Every travel adventure should include at least one tabletop game in your backpack; travel-size version preferred, naturally. It is an excellent way to pass the time in airports, train stations, campervans, or even around a table at mealtime. But what about the tabletop games that inspire travel? Have you ever played Ticket to Ride and wondered how far the Eurostar can take you across Europe? Or have you set up Tokaido and taken notes for your own travel along the famous highway? Tabletop games include everything, from cards to board games to dice and RPGs. If it can be played on a table/flat surface/lap, then it is a tabletop game, and it can be the ticket to your next grand adventure.
Wait, there are tabletop games based on travel?
Yes! And it doesn’t have to be based on travel. Like any geek interests, tabletop games can simply have an element that sparks a deeper interest. For example, Floating Floors (published by Guf Studios) is based on the concept of Nightingale Floors, a security system used in some Japanese temples and palaces. The most famous example of Nightingale Floors is used in the Nijō Castle in Kyoto (Japan), built during the Tokugawa Period. The floors are known for making a chirping sound when walked on, announcing anyone attempting to sneak through the halls and rooms.
Tabletop games are a full-circle moment in travel planning. For many game designers, the concept is inspired by their own travel, which in turn creates a game that inspires your next adventure. We’re always on the lookout for great indie games that capture a culture or location. Let us know in the comments if you have any favourites to share.