Secret Tip for Roadtrips: Pack a great tabletop game, like Travel Bug, for those quiet moments to unwind on the road.
Secret Tip for When You’re Not on a Roadtrip: Play a great tabletop game, like Travel Bug, to keep the need to travel at bay. At least for a short period. Probably long enough for two (2) games. Maybe.
Travel Bug is a relatively new game (2021) designed to give you a taste of travel in Australia. And it works, to the point where I’m thinking of sending a few copies to minions overseas so they can finally grasp how expansive Australia is. The game comes with a giant playmat as a map of Australia. Big. And then you need space on the side for cards, some of which are ‘souvenirs’ found throughout Australia. It means you then spend 15 minutes ‘ooh-ing’ and ‘ahh-ing’ over the gorgeous imagery of this amazing country. The hardest part of the game is figuring out what transport you need to travel across the immense land. All of this while avoiding bushfires, snakebites, cyclones, and crocs. It’s like every road trip I have ever done, and it’s definitely 95% accurate. If you’re looking for a fun family game with a little less stress than a real road trip, this is your thing.
What is Travel Bug: Australian Edition?
A tabletop game that captures the essence of travel in Australia?
Okay, to be fair, travel games are pretty slim on the field already; your best options are often in the Ticket to Ride franchise, and Australia doesn’t feature high there.
Travel Bug is a perfect fit for the requirements. It’s a tabletop game aimed at 2-6 players aged six (6) years and older. It takes about 45 minutes to play on average and requires a large, flat surface for the playmat and additional cards. The gameplay requires a little strategy with a heavy reliance on the luck of the card draw. This adventure game uses a hand management mechanic while you work towards building travel connections between various destinations. There is some element of negotiation, and winning the game can depend greatly on end-game bonuses. However, the strategy is not too heavy, allowing younger players to enjoy active play without being squished out by older competitors.
Players travel around Australia using different types of transport: 4WD, Plane, Cruise Ship, or Trains. It is good to note here that some towns do not allow certain forms of transport, so a little forward-thinking is required. As you travel around Australia, you can collect souvenirs and score points for the diversity in your collection. There are also various points for the length of your trip. Finally, there is also interference in the form of ‘bad luck’, such as a traveller’s stomach bug or other Australian hazards.
What’s in the Box?
It’s a long list of items, but most of it comes from the cards, so don’t feel too overwhelmed!
- 1x Fabric playmat game board
- 1x Rule book
- 1x Travel Bug coin
- 12x meeples/pawns (2x six colours)
- 42x round wooden tokens
- 63x souvenir cards – each with individual images
- 10x New South Wales
- 12x Western Australia
- 9x South Australia
- 16x Queensland
- 6x Northern Territory
- 6x Tasmania
- 4x Victoria
- 8x Home Cards (each labelled with one of Australia’s capital cities)
- Try Your Luck Deck
- 8x Collect a Souvenir
- 8x Free Tickets to Cities
- 9x Miss a Turn (Snake, Spider, Croc)
- 1x Miss 2 Turns (Bushfire)
- 4x Return Your Last Souvenir (Flood / Tropical Cyclone)
- Travel Deck
- 36x 4WD
- 18x Train
- 9x Plane
- 24x Ship
- 9x Try Your Luck
- 3x Travel Bug
A quick chat on the game components: The playmat is made of a soft fabric that can be ironed (warm setting) to smooth the creases. Great for when you are at home, but consider rolling the mat rather than folding it when travelling.
The cards are made with thin cardboard with a light gloss finish. They are smaller than the usual card size. The ‘Try Your Luck’ cards and the Souvenirs are around 53mm x 75mm, while the ‘Travel’ cards are 56mm x 89mm. You will struggle to find proper-fitting card sleeves for these. If the game is for home use, you can probably get away with it. However, if the game is travelling with you, I strongly suggest scanning/copying/photographing the cards and keeping a digital copy on file when you need to print replacements.
The meeples and tokens are wood, and it looks like the Travel Bug coin is the only plastic component in the box. Plastic bags will keep the meeples and tokens in the box from sliding around too much, but there’s no actual internal structure for storing the game. It’s an understandable cost consideration but also a missed opportunity when designing the box. I mean, the game will probably look a bit like how I usually pack my bag when travelling. Make of that what you will.
How to Catch the Travel Bug (AKA How to Play)
- Each player draws one card from the Home Deck – this is both your start and end. Place a meeple on your home city and the second meeple on the scoring snake.
- Deal each player four (4) cards from the Travel deck
- If a player has a Travel Bug card, they start.
- If no one has a Travel Bug, the youngest player starts
- If a player has a Try Your Luck card, they use it in their first turn.
- Each turn has four (4) steps
- Exchange cards (optional)
- Travel
- Collect souvenirs
- Pick up two (2) travel cards
- No matter what happens, every turn includes the player drawing two (2) travel cards. This ends their turn.
- Card Exchange: A player can trade travel cards with other players by announcing which card they need and what they offer in return. You can exchange two (2) cards for one (1), or one (1) card for two (2). Exchanges are open for anything you are willing to negotiate.
- Travel: Travel between destinations is detailed on the playmat. Each form of transport will take a different number of days, as indicated by the dots. Travel can include stopovers to break it up. The number of days accrues points, which moves your meeple along the scoring snake. Players can also use a Free Travel card during this step.
