Without a doubt, family trips are a time-honored tradition, especially for the old-fashioned souls among us. Nevertheless, at some point along the way, the boredom that comes with the reality of being stuck in a car or a plane for hours on end is bound to set in. For some, a gaming system with multiple games is enough to break up the monotony, whereas for others, a mobile app or two can help pass the time – until the battery runs low or the games are no longer as entertaining.
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That’s why many people wholeheartedly agree that nothing beats the classics. When it comes to taking a break from devices, a board game with family members and friends can be a lifesaver. The only caveat, though, is that storage space may be an issue, depending on the board game. This is where mini board games can save the trip and ensure that there’s enough space for everyone. And the best part is that there’s a solid list of board games out there that can keep the fun alive for a while.
8
Chess
Foldable and Magnetic
- Number of Players: 2
- Age Recommendation: 6 and up
- Unique Feature: Includes magnetic pieces for Chess and Checkers
Perhaps this classic seems a bit boring to those who are not fans of this good-old military strategy game. It’s certainly worth a try, though, if you’re up for a challenge or if you love strategy games, even if you have already developed a taste for some of the most intellectually stimulating historical board games out there. At the very least, this variation of the classic chessboard is compact enough to earn its spot on this list.
Chess is a simple zero-sum game of dark pieces versus light pieces where the winner takes it all or, in this case, has the final laugh once they get to checkmate. The rules are fairly straightforward, and once you get the hang of them, the nature of this game might just become your own second nature. In case players want to spice up their strategic warfare, they can also agree to time their turns. Likewise, the moment Chess no longer feels like your idea of fun, you can always play a round of Checkers with this board.
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7
Battleship From World’s Smallest
The Tiniest Sea Fleet
- Number of Players: 2
- Age Recommendation: 8 and up
- Unique Feature: Compact enough to fit in one’s pocket
World’s Smallest is a company dedicated to making classic childhood board games but in the tiniest way imaginable. Battleship is one of their many fun-sized offerings, and it’s certainly worth a shot as players battle away at sea all while they’re on the road. Taking a friend’s battleship has never been harder and funnier at the same time.
Playing the tiny pieces may be the most entertaining aspect of this game. Thankfully, all those itty-bitty pieces can be easily stored away between matches, not to mention the game itself.
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6
Trivial Pursuit From World’s Smallest
The Tiniest Trivia Game Ever Seen
- Number of Players: 2-6
- Age Recommendation: 8 and up
- Unique Feature: Includes a magnifier
Trivial Pursuit is a solid mix of a board game, a card game, and random trivia. Trivial Pursuit from World’s Smallest keeps all that players know and love about the game without the limitation of a large board taking up precious space in their travel bag.
This version of the game delivers a solid experience as players get 120 cards, 36 wedges, 6 wedge holders, 1 die, 1 game board, 1 case, and 1 magnifier. However, players may want to invest in additional magnifiers, as the game cards are just as tiny as the rest of the game pieces.
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5
Monopoly Go!
The Real-Life Version
- Number of Players: 2-4
- Age Recommendation: 8 and up
- Unique Feature: A special mobile app game code (expires December 31, 2025)
Monopoly Go! is more than just a mobile game – it’s coming back in style as a board game yet again. Despite many interesting takes on this timeless classic, such as a dedicated Pokemon-themed monopoly board game, the nostalgia of the classic version is sure to strike interest and terror alike in the hearts of some board game lovers. Thankfully, there’s no paper money to go flying around in this version. In fact, some of the rules feel different if players aren’t already familiar with the mobile version.
This version gives each player their own mini game board. Dice, 4 movable tokens, and cards are still in use, yet instead of money, players must stack four matching colored blocks on the colored spaces they land on in order to win the game. There’s a bonus point: if someone gets frustrated, they can flip their own board without ruining the fun for everyone else.
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4
Sorry!
A Trip-Friendly Edition
- Number of Players: 2-4
- Age Recommendation: 6 and up
- Unique Feature: Minimal pieces
Hasbro’s Sorry! is one of the oldest board games enjoyed by many, and it still delivers a ton of fun. At first glance, this travel-friendly version shares the same rules and overall gameplay as the original Sorry! with a few unique features. Besides being more compact, this version of the board game comes with no cards, featuring just 16 game pieces and a foldable board that also doubles as a game case.
The only major difference is the fact that players use a spinner to determine the number of moves. The pieces are little pegs that players stick into the board. This makes for a handy feature if players ever have to stop playing in the middle of the game – they can pick up where they left off without any issues.
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Do You Prefer Board Games or Card Games?
While board games can be a lot of fun, especially with a larger group of friends, I prefer to play card games. With a simple deck of cards, there are tons of games you can play, whether it’s by yourself or with others.
I could spend hours playing all kinds of Solitaire, but my family also likes to play Sueca, a typical Portuguese card game, during the holidays or special events and it’s super fun.
3
Chicken Vs Hotdog
Challenges and Laughs for All
- Number of Players: 2-10
- Age Recommendation: 8 and up
- Unique Feature: Some of the cutest game pieces out there
While Chicken Vs Hotdog from Big Potatoes isn’t technically a traditional board game, it does include cards with challenges for many players to enjoy. It’s a compact game that makes for a worthwhile contender on this list of mini board games.
With only a hotdog and a chicken, family members and friends can enjoy countless hours of fun and laughs as they take part in the many wacky challenges written on each of the 30 cards that come with the iconic duo.
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2
Bamboozled
A Battle of Bluffs and Wits
- Number of Players: 2-8
- Age Recommendation: 8 and up
- Unique Feature: Designed by a small business brand
Blue Wasatch Games presents Bamboozled – a fun new dice game. Just as the name suggests, the path to victory is determined by how long players can bamboozle each other. The main objective is for players to roll the dice in the cup and then confidently, and that’s the key word here: tell the number – the higher, the better. The last person to not get caught wins.
Besides the simplistic “3 strikes – you’re out” style gameplay, the game itself includes 2 dice, 16 strike cards, 36 action cards, a rule book, and a box to keep it all in.
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1
Search Party: Chaos at the Park
A Pop-Up Seek-and-Solve Adventure
- Number of Players: 1-10
- Age Recommendation: 8 and up
- Unique Feature: A pop-up style game board
Search Party: Chaos at the Park from What Do You Meme? is definitely one of the most unique board games out there. Players traverse the 3D pop-up style board as they solve 15 different mysteries. When players are finished with the mystery portion of the game, they can take a crack at one of over 300 search-and-find opportunities that the game has to offer.
This board game ranks number one on this list not only because of its superb design, but also thanks in no small part to the endless fun it has to offer. The game includes 85 cards for its 15 missions, 300 search-and-find cards, a search-and-find guide, and a magnifying glass. While it may not be the most compact board game on this list, it’s certainly the one worth playing at a family gathering or on a trip away from home. Nevertheless, if your love for board games reaches far beyond the scope of this list, watching anime based on the theme of board games might take your enthusiasm for playing board games to a whole new level.
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Board games that can incorporate at least five players can be a lot of fun. As such, players can’t go wrong with these choices.
