Best Travel-Size Family Games According To Most Families

Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by Rose Morah

Today there are many great travel-size games when traveling to whatever destination.

When traveling, the size of your luggage matters. The best family travel games are small in size. They do not take up much space and are hence easier to package in your luggage.

Roll and write games are also great for travel, but most only support solo play which may not be the best if you are looking for family games.

In this article, we have listed some of the best travel-size family games and those that are at the top of the list of the most recommended games by most families and parents in general.

We have divided these family travel-size games into the following sections;

Best card games.
Best dice games.
Best board games.
Best LCR Dice games.

Fun Games to Play With Friends on a Weekend Night.

20 Fun Things You Can do With Friends on A Road Trip.

Best Travel-Size Family Games

BEST TRAVEL-SIZE FAMILY CARD GAMES

1. Pick your Poison Card Game: The “What Would You Rather Do?”

Number of Players: 3-16 players.

Age Range: Kid, Teen, Adult.

Pick your Poison Card game is mostly recommended because it helps build and strengthen your connections as a family and with friends as well.

In as much as it is competitive, you also get to know each other better. Additionally, it is a great family game because it has no age limits. This means anyone can participate, including grandparents.

There are many different versions of this game, so before you buy, check if the age limit is suitable for all ages, so you don’t end up buying adults only.

The mini travel game offers an endless combination with over 300 Poison cards, making it fun for the whole family.

How to Play

One person pulls two cards and ask the players to choose between two awful things. (It has to be something annoying or really awful for it to be fun).

It goes like, “Would you rather ___ or ___.”

For example, “Would you rather go to jail for 10 years for a crime you didn’t commit, or gain 250lbs you can never lose”.

The rest of the players then “pick their poison” by choosing between the two choices.

Before the players make their choice, they can ask questions or seek clarifications.

For example; Would you rather have arms where your legs are?

Players could ask:
Are the leg-arms the size of your normal legs, or are they the size of your arms?
Do the leg-arms have elbows that would perform a similar function as the knees?

For this game to be more hilarious and entertaining, the judge (the one who picked the card) has to make the questions as horrible as possible.

Laugh at the responses.

ADVANTAGES

You don’t have to sit at a table to play the game.
It can be played from anywhere. On a family road trip, when relaxing at the hotel, at the beach, or even when just sitting around a campfire!
It can be played by people of different ages and generations.
It makes a perfect gift.

DISADVANTAGES

Scoring can be complicated. However, you can choose not to focus on scores and the game will still be very fun.

2. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Age Range: 8+

Well, if it has been a while since you last laughed hard with your family, this mini “physical card” game will make you all laugh out loud.

The game is very simple and perfect for people who want a quick card game to have a good time.

WARNING:
It can get boring when played with very serious people!

This game is also great for parties and when played with friends.

ADVANTAGES

Guaranteed hours of fun.
Very easy to play.
It is fast-paced.
Simple game but in a good way.
It is one of the best travel games for kids and adults.
It can be an awesome party game.
It is a great travel-size game for adults and kids.

DISADVANTAGES

You may hurt someone or yourself if you slap them vigorously.
The game can be boring when played with the wrong people.

3. No Thanks!

Number of Players: 3 to 7.

Age Range: 8+

This is a great game for families, especially those who are non-gamers.

Its packaging is small and simple, hence easy to carry around while traveling.

How to Play

This game features cards and 55 chips. The cards have numeric values that range from 3 to 35. To win, a player needs to have the fewest points.

However, the game is not as easy as it sounds. When playing, you must pick a card in the center or choose not to when it reaches your turn. But remember, picking a card may not be the best move because the aim is to finish up with the fewest points in order to win.

If you choose not to pick a card, you will need to play a chip.

You can either choose to take a card or just say “No Thanks” and pay one chip for not picking a card.

The chips will eventually accumulate as each player avoids the card and choices not to pick. So, if a player runs out of chips, they must pick a card.

This means you will have to be strategic and know when to pick a card or play the chip.

What’s the fun part of the game?

As mentioned earlier, the cards are numbered from 3 – 35, which helps with scoring.

So assuming you already have 33. If you decide to pick a card and end up getting 35, this means you have gained more points. So, to win the game and not chicken out, you have to decide how long you will be willing to gamble before picking a card. How many chips will you be able to milk out from the rest of the players before they chicken out or run out of chips?

4. The Mind – Family-Friendly Board Game

Number of Players: 2 to 4.

Age Range: 10+

This is a great game, especially with very competitive players, because it is a cooperative and concentration game. This means you have to strategize together to win.

If you have a family member/s who gets bitter and builds up tension when playing competitive games, then this is the best gaming for them.

The Mind brings out lots of fun and great amazing moments. It will keep you talking about the play after the playing.

How To Play

The rules are very simple;

You are not allowed to talk to each other.
You cannot see/ not be allowed to see what card the other players are holding.

But despite the rules, you are still supposed to cooperate to aid your team in winning.

What’s the fun part of the game?

When you stare at your playmates trying to figure out if you should play a card or not. It gets even funnier when you are playing with kids, as couples or even with friends.

The feeling a player gets when the other player plays a card that turns out to be higher than your card. This means that you will have to take away life and go ahead to discard a card!

This game is a great travel size. You can carry it on a family vacation, to the office, camping trip, etc. It also makes a good gift!

5. The Fox in the Forest Card Game

Number of Players: 2 players.

Age Range: 10+

BTW, this card game comes with beautiful artwork on the cards. This trick-taking game is competitive and fun to play. People who love Spades, Hearts, and Pinochle will also love this game.

