Matthew BaileyFor game 4 of our travel games log, we’re taking a look at “Trailblazers: Travel Edition”. Produced by Bitewing Games and more recently distributed by Allplay.
Played here with Jack(9) and Toby(6).
First off, to clear up any confusion, there are actually four versions of “Trailblazers” that you can buy. There’s the standard and deluxe tabletop versions, which come in a “Carcassonne”-sized box. There’s also a “Pocket” version, which is incredibly small and literally does fit inside your pocket. But today, we’re focusing on the “Travel Edition”, which sits nicely in the middle. It still includes all the components, and everything fits snugly into a hard case with a carabiner that clips perfectly onto a rucksack.
Some of the game modes differ across these versions, but just to be clear—I’ve only played this “Travel Edition”, so I can’t comment on the others. However, if you’re looking for a more home-based, tile-laying experience rather than something purely for travel, everything in this review should still hold up—apart from the travel-specific comments, of course.
The game is played over four rounds, where players select and arrange trails on their own play areas. Each card features one long route and two shorter routes of three possible trail types—hiking, biking, and kayaking.
At the start of the first round, players choose which camp to place first and then lay two trail cards to kick things off. You then pass your hand to the player on your left or right (depending on the round), meaning you’re drafting tiles and won’t always get what you expect. This drafting element really changes the dynamics—especially with more players. I played the game with Jack and then again with Jack and Toby to get a feel for different player counts.
When laying your tiles, you can place them orthogonally next to others or overlap tiles to try and extend and improve your trails.
The goal is to create a looped trail that starts and ends at the same camp, matching the trail type (and colour) to the camp. At the end of the round, you’ll score points based on how many tiles your completed loop covers. But there’s a risk—if you make an ambitious loop and don’t finish it, you score nothing for that trail.
As the rounds progress, you’ll place more camps, eventually having three on the board. In the fourth round, you play with whatever tiles you have left—no more drafting.
In addition to scoring points for your completed loops, there are Goal Cards that give you extra opportunities to earn points. There are two types of goal cards. In-game goals reward players for being the first, second, or third to achieve specific objectives, like being the first to complete four trails of a certain type. End-game goals reward the player who achieves something the most by the end of the game, like having the longest kayaking trail.
Once all four rounds are complete, you add up points from your completed loops and goal cards. The player with the highest total wins.
This “Travel Edition” also includes an Animal Expansion, which adds another layer of strategy. When you play a tile featuring an animal, you can place an animal token on that trail. At the end of the game, you score extra points based on the number of unique animals along your completed loops. This naturally encourages players to go for longer, riskier loops to maximise points.
It’s no secret that here at Little Board Gamers, I’m a massive fan of tile-laying games, and “Trailblazers: Travel Edition” was no exception. I loved the tile placement mechanics—especially the ability to overlap tiles to fix or extend your trails. The drafting element was a refreshing twist that’s not often seen in tile-laying games and added a lot of tension and fun.
The Animal Expansion is a fantastic addition and, in my opinion, should be included right from your first game. It adds more depth without complicating things too much.
In terms of components, the “Travel Edition” is an incredibly high-quality package. The tiles and tokens feel durable without being too bulky, and the hard case with a carabiner is perfect for taking the game on the go. I’d have no hesitation clipping it to a rucksack for a hike or trip.
One thing to keep in mind: while this is a travel game in terms of portability, it does require a fair amount of table space to play. It’s great for a hotel room or a big table at a campsite, but it’s not the kind of game you can comfortably play on a train or plane tray table.
At around $25 (or your regional equivalent), this version offers great value. If you’re only planning to play at home, the standard or deluxe versions might be worth a look due to the upgraded components, but for a game that’s genuinely portable and still offers the full “Trailblazers” experience, the “Travel Edition” hits the sweet spot.
Overall, we absolutely adored “Trailblazers: Travel Edition”. It’s become one of our favourite tile-laying games and both boys really enjoy the simple yet engaging gameplay.
Don’t worry this week isn’t all positive but this one is a definite banker.
