GeraldThe world is on the move again, and with travel surging, small box board games have emerged as the must-have companions for the modern adventurer. No longer just a pandemic pastime, these pocket gaming powerhouses are now essential tools for staving off boredom between commutes, while waiting to catch a flight, or during any downtime on the go.
The board game renaissance sparked by COVID-19 lockdowns has blossomed into a full-fledged lifestyle shift. New habits and passions have taken root, seamlessly fitting alongside the old favorites that have endured for generations. From the bustling airport terminal to the cramped train car, the unassuming board game has found its place as the travel companion of choice for the dynamic, on-the-go crowd.
The board games that we have on our list are small enough to fit into a bag, and don’t take up too much table space (or at least try their best not to) yet pack a good burst of entertainment. These space-saving wonders are picked as they minimize set-up time with streamlined rules, allowing you to dive into the action in record time.
The Crew – S$24
Imagine a trick-taking card game like Bridge, but instead of two teams of two, everyone cooperates! That’s The Crew. You’ll still be playing cards in sequences trying to win tricks, but here the challenge is figuring out how to work together silently to achieve specific goals in your space missions. Can you have a certain player win the last trick, or avoid winning tricks with a particular color? Communication is limited, so you’ll need to be strategic and pay close attention to what cards your fellow astronauts play.
The game has 50 missions that increase in difficulty, and each mission will give you specific goals to achieve, like having a particular player win the last trick, or ensuring a certain suit is never won in a specific trick.
Played purely with cards on a table, The Crew is small and compact in size, and easy to set up as well. The rule book might seem intimidating but if you’ve played Bridge, this will be an easy sell for the group.
Sushi Go! – S$19
Compared to other card drafting games, Sushi Go! stands out for its light and whimsical theme. While games like 7 Wonders or Civilization: Draft for Victory might have you drafting civilizations or scientific advancements, Sushi Go! keeps things lighthearted with delicious sushi dishes. This makes it a perfect pick for introducing card drafting mechanics to new players, especially those who might be intimidated by complex themes. The familiar and fun world of sushi makes learning the game much more approachable.
It’s a card game with minimal setup but will require a bit more space to lay out all the cards and the main box can be slimmed down to be more travel-friendly. Sushi Go! has remained a classic for good reason and being able to play it while travelling helps us develop an appetite for the next big holiday meal!
A Fake Artist Goes to New York – S$42
A Fake Artist Goes to New York offers a hilarious twist on classic party games like Telestrations. While the latter focuses on the comedic misinterpretations of a whispered message turning into a nonsensical drawing, A Fake Artist injects social deduction and deception. Here, everyone contributes to a collaborative drawing, but one player is simply clueless! This layer of hidden identity and bluffing adds a whole new level of suspicion and laughter to the game, making it perfect for parties where you want to test your intuition and have a good laugh at everyone’s artistic (or not-so-artistic) skills.
The small box and game components make it ideal to bring the game on your travels but the minimum player size of five makes it harder it fit into small travel groups.
Skull – S$29
Skull and Roses (or Skull) offers a thrilling alternative to classic pub games like poker or Liar’s Dice. While those games rely purely on individual bluffing, Skull adds a layer of deduction and shared risk. Instead of just betting on your own hand, you’re building a central pile of cards and hoping to reveal enough roses before someone else forces you to gamble on the dreaded skull. This shared risk and the constant mind games of who’s bluffing, and who is genuinely safe make Skull a dynamic and social experience, perfect for laughs while on the road.
As one of the smallest and lightest boxes on this list, Skull is a great starter travel board game for friends who get bogged down by rules.
Arboretum – S$19
If you enjoy the visual appeal of beautifully designed board games, Arboretum offers a strategic experience that goes beyond just looks. Unlike games like Azul or Sagrada, where the focus is solely on creating aesthetically pleasing patterns, Arboretum blends set collection with tile-laying mechanics. You’re not just collecting stunning tree cards, but strategically planting them to score points based on sequenced rows. This layer of strategic depth, along with the ability to disrupt your opponent’s plans by discarding unwanted cards, makes Arboretum a more engaging experience that goes beyond just the beautiful artwork.
Looks can be deceiving as Arboretum is punishing when it comes to the final scoring. If you’re unable to collect a full suite of trees, your entire game is bust which leads to pretty tough decisions mid-game. One big downside is needing a good amount of table space to lay out all the cards nicely which might be a challenge if a proper table is not in close reach.
Bang! The Dice Game – S$33
Bang! The Dice Game offers a faster and more portable experience compared to the original Bang! card game. While both capture the Wild West shootout theme with hidden roles like Sheriff and Outlaws, Bang! The Dice Game ditches the card decks for custom dice. This translates to quicker turns as players roll and resolve dice actions, including shooting, healing, and dodging. If you loved the social deduction and bluffing of the original Bang! but want shorter playtimes, Bang! The Dice Game is a perfect alternative. It keeps the core hidden role concept and throws in the excitement of dice rolling, making it a great choice for a quick and thrilling game night.
One core issue of Bang! still remains, if one player gets eliminated too early, it could mean a travel buddy might be sitting out of the game for an extended periods of time, and imagine the game could go on for too long due to poor dice rolls.
Spots – S$43
Spots is a delightful dice game that lets you celebrate your furry companions in a fun and strategic way. Roll the dice and try your luck placing them on adorable cards featuring various dog breeds. But there’s a twist! You can keep re-rolling for the perfect match, pushing your luck to fill up your doggy deck. Just remember, burying too many dice in your “yard” might lead you to bust setting back your progress! With its easy rules, charming dog theme, and exciting push-your-luck mechanic, Spots is the perfect game to have a barking good time with friends and family.
There are little downsides when it comes to Spots as a travel board game but you’d need to be careful as the small treat components can go missing easily!
Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!
Si Jia
