18 Best Travel Games 2026: Tried & Tested
We always make sure we carry a couple of our best travel games with us no matter what trip we’re on. Because travel isn’t all about beautiful beaches and exciting adventure.
Sometimes we need a bit of downtime and relaxation. Other times we want to get the party started. And believe it or not there are plenty of situations where we even get pretty bored (think travel delays).
We’ve always loved playing games. So for us they’re the perfect way to pass away a few hours in an airport, entertain ourselves after a long day of exploring and even make new friends.
If you’re wondering which ones should make it into your backpack, we’ve been travelling for over 10 years and played a lot of games in that time. We're constantly updating and refreshing this list to make sure they're the best travel games on the market right now.
Our Top 5 Best Travel Games
1. UNO Flip
No products found.UNO Flip
UNO has been around for over 50 years and remains one of the most played card games on the planet. But if you think you know UNO, think again. This Flip edition switches it up and brings a fresh and fun edge to an admittedly slightly stale game.
We play this game every day now as a family and it's one we all absolutely love, which is why it's my number one pick for best travel game of 2026.
Basic premise
Play starts as normal, each player receives 7 cards, there’s a draw deck and a play pile. Players then take turns matching cards by colour or number, trying to get rid of their hand before everyone else. So far, so UNO..
But the introduction of the Flip card is where it gets really interesting. When someone plays one, the entire deck flips over as do the cards in your hand, and all of a sudden you're playing on the dark side.
Make no mistake, the dark side is aptly named - it’s brutal!
New cards include draw fives, skip everyone, and my personal favourite which makes the next player draw until they pick up a specific colour that you nominate.
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What makes it awesome
You can be smugly holding the best hand possible, safe in the knowledge that you’ll soon be shouting UNO and tapping out.
Until someone flips the deck and you’re suddenly left clutching a handful of dark side duds wondering where it all went wrong.
It transforms a game everyone already knows into something genuinely unpredictable and a lot more barbaric. If you only pack one card game on your next trip, make it this one.
Players: 2-10
Expect: rip roaring fun
Game Time: 5-30 minutes
2. Monopoly Deal
No products found.The traditional Monopoly isn’t really a practical game to carry with you when you travel. And let’s be honest, no one actually enjoys it do they.
Do they?!
Come on, strip away the nostalgia and you’re left with a pretty ridiculous, never ending snorefest that could be renamed Monotony (I'm prepared for the backlash).
But the clever guys at Hasbro have reimagined one of the most iconic board games ever made as a wicked card game. This was our most played game on our year long backpacking trip around the world and though the box is absolutely battered, there's plenty of life left in the cards.
Basic premise:
It retains the fun bits of traditional Monopoly so you still play as a real estate tycoon trying to collect sets of properties.
You still have to come up with a kickass strategy, treading the line between boosting your bank balance and building your empire. And you can still go from kingpin to down and out in one swift turn of fate.
But that’s where the similarities end.
Collect property cards to complete sets and money cards to build your fortune while swapping and stealing your way to glory.
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What makes it awesome
Monopoly Deal is one of the best travel card games out there. It's fast paced, exciting and we've met people of various nationalities who love playing it all over the world.
Players: 2-5
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 15 minutes
3. Dobble
No products found.After being taught Dobble by our young nephew, we absolutely fell in love with it!
Okay, so this one is technically a kids card game. But once you play it you’ll understand why it's also one of the best travel games for adults.
Basic premise
Everyone has played snap as a child and Dobble takes its basic premise and elevates it to a.whole.nother.level. It's like “snap” on steroids.
There are five different travel card games within Dobble, all of them as simple as it gets. Every card has 8 pictures on it, each with one symbol in common with every other card.
Players all go at the same time to try and spot the matching symbols and either accumulate or pass cards on to opponents depending on which game you’re playing.
You can have up to 8 players involved at a time, but it's also one of the best travel games for 2 adults. Dobble is a good one to break down language barriers as well because it's so simple to get.
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What makes it awesome
Dobble gets pretty raucous. Shouting, snatching and even hand slapping are all unavoidable as you get swept up in the excitement. Undoubtedly one of the best mini travel games available.
Players: 2-8
Expect: rip roaring fun
Game Time: 10 minutes
4. Sushi Go
No products found.Like a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, the idea of Sushi Go is to build yourself a delicious plate of sushi. Don’t forget the wasabi, and definitely don’t skip pudding!
Our niece brings this one out to restaurants and bars whenever we're together and we're always up for a quick game.
