Playing board games or video games with friends and family is nice, but what do you do when you are busy, live far from each other or cannot be in the same physical space (corona … * cough *)? Go online of course! There are lots of fun free online games you can play together!
I did a research for you in ‘ the Realm of Nerds’ n ‘Geeks’ and discovered a whole range of free (!) Online games, from simple party games to deep strategic board games. Hours of fun guaranteed! Curious? Then read on quickly.
And er… have fun!
PS Don’t feel like scrolling a lot? Click here directly to your favorite type of online games:
- Online party games
- Online card games
- Online board games
- Online word games
- Online quizzes
- Online racing games
- Online shooters
- MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
- Online tactical and strategic games
- Online adventure games
Online party games
1. Draw Something Classic
‘ Draw Something Classic ‘ is actually nothing more and nothing less than the online version of ‘ Pictionary ‘: someone draws, the rest guesses.
It’s a game for everyone and all ages. Whether scratches are created or real masterpieces: it is fun anyway!
The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
2. House party
‘ House party ‘ in itself is not an online game, but a face-to-face social network .
It is an app that lets you easily online at much with friends and family, ” measuring and . People can very easily participate in conversations and leave them. So a virtual house party .
You can lock conversations or not. If you don’t lock them, anyone can participate in a conversation: people you know, people you know indirectly, and strangers. Everyone’s preference, of course.
Why is the app in this list? Because you can also play classic online games and quizzes with it such as ‘ Heads up ‘ (Who am I?), ‘ Trivia ‘ (Quiz) and ‘ Quick Draw ‘ (Pictionary).
The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
Cube Slam
” Cube Slam is a very very airy online browser game that you can play with a friend. It is very similar to ping pong or air hockey and is played in levels.
You win a level by bouncing the cube (“ball”) three times past your opponent’s catch. Each level increases the challenge and you unlock things such as fog, ghost balls, multi-balls, shields, etc.
Play this free online game here in your browser.
Online card games
4. UNO! ™
‘UNO! ™’ is a world famous card game where each player is dealt a hand of cards containing different colors, numbers or symbols.
The aim of the game is to be the first to remove those cards by each time discarding a card from your hand that matches the color, number and / or symbol that is face up on the table.
Do you have one card left? Then do n’t forget to shout UNO! ™ , otherwise you’ll have to add cards.
You can download this online game for 2-10 players for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
5. Hearts
Nothing wrong with a good classic . Playing cards with friends? Then choose ‘ Hearts ‘, for example , a battle game for 4 players.
Goal of the game? Avoid penalties. Each card with hearts is one penalty point, the jack of clubs 2 penalties and the queen of spades 5.
You can play the game with friends for free via Board Game Arena (just create an account). A jar takes about half an hour!
6. Pokémon TCG Online
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is one of my favorite online games. Many people think of Pokémon cards mainly as nostalgic barter at school.
Few people really realize that it is a very nice strategic one-on-one card game for children and adults.
How does it work? Each player has a deck (set) with 60 cards. Such a deck usually contains a mix of Pokémon, energy and trainer cards.
Goal of the game? Fight against each other until the other player is out of Pokémon or all of your prize cards are gone (usually 6).
Nintendo still brings new maps, but this can deck builder also online with friends or strangers around the world play .
Since you can compose your own deck with cards that you unlock, you can vary infinitely in composition and strategy. Every game is different.
You can download this online card game for free on your computer or tablet , as a guest player or with an account. PS: My username is ‘ Pantissimo ‘. Come find me!
7. GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
‘ The Witcher ‘ is a popular video game series based on the books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski . Moreover, there is now also one – highly recommended! – Witcher series on Netflix .
But did you know that there is also a free online card game from this franchise?
” GWENT: The Witcher Card Game is a tactical one-to-one card game in which skills are more important than happiness. You choose a faction, build an army and go to battle against other players in different game modes.
You can collect hundreds of cards – heroes, spells and special powers – to create a new deck and new strategies. Variety guaranteed!
You can play this online game for free on your computer, tablet or mobile. You can download the software here , the Apple app here and the Android app here .
PS: The dark setting is less suitable for very young players (+12 years).
