Board games are more popular than ever before, with some experts predicting that the industry will be worth more than $9 billion by 2023. Travel games make a great companion on any holiday, day out or road trip for friends, couples and families alike.
Whether you're looking for something to pass the time on the plane or a fun kids activity while you're away from home, we've reviewed the ten best group and 2-player travel games available online at Amazon, eBay and Argos. These compact games take up little to no space in a bag and you won't have to worry about the batteries running out while you're in the middle of playing. Take a look and start planning that trip away!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of travel games available and understand how our ranking was determined.
Image | 1 ![]() Gen42 Games | 2 ![]() Ideal | 3 ![]() Mattel Games | 4 ![]() Bananagrams | 5 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 6 ![]() Exploding Kittens | 7 ![]() Ridley's | 8 ![]() Asmodee | 9 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 10 ![]() Cards Against Humanity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Hive Pocket | Rummikub Travel | UNO | Bananagrams | Boggle | Exploding Kittens | Avocado Smash | Dobble | Guess Who? Grab and Go | Cards Against Humanity: UK Edition |
Features | A Two-Player Masterpiece That's Perfect for Couples | Great Fun for All Generations | A Classic Card Game That Everyone Loves | A Fast, Fun-Filled Educational Word Game | A True Classic That's Great Played Solo or With Up to 8 Friends | A Frantic and Uniquely Family-Friendly Party Game | Why Not Avo' Go at This Snap-Based Card Game? | Pocket-Sized Fun Makes This an Ideal Party or Travel Game | A Children's Classic for Trips in the Car | Offensive Fun for Older Groups of Up to 20 |
Price | £16.95 | £11.98 | £10.65 | £11.25 | £8.99 | £18.99 | £11.99 | £9.35 | £5.50 | £21.00 |
Players | 2 | 2-4 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 1-8 | 2-5 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2 | 3-20 |
Recommended Age | 9+ | 7+ | 7+ | 7+ | 8+ | 7+ | 6+ | 6+ | 6+ | 18+ |
Game Length | 20 minutes | 20 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 3 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
Dimensions | 11.9 x 11.4 x 5.1 cm | 3.8 x 21.3 x 12.8 cm | 3.8 x 10.1 x 13.9 cm | 22.8 x 7.6 x 7.6 cm | 4.2 x 4.2 x 2.1 cm | 11.2 x 16.2 x 3.8 cm | 12.7 x 6.4 x 10.2 cm | 9.5 x 9.5 x 4.5 cm | 4.8 x 23.5 x 15.9 cm | 20.3 x 10.2 x 7.6 cm |
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One of the most important things to consider is the number of players who can play at once. Most travel games are aimed at groups of between 2-4 players, with some working better for a couple's retreat by focusing on a two-player experience and others being better suited to larger groups.
Some games can only be played with a specific number of people or work better with certain numbers. A party game aimed at entertaining a higher number of players, for example, won't be as fun if it's just two people playing even if it's technically possible. We’ve noted the number of players the game works best with rather than the maximum it is able to accommodate.
Planning a group trip? Liven up your evenings with a party game.
If you're travelling with your family for a week or two away on holiday, you'll want to make sure that the games you take are suitable for everyone in terms of complexity and content. While games like Uno and Rummikub are great for all ages, something like Scrabble isn't going to hold younger children's interest due to its comparative difficulty.
Travelling with an adult group of friends doesn't mean that you need to fill your bags with games that are all 18+, like Cards Against Humanity, but taking simpler, child-friendly games may result in playing a couple of rounds before your group gets bored. Make sure you tailor the games you bring to the age and interests of the group you're travelling with.
Whether you're looking for something to play on the journey itself or once you arrive at your destination, it's worth knowing how long an average game takes to play. Most travel games differ from other board games in that the games, or rounds, only take around 20-30 minutes but are designed to be played multiple times.
You won't find any long-form, complicated rules-based or story-driven experiences, but rather games with simple rules and fast-paced turns. When most great travel games finish, everyone's immediate thought should be to play another match!
Why not pack a chess set if you've got more time to spare?
Nearly all travel games are designed to take up as little space as possible, both in terms of how they're packaged up and how much real estate it takes to play. If you're looking for something to keep the kids entertained on a long car journey or flight, you'll want something that doesn't take much space to play or can be held in a hand.
Card and tile-based games take up practically no space when travelling but require a larger surface like a table to play, making them perfect for an activity once you've arrived at your destination. Luckily, most travel games are easy to set up so you won't have to spend ages unpacking lots of little pieces!
Many parents also swear by a tablet when travelling with kids!
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide, thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£16.95
Players | 2 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 9+ |
Game Length | 20 minutes |
Dimensions | 11.9 x 11.4 x 5.1 cm |
£11.98
Players | 2-4 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 7+ |
Game Length | 20 minutes |
Dimensions | 3.8 x 21.3 x 12.8 cm |
£10.65
Players | 2-6 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 7+ |
Game Length | 10 minutes |
Dimensions | 3.8 x 10.1 x 13.9 cm |
£11.25
Players | 2-6 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 7+ |
Game Length | 15 minutes |
Dimensions | 22.8 x 7.6 x 7.6 cm |
£8.99
Players | 1-8 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 8+ |
Game Length | 3 minutes |
Dimensions | 4.2 x 4.2 x 2.1 cm |
£18.99
Players | 2-5 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 7+ |
Game Length | 15 minutes |
Dimensions | 11.2 x 16.2 x 3.8 cm |
£11.99
Players | 2-8 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 6+ |
Game Length | 10 minutes |
Dimensions | 12.7 x 6.4 x 10.2 cm |
£9.35
Players | 2-8 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 6+ |
Game Length | 15 minutes |
Dimensions | 9.5 x 9.5 x 4.5 cm |
£5.50
Players | 2 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 6+ |
Game Length | 10 minutes |
Dimensions | 4.8 x 23.5 x 15.9 cm |
£21.00
Players | 3-20 |
---|---|
Recommended Age | 18+ |
Game Length | 30 minutes |
Dimensions | 20.3 x 10.2 x 7.6 cm |
Written and researched by David Sexton
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