Of course you should have a game handy wherever you go, even in the car…right? Here are some small games that will fit in your glove compartment and just might come in handy.
If you were to climb into my car and open the center console or the glove compartment, you’d find some spare napkins, and bag of change, some hand sanitizer…and a game or two. After all, you never know when you’ll want to pull out a quick game.
Portable, affordable, and just right for those “just-in-case” moments, these five games might be a good fit for your glove compartment as well.
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Just in case…you go out to eat
Animal Upon Animal: Small and yet great! is a tiny dexterity game for two players. It’s perfect for getting in a quick round or two while you wait for your food to be served. In this game, players take turns rolling a die and then stacking little wooden animals in a precarious pile in the middle of the table. Players are penalized if they cause animals to fall while stacking, and the goal is to be the first to get rid of your collection of creatures. The itty bitty components in this game seem to favor smaller fingers, but the wobbly nature of the game provides a challenge for everyone.
Just in case…you go out to eat, but want something a bit thinkier
Hive Pocket is a fantastic abstract strategy game for two players. In Hive, players each have a set of bug tiles and take turns placing them on the table, or moving already-placed tiles. Each bug has unique movement rules and abilities (think: chess-like), and the goal is to use your pieces to surround the other player’s queen, while preventing your opponent from doing the same to you. Durable, portable, strategic, and addictive!
Just in case…you need to kill time in the carpool line
Qwingo is a roll-and-write game that’s perfect for playing in the car (not while driving, of course!), because everyone just needs a score sheet and a pencil. Players will take turns passing the included die around. On their turn, a player calls out a number between 1 and 100, then rolls the die. All players then write the number in the column that matches the symbol shown on the rolled die. Sounds simple enough, but numbers must be placed in ascending order in the columns, and it’s easy to find yourself trapped! Careful planning and a dose of good luck are required!
Just in case…you get stuck in traffic
You know how it goes. As soon as traffic gets backed up, everyone in the car feels that impatience and frustration set in. Spot it! On the Road (or any of the many Spot it! variations, such as Spot it! Camping, Spot it! NFL, or Spot it! Holidays) is the perfect game to hand to the backseat to keep everyone occupied for a little while. The Spot it! tin has a deck of circular cards, each containing a variety of pictures and/or symbols. They key is that with any two cards in the deck, there will be exactly one matching symbol/picture between them. The game comes with a variety of mini-games to play, all of which involve players racing to find that one matching picture between two of the cards in play. The quick play along with the variations make Spot it! a good option for passing the time.
Just in case…you find yourself on a road trip
Have you played the alphabet game one too many times? Is “I spy with my little eye” getting a little old? Then consider picking up Cow Tiger Santa Claus (available only on the publisher’s website) for your next road trip. In Cow Tiger Santa Claus, players are presented with cards from three difficulty levels, giving them items to watch for as you drive down the road. Some items (like a red barn) might be easier to find. Others (like a tiger!?) might be a little trickier. Keep an eye on billboards, gas station signs, and storefronts. You’ll be surprised by what you find!
Do you keep games in your car…just in case? I’d love to hear what I’d find if I took a peek in your glove compartment!
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