25 Games to Play on a Plane

A flight is a rare stretch with nowhere to be and nothing to do. A good game turns those hours into the best part of the trip.

The best plane games fit on a tray table, work without Wi-Fi and stay quiet enough for the row around you. Most need nothing more than a pen, a deck of cards or a phone loaded at home.

The 25 games below cover no-screen classics, pen-and-paper contests, word puzzles, conversation games and offline apps. Pick three or four for the flight and pack them before you leave. For more ways to fill the hours, see our list of things to do on a plane, and for young travelers, our guide to airplane activities for kids.

01. Twenty Questions

What it is A guessing game where one player thinks of a person, place or object and the others get 20 yes-or-no questions to name it. It needs no equipment at all.

Why it works It works in a cramped row because nobody has to move or make noise. The questions also teach you how the people next to you think.

How to get it Play with a travel companion. Set a house rule that the answer must be something every player has heard of. Use airplane themes for a round, such as parts of a plane or famous airports. Keep a running score so the game lasts the whole flight.

02. Travel Tic-Tac-Toe on the Tray Table

What it is A grid game on a magnetic board or a folded sheet of paper, played with small pegs, coins or pencil marks. A magnetic travel set measures about 6 inches (15 cm) across and holds its pieces in turbulence.

Why it works It is the fastest game on the list, so a round fits between the drink cart passing and the seatbelt sign. Losing costs nothing, which keeps it relaxed.

How to get it Buy a magnetic set if you want pieces that stay put in turbulence. Otherwise draw the grid on the back of a boarding pass holder. Try the four-in-a-row version once players stop making mistakes in the three-by-three game.

03. Hangman with an Aviation Word List

What it is The paper classic, where one player picks a hidden word and the other guesses letters before a stick figure is complete. You draw it with a pen on a napkin or notebook page.

Why it works Short rounds fit a bumpy flight, and a themed word list makes it feel fresh. It also teaches plane vocabulary almost by accident.

How to get it Agree on a theme before you start, such as aircraft types, airports or cockpit terms. Use a pencil so turbulence does not smear the page. Limit words to eight letters so rounds stay quick, then raise the limit once both players warm up.

04. Dots and Boxes

What it is A pen-and-paper strategy game. Players take turns joining two neighboring dots on a grid, and whoever closes a box claims it. A 5 by 5 dot grid gives 16 boxes.

Why it works The rules fit in one sentence, yet the strategy goes deep, with sacrifices and chain counting. Two players can play for an hour without repeating a game.

How to get it Draw the grid with a ruler edge, such as a boarding pass. Use two pen colors so each player’s boxes are clear. Start on a small grid, then grow it to 7 by 7 dots when you want a longer game.

05. Battleship on Paper

What it is A hidden-ship guessing game played on two 10 by 10 grids you draw yourself. Each player places ships secretly, then calls out grid squares to find the other fleet.

Why it works It is a sit-still game that is also silent apart from a whispered coordinate. The mix of luck and deduction suits both adults and older children.

How to get it Print two blank grids at home or draw them in a notebook. Stand a book or a small notebook upright as a screen between players. Agree on ship lengths first, such as 5, 4, 3, 3 and 2 squares.

06. Travel Chess

What it is A small chess set with magnetic or pegged pieces. Folding travel boards run about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) wide and close like a book to protect the pieces.

Why it works Chess fills a long flight with no extra gear and no screen. The pegged board survives turbulence that would scatter a normal set.

How to get it Pick a set with magnetic or peg-in pieces. Learn one opening before you fly so the first ten minutes go quickly. Use a chess puzzle book for solo play when your companion falls asleep.

07. Solitaire with a Single Deck

What it is A standard 52-card deck played alone, with games such as Klondike, Spider and Pyramid. A deck takes almost no space and weighs about 3 ounces (85 g).

Why it works A tray table is just big enough for a solitaire layout. It also makes a good solo game when your row has no willing partner.

How to get it Bring a deck with a plastic coating so cards slide and last. Play Klondike on the tray table, and keep a rubber band handy for stray cards. Learn one new variation per flight to stay interested.

