Nicola Bridges
No matter how much you love traveling, there comes a time when you get bored and need to entertain your kids and adult companions. Some of my best childhood travel memories are card game sessions like Old Maid, Go Fish, Kings in the Corner, etc. Cards are a great compact game to play on airplanes, camping, in hotel rooms, and in cafes. That’s why I started looking for unique decks; some travel-themed, some just fun and cool, and some updates to classic decks.
Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy: If you’re an Uno fan, this latest update to the classic will have you shivering, swearing, crying and laughing like crazy for hours. That’s because the game truly lives up to the description: brutal, merciless and unforgiving. Manufacturer Mattel has added a ton of extra cards with brutally tough action cards and penalties that will make you want to rip your hair out (like drawing 10 cards). Warning: you’ll need to put on adult pants to deal with the brutal new penalties.
Destination Anywhere: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met while traveling? Which band would you like to tour with for a month? How has traveling helped you grow as a person? The Destination Anywhere deck from Table Topics features 168 cards with questions to start great (and memorable) conversations, in a compact Perspex cube that fits easily in your travel bag.
Mount Cleverest: Do you know if the following is true or false? More people visit France than any other country. The National Museum of China is the most visited museum in the world. The world’s first drive-thru restaurant was in Melbourne, Australia. If you know the answer, you can be a winner in this true or false general knowledge travel quiz game. If you don’t know the answer, you can learn a lot. Want to know the answer? According to Mount Cleverest: France is visited by more than 89 million people every year. The Louvre in Paris is more than that, with 9.6 million visitors each year. The world’s first drive-thru was in Missouri in 1947.
GO DECK GAMES FOR PLAY ON THE GO: Urban Outings portable card deck with keyring clips to backpacks, carry-on bags, strollers, purses, and belts, perfect for soothing the kids’ “I’m bored!” whining. Waterproof and weatherproof, it features 40 games to play around the campfire, in the car, poolside, on the plane, or wherever the mood takes you. Card collection includes guessing, music, travel, and word games, including tongue twisters, miles and minutes, and the Traveler’s Alphabet.
ICONIC CAT HEADS AND TAILS: Enjoy some feline fun with this adorable twist on the popular classic memory game Pairs or Memory, where you match the heads and tails of 30 beautiful cat breeds illustrated by Spanish artist Marta Zafra. Pick pairs of cat, head and tail cards from an unfolded, face-down deck, then memorize and match familiar breeds like the Bengal, Domestic Cat, Maine Coon and Manx, or get acquainted with cats you’ve never seen before, like the Korat, Lykoi and Japanese Bobtail.
Po’ Up! This oversized card deck for adults 18+ is a nostalgic homecoming game that celebrates black excellence. Play it anywhere, whether you’re a recent college grad or traveling to your 10-year reunion, and enjoy sharing funny moments and embarrassing memories from your college days, past and present.
DOUBLE 12 TRAVEL DOMINOES: This compact pack of hand-drawn domino-sized cards is a quarter the size of a regular deck of cards, making it perfect to put in your pocket and play dominoes or Mexican Train anywhere. Simply place and shuffle just like regular domino tiles and enjoy!
ANOTHER STORY: Capture memories about your loved one’s life before they fade into the mists of time. This card game contains 126 thought-provoking questions that answer the request, “Tell me another story about….” Based on a conversation the founder had with his father just days before he passed away, the cards prompt categories such as Family & Traditions, Milestones & Achievements, About Me, Love & Relationships, Life Challenges, and The Future.
Smart Cards Country: This pocket-sized deck features seven facts per card, each featuring a country on the continents of Africa, South America, Europe, Asia, and North America. As fun as it is educational, it combines seven card games in one: Snatch, Happy Family, Pairs, Rummy, Guess in One, Snap, and Trump. Find out each country’s highest mountain, coastline distance, population, percentage of green energy, and ranking on the World Happiness Index.
When you go
Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy: www.mattel.com, $14.99
Table Topics Destinations Everywhere: www.tabletopics, $25
Mount Cleverest: www.amazon.com, $14.99
GO Deck Game for on-the-go play: www.etsy.com, $10.95
Iconic Cats Heads & Tails: www.amazon.com, $12.31
Po’ Up! www.poup.com, $19.99
Double 12 Travel Domino: www.walnutstudiolo.com, $19.99
Another Story: www.buriedinwork.com, $24.99
Smart Card Country: www.amazon.com, $9.99
The latest version of Uno, Show ‘Em No Mercy, is incredibly challenging and a lot of fun. Photo courtesy of Mattel.
In the question deck game, Destination Anywhere, you ask probing travel questions to other players to reveal travel tips, favorite destinations, must-stops, and more. Photo courtesy of Table Topics.
Smart Card Countries tests players’ knowledge of countries across five continents and creates memories on the go. Photo courtesy of Poptacular.
Nicola Bridges is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Photo credit: Unsplash
