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Camping is a so much fun, isn’t it? With all of the fire building, the whittling, the foraging, the hiking – could there even be room for any more fun? Actually, there is!
With board games!
Board games are an amazing way to bring the whole camping team together when it rains when there is downtime, or just because it’s a like, super fun! They require no electricity, and they’re a really good way to pass the time.
They don’t exclude anyone ( apart from babies, who are having too much fun wiggling and giggling and crying and pooping!) even your great grandma can get in on the action without even having to get out of her chair.
Cozy on up under that tarp, inside the RV or on the camping table and get ready to game the original way with our list of best board games for camping rundown:
| Board Game | For |
|---|---|
| Hive | 2 Players |
| Mr. Jack Pocket | 2 Players |
| Battleship Grab and Go | 2 Players |
| Love Letter | 2 – 5 Players |
| Sushi Go | 2 – 5 Players |
| One Night Ultimate Werewolf | 2 – 5 Players |
| Obama Llama | 5+ Players |
| Cards Against Humanity | 5+ Players |
| Wits and Wagers | 5+ Players |
| Uno Card Game | Families with Kids |
| Forbidden Island | Families with Kids |
First things first… What makes the game so good for camping?
When we recommend games for camping, we’re not just going on our own experience, things we have heard, or general top board game charts. You need to meet specific criteria to get on our lists! We’re judging games on:
- Portability – How heavy is the game, and how easy is it to transport?
- Is it waterproof? – Is the container waterproof? Are the components waterproof?
- How long does it take to play? – Is this a 30-minute commitment? Or a 3-hour commitment? The lower our score, the longer the game.
- Of course, the fun factor – How fun is it? Will the game make you smile? Is it belly laugh-worthy?
We’ve made sure each and every game is super convenient and ‘camp’ worthy so you can feel confident the ones you choose to enhance your outdoor adventure.
We have also categorized them into different player amounts so you know which games will work the best in relation to your particular camp group size. Yeah, we’ve thought of everything, you’re welcome!
Top 2-Player Board Games
Hive
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
Hive is a bug themed game that works a little bit like chess. The aim of the game is surrounding and capturing the queen bee all whilst avoiding having your queen captured. It is an awesome 2 player game for camping because it can be played on any surface, can be played in as little as 20 minutes and the pieces are waterproof.
The Hive pocket version is extremely portable and is ideal if your camping gear has to be carried on your back. It is also extremely competitive, which creates a very funny situation if you’re both sore losers!
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Mr. Jack Pocket
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun: WARNING, IT’S SO ADDICTIVE!
Mr. Jack Pocket is a miniature version of a full sized game, bringing out the cunning in anybody who plays it. One person plays Mr. Jack Pocket and one person plays The Ripper across a small board made up of nine cards.
The Ripper spends the game hiding from Mr. Jack Pocket and Mr. Jack Pocket spends the game trying to find The Ripper. Because of the way the cards are used throughout eventually one person come victorious. An excellent game face, tactics and a sneaky approach have a huge influence on who ends up winning.
It is extremely portable and tiny, takes just 30 minutes to play, it is very easy to set up and although it isn’t waterproof, it can be played on any surface. It is excellent for people who love to put on a poker face and/ or solve mysteries.
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Battleship Grab and Go
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
Battleship Grab And Go works just the same as classic Battleship, only it is much smaller. Both players set up their ships on their hidden grid, and then takes it, in turn, to read out coordinates to find the opponents ships and sink them.
The Grab And Go version requires no batteries, so it is easily stored and played without special care or need for a power supply. It is teenie weenie which is super useful when camping, although it gives it slightly lower marks for portability because the bits are very little and easily lost.
For two players, this is an awesome camping game because it is so easy, can be played in less than 30 minutes, and it brings out the competitive side of players.
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Top 3 Board Games for 2 – 5 Players
Love Letter
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
The aim of this simple card game is to get your love letter to the game’s princess before other suitors manage to do so. You spend the game knocking out other players with the score on your cards but there’s an element of strategy and game face because you can easily become a target when you think you’re coming out on top…
Love Letter works well for camping because it can be played in 15 minutes or less, it is handheld so you can sit anywhere and play it, and it is portable enough to fit in a pocket. The cards are not waterproof and are very easily damaged, but a cheap pack of card sleeves goes some way to fixing that issue.
