Games for stay-at-home and garden campers

We are living in unusual times. Together, we are having to get used to a completely new reality, to unprecedented restrictions on our everyday lives. In these times, we are also adapting and in this article we will introduce you to games that you can play at home.

These include games for families who are facing particular challenges in times of daycare and school closures, for singles who may be facing a lonely time under these circumstances, for couples looking for a change from working from home and watching Netflix, for people with and without a garden, in the city and in the countryside. Because we can all certainly use a change of pace to get through this period of social distancing. Have fun playing and above all – stay healthy!

Games for families

Families in particular need a little creativity at the moment to cope with everyday life in a confined space. Fortunately, there are many games for families, some of which don’t require any special accessories and therefore don’t even need the parcel carrier. Some of them can also be played between two conference calls in the home office or during family face time with the grandparents.

I’m packing my suitcase

Each player takes it in turn to name an item that they will “pack in their suitcase”. The next player always names all the items already mentioned in the correct order and adds another item. The list gets longer and longer and the first player to forget an item is eliminated.

I see something you don’t see…

This classic game from childhood is still very popular today. One player chooses an object in the field of vision of all the other players and names a characteristic of this object. For example: “I see something you don’t see and it’s … yellow”. In turn, everyone can now guess what it is. Whoever guesses correctly is next in line.

From A to Z

The other players can choose a category in turn, for example “plants”, “toys”, “animals”, etc. Each player must now name a word in turn and in alphabetical order that can be assigned to this topic. Each player has a certain, predetermined amount of time to do this. If you don’t know a word, you get a minus point. If necessary, particularly difficult letters, such as Y, can be excluded in advance. The whole thing then goes like this, for example: “ant”, “bear”, “chameleon”, “badger”…

Who am I?

A game that is popular with children and adults alike. Each player thinks up a real or fictitious person from real life, film or television or similar for the person next to them. The players should just make sure that everyone knows the person they have made up. Each player is given a sticky note with the person’s name stuck to their forehead so that everyone except themselves can see the name. The players then take it in turns to ask questions to try and guess their own person, for example “Am I famous?”. As soon as a question is answered with “No”, it is the next player’s turn. The first player to guess correctly wins the game.

Never say yes or no…

In this game, the players have a conversation for a set time. One player tries to provoke the other to answer “yes” / “no” with cleverly posed questions, as these two words are strictly forbidden. If the player does not keep the time and accidentally says “yes” or “no”, they receive a minus point.

Q&A session

The funny thing about this round of questions is that it is not the question that has just been asked that is answered, but the one before last. The first question is answered with “I don’t know”. The second question is then answered with the answer to the first question and so on. This can be very funny. Whoever forgets the question or answer receives a minus point.

Quartet

(available for children with popular motifs, such as Fireman Sam)

Quartets are a classic game and just as popular with children as they are with adults. The aim is to collect as many quartets, i.e. four matching and appropriately marked cards, by asking the other players. The player who has collected the most quartets at the end of the round wins.

Photo: (c) Ali Ramthun

Uno

Uno is an absolute classic card game in which the aim is to discard your cards as quickly as possible. Various action cards can be used to turn the course of the game around unexpectedly. The game is suitable for 2-10 players and offers a fun change of pace for small and large, young and old camping groups.

Bandolo learning game fun

These are small puzzles on various topics, suitable for ages 3 and up. With a solution string, children can complete educational games as well as reading, arithmetic and puzzle tasks. The little Bandolos fit in every handbag or seat pocket.

Photo: (c) Henrike Michel

I recommend the following board games for the whole family:

Orchard

The aim of this classic game is to harvest fruit before the raven steals it. It encourages shape and color recognition and teamwork. Suitable for children aged between 3 and 6.

Dixit

The game Dixit has won various awards and is suitable for 3-6 players aged 8 and over. It is a guessing game that requires creativity and imagination. The aim is to make a statement about one of your cards that does not reveal too much or too little about the content of the card. Points can be earned depending on your success. The player with the most points wins the game.

