Planning a trip and looking for the best travel-size board games? We got you!
Are the Best Travel-Sized Board Games Right for You?
It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. Until it’s not. What really happens is the whole time the kids are complaining about how hot it is, your friends are nowhere to be found because they drank too much the night before, and all the available tables outside are reserved or wet from the rain the night before, and you’re just trying to survive the whole ordeal.
By the time you get home and unpack you see that board game, you brought that you never got around to playing but thank goodness it didn’t take up much room in your luggage.
This category of our Best Travel Board Games is for the hopefuls who really want to play some games while catching up on some well-deserved rest and relaxation but if they don’t get around to it then the last thing they’ll regret is lugging it around due to its convenient size.
Travel-Size Board Game Advantages
1) Won’t Regret Taking
As mentioned, these smaller footprint games are great for people who typically desire to play board games while on vacation but if it doesn’t get played there are at least no regrets.
2) Take More Options
Like card games, being smaller means you can take more options with you.
3) Has Gameplay Mechanics
Compared to card games, these smaller tabletop games allow for the potential of more gameplay mechanics so that things don’t get stale too quickly.
Travel-Size Board Game Disadvantages
1) Overall Quality Compromise
When basing your choice on size you can potentially be sacrificing both component and gameplay quality due to its footprint quantity. This isn’t a hard and fast rule by any means but it does increase the probability that the game makes concessions in order to meet the tiny size.
Speaking of tiny, here are some travel-sized tabletop game recommendations where one even includes the word “tiny” in its name.
Travel-Sized Board Game Recommendations
Tiny Epic Series of Games (30-60 mins, Age: 14+, 1-5 Players)
So take a chance on your favorite mechanics or theme and the odds are really good this series has at least one that fits your liking.
- Tiny Epic Galaxies is a fun strategy space exploration game perfect for 1 to 5 players that is easy to learn and is popular with adults, kids, teens, families, and everyone
- 2015 Award Winning Solo Game of the Year by BoardGameGeek Play against a rogue galaxy and hone your cognitive and strategic skills with family time away from a screen
- The Tiny Epic Series is one of the best small box board game collections that captures an epic game experience in under an hour
- Gamelyn Games takes pride in offering the highest quality components with beautiful artwork and gorgeous graphic design
- Tiny Epic Galaxies is a dice-driven, empire-building game about planet acquisition, resource management, with an intense race to 21 points
The Grizzled (30 mins, Age: 14+, 2-5 Players)
- Beautiful Illustrations - The art by Tignous powerfully transports the players to the front lines of a raging war
- Work Together - The Grizzled is fully cooperative. Players will have to make the best decisions for the group and sacrifice if they hope to survive
- Quick Challenge - Each round can be very tough to survive. It’s a lot of drama packed into quick 30 minute games, sure to have players coming back for more
- Number of players: 2 to 5
- English (Publication Language)
Forbidden Series (30-60 mins, Age: 10+, 2-4 Players)
- 2010 Mensa Favorite Brainy Games Winner
- Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise
- 2 to 4 players
- Strategic thinking, problem solving and cooperation required
- Ages 10 and up
Hive: Pocket Edition (15 mins, Age: 9+, 2 Player Only)
- Made by Gen42 games Honored for excellence by Mensa select
- Dr. Toy product of excellence award winner
- International gamer awards winner
- German (Publication Language)
QWIXX (15 mins, Age: 8+, 2-5 Players)
- This quick-playing dice game will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end!
- Qwixx is simple to play but each decision is crucial - the more numbers you cross off, the more points you score.
- With no downtime between turns you’ll have a chance to gain from each and every roll.
- Just one round of this thrilling game and you will be caught up in Qwixx-fever!
- Comes with 6 dice and 1 score pad. Playing time is 15 minutes.
Bananagrams (15 mins, Age: 7+, 1-8 Players)
- FUN FOR EVERYONE – Gather your family and friends and race against each other to build crossword grids. This anagram game that will drive you bananas.
- ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL – While this game is easy to play, Bananagrams is also educational. Teach your kids how to spell words and have fun at the same time.
- GREAT FOR TRAVEL – Bananagrams comes in a fun banana-shaped case. This game doesn’t take much space like other board games and brings tons of fun while traveling.
- MAKES A GREAT GIFT – Bananagrams will make a thoughtful gift for your friend or family member. It is perfect for both, boys and girls.
- PLEASE NOTE – Contains small parts, not for children under 3 years. Perfect for anyone 7 years and up. 1-8 players.
Final Thoughts on the Best Travel-Size Games
When you are traveling you may not have tons of space for games in your suitcase or carry-on, but that is not a problem with the list of games we just recommended. All of them are quite tiny, and all of them are definitely travel-sized games that you can easily pack in your personal item! They are also big on fun, so next trip you are planning why not add one and start playing!
All Products Reviewed In Best Travel-Size Games
