The great thing about technology is it’s possible to combine that nostalgia with the use of tech we have available today like your laptop or your handphone. Tabletop games that you played as a child are available in apps and online all over.
Versions of solitaire and mahjong have taken over many websites. Some of them even have hundreds of different solitaire or mahjong options available to play. If you’ve been yearning for a little dose of your favorite games from your childhood you’re definitely in luck. Here’s a list of ten tabletop games from your childhood that now exist for you to play online whenever you want.
1. Solitaire
Just like you read about in the intro, online solitaire is a hugely popular game. It started with Windows making solitaire available on all of their computers. Soon everyone was playing regular solitaire or something like to pass the time. Now there are so many versions of solitaire online that it’s almost impossible to keep up with all the new options.
The great thing about online solitaire is that you don’t have to worry about setting up the cards. Just click a link and go. Sometimes the computer even moves cards like an ace without you having to do anything at all. Solitaire was already a quick play game but it’s even faster now. If you’re bored and only have a few minutes to kill, this is your new go-to online game.
Related: Exploring the Different Types of Board Games + REAL Examples (2018) by Byran Truong of Game Cows
2. Mahjong
There’s even a readily available version that mixes the rules of mahjong and solitaire for a “best of both worlds” situation. If you’ve already played a few rounds of solitaire and you’re ready to change things up, check out online mahjong. You’ll be glad you did.
3. Battleship
That’s right, you can play this classic game online any time you want. Your opponent will be a computer but that doesn’t always take all the fun out of things. The guessing and excitement of trying to sink the computer’s battleship still make this a really fun game to play.
There are a few websites you can play Battleship on, so try searching for “battleship game” and pick your favorite results to test out. It’s another quick game to play usually, and since you don’t have to worry about spilling hundreds of tiny pegs all over clean up is a breeze too.
4. Chess
Even as a kid you could’ve played this game on your own. A lot of chess players say their best opponent is themselves. Playing against a computer might be a close second, however. There are a lot of variations you could test out to play chess online. You can play anything from classic chess to 3D chess with just the click of your mouse.
5. Checkers
While we’re talking about basic but beloved board games we can’t forget about checkers. You can play checkers online at many different websites. Some are very basic versions that look just like the game you set up yourself. Others involve tons of graphics, interesting music, and even interactive storylines. No matter which option you choose you’re sure to enjoy this throwback classic game.
6. Sorry!
You read that right. You can play the childhood favorite, Sorry! online and there are some pretty cool ways to do it. Some versions just let you play against several other computer opponents. Others actually involve playing an online multiplayer version of this classic game. You can play other players from around the world who are all just as excited to experience a little nostalgia while they relax.
7. Scrabble
Since we’re already thinking about multiplayer online games that are online versions of our childhood favorites, we can’t forget Scrabble. Yes sometimes it goes by other names (like Words With Friends) but the basic gameplay remains the same. You can definitely find a few websites where you’re just playing a computer, but the multiplayer versions add a lot of new thrills.
8. Clue
Digitized versions of this super fun game have existed since before you could even find it online. SNES had a Clue game available to play in the early 90s but there was nothing quite like playing this murder mystery the old fashioned way. You can play Clue online, and even play a computer version of the SNES Clue too.
Whether it’s Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick or Miss Scarlet looking suspicious, you’re sure to have some good (highly nostalgic) fun playing Clue once again. This game just never goes out of style.
9. Monopoly
All the fun and excitement of the original tabletop version is available online. Once again you’ll have the option to choose between computer opponents or a multiplayer experience. While playing a computer might save you some time, the real fun with playing Monopoly online is the multiplayer option. Everyone has a different strategy to win, and it will keep you on your toes.
10. Risk
Remember how vicious a good game of Risk could be? It can be that way online too. You can play versions that are done in real time, or ones that are turn-based. The turn-based games give you a chance to make a move and come back when you have more time to play, so if you’re busy but still want some board game fun, that’s a great thing.
Conclusion:
No matter which classic game you choose to play you’ll have a great time. Solitaire and mahjong can be done quickly and on your own. Monopoly or Risk gives you a chance to experience new players’ style and strategic maneuvers. You might even get a chance to up your skill level for the next time you play the real deal. Give it a chance and go with your favourites. Enjoy!
]]>When Rajeev first arrived on our shores, he was not aware that board games had progressed as they did and was actually playing in Scrabble tournaments to indulge in the board gaming hobby. It was at one of these tournaments that he met Colin Lim, a local board game enthusiast who asked if he would be interested in trying some new modern designer board games.
