In recent years tabletop gaming has become a popular pass time as more and more people are choosing to get together and bring out a board game. For some, this will be a vintage Monopoly board or Scrabble set, while others prefer more modern games. Whatever your preference you can find a board game to suit. However, what happens if you want to play tabletop games but can’t get a group together?

This is where the internet comes into play. Many tabletop games now have digital versions and a large number of these can be played online against people from across the globe. Here are some of the most popular board games which you can play online.

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Updated October 21, 2021, By Helen Ashcroft: Tabletop is still growing and as time goes on more and more board games are going digital. While you can't beat having an in-person game night, there are advantages to taking your games online. No more labourous set-up, no opportunities for sneaky friends to cheat by hiding cards, and your gaming group can be anywhere in the world.

There are more choices that ever before for getting into board games online and many have online multiplayer modes. This list has been updated to add more information about each game, including approximately how long it lasts, the age range and length of time it takes to play.

15 Pandemic

disease spread screen from Pandemic game
  • Number of Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 45 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 9+
  • Genre: Strategy, Co-operative, Medical

Pandemic is a co-op strategy game which revolves around stopping a pandemic and saving humanity, something we'd surely all love to do right now. You'll take control of one of the members of an elite disease control team and attempt to stop four deadly infections from spreading across the globe. The gameplay is frantic and difficult but you'll never play the same game twice.

Pandemic also has the advantage of being available on multiple platforms. As well as a mobile version for IOS and Android, you'll also find the game available for PC on steam, as well as one Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Pick up the title on your platform of choice to play against friends, family or online players.

14 7 Wonders

7 Wonders mid game screenshot from ios
  • Number of Players: 2-7
  • Play Time: 30 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 10+
  • Genre: Strategy, Card Game, Civilization, Economic

7 Wonders is a long-standing staple title for tabletop gamers and its epic theme and engaging gameplay have earned the civilization game a legion of fans. This card game isn't the simplest but it's well worth the learning curve.

You can play 7 Wonders via an app for IOS and Android and it will allow up to seven players to play online, with AI opponents also available for when online play isn't possible. We recommend using a tablet to play due to the complexity of the game and amount of information displayed.

13 Gloomhaven

Gloomhave Early Access on Steam battle at the wall of doom.
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 1-2 Hours
  • Recommended Age: 14+
  • Genre: Strategy, Dungeon Crawler, Fantasy

Gloomhaven is a co-op board game with a campaign-based structure. Playing as an adventurer you'll undertake a dark quest, exploring unknown locations and encountering hidden dangers. The tabletop version is incredibly popular but also incredibly large and expensive, as well as time-consuming to set up. For these reasons alone the digital version on Steam can be a great alternative.

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It contains 3D animated locations and characters and is currently undergoing frequent updates in response to community feedback. So get your friends together and get online for some co-op fun, or hit up the single-player mode to learn the ropes. As the game is split into individual quests and different modes you can also reduce the game play time by saving after individual dungeons, rather than stopping at set points in the campaign.

12 Mysterium

Mysterium suspect choosing process
  • Number of Players: 2-7
  • Play Time: 40 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 9+
  • Genre: Co-operative, Deduction, Murder Mystery, Horror

Spooky horror co-op Mysterium sees you exploring a creepy haunted house. One player will take on the role of a ghost, while the others are mediums who must solve their murder. It's a little like Clue but with a unique twist and more spookiness and is a perfect game for small groups.

The digital version is available for PC, Android, and IOS and also features a unique story mode, giving a new depth to the game that you won't get in the traditional board game version. You can enjoy cross-platform multiplayer as well as online co-op and PvP modes.

11 Hive

hive mid game tile setup
  • Number of Players: 2
  • Play Time: 20 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 9+
  • Genre: Strategy, Tile-Based, Insects

Hive is a great choice for a short and simple game that's unique and fun to play. Both players have a queen bee and must each attempt to surround their opponent's bee with insects, before their own is surrounded. The abilities of the insects make for fast but engaging tactical gameplay.

You'll find Hive on PC and Android and it supports cross-platform multiplayer as well as single player options.

10 Catan

Catan board from the online game with players displayed above
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: Up to 1 Hour
  • Recommended Age: 9+
  • Genre: Strategy, Resource Collection, Economic

Classic board game Catan, previously known as Settlers of Catan, has an app based on both the original game and the card game, Rivals For Catan. The game is faithful to its roots and features a classic map as well as expansions including Cities & Knights and Seafarers.

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You can also play a digital version of Rivals for Catan. All modes can be played against online opponents through a matchmaking system. It also features a chat system, enabling communication between players.

9 Hasbro Family Fun Pack

screenshot of a street in online monopoly
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: Up to 1 Hour
  • Recommended Age: 8+
  • Genre: Word Game, Card Game, Strategy

This compilation game is a great choice for people who want to start with the classics. It combines four popular Hasbro games into one pack; featuring digital versions of Boggle, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly and Risk. These can either be played with friends or against online opponents and match their board game counterparts.

