Paths Crossing Review: The Card Game Inspiring Ethical Travel

Do you ever find that, when connecting with other travelers around the world, the conversation sometimes struggles to move beyond the surface level? I’ve had countless interactions in hostels with other backpackers, in which we run through the typical traveler chitchat (“where are you from?”, “how long will you be traveling?”, “where are you heading next?”), but I often find myself craving something deeper. When I travel, and particularly when I’m interacting with other tourists who share my wanderlust, curiosity, and awe of the world, I love having thoughtful discussions about the tourist experience, and the ways that we can travel better. To that end, I’m so happy to share with you a travel-focused card game, Paths Crossing, that is all about connecting travelers through deep and meaningful conversation about the travel sphere. It is meant to help travelers forge connections while also teaching about ethical and sustainable travel, prompting its players to answer travel trivia, share their travel experiences, and reflect on the deeper implications of travel. Read on for my review of this creative and thoughtful game!

Disclosure: I was generously gifted a copy of Paths Crossing in exchange for my complete and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Note: this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What is Paths Crossing?

Paths Crossing is a card game meant to connect travelers while inspiring ethical and conscious travel. Dubbed “a card game made for travelers by travelers”, it’s a unique way to spark conversation between folks who you meet in the world, while urging its players to think more deeply about the impacts and implications of travel.

The game itself is small, containing 230 cards that are about 2 inches by 2 inches in size. The cards are printed on recycled paper, and the game comes in sustainable packaging. In addition to a few cards describing the brand and the instructions, game play cards consist of five different categories: Ethics & Sustainability, Countries & Cultures, Habits & Preferences, Experiences & Encounters, and Action cards. Each card contains one question or prompt to be answered.

In addition to the game itself being particularly conscious about deeper issues in travel, the brand as a whole adheres to a social good philosophy by donating a portion of its proceeds to various nonprofits, including Love Without Borders, which supports refugees through art, and FLYTE, which empowers youth in underserved communities through travel.

How to play Paths Crossing

Playing Paths Crossing is very simple. All you need to play is at least one other person (though the more the merrier!) and a willingness to dialogue about your travel experiences and thoughts on the travel sphere.

In order to play Paths Crossing, the cards can be arranged into separate piles and players can chose by category, or the cards can be shuffled together to randomize the game. From there, game play is relatively straightforward. Participants go around one-by-one selecting one card from any pile, reading the prompt to the group, and proceeding to answer the question or respond to the prompt. Many of the cards encourage dialogue, and anyone can chime in with answers to the questions.

Some of the cards are more serious, posing questions related to issues of human rights, sustainability, and cultural sensitivity in travel (“Should you visit countries with severe human rights violations, or should you boycott them?” or “Name three countries where you should refrain from public displays of affection”). Others are sillier, prompting players to share embarrassing travel stories or act out prompts (“Sing a song in your own language”). There are also many questions related to facts about different cultures and destinations around the world, so it’s a great way to brush up on your geography and travel trivia skills.

Two of the categories of questions, Countries & Cultures and Ethics & Sustainability, pose questions that have definitive answers. These cards all have small QR codes in the bottom corner of the card, which you can scan using any QR code reader app. After mulling over these questions with the other players, simply scan the QR code to be directed to the correct answer. Also note that the QR code answers are kept up-to-date to reflect any answers that change over time. The questions and prompts in the three other categories are more open-ended without necessarily one right answer, so the remaining cards don’t utilize the QR code system.

Paths Crossing isn’t a traditional game that utilizes a point system, though if you really wanted to add a competitive edge you could apply a point system to the cards with QR codes. Generally though, Paths Crossing is a relaxed game in which the primary focus is connection and dialogue, not winning. Game play can be as long or as short as you want it to be, and it can be played by any number of people.

My review of Paths Crossing travel card game

I think that Paths Crossing is a simple but beautiful concept, and I wholly appreciate the intent of the game to inspire conversation around deeper issues in travel. Here at In Locamotion, I adhere to certain values of ethical, sustainable, culturally immersive, and low-impact travel, and accordingly I appreciate the intent of the game to raise awareness around the intersecting issues present in the travel sphere, serving simultaneously as a source of education and diversion.

There is a ton that I love and appreciate about the game:

• The content overall is incredibly thoughtful, acknowledging that there are many intersecting social, economic, and environmental issues in travel, and seeking to educate travelers about these issues.
• I really appreciate the fact that the game is also centered on forging connections, which is important for everyone but can be an especially great resource for more introverted travelers.
• The game and its packaging is beautifully designed, and with the exception of some plastic around the box, everything is made from eco-friendly materials.
• It’s compact, designed to be small enough to fit in your carry-on bag, and it can be made even smaller if you carry the cards in a pouch as opposed to the original box, making it very easy to travel with.
• The QR code system is very creative and means that you can learn plenty of information about different cultures and places around the globe while playing – just make sure you have access to WiFi during the game.
• I like that the conversation-based, non-competitive nature of the game means that anyone can join in at any time, meaning that interested passersby in your hostel can jump in mid-game!
• I believe that the combination of the thoughtfulness of the game’s design, the importance of its content, and the charitable function of the company makes Paths Crossing overall a worthwhile investment.

What I dislike about the game:

• Not much, honestly! Though I will point out one thing that is slightly confusing about it. At the bottom of each card is the name of a different country: this is a design feature of the game and doesn’t pertain to the answer of the question or prompt on the card. While listing the countries at the bottom of the cards is thoughtful and creative (“You can ask a player to draw the national flag, name a landmark or a famous dish from that destination”), it’s a slightly confusing aspect of the design that will need to be explained to anyone who joins in.
• Not a dislike, but note that if you don’t have access to WiFi during game play, then you won’t be able to get the answers to the questions with QR codes.

My recommendation

I wholly recommend Paths Crossing for travelers, as it is easy to carry around and play, a great way to connect with other travelers who you meet while off adventuring, and it’s a simple yet potent concept that educates its participants on ethical, sustainable, and conscious travel. It’s a great social facilitator for travelers who stay in hostels, backpackers on long bus or train rides, anyone participating in a travel-focused meetup, and more. I really enjoy playing Paths Crossing, and I look forward to bringing it with me on my upcoming travels!

How to purchase Paths Crossing

Paths Crossing is available on Etsy! It is available for purchase throughout the world, though note that the company is based in the United States, so sales outside of the U.S. will result in international shipping costs. However, folks based in Hong Kong may be eligible for free shipping by directly emailing the company.

Also, if you like the game then be sure to check out the other sustainable travel items in the Paths Crossing Etsy shop, such as this pack of travel quotes/contact cards to give out to people you meet on your travels, this waterproof pouch for wet umbrellas, and these “compassion bracelets” made by refugees in Greece from upcycled lifejackets.

For more information about the game and its mission, please see the Paths Crossing website.

How do you break the ice with people you meet while traveling? Have you forged any lasting friendships with people you’ve met on the road? What’s your favorite game to play during travel? Let me know in the comments below!

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