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Getting a group of people together to play a board game for an evening can be challenging even under the best of circumstances. That’s why the folks who have a regular board gaming group are so lucky. They’ve found a community of like-minded individuals willing to go down the rabbit hole into Cones of Dunshire territory on a regular basis. But the ongoing coronavirus pandemic’s requirements for social distancing don’t mean you have to cancel board game night and risk losing your existing group’s momentum.
While fans of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons have solutions of their own, there are many different options for playing hobby board games online. Here are five of the best around.
When I first tried Tabletopia in 2016 I called it “slick as hell, ” and that assessment has more or less held up. It’s a virtual board gaming platform, accessible through something as simple as a browser window, that allows you to hover over a digital version of your favorite board game like it’s StarCraft. But, instead of moving little space marines and aliens around, you’re moving around 3D-rendered game pieces and stacks of cards.
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Since 2016 the platform has expanded, with dozens of popular titles licensed from their developers and publishers. The basic client is free, while well-regarded games such as
A few caveats, however. Note that you’ll likely want to use something like Discord to handle voice communications. Additionally, you and the other players will still need to know how to play these games properly, as Tabletopia isn’t great at telling you when you’re doing something wrong.
, which has morphed into a bestselling franchise found on the shelves at retailers like Target and Walmart. But he’s also the man behind
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This digital version can be played in real-time or turn-based mode. It also includes a full-fledged single-player campaign, a rarity for digital board games. And it accommodates up to four players locally or online. You can find it on Steam, at GOG.com, on the Apple App Store for iPad and iPhone, and on Google Play.
The painstakingly researched game allows players to effectively retell the ongoing story of modern global conflict from 2001 to the middle of the last decade. Historical events are played by each player at the table from a small hand of cards, in a system that blends the legendary Twilight Struggle with modern counter-insurgency (COIN) gameplay.
Is available as a digital game, and is currently in the Steam Early Access program. The client accommodates two players, either locally or online, and also includes a single-player version of the game, one based on the wild and nearly incomprehensible multipage flowchart that comes bundled with the physical game.
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A final note that if you are thinking of picking up the physical game from somewhere like GMT or on Amazon, be sure to get Labyrinth: The Awakening
Version above, it’s much more full-featured as far as the rules and tutorials go. It plays best with a full table of five, but there’s also a single-player version that you can run against the game’s powerful Automa system.
Should also be on the lookout for Iron Harvest, an upcoming real-time strategy title that draws from the same 1920+ lore created by artist Jakub Rozalski.
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Is another excellent option for board game groups to explore remotely. This version has been developed with the help of the original designer, Jacob Fryxelius. It includes two modes of play, the basic version and the more complex Corporate Era ruleset. There’s also a drafting variant available to mix things up.
The Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit is “the single best introduction” to the fantasy role-playing game we’ve ever seen. The box includes everything you need to start playing D&D, including an introductory rulebook, a DM screen, a set of 11 dice, a handy set of cards for things players need to keep track of (initiative, magic items, etc.), and a brand-new adventure, Board games are social experiences, and they can galvanize groups of people together. But many personal collections, squirreled away inside the coat closets of the average American home, are filled with dated titles that no one wants to play. Luckily there are dozens of fresh options available online.
The last decade has seen an explosion of digital adaptations of excellent tabletop games, including options for mobile devices and modern consoles. Here’s a selection of introductory games that will work well regardless of your audience. Best of all, they all have options for online multiplayer.
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Is a light game that goes great with cocktails. In the fiction you’re trying to win the heart of a young princess, and the art is themed to match with flowing dresses and dapper noblemen. The game skillfully blends strategy and social deduction into a very non-intimidating package. Best of all, it plays very quickly, so it’s easy to get a few rounds in.
Is another extremely social game, but also one that works surprisingly well online. Players take on the role of mediums sent to discover the secrets of a murder inside a mysterious mansion. One player takes on the role of a ghost, sharing cards that represent visions that the mediums all experience at the same time. Using these visual clues alone, players must then solve the case before time runs out.
This version of the game includes online multiplayer of course, but it also has a “pass and play” mode so that you can simulate the experience of the tabletop game itself at home. There’s also a story mode, including solo play with AI partners.
Top 10 Historical Board Games
In today’s trying political climate, we know how difficult it can be during the holidays and stressful situations, like we find ourselves in now. Sometimes the DC and the Marvel fans get into it, and there’s simply no way to calm them down. That’s why we’re recommending
Is a card game based in a comic-book hero universe of its own creation. It’s a tremendously well-regarded system, and the digital version does a great job at introducing new players. It also features pass-and-play as well as split-screen action, and multiplayer even works across platforms.
Is an old game, first published in 1983, known for being ponderously long and at times boring. The latest version of the tabletop game is far superior to the original, and most of its best features are included in
Twelve Board Games You Can Play With Friends Virtually
Is a also among the most robust. While it might look like a game about railway barons at the turn of the last century, it’s actually about taking trips across the United States. There are also additional expansions that change the setting to Europe, Switzerland, Asia, India, and more.
Is a truly cross-platform title, allowing people to play together on many different devices. The game is available on the Apple App Store, Steam, Google Play, Xbox Live (where it’s available via Game Pass), and for the Amazon Kindle Fire. There’s also a web version. You can also play against — and with — your Alexa device.Tabletop games have made a furious comeback in recent years, so we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best online board games on PC. Getting a group of pals around a table is a great way to spend an evening, and with many physical board games making their way into the virtual realm, you can get some cracking digital PC versions of your physical favourites.
We all love the physical quality of board games, but there are lots of reasons why digital board games are sometimes better. First of all, you don’t have to spend ages setting it all up, everything is already set for you - meeples, tokens, dice, and all. Another benefit is the price. Dropping a bunch of cash on a board game you’re not sure you'll like will make your wallet cry, so digital games are a great way to play for cheap but also a way of testing the waters. After all, you can always buy the physical copy later on.
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We’ve tried to be as diverse as possible with our list, but you might find that your own favourite board game isn't in the final 10, which of course means that it was number 11. Why not head to the comments to give an impassioned speech in its favour? You might convert some readers to your team, and muster enough to break down the door of the treehouse and force us to include it when we update the list.
What else should I be playing: Deck builders are now an established favourite in PC gaming, so if the grandaddy of them all doesn't tickle your fancy then check out Hearthstone or Slay The Spire for starters.
Magic: The Gathering is the biggest trading card game in the world. It's been around for decades and taken a few stabs at crossing over to the digital world in that time, but it was only with 2019's Magic: The Gathering Arena that it felt like it really hit its stride on PC. Arena is the same MTG you know from the tabletop, but translated into a fast-flowing, visually impressive app that sees it step up to the