One of the huge advantages of the RV lifestyle is the chance to spend time together, playing board or card games.
It’s an opportunity to unplug the screens and use your imagination and strategy skills to connect with family and friends in a different way.
Young children love the chance to be included with the “Grown Ups” when it comes to playing games and it’s the perfect way to spend a starry night or a rainy day in your RV.
Here’s a selection of the most popular board/card games in Canada and the US.
Monopoly
Monopoly is one of the most famous games of all time. Good for all ages, Monopoly keeps players occupied for a solid amount of time and requires a certain amount of luck and brains to be successful. Much like life, you roll the dice and see what happens- all the while planning how to buy enough properties and houses to rule the board!
Scrabble
Scrabble makes a vocabulary lesson fun. Letters can only be placed horizontally or vertically (or in both directions in a single turn) Anytime two or more letters touch, they must form complete words. While this game requires a bit more brainpower, you’re sure to learn a new word or two! The tile lock version is perfect for RV’s because it can be picked up and moved without displacing any of the words already on the board.
Jenga
No matter what your age, the anticipation of pulling a piece from the tower without it collapsing is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! There are giant Jenga sets that allow you to play this game outside, but there’s something very cozy about being huddled around the table as the pieces are pulled that make this such a popular game.
Catan or Settlers of Catan
The multiplayer board game challenges players to settle the unchartered island of Catan. Building roads and establishing settlements or cities will earn you Victory points. Players can barter for needed resources to claim more territory. The objective of this game is to be the first to collect 10 Victory points through expansion of your settlements.
Clue
A classic board game that’s been around for many years. It features the layout of a country house with 9 different rooms such as the Kitchen or the Billiards room. The idea is to move from room to room by the roll of a dice, collecting clues to work out which character killed Dr. Black the victim, with what weapon and in what room in the house. Cards are shuffled after the mystery is solved and it becomes a new game with a new killer, murder weapon and different room.
Ticket to Ride
The railway-themed board game has a range of rail lines to connect cities. Hop aboard to begin claiming rail routes that connect to the different destinations. Earn points for the longest route and by fulfilling Destination Tickets by connecting the rail lines between two different cities on the board.
Backgammon
A classic strategy game that dates back to time time of the Egyptians. Each player has a set of 15 checkers (or stones) that must be moved from their starting positions around and then off the board. Dice are thrown and players have to determine which checkers to move based on the outcome of the roll. The winner is the first player to get all of their checkers off the board.
Snakes & Ladders or Chutes and Ladders
Another ancient game originally from India that’s easy for young players to learn. The board features squares numbered from 1-100 with snakes or chutes and ladders leading from certain squares to others. The aim is to be the first to reach the top but the game is all about luck. A few lucky rolls of the dice will have you climbing up the ladders to the top, but unlucky rolls will force you to slide back down a snake or chute to a lower level!
Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit is all about your ability to answer random questions about every form of trivia and the board doesn’t matter nearly as much. The concept of the game is to advance by answering questions about anything and everything. It’s the compilation of every bar or restaurant’s Trivia Night in a single game.
Chess/Checkers
Checkers is a simple strategy game for two players. A limited number of rules allow for a battle of wits as you move your checkers to your opponents side, capturing as many of their games pieces as possible along the way.
Last but not least the best selling board game of all time is Chess. Chess has endless possibilities of play. It’s viewed the world over as the most involved and complex board game of all time. Not for the faint of heart this game will test your ability to think strategically to remain steps ahead of your opponent.
These last few are not considered classic board games but are high on the list of popular games for the RV lifestyle:
Charades
This game can come with actual picture cards for young children, to make it a little easier for them than having to read a statement. The one advantage of this game is all you really need is a timer, some pieces of paper to write down sayings or words, and a hat or bowl to put them in and draw from and you’re set! This game will bring out the actors in your crowd and lots of belly laughs as the participants try to act out a word or phrase to be guessed by their team, without speaking.
Bananagrams
Playing pieces comes in a compact banana shaped pouch so it’s great for small spaces or to play on the go. Players scramble to use all their letters to be the first one to create a word grid and win the coveted title of “Top Banana”.
UNO and other Classic Card Games
Uno is a timeless classic. Fun, compact and easy to play for kids of all ages. Who doesn’t love the thrill of getting down to a single card and yelling “UNO” in order to catch all the other players with points that count against them.
A couple decks of cards in your RV, will allow you to pass the time enjoyably on a rainy day or a starry night with the multitude of card games there are to learn and enjoy… Old Maid, Crazy 8’s Whist, Contract Rummy and Cribbage all come to mind to name a few!
Is your favorite listed here? Have we inspired you to try something new?
Fun comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes in a small box with assorted playing pieces!
