[At-Home Time] A roundup of board games you can play online
When you want to play with friends who live far away over the internet, it’s easy to default to PC games—but don’t forget, there’s always the option of board games.
In this article, we’re introducing lots of board games you can play online that are sure to get everyone excited.
Some are picks from video game titles, and others don’t require any apps or special gear—you can play them using only things you already have in your room right now!
It’s a super modern way to have fun, made possible precisely because video calls have become the norm.
- Special Feature: Games You Can Play Online [Board Games & Party Games]
- Perfect for killing time! A roundup of games for three people to enjoy
- [Online] Recreation Games to Liven Up Your Zoom Sessions
- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
- A party game that gets everyone excited at home. A fun recreational game.
- Recommended for couples and married partners! A roundup of board games for two
- Have Fun with Your Kids! A Roundup of Board Games Recommended for Parents and Children
- Games to liven up remote drinking parties. You can play even when you're far apart!
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- Kill time while waiting or stuck in traffic! A roundup of games four people can play
- For two players: from games without equipment to tabletop games and apps
- [Rec] A roundup of games that hype up live streams [Board Games]
- [For Elementary School Students] A Collection of Games and Activities You Can Enjoy on Zoom
[Home Time] A roundup of board games you can play online (11–20)
Can’t Stop
It’s a game where you roll four dice, split the results into two pairs to add up, and decide whether to advance your pieces or stop, aiming to reach the goal in any three of the eleven columns.
The more you roll, the higher the risk of failure, but you can’t help thinking, “One more roll will be fine,” and end up rolling anyway… It humorously reveals human greed.
As shown in the video, it’s fun even when you’re meeting for the first time.
Depending on how you play, you might even get a glimpse of each other’s personalities.
codename
Codenames, which won Germany’s prestigious Spiel des Jahres in 2016, is available to play online here.
In Codenames, players split into red and blue teams and try to guess their team’s word cards from a grid of 25 word cards.
Each team has one player who serves as the Spymaster, and the Spymaster knows the color of every card.
Using the clues provided by the Spymaster, teammates deduce and select the correct cards.
Dominion
Dominion is a deck-building board game played around the world.
Nowadays, there’s a smartphone app, and you can also play it on Steam, a site where you can enjoy online games.
As a lord of a nation, your goal is to expand your domain and make it prosperous.
In the game, this domain corresponds to your deck, and when the game ends, the cards in your deck determine your points and the winner.
The fun lies in devising strategies by deciding which cards to add to your deck.
6 nimmt!
This is a German game created by the board game master Wolfgang Kramer.
You line up cards showing cow heads in four rows, and there’s a rule that the player who places the sixth card in a row must take all six cards in that row.
At the end of the game, the player who has collected the fewest cow heads wins.
You can join via a platform that lets you play board games online.
It’s exciting to be able to play with people from around the world, isn’t it?
Sevens (card game)
When it comes to classic card games that get everyone excited with family and friends, Sevens (Shichi-narabe) is a staple.
Chances are, you’ve played it at least once.
This version isn’t just for online drinking parties—it’s also fun as an online game or against the computer.
One of its appeals is that you can play whenever you want without worrying about time or opponents.
Known overseas as Fan Tan, this game also has various rule variations, so if you get tired of the standard Sevens, why not give them a try?
tycoon
One of the classic card games is Daifugō.
Many of you have probably been familiar with it since childhood.
There are plenty of card games, including Daifugō, that you can play online.
Some let you play against AI, but it’s still more fun knowing there’s someone on the other side of the internet.
If you both register as users, you can even play against friends you know.
There are various rule settings as well, so it might be fun to try a version with rules you don’t usually use.
In conclusion
Did you find something that looks fun to play? I’ve rounded up a wide range, from casual picks to deep, full-on experiences.
But to be honest, I haven’t covered everything at all.
So I’ll keep updating this article! Check back again to see if there are any new games!