Best Small Box Board Games (Top 23 Picks for 2023)

Featured photo credit (resized): Matěj Baťha, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Small box board games are an excellent option for people with limited space or those who want to have a game to take traveling. This list is a collection of fun games that come in a box small enough to throw in a backpack.

Our top pick is The Mind from Pandasaurus Games. It’s a small card game that is super fun and keeps you engaged. It’s a good option for gamers of all types and skill levels. But this is just one of over a dozen options we’ve tested and reviewed below!

Related post: Top 13 Best Quick Board Games in 2023

Best Small Box Board Games in 2023

1. Best Overall — The Mind

The Mind is an ingenious and addictive card game that is a great choice for 2 to 4 players. Apart from being a winner of multiple awards, this fun game is super compact and can be played anywhere. Overall, an ideal choice for family trips.

The game consists of cards numbered from 1 to 100 and the rules are simple. The players need to work together to arrange the cards in a specific numerical order. 

The catch is, the players can’t communicate about the cards they hold in any manner. That means each player needs to get a feel for what the other player holds. In fact, the less communication you use, the more fun this game is.

The game consists of multiple levels and you win after you successfully complete each one. For those looking for additional challenges, there’s also an extreme mode. The rules are simple enough for younger players to understand.

2. Best Strategy Game — Hive

While it may not be a classic board game, Hive is a fantastic two-player strategic game that is great for families. Since it has no board, cards, or dice, the portability is excellent. 

The tiles come with an almost indestructible build quality and will last forever. You also get a cool-looking travel pouch for carrying the tiles

The game comes with 22 hexagonal tiles and each player gets 11. The tiles represent five different insects and each insect has a different movement style. In general, the average playing time for a game is between 5 to 10 minutes.

While the gameplay is simple, you need some practice to get good at it. Even though it may look simple, Hive is a deceptively challenging game that older kids and adults will enjoy. 

However, younger kids can also have a fun time playing with the tiles, even though they may not understand the strategic elements.

3. Budget Option — Sushi Go

Sushi Go is a great game to travel with as it comes in a light but sturdy tin. The game is really easy to pick up and learn, and the cards are bright and colorful.

Each turn, you look at a hand of cards and pick one to keep. You pass the rest on. Once the hand is empty, you add up your score. And start another round. When all the cards are gone, the player with the best sushi wins.

This is a game for 2-5 players and since this is a fast game, it takes no more than 15 minutes to play. Apart from that, this is a cute game that kids will love. A big plus is the super-affordable price tag that makes it a great buy.

4. Best Cooperative Board Game — Pandemic

Pandemic is a race-against-time with nail biting tension, as you attempt to save the world against multiple diseases. It is a highly popular board game and sites like Gamesradar have also termed it as “one of the best board games ever made”.  

The game can be played by 2-4 players who cooperate with each other instead of competing. At first glance, the game may look deceptively simple and is easy to learn. But dig deeper and you will find the odds stacked against you to make things extremely challenging. 

The players need to act together and frame their own strategies. And even if you manage to win, chances are, it will be a close call. Every time you play, a new scenario will emerge that will need a new set of tactics.

Overall, a brilliantly designed classic that proves that fun does not depend on competition alone.

5. Best Silly Game — Beat That!

With most board games, the concept is people sitting around a table and pondering on their next strategic move.

Well, forget about it with Beat That! Not only will you not be sitting but crawling, jumping, throwing and balancing things out, but none of you will be silent either. Get ready for some real silliness as you’re trying to throw a ball into a cup that’s on your head. Or stack cups with a single arm while standing on the rest of your… limbs. Or rise from the floor as quickly as possible without the cup falling from your forehead. Or organize a paper plane competition!

The game will be fun for ages 9 to 99. But what I especially like about it is that you can use it not just at family get-togethers, but also in team buildings or stag parties or just about any informal social circumstances.

6. Best Board Dice Game — Juegoal Shut The Box Wooden Dice Game

The Shut The Box Dice game offers a solid combination of fun and educational value. This is a great game that’s fun for ages 9 to 99. It’s best to play it with 2 -4 players, but more players can always be added.

The aim is to arrange the numbers in the right sequence so that you can ‘shut the box’. You roll the dice and add up the numbers to make your move. Anyone who is able to shut the box is declared the outright winner. While it’s an easy game, it keeps the players engaged. Additionally, it also helps kids to learn math.

What stands out is the high quality of the box, handmade from premium pine wood. Rest assured; it will last for a long time. Even so, it’s lightweight. The size of the box also makes it great for carrying.

