Board games are typically played at home, but if you’re on the go you may want to bring a smaller version with you for entertainment. Whether you’re taking a hiking trip, backpacking across the country, or camping in the woods it’s always a good idea to bring extra entertainment. Sure, you may have technology lugging around somewhere, but where’s the fun in backpacking when you turn to the screen for entertainment? Instead, add a board game or two to your list of items to take backpacking.
Although there are many choices, not every game is the right option for carrying on your back. After reviewing customer opinions and reviewing sales data, we’ve come up with a list of 10 backpacking games that weigh almost nothing.
Top 10 Board Games to Take Backpacking
1. Monopoly Deal Card Game
- Lighter version of a classic game
- Short game-play
- Easy to learn
If you love to play Monopoly, Monopoly Deal is the perfect option for you to take on your backpacking trip. This is a card version of the original property-trading game and can entertain up to five people at a time.
During the game, each player will play action cards that allow them to complete actions such as demand money from players, steal someone’s cards, or charge rent for their owned property. In order to win this card game, someone must own three complete properties of different colors. Depending on the number of players, this game takes between 15 and 45 minutes.
2. Sushi Go!
- Fast-paced
- Strategic gameplay
- Easy to understand
Regardless of if you love sushi or not, this fast-paced game can create fun for everyone. This game requires strategy and quick thinking to win. Players will quickly pass sushi cards to each other while keeping the ones they want in order to create the most delicious sushi plate possible.
Players score points by having the best sushi with the winner being the player with the most points at the end of three rounds. Dipping sauces and desserts are great for adding to each player’s final score.
This game takes just 20 minutes and is certain to entertain all who play. Some even say it’s a board game essential!
3. Grandpa Beck’s Cover Your Assets
- Competitive
- Great for ages 7 and up
- Can be played with larger group
Cover Your Assets is all about building your fortune. This game is best played with 4-6 players and the first one to reach $1 million in assets is declared the winner.
During gameplay, each player needs to make a stack of asset cards. If a player happens to hold a wild card they may steal an opponents top asset card. Another way to steal asset cards is by having a match to another player’s top card.
To protect your cards from being stolen, players should place pair cards on the top of their asset stack.
4. Boggle Travel Edition
- Compact game that’s easy to transport
- Perfect for two players or solo play
- Simple to teach
When searching for a lightweight two-player game, it’s hard to go wrong with Boggle. This classic game requires players to find words within a mixed-up jumble of letters with the pressure of a 90-second timer.
Once time runs out, each player will count the score of their words with the winner being the one with the highest score. The simple design of this game makes playing a second, third, or fourth round easy by placing the lid back on the base and giving it a shake to mix up the letters.
The small size of Boggle makes it the perfect backpacking game.
5. Hive Pocket
- Very portable
- Addictive
- Only requires two people
Hive Pocket is the pocket-sized version of the original game, Hive and has a chess-like feel to its gameplay. With no initial setup required, Hive Pocket is easy to play anywhere while being extremely portable in the small bag that holds all of the pieces.
To play this two-player game, each player chooses to use either black or white tiles each with different insects on them. The pocket version includes two extra pieces the original doesn’t have, making for even more fun!
The objective of this game, is to surround your opponents queen bee while each piece has a designated type of movement. Once the game is started the rules are easy to follow and is regarded as highly addictive by many players.
6. Taboo
- Perfect if you have a large group
- Plenty of cards for extended play
- Great for laughs
Guessing games can be enjoyed by almost anyone, and with the party game like Taboo there’s bound to be plenty of laughter. This game requires at least four people but can be played with larger groups.
Taboo includes 450 cards full of words that players can and can’t say out loud. To play, groups will split up into teams and try to correctly guess the word on as many cards as possible. When a player draws a card they must explain the main word to their team without saying certain taboo words. When taboo words are said, a buzzer will sound and their turn is ended.
Each team holds onto the cards they guess correctly to keep score. The team with the most cards at the end wins the game.
7. Trash Pandas
- Unique
- Budget friendly
- Only a Few pieces manage
Although dumpster diving is not the most sanitary activity, it is an awful lot of fun for racoons and for humans who pretend to be racoons with the card game Trash Pandas.
In this fun-filled game each player is a racoon trying to find the most scrumptious treats from trash cans. Players will roll a die to either steal an opponents trash cards or tip the trash can to find some treasures of their own.
The racoon with the most trash cards at the end of the game is the winner. Dogs and greed are the obstacles in this portable game of stinky treats.
8. Monty Python Fluxx
- Hilarious game play
- Rules are constantly changing
Monty Python Fluxx is a card game that’s meant to be as silly as its motion picture counterpart. The rules of this game are ever-changing and are determined by cards laid down by players at each turn.
Aside from regularly changing the rules, players will also find themselves quoting Monty Python and the Holy Grail, singing, speaking in accents, and even meeting the Knights Who Say Ni! (and bringing them shrubbery of course!)
This card game is easy to bring backpacking and is designed to cause plenty of laughter. Fluxx plays best with 2-6 players and generally takes between 10-40 minutes.
9. Catan Dice Game
- It’s a mini version of Catan
- Minimal pieces to keep up with
Catan Dice Game is a dice version of the larger board game and can be enjoyed by one player or up to four players.
This ultralight dice game includes six wooden dice and two maps for different game experiences. Catan Dice Game is all about exploring and settling in the world of Catan.
It can be played in just 10-30 minutes with players as young as seven years old and is full of risks and victories.
10. Scrabble to Go
- Timeless Game
- Easy to stop mid-game
- Pieces snap into place for portability
Scrabble is a timeless game that comes in many different versions. Scrabble To Go is the perfect travel version of the game and comes complete with privacy shields on the tile racks for easy storage if the game needs to be paused.
It is best with 2-4 players and comes with 100 letter tiles, 4 letter racks, and a storage case for portability. The scrabble board even folds up for easier transportation making it a great board game for camping.
Everyone can have endless fun with this classic word game.
