Games That Belong in Every Camp Kit
The best camping games share three qualities: they require minimal equipment, they work in any setting (picnic table, camp chair, tent floor, or fireside log), and they are fun enough that nobody misses their phone. Whether you are on a weekend getaway with friends, a family holiday at a campsite, or a multi-day hiking trip where every gram counts, the games on this page will keep you entertained long after the sun goes down.
We have divided our picks into three categories based on what you need to bring. Paper games require almost nothing. Card and dice games fit in a pocket. And outdoor games, while slightly bulkier, transform any campsite into a playing field.
Campfire Card Games
A deck of cards weighs less than 100 grams and unlocks dozens of games. For camping, you want games that are fast, work with small groups, and do not require a large playing surface.
Zsirozas is the ideal campfire card game. Rounds take 5 to 10 minutes, the rules are dead simple, and the compact hand size means you can play on a flat rock, a camp chair armrest, or a sleeping pad inside your tent. The game works perfectly with 2 players but scales up to 4, making it versatile for any group size at the campsite.
Mau-Mau is the game everyone already knows a version of. Whether you grew up calling it Mau-Mau, Crazy Eights, or UNO, the core mechanic is universal: match the suit or rank, play action cards, be the first to empty your hand. It is the perfect warm-up game when people are still drifting in from their hikes, because new players can join between rounds without any disruption.
Dice Games by the Fire
Farkle might be the single best camping game ever invented. Six small dice take up almost no space and weigh next to nothing. The push-your-luck mechanic creates genuine excitement around the campfire as players agonise over whether to bank a solid score or risk it all for something bigger. The sound of dice rolling on a camp table, followed by cheers or groans, is one of the great soundtracks of outdoor life.
Farkle works with 2 to 6 players and scales beautifully. With two players it becomes a tense tactical duel. With a larger group around the fire, it becomes a social spectacle. Either way, it requires nothing more than six dice and the ability to add up simple numbers — no board, no cards, no complicated rules to remember.
Pen-and-Paper Games
Sometimes you forget the cards. Sometimes the dice rolled under the car. That is when pen-and-paper games save the evening.
Dots and Boxes needs nothing more than a pen and any flat piece of paper — a napkin, a page torn from a notebook, even the back of a trail map. Two players take turns drawing lines between dots on a grid, claiming boxes by completing the fourth side. It looks simple, but experienced players develop chain strategies and sacrifice techniques that turn this children’s game into a legitimate battle of wits.
Sprouts is even more minimal. Start with a few dots on a page, draw curves connecting them, add a new dot on each curve, and try to be the last player who can make a legal move. Sprouts was invented by mathematicians, and it shows — the game has a strange, beautiful quality where the playing field evolves organically with each move. It is perfect for quiet moments at camp when you want something thoughtful rather than raucous.
Outdoor Campsite Games
If your camping style involves more than a backpack, the outdoor games on this list are worth the extra weight.
Kubb turns any patch of flat ground into a Viking battlefield. Two teams face off across a 5-by-8-metre field, throwing wooden batons to topple the opposing team’s blocks before going for the king in the centre. The wooden pieces pack into a compact carry bag, and the game provides hours of entertainment for groups of any size. Kubb is a staple at Scandinavian campsites and festivals, and for good reason.
Molkky is quicker to set up and quicker to play. Toss a single wooden pin at a cluster of numbered skittles and try to score exactly 50 points. The rules take one minute to explain, and the game creates brilliant moments of tension as players approach the target score. Molkky works on grass, sand, or packed dirt — basically any campsite surface.
Games to Take Camping
Farkle
The ultimate camping dice game. Six dice, zero setup, maximum excitement. Push your luck by the campfire and try not to farkle when the stakes are highest.
Dots and Boxes
The classic grid game that needs only pen and paper. Perfect for rainy tent days, lazy mornings, or any moment when you want a quick strategic duel.
Sprouts
A mathematical pen-and-paper game where the board evolves with every move. Minimal equipment, maximum brain engagement. Ideal for quiet campsite afternoons.
Zsirozas
Hungary’s lightning-fast card game. Compact, quick, and perfect for small surfaces. Play it on a log, a camp chair, or inside your tent when the rain sets in.
Mau-Mau
The campfire classic everyone knows. Match suits or ranks, play action cards, empty your hand first. Works for any group size and any skill level.
Kubb
Viking chess for the campsite. Throw wooden batons, topple blocks, and claim the king. A brilliant team game for sunny afternoons at camp.
Molkky
Finland’s throwing game in a carry bag. Knock down numbered skittles to score exactly 50. Quick setup, easy rules, and endless campsite fun.
The Camping Game Packing List
If weight and space are limited, here is what to prioritise:
- Essential (under 200g): One deck of cards and six dice. This covers Farkle, Zsirozas, Mau-Mau, and dozens of other games. Add a small notepad and pen for paper games and scorekeeping.
- Recommended (add 2kg): A Molkky set in its carry bag. This adds a brilliant outdoor game for daytime play at the campsite and takes up about as much space as a water bottle.
- Luxury (add 4kg): A Kubb set for longer stays. If you are car camping or staying at a fixed campsite for multiple days, Kubb provides hours of group entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best camping games require little to no equipment and work in outdoor settings. Top picks include Farkle (needs only six dice), card games like Zsirozas and Mau-Mau (just a deck of cards), paper games like Dots and Boxes and Sprouts (pen and paper), and outdoor games like Kubb and Molkky (dedicated sets that pack easily). These games work equally well by the campfire, at a picnic table, or inside a tent on a rainy day.
Card games and dice games are ideal for campfire play because they need a small flat surface and work well in low light. Farkle is perfect because you only need to see the dice faces. Zsirozas and Mau-Mau are fast card games that work on a camp chair armrest or a small table. If you have a headlamp or lantern, Dots and Boxes and Sprouts are also excellent campfire games.
Sprouts requires only a pen or pencil and any scrap of paper, making it essentially a zero-equipment game. Dots and Boxes is similarly minimal. If you have absolutely nothing, word games and storytelling games work well around a campfire. However, a small deck of cards or a set of six dice weighs almost nothing and dramatically expands your camping game options.
Kubb and Molkky are both excellent campsite games. Kubb needs a flat grassy area of about 5 by 8 metres and works for 2 to 12 players. Molkky requires less space and is quicker to set up. Both games are made of wood, pack compactly, and are designed specifically for outdoor play. They are popular at campsites, festivals, and beach holidays across Scandinavia and are now spreading worldwide.
Pack light and multi-purpose. A single deck of cards covers Zsirozas, Mau-Mau, and dozens of other games. Six dice cover Farkle and many other dice games. A small notepad and pen handle Dots and Boxes and Sprouts plus scorekeeping. All of this fits in a sandwich-sized bag weighing under 200 grams. If you have room, a Molkky set in its carry bag adds a brilliant outdoor option for about 2 kilograms of extra weight.
Absolutely. Card games are one of the best tent activities for rainy days or evenings before bed. Use a sleeping pad or a flat book as a playing surface. Games with small hand sizes like Zsirozas and Mau-Mau work best in tight spaces. Avoid games that require spreading many cards on a large table. A headlamp provides enough light for comfortable play.