- Collect Souvenirs: If you arrive at a destination with a token available, remove the token from the playmat and pick up a souvenir card from the State you are in. This only applies to final destinations in your Travel step, not stopovers.
- Draw two (2) travel cards: If you pick up a Travel Bug card, toss the coin. A lousy travel bug loses five (5) points, and a good travel bug gains five (5) points and an extra turn immediately. Discard the Travel Bug card. If you draw a Travel Bug card AND a Try Your Luck card, play the Travel Bug card first.
- The Try Your Luck cards are random interference with your gameplay, just like real travel.
- When no tokens remain on the map, each player has two (2) more turns to return to their home city or lose seven (7) points.
- The player who picks up the last token receives three (3) extra points. Players with souvenirs from every State/Territory receive six (6) extra points. More points are calculated from the souvenir cards.
- The player with the most points overall WINS.
Did the Travel Bug Bite?
I consider myself a moderately well-travelled Australian; I’ve been to all but two (2) of the States/Territories (not including Norfolk Island, because… well, who includes the extremities?). Generally speaking, I really like this game for its simplicity while still giving a reasonably accurate vibe for travel across Australia. They could have gone a little bigger with the graphics; I mean, where’s the Big Banana? The Big Mango? The Big Peanut? Australian road trips are known for stopping at ridiculous tourist sites with BIG comical themes. There’s not a single Big Anything on this map, and THAT is a travesty.
I loved the mix of mechanics in the gameplay. The Card Exchange step is reminiscent of Settlers of Catan and adds a solid strategic element to the game. The use of Travel cards to move around the map and collect souvenirs reminds me of Ticket to Ride. Adding a random Try Your Luck card helps even the field for younger players who may not be as good at strategic planning (though this could frustrate older players). Best of all, you can start planning your next travel in Australia while you play.
There are a couple of things that bug me about the game, though they are minor. First is Rockhampton. It has a Ship Terminal on the map. Anyone who has been to Rockhampton (or had the misfortune of living there, like myself) will know Rockhampton is land-locked. The closest access to the ocean is a 30-minute drive to Yeppoon or Emu Park. A drive I did as often as possible because otherwise, Rockhampton is unbearable. Canberra is equally cursed, no longer accessible by plane or train (meh. The only people it really impacts are the politicians).
Second, Victoria has the least number of souvenirs, and ACT didn’t even get a look-in. Victoria only has four (4)?! And Tasmania receives six (6)? What is going on?! Victoria is absolutely lovely, with its PAX Aus Convention, Luna Park, PAX Aus, and St Kilda Beach. Did I mention PAX Aus? Okay, I’m a little judgemental, but I think Victoria has been dealt a hard blow. If you agree, let me know on the socials or comment below.
Can Travel Bug Work with Gameschooling?
Absolutely! This is one of the better tabletop games to include specifically for Australian Geography. The map is fairly accurate in presenting the actual landscape of Australia, not just in size but in variation and accessibility. There is a great opportunity here to delve into transport hubs and how our population is spread across the country.
Each souvenir card also gives an insight into Australian elements and how we value them. There are many famous landmarks and our beautiful native flora and fauna. It would have been a tough decision for the developers to choose what to include on this list, but they have included some of the most recognisable, with a few that will have you thinking about a personal visit or two.
Extra points for including interference cards, such as bushfires and cyclones. These are serious considerations when travelling in Australia. Not too long ago, we experienced the Bushfires of 2019/2020. The entire world watched the worst bushfire season in history scar our landscape. Bushfires, cyclones, floods. They don’t care if you are travelling on holiday. I appreciate including these very real interruptions in the gameplay, creating another vital geography aspect.
A final note on the game mechanics: the mix of hand management, negotiation, and a little strategic play is helpful for young gamers to learn essential communication skills. By providing an open approach to the negotiation, kids gain autonomy in identifying what they need to play and decide whether they want to help others. Through hand management, they can also learn how to plan their turns and think ahead with their actions. The random Try Your Luck cards will help build resilience like any travel experience.
Will Travel Bug Settle On Our Shelf?
Oh, this is definitely a keeper! For many travellers like the EG Family, we had fun pointing out various “Been There!” locations in the game. It also prompted some conversations about future travel. It’s easy to be tempted by overseas travel, but Australia has a lot of diversity, beauty, and adventure. This game was a great reminder; for that alone, it will have a place in my heart.
The game suits younger, adventurous players who don’t rely on competitive strategy for entertainment (I’m looking at you, 17-year-old EG Sinister…). In saying that, I can also happily play this game with the spawnlings and enjoy it. A rare winner for younger games, which often leave many parents crying with despair and boredom. This is a great, fun game with quite a bit of replay value for years to come.
Big thanks to Olga Kustova (author) and Belinda Cross (designer), the two Melbournians who provided the review copy of Travel Bug. Wait a minute: They’re from Melbourne, and they STILL gave Victoria only four (4) souvenir cards?! What is going on?!?
Travel Bug can be purchased directly from the official website here for AUD$59.90. EG Mum received a review copy for the purpose of this review. No payments or further incentives were received. All views here are my own.
Score: 4 out of 5 Big Pineapples
(I mean, seriously. How could you not include a single Big Anything?!?)
Categories: Curriculum of Evil Gameschooling
Evil Genius Mum
Evil Genius Mum
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