Triominos

Triominos is a placement game for the whole family and can best be described as a triangular domino. Tactics and logic bring the players to their goal, which is to score as many points as possible by skillfully placing their own tiles.

Activity

Activity is a very sociable game and suitable for children aged 12 and over. Teams have to guess terms that are explained, mimed or drawn. There is usually a lot to laugh about.

Taboo

In this guessing game, players compete against each other in teams. One player has to explain a term to their team members without using certain predefined words. This is monitored by the opposing team, as is compliance with the time limit. The team with the most guessed terms wins.

Monopoly

Monopoly is suitable for children aged 8 and over. The aim of the game is to build up an empire of streets and real estate, earn as much (game) money as possible and drive the other players into bankruptcy. One of the most successful games of all time.

Jenga

Jenga has been an integral part of any game collection for decades. An initially stable tower is built from wooden blocks, which is gradually removed by the players by pulling out individual blocks. The blocks that are pulled out are placed on top so that the tower grows in height. Whoever causes the tower to collapse loses the round.

Games for adults

There are also plenty of varied games for adults. We love card games of all kinds, not least because of the very manageable packaging size. The game variants are endless; UNO, Rummy and Bauernskat are particularly popular with us. Quartett (available for adults, for example, with motifs such as camping or expedition vehicles), as described above. Or you can use your time on the road to learn card tricks with the help of Internet tutorials and amaze your family and other campers.

Yatzy or Kniffel

In the dice game Kniffel or Yatzy, we like to keep score lists for several days. Five dice are used to roll various predefined combinations, such as a big straight, full house, etc. Suitable for 2 or more players.

Rummy Cup

This classic game is also available as a handy travel version. 2 to 4 players place their pieces as quickly as possible in different color or number combinations (similar to rummy), whereby their own pieces can be combined with the pieces already placed by other players.

Photos: (c) Ali Ramthun

Tac

This game requires exactly four players, who compete against each other in two teams of two. Using various cards, you can move your balls forward on the playing field and sabotage the opposing team with certain cards until you and your partner have brought all four balls into the house. We have already spent whole nights playing “tacen”. Definitely an addictive game.

Games for two

If you only live in a household with one other person, that’s no problem either. There are also many varied games for two players:

Hangman

One player thinks of a word and draws a placeholder for each letter of the word on a piece of paper. The other player now names the letters that they think are in the word. If he is correct, the other player puts the letters in the corresponding places. If he is wrong, a hangman is drawn line by line. If this is complete, the guessing player symbolically hangs from the gallows and loses the round. If he guesses the word before the hangman is complete, he wins.

Photo: (c) Ali Ramthun

Germany Quiz

This guessing game from “Was ist was” with 64 question and answer cards not only has a small pack size and is a lot of fun, but you also learn a lot about the homeland. “Where does the shortest river in Germany originate?” “Where did Maultaschen originate?” are just two examples of the questions about Germany.

4 wins

Both players try to form a continuous vertical, horizontal or diagonal row with their pieces. The opponent tries to prevent this. The first player to get four pieces in a row wins the game. The compact version of the game is ideal for traveling.

Photo: (c) Ali Ramthun

Scrabble

You form words from drawn letters and receive points according to the value of the individual letters and the bonus fields on the game board.

Backgammon

Backgammon is one of the oldest board games in the world, for two people and more suitable for adults. The aim of the game is to be the first player to remove your own 15 checkers from the board. There are various versions of the game, for example a very pretty, space-saving version made of leather.

Sinking ships

Each player has a 10×10 box “sea” in which they place ships of different sizes. The players should agree on the size of the fleet before the game begins. The opponent tries to “sink” the ships by guessing their position. There are ready-made game blocks, but you can also simply draw the playing field yourself on squared paper.

