Tabletop games are a great way to interact with others, something that is especially important during social distancing. While you and your friends may not be able to meet face-to-face right now, that doesn't mean you can't get together to play the games you love (or try something new).
There are plenty of online tools and resources to host games to play with new people and old friends alike. A surprising number of tabletop and board games are actually available online, and there are even options for those who enjoy RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.
Zoom
If you’ve been teleconferencing from home, there’s a good chance you already have this installed. If not, don’t worry -- it’s free. Zoom lets users set up or join a video chat with groups. If you don’t have a webcam or laptop, you can use your phone. The video quality is dependent on your internet and camera used, so no need for premium upgrades.
Zoom is a versatile program that even features the option to add your own virtual background to your video. This does require that you have a solid background color set up behind you, so those with patterns on their walls can try using a sheet. If you’re playing D&D or other tabletop RPGs, these customizable backgrounds can help you set an atmosphere for a campaign.
Skype
Skype generally comes bundled with Windows now, but it can be installed on iOS too. Like Zoom, it offers group video calls as long as you have a webcam or smartphone, and the quality is dependent on your internet and camera. Since Microsoft has been adding cross-platform functionality, Skype can grab your contacts for you, meaning you won't need to re-add all your friends. It doesn’t have an option to change your background, but it can blur it if you'd prefer to keep some things private.
You can use either of these tools to set up D&D or certain board games. Not all games will work with this method though, especially those that rely on cards or other physical pieces that not everyone has. After all, it would be difficult to show only one person their hand if everyone is on the call. But less secretive board games, like Escape Room: The Game or Eldritch Horror, work well online. Just make sure everyone can see the board.
Tabletopia
If you would rather just play a tabletop game online with friends than attempt to set the real thing up or just don’t have a specific game, this is a great option. Tabletopia has a wide selection of card, board, and tabletop games for you and your friends to enjoy. It can be played in browser, through Steam, or even on your phone.
Some features will require you to pay for a subscription. While many basic campaigns or versions of games can be played for free. If you want more campaigns or specific games, you'll want to go premium. But, on the upside, only the person hosting needs to be a subscriber, as they'll be able to invite non-premium members to their games. This means, if you have a specific group you're planning to play with, you can all go in on one subscription and split the costs. You'll also want to go into this with a party, as there's not much matchmaking.
Board Game Arena
Similar to Tabletopia, Board Game Arena allows you to play various games online with friends or strangers via web browser on any device. Unlike Tabletopia, it’s mostly free. There is a premium option which unlocks certain games, gets you into open matches faster, and allows the use of its voice chat, but you could always use another program like Discord for chat and access games you and your friends can play privately.
These games also come in a variety of languages, so you can practice social distancing with people around the globe. There are even ranked games for when you get really good and want to test your skills.
Tabletop Simulator
If you’re looking for something a little more hands-on, this is as good as it gets. Tabletop Simulator originally released on Steam in 2015, and it continues to receive updates even now. The base game comes with games like checkers and cards, but it features endless customization options and a thriving mod community. You can find fan made versions of real games from Life to a COVID-19 version of Pandemic. There are even puzzles.
Tabletop Simulator doesn’t stop there, as it also provides 3D miniatures and pieces, allowing you to host your Warhammer or Pathfinder campaigns online. The community provides a ton of options, but if you or a friend are skilled with Blender or 3D modeling, then you can make your own to upload to the game. All pieces in the simulation can be interacted with to move your own character or roll a virtual die. Tabletop Simulator really does it all and provides up to 10 player support for games. The only downside is everyone has to buy a copy.