Basic premise
The cards get dealt out at the start of the game, the amount depending on the number of players. The round starts with each player looking at their hand and choosing one card they want to play. Once everyone has chosen, all players reveal the card they picked by placing it ace up in front of them.
Players then pass the remainder of their hand to the player on their left. They then choose one card to keep from their new hand. Play continues like this until no one has any cards left in their hand which signals the end of the round.
At this stage the played cards are added up with each one worth different points. You can also do combinations and boost scores by adding additional extras to your sushi like wasabi. There are three rounds per game and the player with the highest score wins.
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What makes it awesome
This game is as addictive as great sushi and will definitely leave you hungry for more. It’s fast paced, engaging, and fun to play. Beware though, if you’re a sushi lover you’ll definitely be craving your favourite sushi roll after playing.
Players: 2-5
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 15 minutes
5. Skull
No products found.Alternatively known as Skull and Roses, it's like a picture version of poker played with beautifully designed components. After one game you’ll be hooked, we guarantee it.
This is hands down one of our favourite games and the tiles are absolutely gorgeously designed and high quality meaning it's also our go-to gift for friends and family who love games.
Basic premise:
Each player has three circular cards with a rose on and one with a skull as well as an individual double sided game board.
Players take it in turns to place a card of their choice on the game card face down, this continues until one player decides to make a challenge.
They do that by making a guess at how many roses they can flip before hitting a skull. If you get it correct then you turn your game board over and you have to turn your game board twice to win.
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What makes it awesome
You have to kid and calculate your way to victory in this straightforward game of bluff. It involves a mixture of skill, memory and luck.
This is one of the best travel games adults everywhere will enjoy playing on their adventures.
Players: 3-6
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 30 minutes
More of the Best Travel Games
Catan
No products found.Catan is nothing short of a modern day classic board game. It’s loved by everyone from families to Silicon Valley execs and for this reason makes one of the best travel games.
Wherever in the world you crack the Catan box out, you’re likely to find a fellow fan, I certainly have. And this travel edition is even more compact, has its own carry case and is designed to take on the road.
Basic premise
Each player is a settler looking to establish their own outposts from scratch on the mythical island of Catan. The island is represented by the game board which is made up of 19 individual hexagons. These can be placed in virtually infinite combinations meaning you could play with a new board each time. Each hexagon has a corresponding number places on it.
Players take turns to roll two di on their turn, and the number rolled allows the corresponding hexagon to produce resources. These can be either brick, wool, ore, grain, or lumber.
Collecting these resources in certain combinations allows players to build up their settlements. You can also trade with other players if they have something you need. And watch out for the robber who stops production on the hexagon he’s on.
The aim of Catan is to get 10 victory points and you collect these mainly by building settlements or cities. There are also bonus points awarded for various other achievements like longest road or biggest army.
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What makes it awesome
Catan is a game of strategy, cooperation, and skill, but you still need the roll of the dice to go your way. It’s also the original “gamers game” and helped kick off the whole board game phenomenon we have today.
Players: 3-4
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 60 minutes
Codenames
No products found.Quickly becoming a classic, Codenames is an awesome game of teamwork and strategy. You need to get on the same wavelength as your teammate(s) to have any chance of cracking the puzzle. Prepare for laughs, frustration, and jubilation in equal measures.
Basic premise
The idea of codenames is to be the first team to get in contact with all of their secret agents. Players separate into two teams before each selecting a spymaster. The rival spymasters sit on the same side of the table, opposite their respective accomplices/field operatives. 25 codenames are then randomly selected from the deck and laid out in a 5x5 grid.
A “key” card is then chosen which reveals to the spymasters which of the agents in the grid belong to each side. In among the agents are also a number of innocent bystanders. Plus there’s an assassin who you want to avoid at all costs.
Spymasters work to enable their team to identify their own secret agents. They do this by providing them with one word clues and a number. The clues can link numerous agent’s codenames, while the number tells the team how many are linked.
For example, if the spymaster says “bottle, 3”, the team knows there are 3 agents with names in some way related to the word bottle. Operatives then make guesses as to which secret agents the spymaster is trying to direct them to.
Selecting the wrong one can have bad consequences, and if you hit the assassin that’s game over. The wins team to identify all of their secret agents first.
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What makes it awesome
While it may sound complicated, when you’re playing it’s really simple and easy to follow. At heart it’s a word association game and the spy aspect just adds to the fun. Seeing the random ways that players’ minds connect words can be hilarious meaning the game is fun even when you’re not doing well.
Players: 2-8 (competitive 4-8)
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 15 minutes
Hive Pocket
No products found.Often described in reviews as “a modern great”, this two player stunner requires no setup, no board, and as the name suggests fits easily into your pocket. I was gifted this one by my sister a while back and was instantly enchanted by the strategic challenge.
