In an ideal world, we’d always be able to sit down around the table with our friends and family to play the games we love. For various reasons, that’s not always the case, but thankfully we have the technology to play all kinds of different games from anywhere, with anyone! From card games to classic board games and tabletop roleplaying games, there are ways to play almost any type of game online. With an internet connection and one of these options, game night is only a Zoom call away!
Quick Links
Play Card Games Online
Missing your Bridge club or need to settle a long-running Cribbage rivalry? Good news – there are some fantastic sites out there to allow you to play card games with a friend (or even match you with a stranger, if you’d prefer).
Cardgames.io offers a wide array of pre-set games like Rummy, Switch, Whist, Euchre, War and so many more! Easy to jump into with almost no prep needed, just choose the ‘Multiplayer’ option at the top and find others to play with online.
If you’re looking to play a less-common game, Playingcards.io is the space for you! Highly customizable, playing games on this site requires a little setup but will provide you with the basic tools and pieces you need to play any card game you can think of.
Play Classic Board Games Online
To play many classic board games online, we need look no further than your mobile device app store. Almost every popular, classic game has an app version now. Here are just a few of the classics you can play right on your phone or tablet:
- Monopoly
- Scrabble
- Risk
- Scattergories
- Life
- Clue
- Settlers of Catan
- Battleship
These all have excellent iOS versions that can be played on your iPhone or iPad! Some cost just a few bucks, but many also offer free-to-play versions as well. And hey, even a couple bucks is a fraction of what you’d pay in the store for the actual game!
Paying less for a game that will never get scuffed up or lose pieces, AND that you can play with your friends all around the world, whenever you want? Now, that’s not such a bad deal after all.
Play Modern Board Games Online
More and more, modern board games are creating online versions that live in tandem with their more traditional, boxed versions.
Codenames offers an excellent, free-to-play version that anyone can access from their browser.
Dominion also has a great online version, although they do require a subscription.
Cards Against Humanity doesn’t have an official online version, but does have an unofficial clone at Pretend You’re Xyzzy that’s much beloved.
Skribbl.io is an excellent Pictionary dupe, guaranteed to get everyone laughing.
Catan fans should definitely check out Colonist, the free online clone offering tournaments and the ability to hone your skills against bots!
If you’re looking for more indie games, like what you could find in a game shop or board game cafe, Tabletopia is an excellent option, as well as Board Game Arena and Boite a Jeux. These might not be the best if you’re looking to play a specific game, but they’re excellent for adventurous players who want to try something new!
Play TTRPGs Online
How could we talk about tabletop games without talking about tabletop roleplaying games? Never worry about having to split the party again – at least in real life – with these excellent options that allow you to take your weekly Dungeons & Dragons (or other TTRPG) game online.
Roll20.net is an incredible resource with support for almost any system you can imagine – and the ability to create your own custom character sheets, and resources for any system that’s not already supported, if you spring for their paid tier.
Shard Tabletop is a newer player in the virtual tabletop game, but already with a following of dedicated users – and with great reason. Their interface is intuitive and they have excellent support for game creators as well.
And of course, we can’t talk about virtual tabletop software without talking about the much beloved Fantasy Grounds. It’s not free to play, but offers gamers a HUGE amount of officially licensed content from 20+ different game systems, all pre-loaded and ready to play.
With so many great options, you no longer need a Level 6 Wizard with the Teleport spell in order to get your whole group together and rolling dice again.
Round up of the best online board games
- Cardgames.io: Checkers, Chess, Crazy 8’s, Cribbage, Euchre, Gin Rummy, Go Fish, Hearts, War, Whist
- Playingcards.io: Custom card games
- Tabletopia: Wingspan, Cartographers, Carcassonne, Pandemic, Scythe, Terra Mystica
- Colonist.io: Catan dupe
- Skribbl.io: Pictionary dupe
- Pretend You’re Xyzzy: Cards Against Humanity dupe
- Dominion.games: Dominion
- Codenames.game: Codenames
- Board Game Arena: Carcassonne, 7 Wonders Duel, Terra Mystica, Incan Gold, Marrakech
- Boite a Jeux: Concordia, Exxit, Romans Go Home!
Don’t let distance put your game nights on pause!
We may not be able to get everyone around the same table, but these online versions of your favorite games mean folks can still play together, no matter where they’re signing on from. Whether you’re socially distancing through the pandemic, or reconnecting with old school friends who have all ended up in different cities, online board games are a great way to mix up your happy hours or usual catch-up phone calls. Play a tried-and-true classic, or branch out and try something new! It’s only a click away.