Mancala

In this game of checkers, four balls are placed in each of twelve wells on a wooden board. The players take it in turns to empty one of their trays and distribute the balls to the following trays in a clockwise direction. Each player has a so-called Kalah, in which as many stones as possible must be collected. If the last stone in the round is placed in an empty hollow, the player can place this stone and the opponent’s stones opposite it in their kalah. As soon as a player has no more stones in their hollows, the game is over and the player with the most stones in their kalah wins.

Outdoor games

The best games take place in the open air and involve plenty of exercise as well as fun.

If you have a garden, you can enjoy the emerging spring with these games:

Hide and seek

Who doesn’t remember this classic game from childhood? One player counts down a previously discussed sequence of numbers. Meanwhile, the other players hide as well as possible indoors or outdoors. As soon as the seeker has finished counting, he goes in search of the other players.

Beach ball / badminton

Two wooden rackets and a ball make for a fast-paced game that is great fun. Badminton is a little more leisurely, but no less fun. In both games, the aim is usually to keep the (shuttlecock) ball in the air for as long as possible.

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Spin Ladder

The Spin Ladder is a simple wooden ladder with steps over which wooden balls connected by a ribbon are thrown. The individual steps give different scores. The first player to score exactly 21 points with their throws wins the round.

Viking chess / Kubb

In Viking chess, or Kubb, two teams compete against each other. However, a team can also consist of just one person. The playing pieces (kubbs) are placed on a playing field measuring approx. 5×8 meters. The king stands in the middle. Using a throwing stick, you try to knock over your opponent’s kubbs according to certain rules. When all the kubbs have fallen, the king must be toppled last. The team that topples the king wins the round.

Frisbee / boomerang

Frisbee can be played with two or more people. The frisbee disc is thrown from one player to the other, whereby the trajectory should be as flat and even as possible so that the disc can be easily caught out of the air. Boomerang, on the other hand, is a great game to play on your own, as the boomerang should – if used correctly – arrive back at the launch point. The wind and angle of inclination of the boomerang are important factors, as is the purchase of a suitable boomerang for right-handed or left-handed players.

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Velcro ball

Velcro ball is a ball game that is also ideal for children. Each player holds a Velcro-covered bat. A ball that sticks to the surface of the bats is thrown back and forth and caught with the bats if possible.

Boccia

Boccia is a variation of the game of boules. One player throws a small target ball and all players then try to throw their differently colored balls as close as possible to this target ball. The opponents’ balls can also be shot away with the help of their own balls. The player who gets closest to the small ball wins the round and gets to throw the target ball the next time.

Slackline

A slackline is a belt that is stretched between two attachment points. You balance on this belt, which is already difficult enough. If you succeed, you can perform all kinds of tricks on the rope and bring the whole thing to perfection.

Photo: I (c) Ali Ramthun | II (c) Henrike Michel

Digital games for smartphone and tablet

There are also countless games for smartphones in the App Store. Two examples that sometimes pass the time on the go are Clash of Clans and Kite Board Hero. In Clash of Clans, the player has to build up a base and defend it against other clans and attack them in turn. Kite Board Hero is a simple game for all kitesurfing fans who need to get through a day in the doldrums and want to get out on the water, at least virtually.

Many games are also available for the tablet and you can choose to play alone against computer opponents or with several players on a tablet. We like Catan and Scotland Yard, among others. In Catan, which is normally available as a board game, players build settlements on the island of “Catan”, create an infrastructure and collect as many victory points as possible during the course of the game.

In the game Scotland Yard, players go in search of Mr. X. The hunted Mr. X and the detectives chasing him move through London using various means of transport. In the version on the tablet, the sound effects while moving around are very nicely designed.

Photos: (c) Ali Ramthun

I hope there is a game for every taste, for every age, for every weather and for every household constellation and wish you lots of fun trying it out! May the coming weeks be a little more varied and entertaining and make the time without direct contact a little easier. I can’t emphasize it enough – stay healthy!

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  Cover picture: (c) Ali Ramthun

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