If you’ve been playing board games for long enough, you’ll know how time-consuming and expensive it can be. The tedious process of laying out the pieces can sometimes take the excitement out of the game while getting your hands on a new set or expansion pack is guaranteed to burn a hole in your wallet.
But board games are great fun, whether you’re playing alone or with your friends. One solution that perfectly addresses the above problems comes in digital form and has evolved to offer a fast-paced and satisfying experience on your smartphone or tablet. In this post, we’ll take a look at five apps that every board game player should have.
Exploding Kittens
The Kickstarter-funded game, Exploding Kittens, offers a top-notch single-player, multi-player and offline multi-player experience on mobile devices. Its unique visual style puts it a major step above most board game apps and the Russian Roulette-like gameplay is great fun for all ages.
Roll20
If you’re a fan of classic pen-and-paper games, Roll20 is the perfect digital companion. This mobile app compiles a variety of powerful features into a single package. This includes a dice-rolling engine, in-game chat, visual handouts, and plenty more. You can either use it as a virtual tabletop or a second screen, putting a futuristic twist on a classic pastime.
Tokaido
Tokaido is arguably the best looking board game out there and the app is no different. Aside from its jaw-dropping artistic visuals, Tokaido offers a unique board game experience. The premise is that you and your friends will take turns embarking on a journey through Japan, sampling new foods, visiting temples, and collecting rare items.
But each experience costs a few coins, so the goal is to balance your coins with the activities you take part in. You’ll have to tread carefully, as some experiences cannot be shared with other players if they’re already there. Tokaido can be played in an online multi-player or classic pass-and-play style.
Ticket to Ride
Based on the classic physical board game, the digital version of Ticket to Ride is a great example of what happens when app developers know what they’re doing. Featuring a multiplayer-centric design, a user interface that’s easy to learn, and the iconic visual style of the original game, Ticket to Ride is a great board game for beginners and experienced players.
Sushi Go!
Sushi Go! has players trying to get the most accurate possible sushi dish combinations as the conveyor belt rolls ingredients past. Each dish has a point value and some dishes need to be fully completed before you score anything, so you have to think fast and focus on accuracy.
Be sure to save room for dessert, though, as you’ll have to nail some tasty dishes after the main course. Whoever puts together the best meals after three rounds will be crowned the winner. Sushi Go!’s simple visual style and fast-paced nature make it a reliable way to kill time with friends.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, five board game apps that’ll keep you and your friends busy for hours on end. Just be sure to take a break every now and then.
