# Board games online? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 19, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129 "2017-08-19T21:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/1 "2017-08-19T21:15:19Z")
Bottom line is this: my wife and I enjoy playing board games (particularly the two-player variety, of course), but we’re often too lazy to be pulling out the games, going through the setup and—because too much time has always passed since the last time we played—rereading all the rules. When we’re in the mood to play, we just want to go. Recently, we discovered we could play **Dominion** online. It has been quite the boon for us. We’re able to sit down at our computers in our office together and start playing against each other instantly. We even plopped down the money to be able to use the expansion sets. We’ve owned the physical game for about three years, but have only cracked it open twice, I think. Yet, in the 45 days or so that we’ve had the online version, we’ve probably played each other over 30 different days (usually three games each time we play). So we’re looking for more like this. I saw a site that had **Catan** online, but my vague recollection is that there was a transition happening, and I never followed through with it. I know I’ve also seen **Ticket To Ride** on Steam. What else is out there? What recommendations do folks have for getting a board game experience online? For us, it needs to have a two-player option and the ability to challenge specific users. We’re all ears! ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/2 "2017-08-19T22:32:58Z")
If you’re into co-op games, I’ve had good experiences with **Sentinels of the Multiverse**. The UI is pretty fugly but the game works just fine otherwise, and it sure is nice having the computer keep track of all the hitpoints and such for you. I haven’t played it on the computer but I know **Small World** is on Steam as well, and that’s a good game. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/3 "2017-08-19T22:58:20Z")
I’ve heard **Tabletop Simulator** on Steam is pretty good for this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/4 "2017-08-19T23:29:52Z")
Tabletop Simulator requires the purchase of individual game modules, but if that’s no big deal then there are lots of games available. [Brettspielwelt](http://www.brettspielwelt.de/Spiele/) has a number of popular Eurogames. If you don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, the mother of all online boardgaming platforms is [Vassal](http://www.vassalengine.org/about.php). ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/5 "2017-08-20T00:55:28Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I know I’ve also seen **Ticket To Ride** on Steam. I have Ticket to Ride as an app (I got it from the iTunes store, but it looks like it’s available for Android too) and I love it. You can play solo against the AI, multiplayer online, or multiplayer in person. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/6 "2017-08-20T21:32:13Z")
[Board Game Arena](https://en.boardgamearena.com) is another great site that has a lot of popular games like Carcassonne, Puerto Rico, and Race for the Galaxy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/7 "2017-08-20T22:18:04Z")
[Tabletopia](https://tabletopia.com/) and [Vassal](http://www.vassalengine.org/) are two more sites. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-games-online/794129/8 "2017-08-20T23:39:05Z")
These suggestions are much appreciated—thank you! I’ve taken a look at Vassal, and will have to spend a little time with that. In the meanwhile, we were able to get going right away on Board Game Arena, and she kicked my ass in a best-of-three Can’t Stop match. This could be fun. Thanks again!