Got some big travel coming up and not sure how to pass the time on that long-haul flight? Why not bring along your favorite board games! It might not have been the first thing you thought to pack, but board games are actually the ideal way to kill some time as you travel in style. Not every game will be the best fit for playing on a plane, though, so use our list of tips & tricks to help choose the perfect type of game to bring along on your high flying adventures.
Games to avoid – don’t make these mistakes!
Of course, not every game will be the best fit for playing in the small space available to you on a plane. Make sure you think through the following questions before you dedicate precious carry-on space to a game that just won’t work:
Is the game disruptive or loud?
Remember that planes are shared spaces, and you need to be considerate of your neighbors.The people next to you might be napping, reading, or working while you’re playing. That means games that require yelling out answers quickly or slapping the table with your hands, as well as games with sound effects or other loud noises are a no-go.
Is the game physically large?
If your game has a large board, or even just a large storage box, it might not be the one you want to lug with you on the flight. Unless you’re flying first class (in which case, take me with you!), you’ll only have the drop-down tray tables as a surface on which to play your game. Imagine trying to fit a Risk board in that tiny space! Tile based games that spread out, like Dominoes or Carcassonne are also poor choices for travel play.
Does the game have lots of small, unsecured pieces?
You don’t want to lose your whole game the first time things get a little bumpy up there! Games with many tiny pieces that can’t be secured to the board are a bad idea for playing on a flight. Best case scenario, you just lose your place and have to reset the board and start over – worst case scenario, you lose crucial game pieces forever and end up with an unplayable game. Keep the Scrabble board at home and save yourself a miserable, frustrating experience!
Best Board Games to Take On a Plane
There is good news, though – there are tons of other games that are perfect for playing on a plane. Keep reading to see our suggestions for games on the go:
Card Games
Card games, of course, are ideal for airplane play. Small and compact, you can tuck a deck of cards into your carry-on (or even your pocket) and never have to worry about losing out on important packing space for other essentials. Your standard 52 card deck allows you to play dozens of games, but there are also plenty of card-based games with custom decks that are just as easy to pop into a purse or backpack. Uno, SKYJO, Tussie Mussie, Fluxx, and SkipBo are great examples of card games you can enjoy on the plane with minimal fuss. Flip down your tray tables, and deal me in!
Our Top Pick
Dice Games
Dice games may not seem like the most intuitive thing to play on the plane, but with the multitude of digital dice-rolling apps and websites, you’ll never have to worry about runaway dice again! And once you have dice, you have a wide array of dice games like Yahtzee, Farkle, Beetle, and more. These games require only dice, pen, and paper, so they’re perfect for gamers on the go.
If you’re truly a traditionalist, you can still play with actual dice – just make sure you have a dice tray or other container to roll in, so you can avoid the unfortunate experience of being trapped in your seat while you watch your die slowly make its escape down the center aisle. And if you really want to be a good neighbor to your flying companions, make sure your dice tray is padded with a little felt to muffle the sound! Don’t have a dice tray? They’re easy to order online, or check out your local game store. Some trays even have snaps or folds that allow them to collapse down for easy packing and traveling!
Our Top Pick
Travel Sized Games
Looking for the traditional board game experience just…smaller? Good news – there are tons of mini-sized versions of your favorite games, made just for folks like you looking to play while traveling. Almost any classic game you can imagine has a smaller, travel-sized version. As you review the options, make sure you keep an eye out for crucial travel-friendly adaptations like:
- Magnetic boards or raised grids that will hold your tiles and tokens in place. These prevent the pieces from moving when the board is inevitably jostled or bumped. You don’t want a little turbulence to send your pieces flying!
- Foldable boards that double as cases to hold the game pieces inside, so you don’t have to hunt for small boxes or ziploc bags. No need to fiddle with boxes and bags to set up or pack away your game – toss everything into the case that doubles as the board and save some space!
- Closed dice shakers, “poppable” dice bubbles, spinners, or digital dice rollers to prevent runway dice. If you’re not bringing your own dice and tray, these are other great options to roll dice without them rolling away.
- Small overall size; you don’t want to lose valuable luggage space to bulky boxes or cases!
Our Top Pick
Got your ticket to ride?
It’s easier than you think to bring your favorite board games with you on flights. And it’s great to have a way to spend your time that doesn’t involve staring at a tiny screen for hours. Why watch another terrible in-flight movie, when you could be enjoying a great game with your traveling companions? Plus, you’ll never have to worry again about whether you can charge your phone on the plane or not – bring a board game and enjoy some low-tech fun, no batteries required!