Overall, the game is not just for family get-togethers but also for just about any informal social circumstances.

7. Best Tile-Based Game — Rummikub

Rummikub has been around since the 1940s but it has aged well and still remains an extremely popular choice. While it’s similar to the classic card game rummy, it also includes features from other games like Dominoes, and Mahjong. 

The game uses 106 plastic tiles. The players start with 14 tiles each and are required to form a set. The idea is to get rid of all your tiles as quickly as possible.

On the surface, it looks easy to play. But delve deeper and you will realize that it needs a good amount of strategy. To make things more fun, it also involves a certain amount of luck and some creative puzzle-solving.

And the best part is, Rummikub helps kids to learn sequencing and pattern recognition skills. The game can be easily stored and carried around in the supplied travel case which makes it a highly portable option.

8. Best “Pay or Play” — No Thanks!

In No Thanks!, the aim is to have the lowest score at the end. The first player turns over a card, and either takes it or pays to leave it on the table. Play continues with players either taking the card along with all the tokens on it or paying to leave it. Once it’s taken, a new card is turned over.

The game is simple, but the scoring rules add a nice layer of strategy to your choices. It plays fast and is simply fun.

This game works with a minimum of 3 players and a max of 7. It takes no more than 20 minutes to play. But don’t let this trick you: in all likelihood, you’ll be playing it over and again for hours on end!

9. Best Quick Play Game — Anomia

If you want a fun game that is quick and perfect for late-night parties, Anomia is the perfect choice. It is highly challenging with a great fun factor. The only problem is, your neighbors may file a noise complaint!

Thís is a word- and pattern-recognition game with simple gameplay and does not require subtle strategies. However, it is not easy and can easily engage 3-6 players. Being a compact game, it is easy to carry around for travel.

The game has two decks with 92 different cards that the players need to draw. There are plenty of fun moments in the game, especially when two players are engaged in a “face-off”. With each player competing against each other under time pressure, the game can be engaging and frustrating at the same time.

10. Best Simple Game — Love Letter Card Game

Love Letter is an exquisitely simple and minimal game that comes in a small package. It has a small deck of cards and a few red tokens.

This is a game of deduction and intrigue. You use your cards to try and get your letter delivered to the princess by the highest-ranking member of the court possible. You play in rounds. The first player to win 3/4 rounds wins the game.

The game is simple enough to learn but it’s highly competitive. Spoiler alert- it doesn’t have anything to do with love as such. However, the concept is based on medieval characters which gives it a Shakespearean feel.

Love Letter is for 2-6 players and is elegantly simple in design and concept. It takes about 20 minutes for you to win the princess’s favor.

11. Best Trivia Game — I Should Have Known That!

Ever caught yourself complaining at just how much your brain appears to have shriveled since the advent of Google? You’re definitely not alone!

If you enjoy playing trivia games while sitting around a campfire, I Should Have Known That! is definitely a good choice. The game comes with 110 cards and over 400 questions. It can be played with a minimum of 2 players.

The game is played in rounds and you can play it in teams. Points are deducted if a player gives a wrong answer. To make things more interesting you can create your own rules.

Many trivia games come with questions about which we have hardly any idea. This game comes with its share of such questions, but that number isn’t high. That said, such questions make the game more fun to play.

Overall, it’s a basic game that works great for families. Since the questions are work-appropriate questions, you can also use it while hanging out with colleagues.

And the weirdest thing is, you think you’d remember the answers second or third time around. But you won’t! There are so many questions that you’ll be able to have a blast 4-5 times. And when you exhaust the fun, you can simply hand it down to a friend.

12. Best Easy to Learn Game — Taco vs Burrito

The gist of Taco vs Burrito is as simple as it’s silly. Each player gets five cards, which are actually ingredients for taco or burrito. All you need to do is – make one!

Except that there are twists. Your ingredients may also contain something gross such as mustache hair! How’s that going to work?

To spice things up (pun intended!), you’ll also get action cards that can either decrease or increase your meal’s final value, or just mess things up a bit. Tummy ache won’t feel very good! And the health inspector is even worse: this card means your food is unsafe and belongs to the trash bin.

Amazingly enough, this game was designed by a 7-year-old kid. Still, it’s so addictive and hilarious that adults love it too. In fact, the game turned out to be an instant hit at Emerald City Comicon.

13. Best Cooperative Game — Hanabi

There are two categories of board game fans: the ones who thrive on competition, and those who prefer working with instead of against their co-players.