Most players love this game because the cards have special powers, which makes it more interesting when trying new game strategies and scoring.

ADVANTAGES

The game is easy to learn.
It is fun and enjoyable.
You have to be strategic to win.

Other card games that would guarantee hours of fun;

6. SET Enterprises Five Crowns Card Game Purple

Number of Players: 1 to 7 players.

Age Range: 8+

7. R & R Games Hanabi Card Game

Number of Players: 1 to 5 players.

Age Range: 8+

8. UNO Family Card Game

Age Range: 7+

Check more details on Amazon.

9. Red 7 Card game

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

BEST TRAVEL SIZE FAMILY DICE GAMES

10. Gamewright Qwixx – A Fast Family Dice Game

Number of Players: 2+.

Age Range: 8+

If you ever thought rolling a dice wouldn’t be much fun, Gamewright Qwixx will prove you otherwise.

This travel size game happens to be the third most voted mini travel game. It comes with 1 scorepad and 6 dice.

How to Play

Each player has to roll the dice per turn. Then cross the numbers on your card.

All players should participate in the scoring card even when it is not their turn to roll the dice. If you take long, you lose your chance.

If you need more instructions, the dice game comes with easy instructions on how to play.

ADVANTAGES

When playing as a family (more than 2 players), you do not have to wait for long before your next play. It is a quick game.
It is fun to play, and actually great for couples, kids, and adults.
It is easy to carry when traveling.
Helps to keep the brain active and sharp.
You cannot get bored easily because it is a quick game.

DISADVANTAGES

It only comes with one scorecard. Therefore, you will either have to purchase other scorecards, use your phone or be creative and make your own scoresheets.

Check it out on Amazon.

11. TENZI Dice Party Game Bundle

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Age Range: 8+

TENZI dice is another mini travel game and one of the topmost recommended family games because of its 77 different ways to play it.

It comes with 4 sets of 10 colored dice for a maximum of 4 players and 3 different categories to choose from.

It also comes with simple and easy instructions on how to play.

BEST TRAVEL SIZE BOARD GAMES

12. Pandemic Board Game (Base Game) | Family Board Game

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Age Range: 8+

The Pandemic Board Game is a co-op game that will keep you entertained as you try to save the world as a team. Since all players are in the same team, you all have to stay united and build strategies as you work together.

It may sound easy, but it is challenging and can get frustrating if you lose. But this is part of the fun.

ADVANTAGES

Whenever it feels like it is becoming easy to play, you have the option of increasing the level to difficult.
Promotes teamwork, especially when playing as a family or with friends.

13. Jaipur Board Game

Number of Players: 2 players.

Age Range: 10+

The Jaipur board game requires players to be strategic in their decisions. There’s so much to love about this fun board game. Check out more details on Amazon.

14. 7 Wonders Duel Board Game (BASE GAME)

Number of Players: 2 players.

Age Range: 10+

The 7 Wonders Duel Board game is great for families, but mostly for couples, especially while on vacation. It is the ultimate 2 player game for couples.

This game is different because it has multiple win conditions, making it even more interesting to play.

These multiple wins include;

Military victory.
Science victory.
Wonders.

ADVANTAGES

It never gets boring even after multiple plays since each game is fun and different.
It is equally fun to play with adults, teens, and even kids, making it a good family game.
Its rules are simple.

15. Forbidden Desert – The Cooperative Strategy Survival Desert Board Game

Number of Players: 2 to 5 players.

Age Range: 10+

This is yet another fun and interesting board game that will require you to work together as a family and not against each other! Thirst for Survival!

This is a great travel-size game that will make your overly competitive family members or couples have a great relaxing game night. Because you all lose and win.

GAMEPLAY

Someone from your team has crashed in the desert while flying with their helicopter.

So, the rest of the team (players) need to find and rebuild a legendary flying machine powered by solar power.

Players will have to rely on clues and some special equipment to complete the mission.
Additionally, each player has special powers that will help accomplish the task.
For example, some players;
– Have the ability to carry extra water.
– Navigate other players.
– Climb over blocked tiles e.t.c

Other great travel-size board games;

16. Qwirkle Board Game

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

Age Range: 6+

17. Kingdomino Award Winning Family Strategy Board Game

Number of Players: 1 to 4 players.

Age Range: 12+

18. Monopoly Pixar

Number of Players: 2 to 4 players.

19. Terraforming Mars Board Game

Number of Players: 1 to 5 players.

Age Range: 12+

20. Gloomhaven

Number of Players: 1 to 4 players.

Age Range: 12+

21. Scythe Board Game

Number of Players: 1 to 5 players.

Age Range: 14+

TRAVEL-SIZE LCR DICE GAMES

LCR Dice Games are great when played in large groups. It does not require you to have any strategies to win simply because it is 100% pure luck. So, if you are lucky enough, you will end up getting lots of wins.

Most families prefer playing with 3 dollars. For example, each player starts with 3 single dollars and then rolls the dice.

How to Play

The dice are labeled L, C, and R. L meaning that you will need to give a dollar to the person on your Left. The same case applies to R. You will give the dollar to the person on your right side. C means that you have to put the dollar in the center pot.

The game should go on until only one player is left with dollars, and everyone else doesn’t have.

ADVANTAGES

It is easy to learn and play.
Great after a long day, and when you just want to play with your family because you won’t have to think much or build strategies.
You walk away with good rewards when playing with money.
They are great travel-size games that can easily fit anywhere when traveling.

Here are the best travel-size LCR dice games: