Episode 8: What Are the Best Board Games for Worldschooling?
In this episode of Worldschooling Q&A, Astrid and Clint dive into a commonly asked worldschooling question: what are the best board games for worldschooling?
Worldschooling Q&A – Episode 8
Hosts: Astrid & Clint, creators of The Wandering Daughter
Title: Episode 8: What Are the Best Board Games for Worldschooling?
Episode Summary
In this playful and practical episode, Astrid and Clint share their favorite board games for worldschooling families—from travel-themed strategy games like Trekking the World and Ticket to Ride to compact card games perfect for long-term travelers.
They explore how games support learning and connection, from math and literacy to creativity and collaboration. The duo also talks about their own board game, Stack Scoops, which they created during their time in Vietnam. You’ll also hear tips on how to travel light with games, DIY game hacks, and their favorite game cafés around the world.
Whether you’re a family who loves game nights or looking for fun ways to make travel educational, this episode will inspire you to pack a deck of cards and hit the road.
Why families should use board games for worldschooling
When you’re traveling full time or for long stretches, packing space is precious. But many families find that bringing along a few well-chosen board games for worldschooling is worth the luggage space. These games aren’t just for entertainment, they teach critical thinking, cultural awareness, and the art of slowing down together.
Building connection and downtime
One of the biggest gifts of worldschooling is time together. Bringing along board games for worldschooling can naturally create moments of connection and laughter, especially on long travel days or rainy afternoons. Playing a game together encourages conversation and patience. It’s a simple way to unwind while staying engaged with one another.
Games also teach kids that learning doesn’t always have to look academic. Even a 20-minute round of cards can foster focus, turn-taking, and sportsmanship. These are all valuable life lessons for kids on the move.
Fostering critical thinking and creativity
Beyond family bonding, using board games for worldschooling can be helpful for learning. Many games build math and reading comprehension skills, while others develop geography knowledge or problem-solving abilities. From resource management to strategy, the skills learned through play easily translate into real-world experiences.
There’s even a growing movement known as “gameschooling,” where families intentionally use games to reinforce educational concepts. For worldschooling families, this approach fits naturally into a lifestyle that values curiosity and hands-on learning.
Encouraging cultural curiosity
Some of the best board games for worldschooling can serve as mini cultural journeys. They introduce global history, geography, and cultural traditions through play. These games can inspire travel dreams and deepen understanding of a country’s story long before (or after) you visit.
Our favorite board games for worldschooling
Whether you’re exploring from your kitchen table or your latest Airbnb, the following board games for worldschooling are wonderful tools for sparking curiosity about the world.
Games that bring the world to your table
A favorite in many traveling families’ collections is Trekking the World. This beautifully designed game takes players on a journey to famous landmarks around the globe. Each card features facts about destinations, turning every playthrough into a mini geography lesson. It’s one of the best board games for worldschooling if you want to combine travel inspiration with learning.
Another travel-inspired choice is Tokaido, a game set along Japan’s historic road between Tokyo and Kyoto. As players “travel” from one stop to another, they collect experiences such as visiting hot springs, meeting locals, and tasting food. This type of cultural storytelling makes Tokaido one of the most meaningful board games for worldschooling families who value global awareness.
Let’s Go to Japan is another fun pick for families interested in planning or reminiscing about travel to Japan. Players create itineraries filled with modern experiences, like visiting Kyoto’s temples or sampling sushi. This makes it one of the most engaging board games for worldschooling with older kids and teens.
Buy these games on Amazon:
Games that make geography fun
If you want a game that doubles as a geography lesson, Ticket to Ride is a must. With versions focused on the United States, Europe, and beyond, it helps kids visualize routes and cities while practicing strategic thinking. Each edition adds new maps, which makes it easy to tailor the game to your worldschooling journey. No wonder Ticket to Ride tops so many lists of board games for worldschooling families.
Another educational gem is Trekking Through History, which helps kids connect with key global events. By pairing historical learning with gameplay, it turns abstract timelines into interactive adventures.
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Other games we love to travel with
Not all board games for worldschooling are about maps and monuments. Some celebrate the beauty of daily life and nature. Village Green lets players design English gardens, combining creativity with logic, while Walking in Burano draws inspiration from the colorful Italian island near Venice. Both are perfect examples of small, portable board games for worldschooling that encourage kids to appreciate culture and design.
And for families looking for something lighthearted, Unstable Unicorns or Exploding Kittens are compact card games that fit easily into a backpack. We also suggest our game, Stack The Scoops, an ice cream theme game that our family created to help reinforce math skills. While these travel card games might not teach geography, they’re great for laughter-filled downtime, which is an essential part of any balanced worldschooling routine.
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How to travel with board games for worldschooling
Packing games can seem tricky at first, but with a few simple strategies, you can enjoy your favorite board games for worldschooling no matter where you are.
Choose compact and durable games
When traveling full time, space and weight matter. Look for board games for worldschooling that come in small boxes or can be packed into zip bags. Many families remove bulky packaging and store just the cards, boards, and pieces in reusable pouches. Games like Love Letter and Sushi Go are compact yet endlessly replayable.
Buy these games on Amazon:
Create your own travel games
If your family enjoys creative projects, try designing your own board games for worldschooling together. Use recycled materials, blank cards, and markers to create personalized trivia or travel-themed games. This not only nurtures creativity but also gives kids ownership of their learning.
We did this with Stack The Scoops. We created the game while we were in Vietnam, and literally made our first prototype by cutting up white printer paper into small pieces and hand drawing the designs!
Connect with others who love using board games for worldschooling
Playing board games for worldschooling can be an amazing way to connect with the broader worldschooling community. In many worldschooling hubs or family-friendly hostels, parents and kids gather for casual game nights. Sharing games opens doors to friendship, collaboration, and cross-cultural learning, all while having fun.
Submit your worldschooling questions here!
Episode guide
Main themes
- Practical tips for travel: Compact games make it possible to bring learning anywhere.
- Board games as family connection tools: They create intentional downtime and encourage slowing down together.
- Games as educational resources: Introduces the concept of gameschooling, where families learn through play.
- Inspiration for travel and cultural learning: Some games reflect real-world places or inspire curiosity about other cultures.
Why board games for worldschooling matter
- Support emotional and social learning: fairness, teamwork, self-regulation.
- Encourage critical thinking, reasoning, and patience.
- Provide family bonding and structure during travel downtime.
- Help supplement learning goals naturally (math, geography, language).
- Offer hands-on, play-based experiences beyond books or screens.
Practical advice for worldschooling families
- Choose compact, versatile games.
- Swap large boxes for reusable travel bags.
- Pack 3–5 games that serve different purposes (strategy, creativity, downtime).
- Encourage DIY game creation with kids for creativity and ownership.
- Use games to connect with other traveling families: community through play.
Personal Story Highlights
- A traveling family carried a duffel bag full of games by removing boxes.
- During lockdown in Vietnam (2020), our family played so many games we created our own card game, which is now sold as a side business.
- Playing board games became part of our travel rhythm, making our travels educational, fun, and meaningful.
Educational Themes
- Gameschooling: learning academic and life skills through play.
- Cultural learning: gaining awareness of global traditions and places.
- Family connection: building shared memories and empathy through time together.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:00 – Today’s Question: What Are the Best Board Games for Worldschooling?
00:01:20 – Why We Love Playing Games as a Family
00:02:00 – The Educational Side of Board Games (“Game Schooling”)
00:03:30 – Games That Inspire Travel (Trekking the World, Tokaido, Ticket to Ride)
00:06:00 – Japan-Inspired Games (Let’s Go to Japan)
00:07:10 – Travel-Friendly Games (Unstable Unicorns, Rory’s Story Cubes, Ravine)
00:10:00 – Creating Our Own Game (Stack Scoops)
00:11:15 – How to Pack Games While Traveling
00:12:30 – Visiting Game Cafés Around the World
00:14:30 – Closing Thoughts and How to Connect
Further worldschooling resources
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