This game is for the second group! Hanabi is an interesting take on a hidden information game. You can see everyone else’s cards, but you can’t see your own! With that in mind, you have to work together to lay the cards down in the right order, relying on memory and teamwork to do so.

Your co-players will reveal bits and snippets of info on each of your cards. It’s up to you to process and memorize, then use this intelligence to choose which card you’ll play.

This is a pretty and fun cooperative game for 2-5 players. It takes about 30 minutes to launch your fireworks and find out if it was a success or if they just fizzled out.

14. Best Dice Scoring Game — Qwixx

If you’re looking for a fast and exciting dice game, try Qwixx. As the name suggests, the game is fast-paced and takes 15 to 18 minutes to play.

And if you’re suspicious towards these very simple, dice-and-pen games, hear this. The game won the Mensa Select award back in 2014!

It packs six dice and a pad of full-color score sheets. The basic rules are simple. The players will roll all the dice and try to score the highest. Even though the gameplay is simple, you will need to make quick decisions and take some risks. 

At first glance the game seems to be totally dependent on luck. But it’s not so. Players need to make choices and are involved in the game with every dice roll. That makes Qwixx more engaging than traditional dice-throwing games.

However, the game comes with 80 scoring sheets. So, you might need to photocopy the sheets in the long run.

For anyone who played Yahtzee and found it boring, Qwixx offers a refreshingly different gaming experience.

15. Best Roguelike Dungeon Delve — One Deck Dungeon

One Deck Dungeon is the ideal choice for anyone who likes RPGs but doesn’t want to spend hours building characters and games.

The deck takes you through a dungeon where you are faced with numerous challenges to overcome. Each time you succeed, you can choose to get XP, an item, or a new skill. This is how you grow your character to delve deeper. Plus, the game never gets boring and the replayabality is on the higher side.

The game packs in many of the elements of much larger RPG and roguelike games into a really small package. This is definitely one that’s worth a try. Some players may find the game to be on the tougher side though, but it never gets impossible.

The game can be played with 1 or 2 players. However, by using multiple boards, you can add more players. It takes around 30 -45 minutes to play. The compact size makes it ideal for playing in small spaces.

16. Best Exploding Kittens Style Game — Goat Lords

Goat Lords is a game that will look familiar to anyone who has tried Exploding Kittens. It has the same silly feel but offers a very different mechanic. If you like Exploding Kittens but want to try something new, this is a really good choice.

Basically, the game is about collecting pairs. However, you can steal goat pairs from other people in duels. The game is well-balanced to prevent you from totally wiping each other out, so it stays interesting and competitive throughout.

The cards are well-designed and the fun factor is on the higher side. Since it’s fast-paced and involves strategic thinking, younger players find it easy to focus their attention.

The game works for 2-6 players and takes around 30 minutes to play through. And before you start, don’t forget to take a close look at the instructions.

17. Best Bluffing Game — Bamboozled: The Bluffing Dice Game

Bamboozled is a fun little dice game. If you’re in the mood to outwit your friends and emerge as the last man standing, this is the right game to pick.

There are two dice, a set of 42 cards, and a dice cup—every turn, you have to roll a higher score than the player before you. If you don’t, you must bluff about what you rolled. Get caught bluffing, and you get a strike. Falsely accuse someone of bluffing, and you get a strike. Three strikes and you’re out.

To add an extra dimension, there are action cards. You start with one and can earn more through bluffing. These cards can help you to get out of a tight spot when you need some help.

Since it works with 2-8 players, the game is flexible enough for various group sizes. However, no matter the group size, it will take around 15 minutes to play through.

18. Best for Treehouse Fans — Best Treehouse Ever Forest of Fun

Best Treehouse Ever Forest of Fun is a deck drafting game. In each of the three rounds, you get to place cards to build your treehouse. This means adding rooms like an ice rink, an observatory, or a hot tub. At the end of each round, you score your treehouse based on the colors you have grouped together.

However, to make this a more competitive game, each round, players can alter the way the scoring is done. So you can maximize your points and stop other players from scoring so well. It’s a good mix of whimsical and brutal!

This game works equally well for 2 – 8 players. It only takes about 20 minutes to complete a full game of three rounds.

19. Best for Solo Players — Under Falling Skies

Under Falling Skies from Czech Games deals with the theme of alien invasion of Earth and you are in a fight to save the planet. At first glance, it may appear to be casual, but once you start playing, you will realize that this is a really brainy game. 

But that does not make this a slow game in any way. The details are well thought out and the game has excellent replay value. The artwork is excellent and delivers fantastic table presence.