8. Hearthstone
‘ Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft ‘ is an online card game where you fight against friends and strangers in the Warcraft universe (famous series of video games).
As a player, you can choose between 9 Warcraft heroes , create your own card deck and use this deck to defeat your opponent with special weapons, spells, powers and minions .
Each hero has cards that are not available to other heroes. This means that every hero has his own play style!
You can play this online game for free on your computer, tablet or mobile. Download it here!
Online board games
9. Board Game Arena
” Board Game Arena ‘is an online platform where you work free and lesser known board games to play. All you need is a free or paid account, a browser and the Internet!
Board Game Arena contains online games with a gold pawn icon and games without this icon. You can start and play games without an icon for free.
Do you want to play a game with an icon? Then you either have to wait for one premium member to play or become a premium member (costs € 2 to € 4 per month: lots of fun for little money).
My recommendations with gold icon (semi-free games):
- Sushi Go! (for friends and family)
- Love Letter(for friends and family)
- Carcassonne(for friends and family)
- 7 Wonders(for friends and family)
- Race for the Galaxy(for experienced players)
- Terra Mystica(for experienced players)
- Puerto Rico(for experienced players)
The completely free online games that I can highly recommend you can find below!
10. Saboteur
‘ Saboteur ‘ is a classic for 2 to 12 players where two teams compete against each other in the mines: the common gnomes and the saboteurs .
As a gnome you have to dig a tunnel to 1 or 3 caves until you find gold . As a saboteur you try to prevent the gnomes from getting there in order to claim gold yourself.
The game contains tunnel cards as well as cards to peek into caves, thwart others or just help them. At the beginning of the game, players do not know who is a gnome and who is a saboteur. Exciting!
Gnomes want to move forward as fast as possible, expose saboteurs and put them out of the game. Saboteurs must subtly sabotage to stay under the radar for as long as possible. They can slightly bend tunnels and / or block them completely.
One of the best and most accessible online games for the whole family! Duration: 30 to 40 minutes. You can play this online game for free with strangers, friends and family via Board Game Arena (just create an account).
11. Takenoko
After many disagreements, diplomatic relations between Japan and China are finally back on track.
To further seal this peace, the Chinese Emperor donated a sacred animal to the Japanese Emperor: a giant panda !
In Takenoko, the court members – the players – are instructed by the Japanese Emperor to take care of the panda by tending his bamboo garden with the help of the Imperial gardener .
The player who grows the most bamboo, manages his land best, and feeds the vulnerable panda wins!
Takenoko is easy to learn and easy to play , for all ages. Everyone is gone in less than 10 minutes. It is a game for 2 to 4 players and takes an average of 45 to 60 minutes.
You can play the online game for free with strangers, friends and family via Board Game Arena (just create an account!). My complete review of the “offline” version? You can read it here by the way!
12. Dice Forge
The gods offer a place in heaven to the hero who manages to defeat their rivals. You go to battle with your divine dice on your way to victory!
What makes these dice so special? You can adjust them! They have interchangeable sides . You can adjust your dice every turn. This will make you more powerful as the game progresses.
Roll the dice, manage your resources, complete trials and win! ‘ Dice Forge ‘ is very easy to play and has a colorful Ancient Greek theme.
You can play the online game with 2 to 4 for free via Board Game Arena (just create an account!). A game lasts an average of 20 to 30 minutes.
13. Tokaido
In ‘ Tokaido ‘ you are a traveler in ancient Japan . Together with one to four other players you follow the famous ‘ Tokaido ‘ route and try to gain as much experience as possible.
You will travel through the beautiful landscape, taste delicious culinary specialties, buy souvenirs, enjoy hot springs and have unforgettable encounters.
Those experiences all earn you points. The player with the richest experience at the end of the game wins!
Tokaido is a fun and light family game for 2 to 5 players and takes an average of half an hour. You can play the online game for free via Board Game Arena (just create an account!).
14. Not Alone
Welcome to the 25 th century. You are a member of an intergalactic expedition that has crashed on the mysterious planet ‘ Artemia ‘.
You explore the planet while you and your crew wait for a rescue ship, but an alien monster spots the expedition and chases you and your team. Who will win: team or monster?
