![[At-Home Time] A roundup of board games you can play online](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/f_Tbv2TOCyI/maxresdefault.webp)
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.
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[At-Home Time] Roundup of Board Games You Can Play Online (1–10)
ito
This game is cooperative, not competitive.
Instead of saying the number you drew, you express its size by comparing it to objects or other things.
Everyone playing does the same.
While interpreting each other’s intentions, you then play your cards in ascending order—that’s the rule.
The goal is to clear the stage three times.
There’s also an alternate rule called “Akaiito,” where you look for your destined partner whose number adds up with yours to make 100.
It’s the kind of game that would be lively to play while chatting during an online hangout with friends—and it might even help you rediscover your friendships.
The “Haa” game
This is a game where you guess the situation in which a phrase is being said, even though the words are the same when written.
When playing in person, players are dealt hands of cards, but for online play you don’t need any.
The facilitator can display the cards on the screen.
Everyone should keep their own score.
You’ll need to perform with emotion, so don’t be shy—go all in! If everyone drops their inhibitions and acts wholeheartedly, it’ll get really exciting.
Insider Game
There is one Master and one Insider, and everyone else is a commoner.
The Insider blends in with the commoners and asks the Master questions to figure out the secret topic.
At the end, everyone discusses and tries to identify who the Insider is.
Even though the Insider knows the answer, they must pretend not to and ask the Master questions, which can be tricky.
It seems like it would be a hit at online drinking parties.
Have a blast enjoying it!
dot box
Dots and Boxes is a game invented in the 19th century by the French mathematician Édouard Lucas.
On a sheet of paper marked only with dots, two or more players draw lines connecting the dots and play a territory-capturing style game.
When a player draws the final line to enclose a dot on three sides, that enclosed area becomes that player’s territory according to the rules.
The simplest version uses nine dots, but as the difficulty increases, more dots are added.
It’s a game that seems fun to play online against a variety of opponents.
One Night Werewolf
Here are some recommended games that are likely to be a hit on Zoom.
Each game isn’t too long, yet still offers plenty of thrills, making them well-suited for online play.
Werewolf is a game where players split into the Werewolf team and the Villager team, and try to figure out who the werewolves are.
The preparation you need is to designate a game master in advance.
The game master should prepare slips of paper with the roles written on them.
You’ll also use the private chat feature as the game progresses.
You can enjoy the heart-pounding suspense of wondering whether you’ll be found out.
Just One
Here’s the game that won the grand prize at the German board game awards in 2019.
One player has to guess a secret word, and the rest of the group gives clues to that person.
However, if two or more people give the same clue, those players lose the right to provide their clues.
For example, if everyone ends up thinking of the same clue, the guesser will have to answer with no hints at all.
Please provide unique, distinctive clues that don’t overlap with others’ while still guiding the guesser toward the correct answer.
Telestrations
Telestrations is a type of telephone game.
Typically, the telephone game is known for the rule where a long phrase is whispered from person to person, and as a spinoff, YouTube has popularized rules like the “blaring earphones game,” where you pass the message using only lip movements.
In Telestrations, the rule alternates between words and drawings.
It starts with a written prompt: the first person draws the prompt, the second person looks at the drawing and writes a word, the third person turns that back into a drawing, and so on.
Not only is it fun to interpret someone else’s drawing, but the final reveal is sure to have you laughing at the unexpected twists.
While the original uses a dedicated sketchbook, you can likely enjoy it online by using a picture shiritori-style app.