08. Gin Rummy for Two

What it is A two-player card game in which players draw and discard to form sets and runs, then race to go out. A game to 100 points usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes.

Why it works The hand is small enough to hold in a narrow seat, and each game builds tension without a lot of table space. It is easy to teach and hard to master.

How to get it Use a plastic-coated deck so the cards survive a flight. Keep score on a paper napkin or the back of a boarding pass. Play a best-of-three match to fill a two-hour flight.

09. Crazy Eights and Other Shedding Games

What it is A fast card game in which players match the suit or number of the top card, and eights are wild. It plays with two to five people using a single deck.

Why it works Rounds are short, so late arrivals and interrupted turns do not ruin a game. Children learn it in a few minutes, while adults still find it fun.

How to get it Teach the wild-card rule first, because it is the one new idea. Play in the row so the cards stay low and out of the aisle. Add house rules, such as a skip for a seven, for a second round.

10. Sudoku Puzzle Book

What it is A grid puzzle in which you fill a 9 by 9 square with digits so each row, column and 3 by 3 box holds 1 to 9 once. Puzzle books come in easy, medium and hard grades.

Why it works The puzzle needs only a pencil, and every grid is different. It is quiet, absorbing and has a built-in sense of progress.

How to get it Pack a pencil with an eraser, since mistakes are certain at altitude. Pick a book one level below your best so you finish most grids. Bring a second book in case the first one runs out.

11. Crossword Puzzle Book

What it is A word puzzle in which you solve clues to fill a crossword grid. Travel puzzle books are about 5 by 8 inches (13 by 20 cm) and hold 100 or more grids.

Why it works A crossword gives you a reason to think about something other than the flight. It also pairs well with a travel companion who knows different trivia.

How to get it Pick a book with a few gentle early grids so you build momentum. Work on it with the seat neighbor in your own party, trading clues you cannot solve. Carry a pen and pencil for the days you feel confident.

12. Word Search Book

What it is A puzzle in which you find hidden words in a grid of letters. Travel books come with themes such as geography, animals and travel.

Why it works It is the gentlest game on the list, with no losing and no rush. It suits tired travelers and kids who can read.

How to get it Choose a large-print edition if you will be solving in dim light. Pick an aviation or travel theme to match the trip. Circle words in pencil so you can reuse the page.

13. Window Landmark Bingo

What it is A spotting game adapted for flying. Players tick off sights from the window, such as rivers, highways, wind farms, patchwork fields and islands. A printed sheet holds 25 squares.

Why it works It turns the window seat from a view into a quest. People who say they are bored often play for the whole descent.

How to get it Make a bingo card at home with 25 things you might see, adding clouds, contrails and cities. Give the window seat the job of calling sights and share the view when the plane banks. Play on takeoff and landing, when the ground is closest and clearest.

14. Cloud Shape Guessing

What it is A game for the window seat in which players take turns naming what a cloud looks like, and the others vote on the best answer. It needs no equipment.

Why it works Flying above the clouds gives you shapes you never see from the ground. It is calm, creative and a good fit for children.

How to get it Take turns naming a cloud and let the group vote on a winner. Award a point for the most creative guess. Look for tall towering clouds, since they hold the most shapes.

15. Would You Rather

What it is A conversation game in which one player poses two odd choices and the others must pick one and defend it. It needs nothing but people.

Why it works The questions open up real conversation, and nothing takes a long time. It works for any age mix.

How to get it Prepare 10 questions before you leave, since coming up with them in the moment slows the game. Use travel questions, such as window or aisle, for a theme. Keep the volume low so nearby passengers can rest.

16. Two Truths and a Lie

What it is A storytelling game in which each player says three statements about themselves, two true and one false, and the others guess the lie. It needs only a group.

Why it works It is a good way to learn about a new travel group or an old friend. Surprising answers keep each round fresh.

How to get it Give each player a turn, and keep a tally of correct guesses. Choose true facts that are a bit odd, since plain ones make the lie obvious. Add a theme, such as travel stories only, for a harder round.