Artemia is an asymmetrical game in which one player – ‘ the Creature ‘ – pits against the stranded explorers, also known as ‘ the Hunted ‘.
The Hunted explore the planet with ‘ Place cards ‘ and dodge the monster with ‘ Survival cards ‘ until the rescue is near.
The Creature is hunting them down with Hunt cards and mysterious powers so they can never leave the planet. Fun game in a fun setting where tactical thinking, bluffing and guessing lead to victory!
You can play the game for free with 3 to 7 players via Board Game Arena (just create an account). A game lasts an average of 30 to 45 minutes.
15. Hive
‘ Hive ‘ is an addictive strategy game for two players in the ‘ easy to learn, hard to master ‘ category.
Goal of the game? Fully enclose your opponent ‘s queen bee and prevent your opponent from encasing yours!
You can play the game online for free via Board Game Arena (just create an account!). A game lasts an average of 15 to 20 minutes.
16. Dragon Castle
‘ Dragon Castle ‘ is a variation of the Chinese Mahjong . The old central Dragon Castle is slowly but surely crumbling. The players use these pieces to build their own castle.
In doing so, they can call on ‘ spirit cards ‘ (aids) and ‘ dragon cards ‘ (game conditions that yield extra points).
Do you build a set with similar tiles in your castle? Then you can also build one or more shrines on it. They give you extra points.
The player with the most points wins the game and is the new lord and master of the Dragon Castle!
You can play this online game with 2 to 4 for free via Board Game Arena (just create an account). A game lasts an average of 45 to 60 minutes.
17. Catan Universe
After a long harsh sea journey you reach the coast of an unknown island . But you are not alone! There are also other explorers stranded on Catan .
The race to populate the island is on! Build roads and cities, act smart and become the rightful ruler of the island.
You can play this classic for free on your computer, in your browser and on tablet or mobile with a maximum of 3 players. Download it here!
Online word games
18. Scrabble GO
Fancy online games with words and letters? ‘ Scrabble ‘ is a letter game for two to four players where you have to form words on a game board with a number of random letters.
Each letter has a different point value . The word virtuoso with the most points at the end of the game wins!
‘ Scrabble GO ‘ is the digital version of this classic. The app is available in Apple ‘s App Store and Google Play Store .
19. Wordfeud
‘ Wordfeud ‘ is a puzzle game based on words for multiple players. Create and place words on a 15 by 15 board and earn points for your creativity.
Increase your score by placing letters on the boxes with (three) double letter value and (three) double word value.
Interested? The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
Online quizzes
20. QuizUp
‘ QuizUp ‘ is a trivia app and social network in one. You will find all kinds of quizzes on various topics : from logos to action movies.
You can also easily create quizzes yourself and challenge your friends and family. The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
21. Kahoot!
‘ Kahoot! ‘works with multiple choice quizzes called’ kahoots ‘. The platform is often used in education, but it is also very easy to play online games – read: quizzes!
Anyone with a smartphone can participate via a code that you create on the site.
Don’t feel like making your own quiz? Then take part in one of the many pre-made quizzes on the Kahoot website ! . To play it you have to create a (free) account.
You can Kahoot! Use both in your browser and on your mobile phone or tablet. The app is available in Apple ‘s App Store and Google Play Store .
Online racing games
22. Mario Kart Tour
In ‘ Mario Kart Tour ‘ you can race on your smartphone or tablet with 7 other people in the typical style of ‘ Mario Kart ‘.
What does that mean? Fun, colorful graphics, crazy racing tracks and projectiles that you can fire at others. Think bananas, shields and bombs. Download the app for iOS or Android here.
23. Asphalt 9
In ‘ Asphalt 9 ‘ you can choose from renowned racing cars including Ferrari , Porsche and Lamborghini and thus race together with others in spectacular locations .
The game combines excellent graphics with fine gameplay. A console experience on your smartphone! The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
Online shooters
24. Fortnite
If you ‘ve never heard the name ‘ Fortnite ‘ mentioned, then you’ve been living under a rock lately. In this survival game 100 players are dropped on an island and they have to arm themselves to survive. ‘ The last one standing’ wins. Think ‘ Hunger Games ‘, but with cartoony graphics !
