Playing games with your family can be one of life’s great pastimes.
And passing time in remote places in nature, many will argue, is the best of all pastimes. However, until now most games were relegated to a deck of cards, and maybe a portable chess board. If you’re bringing a hatchet or axe along, you can add in axe throwing. That was mostly it for family games for a long time.
Now Helinox has flipped that entirely with the release of four new games that pack up small and allow you to bring along for any type of trip, including long hikes with a backpack. The same company that revolutionized the camping chair is now taking another stab at leisure time, but now with a social and competitive focus.
We had a chance to test out their PLAY series while on a trip to Hawaii. While our kids aren’t big enough for all the games (it clearly states the age limit), there were a few that they really had some fun with. We will share more about that, below.
Helinox PLAY: First Impressions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy setup | Pricey |
| Fun for all ages | Limited selection (for now) |
| Lightweight and packable | Might be too basic or too advanced for different kids |
The PLAY series comes with four different options: HeliDisc, StringTrees, YutNori, and HeliDrop. Each game is unique, and comes in a different size.
StringTrees ($60 USD)is the smallest, lightest, and most packable of the lot. It’s basically a game like shuffleboard where you whizz a ring across a taut string that you tie between posts, trees, or any other freestanding vertical object. Scoring is simple – get as close to the end without going over.
HeliDrop ($80 USD) is a classic bean bag toss game, but with tiered levels, having the smallest hole being the most valuable.
HeliDisc ($100 USD) is a target game where you try to knock the other person’s target off with a flying disc. It sounds simple, but it is actually quite hard.
YutNori ($40 USD) is a classic Korean game that involves strategy and can be played on any surface.
All the games speak to different skills, but the common thread is they are best played in groups.
What We Like About Helinox PLAY
The games are easy to set up, and weigh next to nothing in your pack (although HeliDisc is rather bulky). This means you can take these games into some wild places. And for those traveling with small humans, this can mean hours of enjoyment and bonding.
The material is durable and built to last – just like Helinox’s other offerings in the camp furniture space. So we anticipate having these games in the pack for many years to come.
But remote camping isn’t the only use. We’ve taken these games to the park for a picnic, and packing them along isn’t any extra hassle due to the lack of space and weight it occupies in the bag/wagon.
Games for Little Ones
We found StringTrees to be the simplest of the games, and our two year old loves it. She doesn’t exactly play by the rules, but you’d be hard pressed to find a toddler that can stay within the lines at all times. That doesn’t matter, she loves it all the same.
The other game right up her alley is HeliDrop. This is the classic bean bag toss game, but with three levels. As you can guess, the smaller hole gains more points. While scorekeeping isn’t really on the agenda for her, she has enjoyed the coordination required to get it in the hole. She’s even started to take a couple steps backward to challenge herself even further.
Games For Bigger Ones
Two games weren’t really applicable to our small family, but would suit larger kids and adult groups much better.
HeliDisc is like a harder version of disc golf, where you have to hit an opposing target with a flying disc. It’s a lot tougher than it looks. It was the bulkiest of all the PLAY series, So it’s not really one to go backpacking with, but it also is the most challenging, meaning it has staying power.
Yut Nori is the other one, and it’s more of a board game to play on the picnic table. To be totally honest, we didn’t test this one because our kids are too small. But we can update here when we get word from others on how it was.
Who Should Get These Games?
These games are great for anyone who wants to make the most of the outdoor experience and minimize screen time. It allows for a challenge for people of all ages, not just kids. So really, anyone who values a bit of competition outside will like these games. Bonus points if you’re trekking in with a backpack!
So bottom line… these games suit a wide range of groups, not just families. We love the smaller ones and will use the other ones for other family group gatherings. You don’t need to get them all, but one of them will probably speak to you and your family the best.
You can purchase the PLAY series Here (non-affiliate link).