Basic premise
You have one aim - surround your opponent's queen bee before they surround yours. Players take turns placing or moving various insect pieces, each with a unique movement rule, and the pieces themselves form the board as you play.
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What makes it awesome
Hive Pocket is often compared to chess, because though it takes about five minutes to learn, it takes a lifetime to master.
The chunky plastic pieces are virtually indestructible, and as long as you have a little bit of space you can play on any surface including sand, grass, or plane and train tray tables. Plus there's no box, it just lives in its little pouch making it super portable.
If you travel as a pair and like a game with genuine depth that’s infinitely playable, this one is a must.
Players: 2
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 20 minutes
Splendor
No products found.Im a bit of a history buff so I love that this game transports you to the time of the European Renaissance to become a merchant aiming to amass a huge fortune.
Basic premise
Players compete to build the biggest and most prestigious jewellery business in Europe. To do this you need to collect raw gems which you can then use to fund the building of mines.
But you then need to create ways to transport the gems, pay jewellers to cut and polish them, and also buy shops where you can sell them. Develop your cards, collect the gem chips, and watch your wealth soar. With wealth you can then attract nobles who provide you with the prestige - and points - to win the game.
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What makes it awesome
This game is easy to understand and yet the more you play the more you start to discover the intricacies. While it’s very strategic the game play is still extremely quick with only 4 basic options for each player per turn.
Players: 2-4
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 30 minutes
Bananagrams
No products found.Calling all wordsmiths - if you’re a fan of Scrabble or any similar word games then you’ll enjoy Bananagrams. It also comes in a cute banana shaped carry pouch perfect for chucking in your luggage making it one of the most convenient mini travel games.
Basic premise
144 tiles with different letters (called the bunch) on are placed face down on the playing surface. Each player selects the same number of tiles, the exact number varies depending on how many player there are. They are placed face down in front of the respective players. There are still some remaining in the bunch.
Once everyone has their tiles, anyone can shout “split” and the game begins. Players must then turn all their tiles face up. The aim is to get rid of all your tiles by creating words, but they must all interlink like a crossword. There are no turns, each player works as quickly as possible on their own grid.
If a player uses up all their letters, they take a new letter from the bunch and shout “peel”. This means that everyone else playing must also take a tile.
If a player wants to swap a bad tile then they can return it to the bunch by shouting “dump”. However, in exchange they have to pick up 3 tiles.
Players can’t win until there are less tiles in the bunch than players. Once this happens, the first player to use up all their tiles and shout “bananagrams” wins. That’s providing all their words are legit. If there are bad spellings then they’re crowned the “rotten banana” instead.
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What makes it awesome
This game is easy to learn, quick to play, and highly addictive. You don’t need to know long words, you just have to be able to string words together. It’s fun in small or large groups.
Players: 2+
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 5 minutes
OK Play
No products found.Right, technically this isn't a board game, neither is it a card game. It’s a unique travel game designed from the ground up with travel in mind.
In fact OK Play is one of those rare products where the design is so clever and yet so simple that you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. It's a set of 16 colourful interlocking tiles that clip together into a carry loop you can attach to your bag. That's it. That's the whole thing.
Basic premise
Each player picks a colour and takes turns placing their tiles, connecting them to any tile already in play. The aim is to be the first to get five of your tiles in a row. Sounds straightforward, but with up to four players all trying to do the same thing while blocking each other, it gets tactical fast.
There's no fixed board so the game sprawls out in whatever direction the tiles take it. Play it on a beach, a bar table, or on the floor around the pool. It genuinely doesn't matter.
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What makes it awesome
The tiles are waterproof, virtually indestructible, and clip neatly together so nothing gets lost. It sets up in about ten seconds and packs away in five.
If you're looking for a game that genuinely goes anywhere without any faff whatsoever, OK Play might just be the most travel resistant game on this entire list.
Players: 2-4
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 15 minutes
Exploding Kittens
No products found.This is another one that our niece introduced us to and it's unlike any game we've ever played. The illustrations and humour mean it's almost like a mix between a cartoon and a game.
Players try to avoid being an exploding kitten in this wonderfully bizarre quickfire card game. At the same time you can affect the game depending on what cards you play, putting your fellow gamers in trouble.
Basic premise
Each player starts the game with 4 action cards and a diffuse card. The remainder of the deck is placed face down in the middle of the table and players take turns to draw cards from it.
If someone draws an exploding kitten, they’re out of the game. Unless they’re holding a diffuse card which allows them to diffuse the bomb and carry on. They can also put the exploding kitten card back into the deck anywhere they want.
