We love to play games when we’re travelling, whether we’re on the road in our campervan or heading abroad. When we pack our games in the small space inside our VW Transporter, or cram them into a suitcase, we prioritise compact travel games that don’t take up valuable space – without compromising on fun. Whether you’re a van lifer or heading for the sun during Summer holidays, here are our top games to take with you on your travels:
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Dobble
The rules:
There are 5 different variations on Dobble. All the cards have symbols on them, with one symbol on each card matching one symbol on all the other cards. Our favourite variation is splitting the deck equally between players and racing to get rid of all the cards in your hand in a ‘Snap’ style game. This is also fun in reverse, where a player is declared the winner by matching the most cards to the one in their hand by the time the deck is depleted.
Why it’s good for travel:
Dobble is packaged in a small, lightweight tin, with just the circular playing cards and instructions inside. The pictures on each card are large and clear enough that you’ll enjoy playing even if you’re sitting out in bright sunshine. Because the gameplay is so quick, it’s one of our favourite short games – though we usually end up playing dozens of rounds! The 5 variations mean you get hours more gameplay from packing just one game, so you won’t have to travel with stacks of different games, and Dobble can be played by 2-8 players for even more gameplay variety. The easy-to-learn rules make it great for families and there are many other character versions of the game to cater to kids, including Dobble Animals for animal-lovers, Disney Dobble for film fanatics, Super Mario Dobble for gamers, Bluey Dobble for younger children, and even a Waterproof Dobble so you can play the game on the beach or by the pool!
Bananagrams
The rules:
To play Bananagrams, the letter tiles are placed face down on the table, with players each taking 11-21 tiles depending on the number of players. You then turn over your tiles and all simultaneously make your own crossword using your tiles, rearranging as many times as you like. Once a player has used all their tiles, that player calls out ‘Peel!’, at which point every player must take a new tile to add to their crossword. This repeats until all the tiles have been taken. The first player to use all their tiles calls out ‘Bananas!’, and is the winner of the game, once they’ve had their words checked over by the other players!
Why it’s good for travel:
The rules are easy and quick to learn, and the game is effectively a faster version of traditional Scrabble, with everyone playing at once instead of having to wait ages for the next player to take their turn. The banana-shaped fabric case can be squeezed into even the smallest spaces in a bag or suitcase, with only the tiles and paper instructions inside – no bulky game boards or boxes to carry. The game can be played by 1-8 players so it’s ideal for a group road trip, or a quiet solo activity while everyone’s taking a siesta. If you’re travelling with children, there’s also a My First Bananagrams version for ages 4+ that includes colourful, lower case letter tiles.
Uno Flip
The rules:
In this updated version of the classic Uno game, play begins the same way – players are dealt 7 cards, most with coloured numbers and some that trigger an action. The aim of the game is to get rid of the cards in your hand by matching the number or colour on your turn, and using action cards to your advantage to prevent other players from getting rid of their cards! Classic Uno action cards like reverse the game play order and +2 cards are still included in this version, but the Flip deck is double-sided and contains ‘Flip’ action cards, where players must turn over their cards and play with a whole new hand! The dark side features more extreme action cards, like +5 cards, that always make a big impact on gameplay.
Why it’s good for travel:
We love classic Uno, but this update brings fun new rules and twists into the familiar gameplay. The cards are presented in a slim, lightweight, cardboard box that can easily tuck into a suitcase, handbag or even a pocket so you can play Uno Flip on an airplane. Our set is always in the top drawer of our campervan for easy access, and as it’s so small it doesn’t take up valuable room. This version is just as easy to learn as the original, and can be played by 2-10 players – perfect for a couples’ getaway or a holiday with a large group. It’s a quick game that can be adjusted as needed – when we play just the 2 of us we often take more cards at the start to make the rounds last longer.
Clues in Twos
The rules:
To begin Clues in Twos, players are given a card that has 2 categories on, with 10 words for each on the other side. Each player is also given a piece of paper with numbers down one side, and a pencil. You must choose 1 of the 2 categories on your card to write clues for, before you start a 90-second timer and turn over your card to see the 10 words you’ll be writing clues for. Each player has to write two-word clues for each of their words, without using words on the card or repeating any of the words they’ve written in other clues! When the timer runs out, players swap their paper with another player for them to guess the words they’re trying to describe, with both winning points for correct guesses. After 3 rounds, the player with the most points wins!
Why it’s good for travel:
The pocket-sized box contains a small notepad, a slim box of pencils, and the category cards, meaning you have everything you need to start playing – you just need the timer setting on your phone. The game can be played by 2-8 players, making it either a good bonding exercise with your partner as you laugh at each other’s clues, or a hilarious party game that can be great fun to play while travelling with friends. How well you know your fellow players might come into play here – we find as a couple we have a unique shorthand that helps us understand each other’s clues, though it’s just as fun to play with people you don’t know as well. If you like the sound of Clues in Twos, we also enjoy playing Six Second Scribbles – a similar game by the same company – where players must draw their clues instead of writing them. Cue tears of laughter as you try and decipher your fellow players’ hurried scribbles!
Monopoly Deal
The rules:
Like the classic Monopoly board game, players must buy properties and try to make property sets. Players start with 5 cards and take it in turns to draw 2 cards and play up to 3 cards per turn. Some action cards permit you to steal or swap properties with other players, or charge other players Rent, which is either paid from the money they’ve picked up or in properties equal to the rent value. This can be a tactical way to steal properties from other players if you know they don’t have enough money to pay the Rent! The first player to put down 3 property sets is the winner.
Why it’s good for travel:
This card version of the classic Monopoly game is perfect for those who love to play, but without having to pack a huge Monopoly board on your holiday! The slim cardboard box contains just the playing cards and rules, and can be easily stored in a beach bag, suitcase pocket, or even a car door. Game play takes just 15 minutes instead of the hours or even days that classic Monopoly takes, while still including up to 5 players in the game.
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We are Chris+Suze
