Whether you’re looking to play online board games during lockdown or want to challenge your friends to a game of Wordle, these are the best free options.
These games are perfect for team bonding and building company culture. They’re also great for virtual meetings and remote teams.
Secret Hitler
Secret Hitler is a party game from the brains behind Cards Against Humanity that’s about political intrigue and betrayal. Players are secretly divided into two teams: the liberals and the fascists.
The fascists try to sow distrust among the liberals, while the liberals work to stop the fascists and their leader. Eventually, one player is chosen to play as Secret Hitler.
The fascists must enact their policies and complete other objectives before the liberals can take over. They must also make sure that Hitler doesn’t get elected as Chancellor. If he does, the game ends.
Codenames
Originally released as a board game, Codenames has become an iconic party favorite, and now you can play it online with a few clicks. This free-to-play version of the game allows you to create virtual rooms where you can host a digital match with friends.
Codenames is a simple and fast-paced team-based wordgame that involves guessing the names of words from a list. To start, divide your group into two teams of four to six people.
Each team gets a set of 25 different codenames and then selects one player to be the spymaster. That person uses the clues on their card to help their teammates figure out which list of words belongs to them.
When their teammates guess the correct words, they place their agent card over a space on the grid and begin the next round. The winning team is the first to locate all of their agents.
Drawphone
One of the most popular party Free Online Games on the web is Drawphone, a web-based version of the classic telephone game. It combines the best parts of pictionary and telephone into a fun and engaging mobile experience. Designed to be played on smartphones and tablets, it’s easy to set up and play – no app required.
The best part is that the game is fun for everyone – even if you’re not in the same room! To get started, create a new game with a unique room code suited for your group. Then, enlist your friends to join by sending them an invite link or two. You can’t be too careful, though; you’ll want to make sure that you actually have a good number of players in order to avoid the dreaded disconnection.
Catan
In Catan, players set up settlements on a board made of hexagonal tiles, each of which represents a different resource. When a numbered hex on the board comes up on the dice, if that player’s settlement is adjacent to it, they collect the resources represented by that number.
Ultimately, the game is a resource management/building title that doesn’t really feel like a wargame. Its low-key theme, competitive gameplay and blend of strategy and social interaction make it a good fit for both beginners and experts.
Its combination of bartering, rolling dice and laying down settlements has made it one of the most popular games of all time. It has won a cluster of awards, including the Spiel Des Jahres (Game of the Year) and the Deutscher Spiele Preis (German Game Prize).
Android: Netrunner
Android: Netrunner is an asymmetric card game set in the world of Android. The game focuses on the efforts of legendary hackers known as “Runners” to hack into megacorporation systems and prevent them from advancing their sinister agendas.
This free Android game features simple mechanics, gorgeous graphics and a relaxing style. It also offers a variety of customization options and a wide range of maps for players to explore.
Each player chooses a corp identity and a runner identity, each with their own abilities. They can mix generic corp or netrunner cards into their identities’ decks, and they have a unique influence system that allows them to import a small number of cards from different factions.