17. Story Chain

What it is A shared storytelling game in which each player adds one sentence to a story that builds as the turns pass. It needs no equipment.

Why it works The story gets sillier with every turn, which is the whole fun. It keeps younger passengers engaged without a screen.

How to get it Start with a prompt, such as a plane that lands in the wrong country. Limit each turn to one sentence so everyone gets a go. Record the finished story in a notebook as a keepsake.

18. Fill-in-the-Blank Stories

What it is A word game in which one player asks for words, such as nouns and verbs, and fills them into a story template without showing the story. Pads of 100 stories cost very little and are the size of a paperback.

Why it works The finished story is almost always funny, and reading it aloud makes the row laugh. It is an easy way to engage a quiet traveler.

How to get it Pack a pad that suits your group’s age. Read the finished story slowly for the best effect. Make your own blank story at home if you want an aviation theme.

19. Name That Tune

What it is A music game in which one player hums or plays a few notes of a song and the others guess it. You can also play a clip from a downloaded playlist with one earbud each.

Why it works Music memory is shared even among strangers, which makes it a great mixed-age game. Rounds are short and loud only in your head.

How to get it Share one earbud each to keep the sound private. Pre-load a playlist from different decades. Set a rule that guesses come in whispers.

20. Offline Phone Puzzle Games

What it is Games installed on a phone or tablet that run without a connection, such as word puzzles, builders and logic games. Most are free, and many weigh under 200 MB.

Why it works Offline games are the easiest option when you want to switch off. Many run for hundreds of levels, which outlasts any flight.

How to get it Install and open each game once at home so any updates and logins finish. Check that the game works in airplane mode before you board. Bring a battery pack, since games drain a phone faster than video.

21. Handheld Console Gaming

What it is A dedicated handheld console, or a tablet with a controller, loaded with downloaded games. Modern handhelds last 3 to 8 hours per charge.

Why it works Console games offer longer, deeper play than most phone games, and the controls are better for long sessions. The game saves progress, so you can stop when you land.

How to get it Download your games before you pack, and charge the console fully. Bring a short USB cable for the seat outlet. Use headphones and check that the volume is not loud enough for the row.

22. Seatback Screen Games

What it is Games built into the seatback entertainment screen, including trivia, card games, chess and arcade games. Many airlines also offer two-player modes between neighboring seats.

Why it works They require nothing from your own device, which saves battery. Some even let two seats play each other on the same flight.

How to get it Look in the Games menu of the entertainment system once you are in the air. Try the two-player trivia first, since it suits a travel pair. Switch on headphones if the game has sound.

23. Magnetic Travel Bingo

What it is A set of bingo cards with magnetic chips and a draw bag, built for car and plane trips. The cards show road and travel pictures instead of numbers, and a set holds four to six boards.

Why it works The magnetic chips do not slide off the card in turbulence. Bingo is easy for children and calming for adults.

How to get it Look for sets labeled for travel and made of metal or thick card. Check the card pictures match what you can see in flight. Bring a small pouch to keep the chips together.

24. Pass-the-Pad Drawing Game

What it is A drawing game in which players draw a quick sketch from a prompt, then pass the pad on so the next player guesses the prompt. Pictionary rules work in a pad and a pen.

Why it works Silly drawings make everyone laugh, even those who say they cannot draw. The whole game fits into a notebook and a pen.

How to get it Write prompts on slips of paper at home and keep them in an envelope. Set a 30-second limit per drawing. Choose an aviation theme for one round, such as a plane, a runway or a pilot hat.

25. Aviation Trivia Cards

What it is A deck of question cards covering planes, airports, flight and geography. Travel sets run about 100 cards and fit in a jacket pocket.

Why it works Trivia suits a group of any size, and it makes the flight itself the topic. You may learn why the wing flexes, or how fast you are going.

How to get it Use a general travel trivia deck if your group is mixed. Take turns reading questions aloud at a low volume. Keep score on a napkin and award a small prize at landing.