There is plenty of activity in the daytime when hiking or biking, but once you have set up camp, eaten and sorted out your kit, there is often several hours before you will want to get into your sleeping bag.
The downtime is great for relaxing, taking in the views and catching up with your fellow adventurers. It’s also a good time for playing a game.
The obvious problem with travelling is finding good quality, entertaining games that will fit in your backpack. Portability is the biggest issue with board games, but there are always a way around that.
Online Experiences
There is an obvious temptation to throw some interactive online options into the mix. Smartphones have multiplayer games that friends can sit around playing together. In addition, online casinos offer a wide range of classic table games. You can play roulette, blackjack or poker, or try out slots with a 100 free spins bonus if you feel like taking a break from the tables.
However, if you prefer moving chips by hand and rolling dice, the following are five travel-sized board games to help you find your way to a fun-filled time on your next adventure.
Codenames
There aren’t many components to the brilliant party game Codenames, as it consists of cards and a small stand, which makes it ideal for sticking in your backpack. Even better is that there is a dedicated travel version of the game, making it even easier to bring along.
Codenames is a brilliant game where players work together by giving clues that guessers have to associate with the agent cards in play. However, only one-word clues can be given, and there’s only a limited number of turns to guess all the agents, making it extremely challenging and lively.
Qwirkle
Qwirkle is a fun strategy game that is reminiscent of both Scrabble and dominoes, as it’s a tile-placing game. Using the 108 game tiles, the goal of the game is to create lines that share a single colour or a single shape, of which there are six of each.
After the opening move, players extend the lines on the board by matching a shared attribute, like red or a clover. A bonus Qwirkle points haul is earned for completing a line of six. A compact travel version is available for travel convenience.
Azul
The main game looks beautiful, and the makers have done a great job of creating a “mini” travel-sized version, which looks just as good. This is another tile-laying game, and it is visually engaging for up to four players.
Azul allows you to imagine that you are decorating a royal palace with mosaic tiles, and this is done by filling lines of different numbers of tiles (1 through 5) on your personal game board. From a completed row, a tile can then be moved to decorate your “wall”, where you earn points. Simple and innovative, Azul is a game to get lost in.
Catan
Grab the travel-sized version of the classic, hugely popular board game, Catan, and you can sit back for hours playing the civilisation-building game. The goal is to be the first player to reach 10 victory points by achieving things like having the largest army. You can earn resources, trade and build your settlement as you go, and the makers have done a great job of miniaturising the game while ensuring that it’s robust enough to last many trips.
Rummikub
The classic number tile game Rummikub also comes in a travel size, which is perfect for up to four players. Players build sets of tiles to get rid of the numbered tiles, creating groups (same number, different colours) or runs (consecutive numbers, same colour).
Rummikub is a simple game to play and comes with a big element of luck, which makes it more frustrating/exciting in equal measures. The travel version has a compact case where all the tiles and racks can be stored, making it perfect for backpacking.
Other Recommendations
If you incorporate card games too, there are plenty of other amazing, travel-friendly options. Arboretum has players striving to build the most valuable garden, but with a tough strategic twist. Love Letter is a great game of deduction and risk for up to six players (in the Premium and Big Box editions), while Sushi Go! brings a livelier, crazier gaming experience. Fortunately, the options are endless, allowing you to explore new games on every trip, while discovering your favourites along the way.
