2021-12-07
News
Camping tips
It’s time to play! CampMap team’s top picks for fun summer evenings!
One of the many charms of spending your vacation camping, whether with family or friends, is definitely less screen time. That means a lot of things, from reconnecting with nature, having some time for ourselves, to hanging out with our loved ones. And while hanging out has many different forms, one of the all-time favourites is playing board games. And when we say all-time, it is literally what we mean – there are evidence suggesting board games were played in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and China. The oldest board game is considered to be Senet. Archaeological evidence suggest it was played in Egypt as early as 3100 B.C.
Nowadays, board games come in all shapes, sizes, genres, gaming mechanisms - you name it. If you’re looking for a different game than the classics to play on your next camping trip, here’s a short list of board games that you might enjoy.
Camel Up
Players: 2-8 | Ages: +8
Here’s a great kid’s game the adults will enjoy as well. This game is all about camels! It’s a fun race where you place bets in advance. The game comes with a very interesting dice rolling mechanism in a shape of a pyramid. There is even a fun twist – the camels can stack up each other, changing the odds in a heartbeat. Camel Up is a game for 2 to 8 players, making it great for large gatherings, and one game usually lasts about 20-30 minutes. However, we dare you to play just one!
There is also a card version of the game that has slightly different rules but is equally fun as the original.
Catan
Players: 3-4 | Ages: +10
A classic amongst boardgames, and for many hardcore players first introduction to the world of board games, Catan (formerly known as The Settlers of Catan) is an hour or two long game, depending on the number of players. In the game players try to be the dominant force on the island of Catan by building settlements, cities, and roads. It involves strategizing, trading, and managing resources, and can be played by children and adults alike. There’s also a dice version of the game, that is more fast-paced and required much less space.
Hive
Players: 2 | Ages: +9
One of the top rated 2-player games, Hive can be played on any flat surface. It has no set up and no board, and each game is unique. The object of the game is to surround the opponent’s Queen Bee and stopping them from surrounding yours. It’s a fairly simple, abstract game that will only last for about 20 minutes.
Tortuga 1667
Players: 2-9 | Ages: +12
Tortuga 1667 is a very fun bluffing game with a pirate theme. That alone makes it amazing, but for the extra twist you have different cards that impact the game and the players, making your life easier (or not). The best part is that you sometimes have to help your enemies to accomplish a goal, that is if you know who your enemies are. It’s definitely a must-try and the great thing is that it lasts for approximately 30 minutes and is meant for 2 to 9 players (the more the merrier).
Sushi Go!
Players: 2-5 | Ages: +8
Sushi Go! Is a super-fast game of picking and passing cards with sushi meals. It’s easy, fun, fast and suitable for ages 6 and up. The only problem is, it might make you craving sushi! It also comes in Party version that is for 2 to 8 players.
Love Letters
Players: 2-4 | Ages: +8
Love Letter is a card game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2 to 4 players. It is easy to learn but you have to keep track on the cards already played so you can guess the cards your opponents have and discard them from the game. The great thing about Love Letter is that it has several versions from popular culture such as The Hobbit, Star Wars and Batman.
Fluxx
Players: 2-6 | Ages: +8
Another game that has different version in popular culture (Monty Python, Doctor Who, Oz just to name a few) is Fluxx. However, this game originating in 1977 isn’t like any card game you’ve played before. Also called the game with ever-changing rules, in Fluxx the cards themselves determine the current rules of the game. By playing cards, you alter the rules and different aspects of the game, making each game a unique experience.
Jenga
Players: +2 | Ages: +6
It is such a fun family game which combines skill, balance, laughter, suspense and, of course, luck. You get to build a tower out of wooden blocks and then the players are taking turns where each one needs to carefully pull one wood block out of the tower and place it on top. Jenga is easy game to pack for any trip, has very simple rules and it engages players of all ages. For a bigger challenge, we dare you to get XXL version! It can be up to 8 times the size of the classic game.