Action cards are played before players draw from the deck and allow them to do various different things. These range from stealing cards from other players to getting a sneak peek at the top 3 cards in the deck.
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What makes it awesome
This game is unbelievably easy to pick up. You explode, you lose, you manage to be the last person unexploded you win. The action cards are self explanatory and the quick gameplay keeps things moving quickly. Difficult not to fall in love with the cool illustrations and whacky cards with names like “hairy potato cat”.
Players: 2-5
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 15 minutes
SKYJO Voyage
No products found.I have to be honest, this game at first glance isn’t the most attractive. Personally I think the cards look a bit dated and not particularly exciting. But if you can get past that and give it a go, Skyjo might just become your new obsession.
In fact if online forums are to be believed, it's been quietly taking over games nights across Europe for a few years now. And once you start playing, it's easy to see why.
Basic premise
Each player is dealt 12 cards face down, arranged in a grid of four columns and three rows. To start, players choose two randomly from their grid to flip face up. Cards are numbered from -2 to 12 and the aim is to end the game with the lowest score possible.
On your turn you take a card from either the draw pile or the discard pile, then either keep it by swapping it with any card from your grid, or discard it and turn over one of your face down cards. Remember high numbers are bad, low numbers are good. But if you create a column of identical numbers you can discard that entire column.
A round ends when one player has flipped all their cards. Play continues until someone hits 100 points, at which point the player with the lowest overall score wins.
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What makes it awesome
This is a classic game of stick or twist and the tension of not knowing what's lurking in your grid is what keeps this one addictive. Your whole round can change on one bad flip, but equally you don’t have to win the most rounds to win overall, you just need the lowest total score.
It's easy to learn in under five minutes but has enough strategy to keep things interesting. Works brilliantly with two players or a full table of eight.
Players: 2-8
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 30 minutes
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
No products found.This simple game is bound to get your tongue in a twist and the party started. Anyone can play, but it hurts to win - you'll see why below. I like this one because its concept is similar to "snap" meaning it's easy to grasp, but it's way more involved making it perfect for families.
Basic premise
Cards are distributed evenly among all of the players, face down without anyone looking at them. There are 5 different cards, taco, cat, goat, cheese, and pizza - hence the game´s name.
The first player takes the first card from the top of their deck, turns it over while saying “taco”. The next player follows suit but says “cat”, the third player does the same but says “goat” and so on.
Play continues like this until the card laid matches what the person playing it says. At which point everyone tries to avoid being the last person to slap their hand down on it.
If you´re too slow your hand will end up on top of the pile of everyone else´s hands. This means you must take all of the cards underneath and put them into your deck.
But there’s a twist - the deck contains three special cards. If you pull a gorilla, you must beat your chest before slapping the pile. If you draw a groundhog card you need to tap the tabletop with both hands before slapping the pile. And if you get a narwhal you need to make a horn above your head with your hands before slapping the pile.
Any mess ups or mistakes result in the player taking the pile, so no flinching or pretending or even pausing. The winner is the first person to get rid of all their cards and then win another round with no cards in their deck.
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What makes it awesome
If the name itself doesn´t make you smile then you´re dead inside. This is the simplest of games but will keep you entertained for hours. Or until your knuckles are raw from them being repeatedly slapped. This could get rowdy.
Players: 3-8
Expect: rip roaring fun
Game Time: 10 minutes
Unstable Unicorns
No products found.Love unicorns? Love strategy? This is the game for you. Funded by a huge $1.8 million kickstarter campaign, Unstable Unicorns has got a cult following of enthusiasts, myself included. I love it because it's chaotic and can get pretty raucous.
Basic premise
Your single aim is to build up a complete army of unicorns in order to win. But to do this you can’t play nice. You’ll need to betray your fellow players, destroy their armies and crush their dreams.
Players start with a single baby unicorn and 5 action cards. Each turn consists of four set phases where you lay cards to build your stable of unicorns, stop other people from playing, upgrade your stable, downgrade other people’s, and create general mayhem.
The winner gets the brilliant title of “Righteous Ruler of All Things Magical” and ultimate bragging rights.
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What makes it awesome
Unicorns! Need I say more? Ok, Ok, the gameplay is unpredictable, the cards are hilarious and despite the cute unicorn theme, this game is about pure destruction. It gets better with every play so you’ll never get bored.
Players: 2-8
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 30 minutes
Sea Salt & Paper
No products found.Unlike other games on this list that we’ve mentioned (ahem, SKYJO I’m looking at you), Sea Salt & Paper’s deck is beautifully designed. I for one think the gorgeous origami artwork is original and charming.
