Are you going on a trip and don’t want to miss out on your favorite video games? Gaming is a big part of our family’s fun. Fortunately, gone are the days of dodgy Wi-Fi connections and bulky gaming consoles that made it nearly impossible to play games while traveling.
We are a family that loves playing games while traveling. That might mean playing Pokemon GO, packing up your Nintendo DS system, or just enjoying games on your phone. I’ve played Pokémon Go with my kids from Canada to Mexico, and Minecraft with my family just about everywhere.
If you’re setting off on a global adventure like we were, or just going on a short vacation, it’s absolutely possible to incorporate video games into your trip. However, it’s not always smooth sailing. Games can consume significant resources.
Why do we play video games? Wouldn’t it be better to go sightseeing instead?
We have so much fun seeing the sights, meeting new people and trying new foods. That said, introverted family members (myself included!) definitely need downtime to recharge for their next adventure, and that’s where games come in. Instead of watching TV or scrolling through social media, I often watch videos to wind down from the day. Games instead.
How to enjoy games while traveling
Our guide will help you take your favorite games with you no matter where you roam. In this article, we look at the secrets to seamless gaming, from choosing the right gear to finding the fastest and most reliable Wi-Fi around the world. This is for travelers who play games for a living. Turn your travel downtime into an epic gaming adventure.
First, let’s introduce some games that you can play on the go.
Enjoy augmented reality games on the go
Let’s start with augmented reality gaming, one of the easiest ways to play games on the go.
What is augmented reality? Augmented reality (AR) games blend virtual quests and characters with the physical environment, turning your living room, backyard, or city park into the backdrop for an epic adventure.
Pokémon Go is one of the most popular AR games. Pokémon Go alone has over 8 million daily active players. That means you always have plenty of (virtual) companions.
Imagine fighting dragons on your coffee table or chasing mythical creatures around town thanks to the magic of cameras, microphones, and GPS. AR games don’t just perceive the world around you. They transform it, layering breathtaking visuals and sounds on top of real words.
Here are some of our favorite AR games to get you started.
- Pokemon GO
- Ingress
- The Walking Dead: Our World
- minecraft earth
Portable game console for on-the-go
Space on the go is a luxury. A compact gaming device is very important during long flights, bus journeys, or while waiting. Nintendo Switch, with its flexible play options, and smartphones packed with engaging games, are perfect for this free time.
Favorite handheld game console for travel:
- nintendo switch
- smartphone
- steam deck
- ASUS ROG Ally, or the more affordable Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
- playstation portable
- Nintendo DS (old school)
Hint! If you play games on your phone, consider purchasing a smartphone game controller. A mobile phone’s touchscreen often isn’t the best gaming experience, but controllers like the 8BitDo Pro 2 and GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro can make gaming even more fun.
Gaming laptop for PC games
If you’re a PC gamer, you’re in luck. Today’s gaming PCs offer plenty of power and great graphics for gaming on vacation. For many PC gamers, bringing a gaming laptop means the gaming experience isn’t all that different from gaming at home.
Caution: When you take your top-of-the-line, expensive gaming PC on vacation, there’s always the risk of it being stolen or damaged. Of course, it’s up to you, but we usually leave our more expensive equipment at home and take one of our old laptops with us. Although the gaming experience isn’t as great, it’s nice to not have to worry about your high-end equipment being stolen or damaged.
Need more storage? Consider bringing an external hard drive.
Use remote play
Want to play your favorite games on the go? Most popular gaming platforms like PS5, Steam, and Xbox come with remote play. Remote Play lets you control your console or PC over the Internet using another device, such as your smartphone, tablet, or another computer.
Remote Play requires good internet both at home and at your vacation destination. Even with high-speed internet connections on both ends, remote gaming isn’t ideal for competitive online gaming, as you’re likely to experience some lag.
Want to play IRL games with friends? Try LAN Party on the go
If you’re lucky enough to have (or meet) gaming friends on the go, IRL (In Real Life) meet-ups can be a lot of fun. Having a LAN (local area network) party on the go is a great way to bond and have fun with friends and family.
What is lan party• A LAN party is a gathering where gamers connect their computers over a local area network (LAN) and play multiplayer video games together. You can even host a LAN party without an Internet connection by connecting your device to a router or switch via an Ethernet cable.
Try cloud gaming
Services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which we love!) allow you to jump into top-notch games as long as you have a stable internet link. Game Pass Ultimate lets you play hundreds of high-quality games on your console, PC, or cloud.
If you don’t like Xbox, try these other cloud gaming services:
- Nvidia GeForce Now
- PlayStation Plus Premium
- Amazon Luna Cloud Games
- Shadow
Many public spots offer travel Wi-Fi that’s fast enough to connect to these gaming services.
Can online games be played anywhere in the world?
There are exceptions, but in most cases games usually have no regional restrictions. This applies to products purchased directly from the Steam Store and Nintendo Switch games. If you have problems playing or downloading games in another country, it’s easy to use a VPN to change your IP address to the country of your choice while traveling.
Use an emulator
Installing emulators on your mobile device will allow you to play a wide variety of games on the go. There are lots of different emulators out there, including emulators for Nintendo DS, PS1, PS2, Game Boy Advance, PSP, and even classic PC games.
Hint! Currently on Android, we strongly recommend using an emulator on your Android device instead of Apple. more Emulator and overall performance improvements.
Try a local gaming spot
Each country has its own gaming culture and spots. For example, in South Korea, PC bang (a type of Internet cafe or LAN game center) is very popular. Attending a local gaming event or checking out a Japanese video game bar can be a unique and fun experience while traveling.
Tips for gaming while traveling
Want hassle-free gaming? Here are some tips to make gaming easier.
- Practical advice: Always have a power bank and a global travel adapter on hand. These are very important to keep your gadget powered.
- Use the device tracking feature on your smartphone or tablet ( Apple’s Find My Phone) Find your lost device.
- Use Apple Air Tags or Tiles to track items without device tracking, like your PS5.
- Step up your password and two-factor authentication game. Now is the time to make sure your passwords are secure.
No matter how prepared you think you are, a variety of things can disrupt your travel game plan. The internet can be slow, cloud services may not work as planned, and there’s always the possibility that your equipment could be lost or stolen. Each trip is an opportunity to learn from experience and figure out the best strategy for the game you’re traveling with.
Remember, you’re never alone gaming while traveling. According to a report by The, approximately 65% of Americans play video games, which equates to approximately 212.6 million people playing each week. Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
Do you have any tips for playing games when traveling the world? Please let us know?
