
- BGG rank
- BGG #417
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Let's Go! To Japan
1–4 players45–60 min2024

Rules assistance for Backpacker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Backpacker is a board game released in 2004 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up.
Travel the continents of the world taking photos in different countries. To win you must outwit your opponents to be the player who has returned home with the most photos. Like real traveling, you will constantly be faced with choices, so you'll need to play the right card at the right time. Visit one or many continents, enjoy bonus events, get good and bad advice, avoid getting sick or missing your plane. You may even be forced to change your plans or seek assistance from your fellow backpackers. You'll need careful planning, patience and a bit of luck to win. Things don't always run smoothly when backpacking and you will have to cope with problems, delays and events, some of which may be caused by other travelers.
Backpacker supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Backpacker is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Backpacker for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Backpacker has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Backpacker belongs to these categories: Card Game and Travel. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Backpacker and want something comparable for your next game night.
The catalogue lists Backpacker as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.