Rajeev said a fateful yes and played Modern Art at Play Nation and from then on he would be spending on average more than a few good hours weekly with the board gaming community in Finland.
Rajeev's strong suit is that he is open to trying all kinds of games as shown in the above picture. There, he is playing Fief: France 1429, a wargame, even though he is not the keenest on games with a lot of conflicts but still tries to enjoy the game as much as possible.
Also, if Rajeev has tried a game, he is willing to say he would rather not play a game in a respectful way. This is important as not only does it make planning game nights easier but also really helps to speed up the choosing of games during a game session. This simple veto, saving everybody in the group time so we can all indulge more in the hobby playing process rather than choosing.
Related: Boardgamers of Finland #3: Andy Ng (The Discerning Organiser)
Rajeev's recommended game of the day is Istanbul, which won the Kennerspiel des Jahres in 2014. The Kennerspiel is a prestigious board game award given out in Germany during the Essen Spiel Fair targeted at experienced gamers.
Istanbul is a game where you are a merchant in the grand bazaar of Istanbul trying to sell goods to obtain the most rubies. Gameplay is done by moving yourself up to as many assistants as you have with you. This is because you will have to drop off an assistant on every tile you move on. The final spot where you land is where you will perform the tile's special ability. The first person to get 5 rubies wins.
The reasons why Rajeev likes Istanbul are it is a fast and strategic game that plays in about an hour, has a lot of replayability as the many tiles can be rearranged for a different puzzle each time and the game's art also really appeals to him which is a great bonus for a Euro game.
Istanbul though is not perfect as he states how some tiles do have an element of luck with the rolling of dice or randomized cards, which could possibly disrupt a good plan.
Istanbul is a board game that won a world famous award for a reason and is very approachable for newer gamers. Do give it a try as Rajeev definitely gives it a seal of excellence.
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Zhou Huibin is a smith of words who majored in Philosophy & History from the University of Western Australia and whose life has followed the flow of his hobbies. He seeks continual contentment in his ponders, reading, writing, painting and board games which fills almost all of his time.
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(Soured from Fox)
The progression of man is one of ideas built upon ideas and for many a millennia the way it has been done has been the written word. Thus with the fate of mankind so heavily influenced by the written word. We at Brajkishore blind recommend the following word games to make the practice of learning words not only educational but fun too for the whole family.
Bananagrams is a word game for up to 8 players and thus is great for families and gatherings. Basically it is Scrabble with a speed element but removes the scoring. This is because in Banananagrams, the complexity of your words do not matter. The person who manages to use up all their tiles when the common word pool has less tiles than the amount of players wins.
Gameplay is short and sweet, players each draw the same number of tiles to reveal the lettered sides. Each player then begins arranging the letters to form words, which must be connected in a grid format. When a player uses up all of their tiles, they call out "Peel!," and each player must draw a new tile from the pool of remaining tiles. If during play, a player has a letter or letters that they do not want, then the player can announce "Dump!" and exchange any letter for three tiles from the common pool. The first player to have placed all of his or her tiles into their word grid calls out "Bananas!" and is declared the winner.
Last Letter is a party game that uses words as a core element that plays from 2-61 players. Although 4-6 or so would probably make for a better game.
Gameplay is simple. Each player gets five cards and then one card is placed in the middle as the discard pile. Then one player calls out a word that is related to the picture on the card. Then as quickly as everybody can, players will simultaneously call out a word that relates in some way to the picture on one of their cards but with the last letter of the word used before on the card in the discard pile. Example, Fudge then Eel. The first to do so correctly and places the new card in the discard pile is able to get rid of the card from their hand. First person to discard all their cards wins.
Zip it is the word game on the go with even its score pad innovatively printed on the carrying case with the zippers used as a marker for the score track.
Gameplay is as follows, each player takes 12 dice and form words on a grid. The first to use all their dice wins. A game of Zip It can be as short as 20 seconds. A game that is portable, takes up little space, is quick to play and allows for wordplay anywhere, anytime.
Yottsugo is another unique mix of a word game with a puzzle game. Players will work together by first taking a clue card then with small clues given within the clue card, try to figure out the puzzle of how the words are arranged. The arrangement for example can be so the same words apprear on the horizontal and vertical axis.
This is a game that can be played in a very relaxed way like a Sudoku puzzle. It can be left out on the table to be worked on throughout the day or with a timing element if one wishes.