The Ultimate List of Games to Play at the Hospital

One of the requests I receive frequently on Instagram are requests for game to bring to and play at the hospital. Hospital stays can come with all kinds of emotions. Sometimes there’s hope and excitement, other times there’s worry and waiting. Whether youu’re recovering, supporting a loved one, or navigating a brand-new chapter, having something lighthearted andd engaging to pass the time can make a world of difference. We asked our community to share the games they’ve played during hospital stays, ones that helped them stay connected, distracted, or simply brought a smile when things felt tough. I was overwhelmed by the incredible response! Below you’ll find their favorite picks, thoughtful suggestions, and creative ideas to help you or someone you love find a little joy in the in-between moments. The most popular suggestions are highlighted in BOLD. You’ll also find our personal top 5 picks at the top of each section! A very warm Thank You from me to you, our wonderful community. Thank you so much for taking the time to help others by sharing your suggestions and your stories of how these games have brought some light to your hospital stays. We appreciate you! Passing the time at the hospital playing Qwinto after giving birth to our sixth. The Ultimate List of Games to Play at the Hospital Board Games Our Top 5 Picks: A Gentle Rain, Hive, Next Station London, Orchard, Escape Room Games (Clue, Exit, or Unlock!) If you want to play larger games but don’t have the space, or if you do not want to bring games with you, there are many of the most popular games available to play online on Board Game Arena. Many for free! 6 Second ScribblesA Fake Artist Goes to New YorkA Gentle RainAzul TravelBananagramsBlockusBoggleCalicoCastle ComboCinco Linko (Ok Play)Clue Escape Room Games “These were great during my chemo appointments.”Coca Cola Polar RollersDobble (Spot it for our US friends)DonutsDoodle DashDungeons, Dice, and Danger Exit the Game escape room games — these are great solo or with a friend. choose any in the series that spark your interest; they’re all great! Forbidden IslandGhost Blitz there’s a mini version tooHive there’s also a mini version: Hive PocketJaipur “My kids love it!”KingdominoKlusterKompromatLabyrinth (lots of fun versions: Harry Potter, Super Mario, Pokemon)Love LetterMini QuartoMini QawaleNext Station London, Paris and TokyoNine Man’s MorrisOne Night WerewolfOrchard (part of this solo game series. Great for small tables.)OthelloPatchworkPatchwork DoodlePushRack-O “I played Rack-O when doing chemo.”Risk StrikeRummikubSailScrabble SlamSecond ChanceSequence and Sequence for Kids7 Wonders DuelSkull “skull was our go-to waiting room game when a family member was in the ICU.”SplendorSplendor DuelSpot it (Dobble for our UK Friends)Tetris “For my dad’s chemo, we did a handheld Tetris game. It helps and we got really competitive.”Ticket to Ride on an iPad or iPhone (Our favorite board game apps. Here and Here!)TinderbloxTiny Epic Galaxies Blast Off “Just got back from the hospital visiting, we played this!”Tokaido DuoTravel QwirkleUnlock! Escape room games. Card Games Our Top 5 Picks Classic Games with your favorite decks, 5 Crowns, Grandpa Beck’s Bears and the Bees, Monopoly Deal, Jungo Classic Card Games was a very popular suggestion. We have an ever growing list of easy to learn card games that we’ve been teaching on Instagram and YouTube. 5 CrownsArboretum “A peaceful game with beautiful art. It’s great for those hard days”BlinkCatan CardsCockroach PokerCribbage “My husband and I played a lot of cribbage at chemo.” Dead Man’s DrawDeDucktoDutch BlitzExploding KittensFox in the ForestGame of Life Goals Grandpa Beck’s Card Games were a VERY popular option! Some of the most commonly shared: Cover Your Assets, Gnoming a Round, Bears and the Bees, Toil and Troublez.My code: KELSEY15 will save you on your entire order! Guess in 10 “I love playing this on long car rides, too!”Guillotine “We enjoyed Guillotine!”Hero RealmsIllusion Jungo (This is a new one that just came out. Adam and I LOVE it and it would be perfect to play on the small tables at hospitals.) King’s Corner “I play often with my patients on the small tables” LlamaMantis Monopoly DealMonopoly Deal Harry PotterMonopoly RivalsOdinPack o Games seriesPalm Island “You don’t even need a table!”Panda PandaPhase 10PixiesPizza PartyPlay Nine (this is also just standard 6 card golf, explained in our card game series!) Point Salad (We got a travel box to put the cards in and take it with us!”Power Hungry Pets “We have been loving this one!”Rainbow PiratesRookScoutSea Salt and PaperSetShanghai RummySkip-Bo “Played this while my brother was in an epilepsy study on a hospital tray!”Sleeping QueensSushi Go!Taco Cat Goat Cheese PizzaThe Game!The MindTrioTussie MussieUltimatchUno “Played for days and days when my daughter was hospitalized”Uno Flip “Chemo Nurse here, recently loved seeing my pt playing UNO Flip!”Uno No MercyZeus On the Loose (this game is out of stock, but is based off the classic card game Speed Limit 99, or just 99. We teach it here and have a free printable to help you play!) Dice Games We’ve shared a lot of fun dice games you can play with standard D6 dice in this post! There are lots of videos, printables, and more to discover! Having a tray to roll the dice in is very helpful, someone also suggested that you can use the kidney trays in the hospital! Our Top 5 Picks Qwixx, Railroad Ink, Yamslam, Farkle, Rolling America BloomChicken “Has been great while our 8 year old has been battling a brain tumor.” Farkle “I bought some mini dice and small trays to roll the dice in. All fit in a quart ziplock bag!”Pass the PandaPass the PigsQwixxRailroad InkRoll to the Top I love playing this game on Board Game Arena!Rolling AmericaShut the Box (Play with dice or cards!)TenziYahtzeeYamslam (A fun twist on Yahtzee style dice games!) Puzzles, Activities and More Our Top 5 Picks Murdle, Rush Hour, Foldology, Sticker by Number, Kanoodle Brain Games Sticker by Number BooksChroma Cube a Logic Puzzle Foldology — these origami paper puzzles are a go to for our family! Heads Up App on the phone“I keep...

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