If you love these classics, look out for other Hasbro compilations. They include the family fun pack conquest edition, which replaces Boggle and Trivial Pursuit with Battleship and Scrabble.

8 Carcassonne

placing tiles in online carcassonne
  • Number of Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 30-45 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 8+
  • Genre: City Building, Tile-Based, Strategy

The German-style tile-based game is another great adaptation of a classic. Quick to learn and easy to play, the tile placing tabletop game has been recreated as an app. Both the base game and the expansions are available in digital form and there are several ways to play.

You can play against nine different AI players, with up to five people passing the device between them or you can play an online multiplayer mode. The online mode links to game center and also features chat, achievements and score logging.

7 Ticket To Ride

Ticket to ride app showing board, players, tickets and trains
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 30-60 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 8+
  • Genre: Strategy, Family, Trains, Network Building

Ticket To Ride is one of the most faithful digital adaptations of a board game available. The gameplay is identical to the tabletop version of the turn-based strategy game and all the numerous expansions are also available.

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Every aspect of it matches the original board game exactly, from the cards to the board design. Each expansion also remains faithful to the rule adaptations we see in the board game. You can play against AI opponents, against other players using the same device or via the online multiplayer mode. If you want to try out the game before you buy there's now a print and play edition and you can even play against Alexa.

6 Clue: The Classic Mystery Game

Clue online screenshot including cards, clue sheet and dice
  • Number of Players: 1-6
  • Play Time: 30-45 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 9+
  • Genre: Deduction, Bluffing, Murder Mystery

Also known as Cluedo, this app is a digital version of the classic mystery game. While the board looks different, thanks to the 3D graphics, this adaptation does remain mostly faithful to the board game version. The main difference is the addition of themes as well as a logic-assisted virtual clue sheet, which allows for advanced note-taking.

Players can join friends online, play against a customizable AI opponent or use an online multiplayer matchmaking system. There is also a cross-platform multiplayer system, linking the Steam version with the apps.

5 UNO

UNO online showing players cards and central hub
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 30 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 5+
  • Genre: Card Game, Matching, Family

One of the world’s most beloved card games is also available digitally. The UNO app had some great publicity when four Fortnite pros, including Ninja, got together for a game. After feeling disillusioned by changes to Fortnite, courtesy of the controversial 8.20 patch, Ninja, CouRage, Marcel, and TimTheTatMan took to UNO instead.

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The digital card game can be played with friends or via online matchmaking. It allows players to recreate their card drawing fun digitally, just without the stacking rule. Apparently stacking Draw 2 and Draw 4 cards is not officially allowed. Who knew?

4 Small World 2

Smallworld 2 digital map mid game

  • Number of Players: 1-5
  • Play Time: 15-30 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 9+
  • Genre: Fantasy, Fighting, Territory Building, Strategy

This app and Steam game is based on the fantasy board game Small World. It involves players taking control of different armies, in a race to grab as much land as possible. The game was originally a Kickstarter campaign and has since grown into a large scale adaptation.

Players can play online games either in real-time or turn-by-turn with friends or strangers. There is also a solo mode, which pits you against up to four AI players. Small World 2 also features a buddy system and local co-op function.

3 Lords Of Waterdeep

Lords of Waterdeep mid game map
  • Number of Players: 1-5
  • Play Time: 1-2 Hours
  • Recommended Age: 11+
  • Genre: Strategy, Fantasy, City Building

Lords of Waterdeep is based on the award-winning Dungeons & Dragons board game of the same name. It’s a turn-based strategy game for up to five people. This excellent digital adaptation of the RPG classic has been well received.

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It offers local multi-player with a shared or split-screen option. You can also play online against friends or strangers. Online mode features real-time play as well as a turn-based option. The online profile system shows player ratings, profiles, and statistics. You can also see if others are online using the status indicator.

2 Qwirkle

Qwuirkle tiles mid game on easy mode online.
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 30-45 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 6+
  • Genre: Strategy, Abstract, Tile Based

The Qwirkle app is based on the best-selling board game. It features solo, online, and pass and play modes for up to four players. There are also four different levels of difficulty, from easy to expert. You can play with the classic Qwirkle colors, reminiscent of the original game, or customize your board and tiles.

The game links with Game Center, allowing players to access leader boards and achievements. You can also use the online function to challenge friends or find random opponents through the auto-match system.

1 Scrabble

mid game digital scrabble board
  • Number of Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 30-60 Minutes
  • Recommended Age: 10+
  • Genre: Word game

Scrabble is available on multiple platforms. As well as a mobile app, there is also a version which links to popular social media channels. Alongside this, it can be found on consoles and PCs as part of some Hasbro compilation games.

All versions of Scrabble feature online matchmaking, allowing you to play with friends or strangers and test your vocabulary skills. There are numerous other similar apps and games also available but the officially licensed Scrabble features a digital version of the exact board you are used to, complete with familiar rules. It also has systems in place to ensure offensive words and slurs are banned.

NEXT: Best Digital Adaptations Of Board Games