That said, you can select the difficulty level by choosing between basic or advanced options. Note, Czech Games pack a large number of items in the box, so you will need some space to play this game.

If you prefer tactical games with nail-biting endings, go for it.

20. Best Push Your Luck Game — Deep Sea Adventure

Deep Sea Adventure is a game of three rounds. In each round, you roll dice to dive up down the ocean. At each stop you make, you can pick up a treasure of unknown value. The deeper you go, the more valuable the treasure. However, the oxygen will slowly run out, and if you don’t make it back to the sub in time, you lose all your treasure.

Each round, the deeper treasures get more valuable, tempting you to push your luck and go deeper. The game has excellent visual appeal and it is easy to learn. There are multiple rounds that give the players a fair chance to hunt the treasure.

This game for 2-6 players takes around 30 minutes to play. A big plus is, even though it is a small game it can support six players.

21. Best for Families — The Chameleon

If you want to look for a family game beyond Monopoly, the Chameleon is a great option. It is a fun game of the spot-the-imposter genre that 3-8 players can enjoy. 

Basically, one player, who is the Chameleon, is pitched against the rest. And the key to preventing detection is lying one’s heart out. The game sessions are short and are usually over within 2-3 minutes. Scorekeeping is optional and even if you skip that, the play never gets boring.

The overall quality of the packaging and the playing cards is top-notch and the graphic design is eye-catching. That said, while it is quick and accessible, some may feel that it gets over too soon. Even so, it is a great choice for families on a holiday.

22. Best for Horror Fans — Betrayal at House On The Hill (3rd Ed)

This is the 3rd edition of this popular game from Avalon Hill which remains one of the best of this genre. If you ever wanted to roam around in a haunted mansion just like in the movies, the game offers you the chance to do so. 

The game can the played by a maximum of 6 players. There’s no denying that the previous iterations were bigger hits, but this 3rd edition has multiple new elements to make it an even better experience for the players. The artwork has been updated too. 

The game has 50 different scenarios each with its unique feel and it never gets repetitive. Players move through the board tiles by drawing cards and rolling dice and end up fighting for their lives.

Whether you are an old lover of the series or a newbie, the new edition will offer a solid dose of evening entertainment.

23. Most Compact — Boss Monster

Ever wondered how it feels to play the villain and destroy the heroes? The Boss Monster card game allows you to do that by building a dungeon and luring the heroes to your trap. Since it is compact and portable, carrying it around is not a problem.

This game has an old-school charm as it feels like the old video games.  The packaging is classic Nintendo style as well. Ther are 155 cards with humorous touches that add to the overall charm. Not only does the game offer a lot of fun, there is a lot of strategy involved too.

On the downside, luck plays a big role in this game and player interaction is limited. Even so, this is a great filler game that is perfect for families on a vacation.

What to Consider When Buying a Small Box Board Game

Number of Players

It’s not uncommon for small box games to only support a small number of players. So it’s worth checking on the player count before you choose a game. If you need a game that’s more flexible, it can be a good idea to look for card based games as these are usually more flexible on player numbers.

Mechanics

Small box games tend to rely on either cards or dice. That means your likely to find a lot of deck drafting and dice collecting games. If these aren’t mechanics that you enjoy, then you’ll want to look for options like Best Treehouse Ever or Port Royal. These games feel more like big box games than some of the other options.

Theme

As with anything, it’s always a good idea to pick something with a theme you will like. The artwork on some of these games is very distinctive. Choosing one that you like the look of and has an attractive theme will make the game even more enjoyable for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a small box board game?

There are a few different definitions of small box board games. Some people are only referring to the size of the box, while others are referring to games that don’t come with a lot of pieces, and for some, they are ones that have minimal mechanics. For the purposes of this list, we have taken small box board games to be one that comes in a box that is sized for travel. There are also some options that meet the other definitions as well.

Are card games board games?

It depends on who you ask! However, ‘board game’ is becoming a very broad term. When you see it used now, it is referring to any game that is mostly based on physical objects. So that might be a board, it might be a deck of cards or a set of dice.

For those who really care about terminology, it might be better to call them all tabletop games. But, as most people just use the term, they know better board games is the most common name used for all these games that you play on a tabletop.

Are small box games as good as regular board games?

Just because a game comes in a small box doesn’t mean that it’s less fun than a full-sized board game. In fact, many of these small games have simple rules and are quick to play. This can make them more accessible and fun to play than some more involved options.

Last update on 2023-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API