We know a lot of you aren’t used to staying at home for long periods of time. It’s easy to get cabin fever if you’re on quarantine due to COVID-19 aka coronavirus – there are only so many hours you can spend consuming the news and binge watching your favorite shows. Sometimes, it’s better to focus on something else and opt for screen-free time when possible. For that reason, we’re sharing our top 10 travel-related board games to stay sane during quarantine. We are not affiliated with any of these companies (or Amazon) – we truly just love these games when we’re unable to travel!
1. Kahuna
Kahuna reminds us of a shortened version of Risk that takes place in the Pacific islands. This 2-player game is easy to learn and fun to play over and over again. Its island vibes are the perfect escape in your home (we usually listen to this Hawaiian playlist while playing the game).
2. 7 Wonders
7 wonders is based on the wonders of the ancient world – a great inspiration for your next trip. Develop the best city (based on one of the wonders) through many different strategies – military conquest, innovation, resource development, and more. We’ve played this game dozens of times, and it stays interesting each time!
7 Wonders can be played with 2-7 players (the more players, the more fun the game). This game is not that easy to learn. Once you get it, it’s really fun! There are many expansions, so you can keep playing throughout your entire time at home.
We also like 7 Wonders Duel for 2 players!
3. Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride should be a board game staple in any household. This 2-5 player game is fun for beginners and challenging enough for experts. The goal of the game is to connect train routes from one station to the next. The longer your train and the more completed routes, the more points you get. There are several versions of Ticket to Ride for locations around the world (Asia, Europe, and Nordic Countries are a few top choices). Pick your home region or buy one to travel the world. There is also a kids’ version – First Journey.
They also have an app if you can’t get a physical copy!
4. Jaipur
This 2-player card game takes you across the world to Jaipur – the capital of Rajasthan in India. In this game, each player is a merchant, buying, selling, and trading goods and camels to get the most seals of excellence by the end of the game. We like this game because it’s easy for non-gamers to play but challenging enough to interest avid board game players.
They also have a digital version (doesn’t help with the no-screen time, but helps if you can’t get a physical copy)!
5. Archeology
Archeology gives us an Indiana Jones vibe – the premise of the game is to discover treasure by digging through the Egyptian desert, later selling the treasure to the museum at the highest possible price. The more of one type of treasure you have, the more the museum will pay. But, sandstorms and thieves can put unexpected stops to your plans!
This 2-5 player game transports well, so you can take it with you on your first trip after the quarantine.
6. World’s Fair 1893
This 2-4 player game is based on the World’s Fair that took place in Chicago in 1893. The actual World’s Fair was designed to show achievements of nations around the world. In the game, each player is an organizer of the fair trying to build exhibits and entertainment. The cards are historically accurate, which make this game fun and educational at the same time!
7. Jamaica
Jamaica is a 2-6 player game where each player is a pirate trying to win the ultimate race around the island. Gather booty, battle each other, and collect treasure along the way. The special 2-player rules keep it interesting if you’re only a household of two.
8. Lost Cities
Lost Cities has been a go-to game of ours for years. It’s easy to learn but stays fun for many rounds. The goal of this 2-player game is to score the most points on each of your 5 expeditions. You can wager on the success of your expeditions as you develop your expedition paths. This fun card game is great board game for players of all levels.
9. Lost Cities Board Game
We like the Lost Cities Board Game as much as the card game. It has a lot of the same goals – successfully complete your expeditions – with more twists to the game (and more players)! This game is really fun for 2-4 players and stays fun after several plays.
10. Forbidden Island
Forbidden Island is a cooperative game for 2-4 players where you work together to build a helicopter and escape the island! Coop games are fun for everyone when you’re in the mood to work together for a common goal. This game and Forbidden Desert are fun games to play when you’re in the mood for something new.
With these board games, you can imagine yourself visiting these locations around the world while spending quality fun time with the people you’ll be with for the next few weeks. The most important thing is that you stay safe, stay healthy, and stop the curve of COVID-19 aka coronavirus. This is just one of the ways we stay sane during the quarantine.
There are so many amazing board games out there – it was hard to narrow it down to these 10! If you want more of this type of content, please let us know by sharing this post, emailing us, or posting a comment.
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