Cool tabletop games available online
As millions of people around the world practice social distancing and stay at home, playing tabletop and board games with our friends became somewhat difficult. But, as we endure lockdowns, there are plenty of ways to play some of our favorite games in the comfort and safety of our homes.
Whether it’s through mobile apps or websites and digital downloads, many of the world’s best and most popular tabletop games can be played online, with the same rules and gameplay mechanics as their physical counterparts. In this article, we present some options for playing a few of these games online with your friends, without having to leave your living room.
Monopoly
Based on a 1903 experimental game called The Landlord’s Game, Monopoly is a tabletop classic, one of the most beloved board games in the world, and a part of international pop culture. The game is currently licensed in more than 100 countries and printed in 37 languages.
The classic real estate game is also available in the virtual world, with a version developed by Marmalade Game Studio for Android and iOS devices, and another one developed by Ubisoft for home consoles. Both versions feature 3-D graphics and animations, online and offline multiplayer modes, customizable house rules, and a quick mode that shortens the game’s runtime. Monopoly is also available as a mod on Tabletop Simulator, which we’ll cover later in this article.
Ticket to Ride
For those unfamiliar with this classic board game, Ticket to Ride is a German-style board game published in 2004, in which players must collect and play train car cards to claim train routes across a board that depicts railways in the United States, Europe, Asia or Africa. Upon release, the game received several awards, and as of 2021, has sold more than 8 million copies.
The digital edition of Ticket to Ride is available for mobile devices, home consoles and even a web browser version for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux. It features the same gameplay and mechanics as the physical edition, and different game modes, including a single-player mode against AI, and pass-and-play and online multiplayer.
Table games
Table games such as roulette and blackjack have been one of the favorite pastimes in the world for hundreds of years. However, in the last year, with most land-based venues closed, players had to resort to the online versions of these games. Currently, there are hundreds of websites that offer table games online, but bettors can rely on websites like USGamblingSites.com to find the most trustworthy iGaming operators, and play these classic games from the safety of their homes.
With game options ranging from craps and roulette to card games like baccarat and poker, these websites provide an authentic experience, featuring precise gameplay mechanics and stunning graphics. There are even live dealer games, that are operated by professional croupiers and streamed from luxurious studios and casino settings. Most websites offer free-play modes and real-money games as well, and punters can choose from different regulations and wager limits.
Tabletop Simulator
Tabletop Simulator is a video game developed by Berserk Games and released for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux in 2015, after a successful crowdfunding campaign. The game allows players to create and play tabletop and board games in a multiplayer sandbox. It is available on Steam, Humble Store and other digital distributors.
The base game comes with 15 tabletop classics, including poker, chess and dominoes. However, user-created content is the best feature in the game, as players can use the workshop to digitize any board game and make them available for any player to download. In Tabletop Simulator, there are virtual versions of games like Monopoly, Tortuga and Scythe, and several more are constantly developed by users.
Tabletopia
Tabletopia is an online portal and mobile app that also allows players to create and play tabletop games, launched in 2015 after a crowdfunding campaign. Since the game runs on a sandbox system, it doesn’t feature AI players or rules enforcement, but it provides a few tools that facilitate gameplay.
Described as an “online arena for playing board games just like in real life”, Tabletopia currently features more than 1,600 games, including awarded games like Carcassone and Terra Mystica. As many titles are still in early development, users just need a Tabletopia account to play. However, there are some games that require a premium subscription.
