social distancing.
You can find printable files of the board online so people at other locations can print them off and then you can have a camera pointed at the cards as you flip them.”
Laurie (read more reviews now!)
22. Hive
“I love this game and am thrilled that I purchased it. I love playing with my mom while we are watching tv. Very portable and would be easy to bring on trips. Didn’t take a long time to learn the rules and the more you play the better it gets.
It is fun to learn new strategies and try new things as you improve at the game. Really awesome game and I would recommend it for anyone considering it.
I think it would also make a great gift.”
Emma (read more reviews now!)
23. Valley Of The Kings
Board Game Geek Rating: 6.7
No of players: 2 -4 (Best with 2)
24. Forbidden Sky
Board Game Geek Rating: 6.9
No of players: 2-5 (Best with 3-4)
25. Love Letter
“This game is so fun to play. It is very easy to learn even my 83 yr old Mother in law can play. The rounds are quick so that makes it more fun. Really has nothing to do with Love letters…
More of a game of skill where the goal is to follow the directions on the cards in a fashion that helps you figure out who has what so that you have the best card in the end.
FUN FUN FUN!!!”
Barb (read more reviews now!)
To reiterate, collecting board games has become a hobby. Finding board games for travellers has become a challenge.
They are perfect on a quiet day on a holiday or when you are stuck on a long journey. Moreover, board games are great ice breakers when it comes to new companions!
Definitely something you want to bring out at backpacker hostels or dorms! If you are an avid traveler and an avid board gamer, I would suggest taking a look at our board game bucket list for travellers.
It has an amazing compilation of places that you should visit and is inspired by popular board games from across the world.
We plan to keep updating this list as and when we find additions that meet our travel board game criteria.
If you do have any suggestions do drop them in the comments below. We love exploring new options.
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Curls en Route
Saturday 21st of March 2020
Sounds like a lot of fun!
Caroline
Saturday 21st of March 2020
This is absolutely genius. Totally going to invest in a few of these!
Penny
Saturday 21st of March 2020
Thanks. They are total lifesavers sometimes. Our list however just keeps growing!
Anwesha
Saturday 21st of March 2020
These are amazing board games. I am planning to get my hands on the Valley of the Kings!
Penny
Saturday 21st of March 2020
I haven't tried that one yet. Let me know how you enjoy it!
Ann
Sunday 6th of October 2019
Oh cool, I love this post! :D
Alison
Sunday 6th of October 2019
This is just brilliant, I love this idea. Perfect while travelling on a train or maybe a plane. Also good for a rest night at your accommodation. I sometimes take small craft projects with me too!