Forming a connection with fellow travelers can feel a difficult task, especially if you’re a little introverted. Rather than struggling to make small talk with likeminded backpackers, you could always suggest playing a fun game, which could allow a conversation to flow naturally and help you to develop relationships with people from all walks of life.

If this sounds ideal, here are the best games to play to bond with backpackers.

Beer Pong

One game that is bound to bring people together is beer pong. It is typically played in two teams, with each side taking a turn to throw a table tennis ball into their opponent’s plastic beer cups. There is also an option to play one on one.

Each time the table tennis ball lands in a cup, an opponent is required to drink the contents inside the cup. The cup is then removed from the table, and if the team hits all their opponent’s cups first, they will win the game.

Strip Poker

You can rest assured there will be no room for embarrassment once you finish a game of strip poker, and it could even help you to overcome a language barrier. It’s a twist on the classic game of poker, as you’ll lose clothes over money if you don’t secure the winning hand. It’s often best played after some Dutch courage, as you might be forced to remove various items of clothing, from your shoes to your underwear.

The game is commonly played between 2-6 people, and the focus is on embarrassing your opponent. If you’re up for it, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the strip poker rules, which will ensure you don’t accidentally remove your clothing for other travelers’ amusement!

Kings Cup

If strip poker isn’t up your street, consider playing a game or two of Kings Cup with your new travel buddies. It’s a fun drinking game that’s bound to bring every member of a group together. You could introduce travelers from different international destinations to the fun game if you’re staying at a hostel.

It’s essential to go through the rules with everyone before you start to play, so each player knows what they need to do and when they need to do it. The first thing you must do is instruct the group to sit on the floor or low chairs around a table. You must then place a penalty drink in the center, which is what the loser will need to drink if they lose the hand.

Next, you will need to spread the deck of cards around the penalty cup, which should be in a circle. Ensure all cards are facing down, and they touch the other cards to make a chain.

Once you have set-up the game, each player will need to flip a card in a clockwise direction. If a player breaks the chain, they must drink the penalty cup, but this isn’t the end of the game.

Each number on the card will be an instruction, such as:

2 means “you” – so you will need to point at another player and say “you,” and that person will be required to drink from their own cup.

3 means “me” – and the person who chose this card must drink from their cup.

4 means “floor” – every player will be required to hit the floor. If you are already on the floor, you must hit it twice. The last person to hit it must take a drink.

5 means “guys” – all male players must drink.

6 means “chicks” – all female players must drink.

7 means “heaven” – every player should reach for the stars, and the last player to do so must drink from their cup.

8 means “mate” – choose another player who must drink whenever you need to drink.

9 means “rhyme” – Players must rhyme one word when going around in a circle. The person who fails to think of a word or hesitates must drink.

10 means “categories” – a player will choose a category, and every player must name something from within it. For example, if a player says “America,” then another player could say “Texas” or “California.” The player who hesitates or fails to think of a word must drink from their cup.

If a player pulls out a Jack, all players must hold three fingers in the air. The person who selected the card will then say, “Never have I ever ____,” and if a player has performed this action, they must put down one finger. The player next to them will then repeat the phrase, and the person who puts down all their fingers first must drink from their cup.

If, however, you pull a Queen, the player must ask a question to another person, and they must answer the question with another question. If they hesitate, they must take a drink.

Should you pull a King, you must make up a new rule, which could also cancel an existing rule in play.

Ace equals “waterfall,” so the player must start drinking, and then the person next to them must start, and so on until every player is drinking. Once the first person stops drinking, the second person can then stop, and then the third, etc.

Playing together is a great way to get to know people. (Photo: Oleg Magni / CC0 1.0)

Yaniv

Yaniv is a fun Israeli game that has no official rules, and you can choose from different variations. If, however, you are looking for a fun game to play with your travel buddies, you could follow the rules below.

Each player’s goal must be to secure a hand that has fewer than five points. Once they have done so, they can call “Yaniv” on their next turn, and they must reveal their cards to win.

Here’s how the points work:

Joker card = 10
Ace = 1
2-10 = Face value
A Jack, Queen or King = 10 points

If more than one player has either equal or lower points in their hand when a player says “Yaniv,” they must call “Assaf.” Whichever player has the lowest points will win the round. Also, if a person calls “Yaniv” but another player beats them with an “Assaf,” they will receive a 30-point penalty, which is in addition to the sum of their hand. If a player reaches or exceeds 200 points after a round, they will be out the game.

Charades

You’ve likely played Charades at some point in your life, and your fellow travelers might also be familiar with the rules. It can, however, be a fun game to play with other backpackers, as it will allow them to unleash their competitive nature and provide an insight into their personality.

It’s a simple game to play in a hostel or bar, as you will need to divide a group into two competing teams. Every player will then need to act out a phrase in front of their teammates, and they will have either two or three minutes to guess the answer for each turn. The team with the most correct answers will win the game.

So, if you want to connect with travelers at a backpacking hostel, the above games could be an ideal way to do so.