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The best travel games for 2024, as recommended by parents
Whether you're heading off on holiday or just a day out, we've rounded up the best travel games for on-the-go family fun.
By Claire Stapleton | Last updated May 7, 2024
Whether you're going on holiday, heading to a restaurant with the kids or just need a good game with all the fun of the best family board games squeezed into a conveniently-sized package, our review of the best travel games 2024 has you covered.
If you want to prepare for every eventuality and ensure that you always have some entertainment to hand without necessarily having to rely on a kids' tablet (though this is also a great addition to any suitcase) it makes sense to stock up on some of the best travel games as part of your overall travel gear.
If you're looking for something a bit different to the usual deck of cards, dominoes and crossword puzzles, we've scoured the market (and the Mumsnet forums), to find the best travel games for fun, stress-free family travel.
From classic card games to travel versions of family favourites, here are the best travel games to buy for your family in 2024.
Related: Looking to boost your child's learning from the comfort of their own home? Check out our guide to the best online tutoring.
Simple game play which is quick to learn
Suitable for up to ten players
Fast paced and short duration
Compact and easy to pack
Better suited to bigger groups than pairs
Under 7's may struggle
Price on writing: £4 | Ages: 7+ | Maximum players: 10
We're not sure exactly when it happened, but UNO has become a classic game that most people have played at least once. Part of UNO's appeal is that it's suitable for the whole family and is a great way to encourage colour and number recognition as well as strategy in younger players. As well as the original game, there are several travel-friendly options which are just as fun, such as UNO Extreme and UNO Dare!
This is a great game for bonding, as there's always lots of fun and laughter around the table when this set of playing cards appears. You aren't restricted to four players either, up to 10 can play at any one time, meaning that it's a great choice for group travel.
Related: Looking for the latest must-reads for your youngsters? Don't miss our guide to the best books for 8-year-olds.
Fast-paced play
Small portable pack
No small pieces
May take younger children a little while to grasp the rules
Price on writing: £9 | Ages: 8+ | Maximum players: 5
We have a couple of gripes with the original Monopoly game: the pieces (counters, dice, cards, houses and hotels) are easy to lose and playing a game can take up a whole evening. Thankfully you don’t have to worry about either when playing the Monopoly Deal Card Game. It's a small pack of cards so you're not going to lose any fiddly game pieces and it only takes 15 minutes to play each game - ideal for even the shortest road trips.
If you're a fan of the classic Monopoly board game, then this card version is sure to become one of your family's favourite travel games.
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Involves strategic thinking
Fun for two to four players
Smaller tiles for travel
Risk of pieces getting lost
Price on writing: £15 | Ages: 7+ | Maximum players: 4
If your family vacation involves a plane, there's no doubt the journey will need some preparation. Remember, there's only so much in-flight entertainment that one person can take, so what better way to spend the time than playing a classic travel board game?
This Rummikub Travel set is a shrunk-down version of the original and the mini tiles will fit neatly onto your aeroplane tray. It's perfect for air travel and fits neatly into a carry-on alongside the best kids' headphones.
Read next: For more toy inspiration for all ages, we've got a guide for that: check out the best toys for 4-year-olds, best toys for 5-year-olds, best toys for 6-year-olds and best toys for 7-year-olds.
Helps develop memory, strategy and maths skills
Short game duration (around 20 minutes)
Fun for the whole family
Rules are fairly complex for beginners
Price on writing: £13 | Ages: 8+ | Maximum players: 5
When you're travelling by car, you should take Sleeping Queens along for the ride. Mumsnet parents rate this card game highly; it doesn't take up much space and it's easy for car passengers to play in the back.
As well as being fun, this game has educational benefits as it helps to develop memory and math skills, as well as being one of the best strategy games on our list. You'll be grateful when your kids wake up from their car nap.
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Educational and fun
Handy travel case
Suitable for 2-6 players
Risk of tiles getting lost or dropped
Price on writing: £13 | Ages: 7+ | Maximum players: 8
Not only one of the best travel games, Bananagrams is one of the most educational games for kids. Like Scrabble but more travel-friendly, Bananagrams is very popular across the Mumsnet forums and it's easy to see why. For starters, it's clear that this grab-and-go-game has been designed with travel in mind, as you don't need a pencil, paper or a board to play on. It's very easy to transport as well as the letters come in a banana-shaped case that you can throw in your backpack alongside a good kids' laptop and pull out on the go or when you're looking for something fun and educational to enjoy during family downtime.
We like to play Bananagrams on the train, but only when we manage to get seats with a table, as you do need a flat surface to play on.
Related: Discover the latest must-have gadgetry for your little ones with our guides to the best kids' smartwatch and the best phone for kids.
Simple game play
Players may have funny responses under pressure
Small and portable
Some cards may be tricky for younger players
Lots of cards to potentially get lost
Price on writing: £8 | Ages: 8+ | Maximum players: as many as you want
With the 5 Second Rule game, the aim of the game is think on your feet. Somebody's bound to say something funny, so it's one of the best travel games for those that fancy having a giggle.
This is a compact, mini version of the original 5 Second Rule game, so you can play it virtually anywhere. We'd recommend this for larger families, as there's no upper player limit and the gameplay is very simple so the whole gang can get involved.
Related: Discover the best Nintendo Switch games for kids and the best online learning resources according to Mumsnet families.
