Going Camping? Don't Forget the Board Games!
Summer time means it’s peak camping season! Whether you’re avid campers or you’re setting out on your very first family camping adventure, board games should be on your packing list! Even if you won’t be bringing the kids on this trip, tabletop games are a great way to bring everyone together. There is nothing better than gathering around camp with friends and family, the fire crackling in the background, a frothy beverage in your hand, and an engaging board game on the table. No matter the ages, skills or abilities of the players, HABA has got you covered with this list of our 10 favorite camping games.
These best-sellers check all the boxes when it comes to choosing a great camping game and family games for a fun night under the stars!
✅ Easy to set-up & learn
✅ Quality pieces
✅ Replayability
✅ Quick rounds
✅ Fun for ALL ages - not just for kids!
Family Games for Kids and Adults:
Animal Upon Animal (ages 5-99) - It's no surprise this classic HABA dexterity game has been a best-seller for more than a decade. It's easy to learn and set up and appeals to a wide range of ages, skills and abilities. Play is quick, but can get quite tense depending on how competitive your group wants to get! In Animal Upon Animal, players race each other to be the first to stack all of their wooden animals. A roll of the die tells the players how many animals can be placed or whether they can add to the alligator base. This game fosters hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Rhino Hero (ages 5-99) - Don’t let the age range fool you - this game is a must-have for every family game collection! All ages enjoy the excitement of strategically stacking cards, moving the rhino, and keeping a steady hand. Many describe this game as “uno” with a stacking mechanism. First player to get rid of all of their cards without knocking down the growing tower is the winner!
Color It! (ages 4-99) - Who doesn't love some coloring? But with a competitive twist! Color it! is for 2-4 players ages 4+, with everyone trying to complete their own coloring page. In addition to being competitive, Color It! teaches the concept of probability and even requires some strategic thinking. As a bonus, the coloring aspect helps kids to strengthen their pincer grip, which will improve handwriting skills!
Monza (ages 5-99) - A clever but simple game that combines color recognition and "thinking ahead" skills, Monza takes its name from the Italian city known for its Formula One Grand Prix racing circuit. A good strategy, and a bit of luck is what it takes to win this racing game for 2-4 players ages 5 and up. The colored dice indicate the spaces on the track that you can to drive on, but which lane should you take and when should you start trying to passing the competition? The player who crosses the finish line first wins!
Camping Games for the Older Crowd:
Karuba the Card Game (ages 8-99) - In this one, the players carefully select two path cards from their hand and try to outwit the other players. The person with the lowest sum loses a card. They then use the cards to create a network of pathways to connect their adventurers with the temples. Who will best guide their adventurers through the jungle? At the end the winner is the player who collects the most points with valuable treasure and temples. Just like the original Spiel des Jahres nominee, except there's more player interaction and room for up to 6 players as opposed to 4.
King of the Dice (ages 8-99) - This game hits the mark! Not only is it is a simple, quick game to learn, but it also has broad appeal to gamers and non gamers alike! On their turn, players are rolling dice yahtzee-style, while trying to collect citizen & village cards in order to build up their kingdom and score the most points! Features eye catching artwork and a compact sized box for easy transport.
Camping Games for the Littles:
First Orchard (ages 2+) - This beginner board game teaches color, turn taking and co-operation so that pesky ole crow doesn't get the fruit in the orchard before it's all harvested! It also doubles as an open-ended toy set. So whether your toddler is up for playing by the rules or would prefer to carry the chunky wood fruit around - it's the perfect thing to bring along to camp!
Here Fishy Fishy (ages 2+) - Another great beginner board game with a camping theme, especially if you are going to do any fishing! This early board game allows kids to reel in the fun, while they develop color recognition, dexterity, patience and learn first game rules and how to apply them. And this game has a fun free play option as children can use the magnetic fishing rod to bring all the sea dwellers to life through imaginative play.
Have limited space? Try these travel games!
Want a great interactive family game but need it to fit easily in between the beach chairs and the canoe? Our mini games are the answer.
Clippety-Clop (ages 3-8) - Another animal inspired game that translates well to camping, in this adorable travel-sized game, horse enthusiasts and animal lovers will delight in helping the horses gather what they need while racing to the stall. With easy to follow images on the dice, this fast-paced and fun collecting and early competition game has three fun variations and will keep kids and the whole family galloping with delight the whole camping trip.
Little Bird, Big Hunger (ages 3 years and up)This delightful game brings the excitement of nature right to your campsite. Picture your family gathered around the campfire, each player eager to help their chick grow. Roll the die to determine which type of food you can collect, but be careful – as you flip over each card, it becomes more challenging to find the right food. The first player to flip all of their cards and feed their chick completely wins!
So the next time you’re packing for a camping trip, don’t forget to bring along some of these fun and adventurous games that are sure to get everyone playing, laughing, and making memories. Happy camping!
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