The game is free, but you do need an account. Fortnite is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC / Mac and iOS / Android .
25. Call of Duty: Mobile
” Call of Duty: Mobile is a free first-person shooter for mobile . Play together with friends and strangers on iconic multiplayer maps and in different scenarios: battle royale with 100 players, five-on-five deathmatch , sniper against sniper ? Everything is possible! The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
26. PUBG Mobile
‘ PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds ‘ (aka ‘ PUBG ‘) is a shooter inspired by the movie ‘ Battle Royale ‘.
Also in this online game, up to a hundred players are placed on an island where they have to find weapons and objects and kill other players.
You can win the game by remaining last . The playable area keeps shrinking, forcing surviving players to confront each other.
The concept is very similar to that of ‘ Fortnite ‘. The difference is in the visual style, gameplay , maps and game variants.
PUBG Mobile looks more realistic and gives players a little less wiggle room than Fortnite . Death lurks around every corner!
The free lite version for PC can be found here. The app is available for free from Apple ‘s App Store and Google Play Store .
27. Krunker.io
Krunker.io is a lightning-fast ‘pixelated’ first-person shooter that you can easily play in your browser with your friends. No download required!
This online game is free. Yes can immediately play as a guest, but to play with friends you need to create an account . Then you can host a game yourself and invite your friends or family!
MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
28. League of Legends
” League of Legends (LoL) is a free strategic battle game of MOBA ( Multiplayer Online Battle Arena ). You form a team of 5 players – you may or may not know – and each player assumes the shape of a ‘ Champion ‘.
The target? Destroy the ‘ Nexus ‘ (read: the base) of the other team. This free online game is currently only available for computers – you do need an account! – but soon also on mobile!
29. Vainglory
‘ Vainglory ‘ is very similar to ‘ League of Legends ‘. In this MOBA two teams of three people compete against each other.
Each team member controls a hero. Vainglory ‘s goal is to eliminate each other’s ‘ Vain ‘, a crystal at the core of each base.
The main difference with League of Legends is in the different dynamics due to the difference in player numbers and heroes . In addition, pots of Vainglory are on average shorter and less intense.
The game is available for free on computer, in Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.
Online tactical and strategic games
30. Travian
‘ Travian ‘ is a free massive multiplayer online game (MMOG) that you can play through your web browser.
As a player you can choose from 3 tribes: the Romans, the Teutons and the Gauls. Each tribe has its own strengths and weaknesses.
You start with a small village, but the aim is to build a mighty empire in the wonderful world of Travian by producing goods, trading, waging war, building villages and forging alliances . A simple game with a lot of strategy.
Registration is free , but you have to register yourself. Travian is also available as an app, but it doesn’t get as much praise as the browser version.
31. Sea Battle 2
‘ Sea Battle 2 ‘ is a fun, pimped version of the ‘ Sea Battle ‘ game where you have to guess the location of each other’s warships to sink them.
This online game adds another dimension with extra abilities and an expanded arsenal of weapons. Think mines, bombs and planes! The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store .
Online adventure games
32. Sky: Children of the Light
” Sky: Children of the Light ” is a heartwarming social adventure in the beautiful kingdom of Sky .
Together with your friends – ‘ the Children of the Light ‘ – you spread hope again in the deserted kingdom by returning fallen stars to their place in the sky.
You can explore a total of 7 realms to solve the mystery of Sky . The app is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
33. Pokémon Go
” Pokemon Go ‘is a known’ Role Playing Game (RPG) in which you draw on an adventure Pokémon to catch, train and trade.
The game uses ‘ augmented reality ‘: your smartphone camera projects animations / Pokémon onto images from your environment. Cool !
In Pokémon Go , you and your friends can add each other as ‘ Friends ‘ to boost your ‘ Friendship level ‘ and get extra bonuses.
You can also send each other gifts and – of course – trade Pokémon. Download the game here and catch ’em all!
Did you like these online games?
What did you think of these free online games to play with friends and family? Which game will you try out first? And do you have any suggestions yourself? Be sure to share them in a comment below!
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