Best games: Long Flight

Cooperative and compact card games work best for flights because they require minimal table space, keep both players engaged equally, and won't frustrate you if turbulence interrupts your turn.

The ideal travel game has three qualities: quick setup that doesn't involve unfolding a board, a play time under 45 minutes so you can finish before landing, and rules simple enough that you won't need to consult the manual mid-flight. Games that reward silence or quiet conversation fit airline cabins better than ones demanding celebration or groaning.

Sky Team excels here with its two-player focus and intuitive communication system that works within seat-belt constraints. The Crew: Mission Deep Sea delivers similar cooperative tension in a smaller footprint. If you want something faster and less demanding, Hanabi offers elegant puzzle-solving in 20 minutes, while Patchwork lets you play a satisfying game without speaking at all.

Avoid games with small tokens you might lose in the aisle or ones requiring constant reference to a rulebook, since retrieving either mid-flight defeats the purpose of having entertainment.