But don’t be fooled, this is not a case of style over substance - this little set collection game packs an outsized punch. In fact Sea Salt & Paper has been picking up awards and fans in equal measure since its release.
Basic premise
The deck is made up of various sea themed cards, each worth different points. On your turn you either take two cards from the draw pile and keep one, or take the top card from the discard pile. Pairs of matching cards unlock special powers that can swing the game in your favour.
When a player feels they have a strong enough hand they can choose to stop the round and decide whether to simply end it with each player tallying their points, or gamble by announcing they have the best hand. Get that bet right and you win big. But get it wrong and it's you who suffers.
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What makes it awesome
Sea Salt & Paper is one of those games that looks innocent enough but plays deceptively rough. Being able to stop the game at any time means timing it right is everything.
Jump the gun and you leave points on the table. Move too late and kick yourself when someone beats you to it. It's quick to learn, beautiful to look at, and small enough to take absolutely anywhere. One of the most complete travel game packages on this list.
Players: 2-4
Expect: tense strategy
Game Time: 30 minutes
P for Pizza
No products found.I have to admit I was sceptical about this one at first. Mainly because it’s so easy to get to grips with that it feels as though it won’t be entertaining for long. But similarly to when I’m eating pizza, once I got going I found it hard to stop.
Basic premise
Pizza slice shaped cards have three categories on one side and three letters on the other. The draw pile is placed category side up and three cards are then placed around it letter side up.
To win a triangle of pizza you must be the first player to shout out a word linked to any of the three categories, but it must begin with the letter on the side of the card facing it.
So if the letter is “S” and the category is “Can fly”, you could shout "Spaceship!". First player to shout a correct answer wins the card. To win overall you have to be the first to build a giant pizza slice out of the smaller ones you win in each round.
The twist is that the categories are colour coded - green for easy, yellow for medium and red for most challenging. So as your pizza slice grows, so does the difficulty, often allowing other players to catch up.
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What makes it awesome
The premise sounds almost insultingly simple. But it’s amazing what the pressure of having to think quickly can do to you.
I can tell you from personal experience, your mind goes blank, you begin to sweat and you start to blurt out weird and nonsensical answers, leading to much hilarity.
It’s incredibly quick to learn, rapid to play, and you’ll be cry-laughing within minutes.
Players: 2-4
Expect: rip roaring fun
Game Time: 20 minutes
Jaipur
No products found.A game that requires strategy, skill, and a touch of luck, Jaipur is all about buying low and selling high. It's one of our favourite games to play as a couple because it's pretty easy going, fast paced and because we're very different people, we tend to play very different strategies.
Basic premise
You and your fellow player are the two most powerful traders in Jaipur. But to secure an invite to the Maharajah’s court as his official trader you need to become undisputed top dog. To do this you must out trade your opponent.
Each player begins the game with 5 cards in their hand, between them are three camels and two merchandise cards. On their turn players can perform one action - either take take cards or sell cards.
To get what you really want you generally have to sacrifice something that your opponent really wants. This means you have to weigh up what’s going to provide you with most value in the long run.
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What makes it awesome
Jaipur is quick, exciting, and is constantly throwing up little twists and turns. You can often see a player’s personality in how they play - greedily gathering commodities, slowly but steadily accumulating their rupees, or simply throwing caution to the wind.
Players: 2
Expect: rapid gameplay
Game Time: 30 minutes
Whether you're killing time in an airport, unwinding after a long day of exploring or making new friends on the road, a good travel game is one of the best things you can pack. We'd love to know what's in your bag. Drop us a comment below and let us know your favourites, we're constantly trying new games and altering this list.
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***This post was originally published in February 2017 but has been completely revamped to provide you with the most up to date and accurate information.***
Wow, I thought I knew a lot of games to play on the road. Really love Exploding Kittens and Cards Against Humanity. Have you tried PIT? That is one of our favorite games. Great list guys!
Hey Mike, yeah we're big fans of those two as well but we have actually never played PIT!! We'll have to get it on order and test it out to see if it needs to be added to the list 🙂
Hi Jamie and Sarah,
I just googled games to take on holiday and your website came top of the list! i thought I recognized the name.
Have got a couple of tips for games to take to Turkey in a couple of weeks.
Debbie Smith (Charlie's mum)
Hi Debbie,
Hope you're well, it's been a while! It's always funny when people we know stumble across our site - glad you found it useful.
Turkey sounds great, hope you get amazing weather and have a brilliant time. Enjoy!
Take care, Jamie x