Small, compact and portable game
Educational
Brightly coloured, robust cardboard
Easy to learn
Easy for small pieces to get lost (athough you can get replacements from Orchard Toys)
Price on writing: £6 | Ages: 3-6 | Maximum players: 4
Small children get bored quickly, so before you head off on your travels, you need to get plenty packed to occupy inquisitive minds. This Little Bug Bingo Mini Game by Orchard Toys is one of the best travel games that even toddlers can play. Yes, it's well made and beautifully designed, but it's practical too as it's small, compact and portable.
This travel game will help your child to develop their observation, matching and counting skills. Thanks to its fun and simple premise, it's aimed at children aged 3-6, but there's nothing to stop older family members from joining in.
Read next: For more ideas for toys your children will love, check out our guides to the best toy cars and best dinosaur toys.
Laugh out loud funny
Unique experience every time
Fun ice breaker for groups
Not recommended for those with a more serious disposition
Price on writing: £30 | Ages: 17+ | Maximum players: 10
Not all travel games are suitable for little minds (or ears). If you're looking for a game to play after the kids have gone to bed, then Cards Against Humanity is one of the best travel games for adults. Described by the makers as "a party game for horrible people", it comes with an advisory warning. It isn't for the easily offended, but if you play it amongst the right crowd, it can be hilarious.
If you're travelling with friends, you should definitely consider buying it. Up to 10 people can play, but the game is quite small, so it won't take up much space in your travel bag.
Although Cards Against Humanity is an American game, this particular set has been adapted to suit British culture and humour.
Read next: For Mumsnet-approved ideas to refresh the toy cupboard this summer, don't miss our guides to the best toys for 8-year-olds, best toys for 9-year-olds and best toys for 10-year-olds.
Energetic fun
Folds flat for portability
Ideal for those who get bored on the beach
You'll need to find space in your boot/luggage
Price on writing: £30 | Ages: 6+ | Maximum players: 4 (typically)
If you're planning a trip to the beach, then it’s worth considering this Game Set. It comes in a drawstring bag so it’s easy to carry and it's quick and simple to install once you get there.
Groups of friends will enjoy this game, as it encourages friendly competition and you can break off into teams. But it's also one of the most fun travel games for families. If you want to play by the official rules, then it's recommended for children over the age of six, but kids as young as two can get involved.
This game isn't cheap, but it's fun, portable and it will certainly encourage everybody to get moving.
Read next: Best outdoor toys: get your kids active with great toys and games for your garden
Fun dice game
Encourages children to count and keep score
Handy travel tin
Can take a while to remember all the different scores (although a handy visual card is provided)
Price on writing: £10 | Ages: 8-15 | Maximum players: 4
Pass The Pigs is packaged in a silver travel case which contains everything you need to play; the rulebook, scorecards, two pencils and two pigs. It's easy to carry and ready to be played on the go. But as well as being one of the best travel games in terms of practicality, this game helps to develop maths skills. Educational, fun and portable. What more could you want in a travel game?
Related: Speaking of educational fun, don't miss our guides to the best STEM toys and the top coding toys according to Mumsnetters.
Easy to set up
Suitable for the whole family
Great fun to play in large groups
Flipping can take a bit of practice
Chicken and hotdog can get damaged with overuse
Price on writing: £25 | Ages: 8+ | Maximum players: 10 |
Tested by Mumsnet: Chicken Vs Hotdog review
Simple, silly but oh so entertaining, Chicken Vs Hotdog is great to while away time in the airport if your flight is delayed. It is also perfect for a rainy afternoon in a caravan. The concept is simple - it’s basically the bottle flipping challenge, but with two goofy cartoon characters instead of bottles.
The game is easy to understand, so even children under the recommended age of eight can get involved, and there is very little setting up involved. It may take a while to discover the knack of flipping a rubber chicken in the air and getting it to stick the landing, but once you��ve mastered the art, it’s a thoroughly addictive family game.
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What games can we play while travelling?
Before you purchase a travel game, you need to determine why you're buying it. Perhaps you're travelling with kids and you're looking for something to occupy them. You could be stocking up on games to play during a rainy caravan holiday. Or maybe you’ve checked the official UK Government travel advice, you're going abroad and you want a game you can play on the plane. Figuring out how you’ll be travelling, who you’ll be travelling with and how much you want to spend on a game or two should help narrow down the search.
Read next: See if these Mumsnet-favourite family board games lived up to the hype with our reviews of Ticket to Ride, Dobble and Carcassonne.
What is the best car game?
If you're driving, then obviously you need to keep both eyes on the road at all times. But if you're a passenger, then there's nothing to stop you from engaging in one of the best travel games. Cards and things that don’t require a flat surface tend to work best, but generally speaking, most of the best travel games can be adapted for car journeys. Our top pick for the best car game is Sleeping Queens, it's compact, only takes 20 minutes to play and, best of all, is educational too.
What is the best small box game for travel?
Overall, we think that Uno is the best travel game on the market. Uno is suitable for all ages and up to 10 players can play at any one time. It's affordable, it can be played on the move and you can get it out when you reach your travel destination. This travel game ticks every box.
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About the author
Claire Stapleton is a money blogger from Greater Manchester. She is passionate about helping others to make and save money, by making simple tweaks and positive changes.
How we chose our recommendations
We spent several hours sifting through Mumsnet's forums for recommendations from our users on which travel games they rated most highly. We were also on the lookout for poor reviews of products to avoid.
We also consulted recommendations from experts, consumer websites and print media and made sure we included brands that regularly appeared in top 10 lists.
We then looked at reviews for each of our longlisted travel games to check that previous customers were satisfied with their purchases.
By doing this, we whittled our longlist down and chose a top list that we think offers something for everybody.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.