Gaming and traveling are unequivocally two of the best things in the world. If you happen to be both a gamer and someone who travels frequently, you need a special kind of planning and forethought. After all, traveling is no excuse for you to give up on your favorite activity!

Since playing in a plane or at an airport terminal is not the same as playing on your comfy couch, you need to put advance planning and thought into packing for your trip. In this post by ExAbsentia we talk about some simple tips that will make your life as a gamer a lot easier on-the-go: 

Invest in the Right Device

First things first! Let’s talk about the devices that are primed for on-the-go gaming. While a smartphone may seem like an obvious choice – you can always up the ante. You can invest in dedicated gaming devices that work beautifully during travel. To that end, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS are both good choices. There’s also always the option to invest in a gaming laptop that comes with VR/MR hardware for an even better gaming experience.

Invest in a Portable Battery Pack 

A charger is something you would never want to forget as a gamer while traveling. It’s clearly the most crucial gaming accessory. However, sometimes a charger is not enough. A portable battery pack is a second close to the real thing and just as useful an accessory for gamers.

You cannot rely on your primary charger because gaming is a battery-intensive task. On top of that, finding a charging outlet and a comfortable seat to sit and charge can be a real pain. Even if you can find one such outlet, it’s not always the most reliable thing. With a high-capacity portable battery pack, you will never have to worry about running out of battery or having to recharge it over and over.

Invest in a Quality Headphone and Always Carry Back-ups

You would, of course, want to bring quality earbuds or headphones not just for yourself but for your fellow travelers as well. Not only is it rude to turn the volume up when traveling with others, but it’s always a better experience to game with the earphones on. 

The market is full of great options for both wired and wireless headphones and earplugs. But, other than investing in quality earphones, you should also bring along a second cheaper (but solid) option; should anything happen to the first pair.

Pick the Right Games

You read that right! There is such a thing as the right games for when you’re traveling. Your choice of gaming should depend first of all, on the smartphone or the laptop specification and hardware you’ll be carrying.

But, other than that, you should also think about picking the games that you can play without the internet. Although many flights and airports will have free Wi-fi these days, they are usually not reliable. They are also not good for intensive tasks such as gaming. Your best bet is to pick the games that can run fast without a network connection.

Other than that, you should also think about the type/nature of games to play on the go. 

Ideally, go for something quick and easy that you can play at any time. Avoid games that have a lot of dialogues, cutscenes, and are too story-intensive. Being constantly on the move means too many interruptions are likely to happen. 

Do not forget a Carrying Case

It’s an absolute must to bring a carrying case with you especially when you have a dedicated gaming device such as Nintendo Switch or 3DS. The beauty of dedicated carrying cases is that they have dedicated slots for keeping the additional games and chargers too.

If you’re carrying a gaming laptop, do not forget to invest in a dedicated laptop sleeve or a bag. You can also buy a backpack that comes with a slot for laptop. You can check out the Timbuk2 Collective pack. You can also buy a messenger bag designed for travel needs such as Command TSA-Friendly Messenger from Timbuk2.

The best thing about a Messenger bag is you can leave it at the airport security which will keep your hardware safe and sound as you’re moving through the airport and making your way to the plane.

But, beware! Do not overpack your suitcase or backpack. Avoid overstuffing to avoid accident tears and damages.

Bring a Cleaning Cloth With You

Let’s face it – you’re bound to get fingerprints and smudges all over your device if you’re not careful enough. On top of that constant traveling can collect a lot of dust and random debris on your gear. Therefore, it’s always a wise decision to invest in a quality microfiber cleaning cloth to remove dust, debris, and marks without the fear of damaging the screen. Do not use your shirt’s sleeve to wipe it clean. Always do it the right way to keep the screen clear which will add to the overall gaming experience.

In Conclusion

There’s no reason that frequent traveling should come in the way of gaming. With the right preparation and forethought you can enjoy a seamless gaming experience no matter where you are!