Board Game Arena
The largest site for playing licensed board games online, in real time or turn by turn, in your browser.
- Verified facts
- 7 of 7
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Board Game Arena
Board Game Arena is the biggest place to play modern board games online. It hosts well over a thousand games, from classics like Yahtzee and Hearts to licensed hits such as Ark Nova, Wingspan, Azul, Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride, all with the rules enforced by the site so you only need to learn by playing. Games run in the browser on computers, tablets and phones, so there is nothing to install. You can play in real time with friends, join a table with strangers, or play turn-based games over days, which suits busy schedules and players in different time zones. Ranked play, ELO-style ratings, tournaments and an active community make it easy to find opponents for almost any title at any hour. Most games are free to play, and a paid Premium membership unlocks the rest of the catalog and lets members start tables for premium games that free players can then join. The interface is dense and can feel overwhelming at first, and some favourite titles need a member at the table, but for variety and player numbers nothing else comes close.
Best for: Board gamers who want a huge licensed catalog and opponents available around the clock.
Pros and cons
What works
- Over a thousand games, many of them modern licensed titles
- Rules are enforced automatically
- Real-time and turn-based play
- Huge player base for quick matchmaking
Why people leave
- Some games need a Premium member to start a table
- Busy interface takes time to learn
- No built-in video chat
Top Board Game Arena alternatives
See all 5- 1
PlayOK74.4Free classic games like chess, backgammon and card games with live opponents.
- 2
PlayingCards.io72.5A free virtual table for card and board games where your group sets its own rules in a private room.
- 3
Tabletopia68.8A 3D virtual table with 2,500+ games, more like handling real pieces than following an automated interface.
- 4
Yucata64.8Free, ad-free and non-commercial, focused on relaxed turn-based play of European-style games.
- 5
Tabletop Simulator61.8A one-off purchase on Steam with a physics table and a huge library of community-made games.
Why people left Board Game Arena
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Reviews
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Board Game Arena: common questions
Is Board Game Arena free?
Board Game Arena has a free plan and paid plans.
Is Board Game Arena open source?
No, Board Game Arena is not open source.
What platforms does Board Game Arena run on?
Board Game Arena is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to Board Game Arena?
The highest-ranked Board Game Arena alternatives right now are PlayOK, PlayingCards.io and Tabletopia. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.