Perfect for a family or group of friends who like to play games that require lots of poker face.
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Sushi Go
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun: WARNING! IT’S SUPER ADDICTIVE
The graphics on this game are enough to make anybody suddenly feel really guilty for ever eating sushi! They’re just so cute! It’s a fast-paced game where you’re all trying to get the biggest score. One game can be completed in less than 10 minutes and there’s a surprising amount of room for the strategy for such a simple game.
It works well for camping because the tin is small and keeps contents protected when it is closed. It is easy to learn and quick to play, and it can get a whole group engaged and wildly competitive within minutes. It’s one of those ‘lets play again!’ type games that will become a firm favorite on every camping trip.
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One Night Ultimate Werewolf
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
In the game, everybody has a different role each with special abilities and everyone is trying to find the werewolf. In just 10 minutes the game will be over, and you’ll have found the werewolf, but not before the whole group has had a ton of fun battling against each other to win.
It is ideal for camping because it takes such little time to play, because it is simple to learn and the box and components are minimal. It isn’t waterproof but, you’ll likely be playing this one under a tent or tarp with torches for added ‘atmosphere’ anyway.
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Top 3 Board Games for 5+ or Any Amount of Players
Obama Llama
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun: WARNING, IT’S UNTHINKABLY FUN!
Although the initial learning is a touch complex, the payoff is well worth it for this fun rhyming game. You’ll compete in teams to work through various timed rhyming challenges, earning enough points to turn picture cards in the middle to match them. The team that matches the most cards wins.
There are a lot of components, the box is quite heavy and it isn’t waterproof at all, it can also take 60 minutes to play… but the immense fun you have played is well worth it. It works well with a group of active, energetic campers looking for a high-spirited team competition.
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Cards Against Humanity
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
OK, so Cards Against Humanity is definitely an 18 plus game and it is not for sensitive players. However, it has to make the top 3 because it is so much fun to play if you have a dark sense of humor. Over 20 people can play the game, and it works by each player completing a sentence read out at the start of each round. Then the funniest answer wins.
There’s not really any strategy, just a lot of fun picking which card you’re going to put forward. It works so well for camping where big groups of adults are together because it creates a ton of laughs.
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Wits And Wagers
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
Wits And Wagers combine gambling with trivia, so nobody feels a spotlight on them for not knowing the answer to questions. The focus is on betting on who gets the answers right, and who can win the most chips!
Sure it is definitely not very portable, or waterproof, but it can be played in under 30 minutes and it can accommodate up to 20 people in teams which makes it ideal for camping with large groups.
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Top 2 Board Games for Families with Kids
Uno Card Game
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun:
UNO is a classic card game where you are trying to get rid of your cards before everybody else does. Because of the colors and easy rules, it is ideal for families with kids who can quickly grasp what to do and enjoy being competitive in a fun and supportive environment.
The game only comprises of a pack of special cards to it is super portable and ideal for camping, and each game only takes less than 15 minutes to play so there’s no time to get bored.
What’s great about UNO is there are other spin-offs like Uno Emoji Card Game if you want to make your game look a little more interesting.
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Forbidden Island
- Portability:
- Waterproof:
- Time:
- Fun: WARNING! IT’S SUPER ADDICTIVE!
Unlike many family games on the market which are competitive, Forbidden Island is a cooperative game which makes for easy team bonding during your trip.
The aim of the game is to try and get special treasures and then get to the extraction point on the board before the whole island sinks underwater. You work together to succeed, and the element of risk creates a really cool sense of urgency kids will engage with.
The pack comes in a tin which keeps the contents protected when closed, and the whole thing is super light and portable too. Perfect for families looking to avoid ‘sore loser conflict’ on their trip!
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Hopefully, you’re really excited to pick a board game or two for your next trip. What will it be? We can’t really call a favorite because every board game is an opportunity to have fun right?
Board games are not only temporary ways to stay entertained when camping, but they are memory makers too. You’ll all form memories when you play these games, whether those are memories of furious losing tantrums, or fits of giggles, they will stay with you for life, which is invaluable, isn’t it?