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!
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks for Best Travel Board Games
In a hurry? Check out our favorite travel games below.
Best Travel Games
Tiny Epic Galaxies (or any Tiny Epic)
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.
More Tiny Epic Games!
Codenames
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.
What we liked
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!
What could be better
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.
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!
Secret Hitler
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.
What we liked
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!
What could be better
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.
Jaipur
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Kingdomino
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Love Letter
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
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
For Sale
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.
What we liked
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!
What could be better
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.
Sushi Go!
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.
What we liked
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!
What could be better
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.
Hive or Hive Pocket
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.
What we liked
Hive Pocket is a fantastic abstract strategy game similar to Chess, but it can fit in your back pocket.
What could be better
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.
There’s even a special travel-size version that’s the full game, just pocket-sized and fits in a small bag.
Lost Cities: The 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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
If you don’t care about the theme, then there isn’t too much here for you.
Citadels
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Coup
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
It can be played with two players, but it’s not nearly as fun. It quickly becomes stale until you add more players.
Forbidden Island, Desert, or Sky
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.
What we liked
These are extremely fun cooperative games that each have a really cool theme. The components and tiles are all beautifully done.
What could be better
The box is a little big for traveling, and if you remove the inserts, the components only fill about 1/4 of the box.
Tides of Time
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.
What we liked
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
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.
The Great Dalmuti
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Pairs
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.)
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Hanabi
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Munchkin
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?
What we liked
Munchkin is full of silly irreverent puns and “gotcha” gameplay. It’s a great travel game, especially for aggressive players.
What could be better
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.
Goat Lords
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.
What we liked
The goat puns are some of the best. You could even call them the Greatest Of All Time.
What could be better
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.
Exploding Kittens
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.
What we liked
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!
What could be better
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.
Unstable Unicorns
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!
What we liked
The artwork is absolutely adorable. It’s one of the best things about the game.
What could be better
The game is extremely portable, but the rules and gameplay are quite simple. It’s fun, but for only a limited amount of time.
Bananagrams
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Catan
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
Catan can be pretty brutal if you’re playing with the right/wrong group of people. It has Monopoly-level powers to end friendships.
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.
Carcassonne
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
If you’ve already played Carcassonne, check out our list of games like Carcassonne for a new challenge!
Tikal
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Skull
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.
What we liked
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.
What could be better
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.
Wrap-Up
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.
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.