Any number of things can happen (whether you want them to or not) while traveling. A four hour flight delay. Being rained in for the 3rd day in a row on the family trip. Gaming doesn’t have to be an at-home experience, and even if you don’t have a Switch or Steamdeck there’s plenty of options for solo and multiplayer games you can play while on the move.

Family Trips, Reunions and Friendcations

Not everyone in the family might consider themselves a gamer, but if we setup a spades table or Taboo, they’re in. Take these recommendations for group and multiplayer games anyone can play, even if you’re not a console or PC gamer.

Teach the kids where they come from with Lyrically Correct  and the Hip-Hop Trading Card Game. Both explore Black American history through music through offline, interactive games that you can play in singles or teams. Lyrically Correct packs are categorized by genre from mainstream to Soul.

If you have Netflix, download Minesweeper, Snake, Tetris (yes they made new ones!) or Sonic Mania Plus on mobile to keep the gaming history lessons going.

When you’re looking for something to play together – LEGO Party, Mario Party and Jackbox are the go-to games to play. . Just like X-Men ‘97, Marvel is bringing the retro feels with Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The refreshed 16-bit animation honors the arcade-era we grew up in, and maintains the thrill. If you’re traveling in 2026 you can add   Street Fighter 6 into the mix and we’re right back in the ‘90s with whoever loses next passing the controller – or Switch/Steamdeck in this case.

Be forewarned, Uno and Mario Kart aren’t the only games that can ruin relationships. Tabletop game Trailblazers can be played with up to 8 players, blazing their own intertwining routes back to their respective camps, simultaneously. It comes with a travel case small enough to clip onto a backpack (though takes up a lot more space on the table once setup) and promises 30 minute games – perfect for when you all don’t have the energy for a full D&D session.

Long haul flights, Roadtrips and Overnights

If you’re into metroidvania-style games, the amazing narrative and boss fights in Nine Sols (Switch, Steamdeck) can carry you through long travel days. Self-described as ‘Taopunk’ (a blend of Taoism and cyberpunk), Nine Sols is set in a futuristic fantasy world.

If your  travel-day means hours and hours of sitting, consider bringing Geek Girl Strong Marvel Fitness Deck. Find a space away from people (like an empty gate) and get some movement in between layovers, or to end the day once you get to your destination. If you’re one of the many that intends to use the hotel gym, but never does, these gamified challenges might make movement more fun to keep doing on vacation. You can also pack an exercise band or two, as they can lay flat in your luggage and not take up any space!

For anyone that enjoyed Journey (1 and 2) or Abzu, the recently released Sword of the Sea feels like the next installment with even more captivating graphics. The quiet puzzle game challenges you to unlock different natural environments to stop and enjoy the scenery – ride or play with various endemic animals, and do tricks on your sword-board, bringing the sea with you. Each unlocked environment is a vast expanse you can easily lose hours in looking for the next puzzle.

Calm & Cozy Games

Every airport has a prayer room, and they’re perfect places to meditate when you have time to kill. However, when you’re overstimulated and you can’t find anywhere quiet to breathe, these calming games can be the woo-sah you need to keep going on your journey.

Cat purrs have been known to reduce stress and induce relaxation, so it makes sense that so many cosy games featuring cats are the perfect calming mechanism for stressful travel days. Cat Town Valley Healing Farm lets you build up your own town with the help of adorable, idle cats.

A game doesn’t have to be complicated to be good, and cooking sim Cats & Soup (Trailer) is quite literally just that – making soup with cats. You’re also able to choose the music in the game to create the cosiest environment possible.

Love Is In Small Things is a heartwarming cozy romance story that can transport you to a happier place. With its hand-drawn art style, you can color in scenes both in-game and via accompanying coloring books when you need a break from the screens.

Sometimes everything that can go wrong with a trip, will. So if it’s steam you need to blow off, try out Untitled Goose Game mobile. When you’ve had enough of people for the day you can be an *sshole in game, and not to anyone else!

Space Squad Survival, an explosive upcoming mobile game, delivers satisfying and exhilarating boss fights, enemy alien swarms and fast pacing that can be the stress release needed.

Games About  Travel

If you’ve already explored the landscapes of Red Dead Redemption 1/2, Horizon Forbidden West, or Sons of the Forest you know how easy it is to get lost in the scenery and feel teleported somewhere new.

For the many of us considering packing up and leaving the country, Starsand Island is the one. All about escaping the city to start a new life on a beautiful island, this farming sim lets you dream a little while you plan your own exit. Befriend and fall in love with locals, grow your own crops and run your shop all on this cozy island.

If NY rats vacationed in Scandinavia, Hela is the kind of fun they’d get into. Completely escaping from the city, exploring the landscape and working together to get to the next area  (yes this one is co-op too) and of course have something in their bag for every situation. Hela will be out in this year, right on time for our next trip.

This tourism management sim, inspired by the world of Studio Ghibli, has you turn an intergalactic (yet rundown) hotel into a thriving tourist destination for a plethora of alien species. Hotel Galactic is currently in early access and still a bit buggy, but developers are aware and fixing to those issues on Switch and Steam/Steamdeck.

One thing they never tell you about leaving the country is the extra effort needed to stay in touch with your people, especially if you’re now in different time zones. Bitcraft Online seems to get that, allowing players to join in when they’re able to and contribute to the world you’re building (instead of coordinating everyone being on at the same time – which ultimately never happens.) The cosy MMO a persistent shared world experience, players join a group and tap in to play when they have time to. And no pay to win – it’s like they’re speaking directly to the millennial travelers.