Board games are one of the oldest forms of entertainment, and they remain as popular today as ever. Whether it's a childhood classic or the latest game from a big publisher, almost everyone can find a board game they'll enjoy sitting down to play with friends. With the advent of the internet, it became possible to play games with people from afar, and board games have fully adapted to the digital space.
A digital board game can reduce the headache of keeping track of dozens of rules, and makes it possible to play with friends near and far from the comfort of home. There are thousands of digital board games to choose from, but some stand a head above the rest.
10 Root Benefits From Letting A Computer Do The Thinking
Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right is a strategy board game about factions of small animals vying for power in a woodland realm. Each faction plays by entirely different rules, though they all are shooting for a similar goal of Victory Points. With each faction having its own unique playstyle, plus many small mechanics and systems interacting, playing Root online is a much smoother experience. Root handles most of the rules for the players, allowing them to focus on strategy.
9 Chess Is An Old Favorite Updated For The Modern Age
One of the oldest games still played today, Chess is a nearly universal favorite. It is the definition of easy to learn but difficult to master, with a relatively low bar to entry but nearly infinite depth. Playing Chess online is a fantastic tool to improve. The best online Chess platforms offer computer-assisted tutoring, evaluating each move as it happens. Puzzles are a great way to learn as well, and finding them online is much easier than sifting through books. Any aspiring grandmasters should pick up an online Chess game today.
8 D&D: Tomb Of Annihilation Looks Even Better On The Screen
The Dungeons and Dragons Adventure System series of board games has a number of installments, including Tomb of Annihilation. These cooperative games pit brave adventurers against vicious enemies using a streamlined version of the 4th edition RPG combat rules. The digital adaptation of Tomb of Annihilation features gorgeously rendered terrain, full animations for all monsters and heroes, and AI-controlled enemies that make the game a much smoother experience.
7 Star Realms Makes The Deck Builder A Dogfight
Star Realms improves on a problem that plagues many deck builders; the lack of interactivity. In Star Realms, players buy cards from a shared center row not to score victory points, but rather to build offenses and defenses to eventually wear down their opponents' life totals before they can do the same.
The online version of Star Realms features fun animations and sound effects for each card, making the game a lot more immersive, and it's free to boot.
6 Ticket To Ride Is A Game For Everyone
Ticket to Ride is one of the best games to pull out for experienced gamers and newcomers to the hobby. TtR is quick to learn and intuitive to play, but even veterans will find themselves having to think several moves ahead to avoid being blocked. The online version stays true to the original's style, electing to not include many flashy animations. Ticket to Ride's big strength lies in the fact that games can be saved and accessed across multiple devices, allowing players to pick up wherever they left off.
5 Magic The Gathering: Arena Makes The Card Game Accessible
The world's largest trading card game launched in earnest in 2019 and has only picked up steam since then. Magic the Gathering: Arena allows players to hop into events at any time without having to wait for their local game store's weekly draft. One of MtGA's biggest strengths is the number of free cards players are able to get their hands on.
New players are given many starter decks, with new ones added regularly for free. A skilled draft player can earn their tournament entry fees back with little trouble, making this an affordable alternative to paper Magic.
4 Splendor Is An Award-Winning Favorite
Splendor has won dozens of awards, and for good reason. This game of gem merchants features an elegant style and simple rules that make it perfect for game night. The digital version of Splendor, available on Steam, offers solo mode as well as the standard multiplayer, with multiple AI players with different strategies and playstyles. The port also features advanced challenges based on historical events that offer a new twist for experienced Splendor players.
3 Galaxy Trucker Is Faced Paced Fun
Humor and desperation combine for a game of high-octane fun in Galaxy Trucker. Players begin the game by constructing their rig in real-time by frantically grabbing tiles from a shared pool and assembling them on a grid, hoping to have something playable by the end.
After building their ships, they must brave the dangers of outer space to make their delivery and get paid. The digital version of Galaxy Trucker features classic gameplay as well as a fully fleshed-out campaign with a surprisingly satisfying story.
2 Evolution Is Educational And Entertaining
Evolution is a blast to play and has even been featured in scientific journals and university classrooms as a way to demonstrate the process of evolution. Players build species with a variety of traits to get them food and keep them safe from predators. The digital version streamlines Evolution by handling most of the bookkeeping while featuring some unique content not found in the paper game. With solo play, pass and play, and campaigns to offer, Evolution is a great addition to any gamer's collection.
1 Codenames Is A Modern Party Classic
The popular party game Codenames has players taking on the role of secret agents passing information to one another via secret codes. Players take turns giving clues to relate words together on a grid, all the while trying to avoid having their team guess the deadly assassin word. A digital version of Codenames can be played online totally free, making a perfect game to turn to for any kind of virtual hang-out. Each player seeing a different screen makes the spymaster's job a lot easier, and the online version even lets players add their own custom words.