What Games Can You Play on FreeBoardGames.org?

Updated

FreeBoardGames.org hosts a catalog of browser-based board and card games that you can play against online friends or locally, with no download required on any device that can access the web. The library leans heavily on traditional European card games, classic abstract strategy games, and lighter party or puzzle titles. Below is what the site lists, grouped by type.

Card games

The largest group on the site is traditional card games, especially those popular in German-speaking regions.

  • Bridge — described as the world's most popular card sport
  • Sixty-Six — a classical two-player card game
  • Zwanzigerrufen — Tarock from eastern Austria
  • Doppelkopf — described as extremely popular in Germany
  • Skat — a classical tournament card game
  • Schafkopf — a classical German card game
  • French Tarot — a classical French card game

If you already know one of these games, this is the section to start with. If you don't, note that these are established games with their own rules rather than simplified variants.

Classic strategy and board games

These are the familiar abstracts most people already know how to play.

  • Chess — international rules
  • Checkers — a classic game
  • Reversi — similar to Othello and Rollit
  • Nine Men's Morris — also known as Mills
  • Four in a Row — similar to Connect Four
  • Tic-Tac-Toe — a classic game
  • Tic-Tac-Toe-Plus — a new variant with a plus
  • Mancala — classic game of Mancala
  • Rota — a classic Roman game
  • Bashni — also known as Column Checkers
  • Cornerus — similar to Blokus

Party, deduction, and word games

These tend to work better with a group and reward guessing, bluffing, or vocabulary.

  • Secret Dracula — similar to Secret Hitler
  • Secret Codes — similar to Codenames
  • Bombs & Bunnies — similar to Skull
  • Soup of Letters — crosswords with friends
  • Hangman — a classic game
  • Sea Battle — similar to Battleship

Casual, memory, and luck games

Shorter or lighter titles, useful when you want something quick.

  • Memory Match — a small game to sharpen memory
  • Bingo — try your luck at Bingo
  • Bulls & Cows — similar to Mastermind
  • Picnic Go — similar to Sushi Go
  • Mergers — similar to Acquire
  • Estate Buyer — buy and sell buildings
  • Zoo Parade — a cooperative game where the team wins

How to choose

If you want… Start with
A deep two-player card game Bridge, Skat, Sixty-Six
A game you already know the rules to Chess, Checkers, Reversi, Four in a Row
A group deduction game Secret Dracula, Secret Codes
Something short and light Memory Match, Bingo, Hangman
A cooperative game Zoo Parade

Practical notes

  • Every game runs in the browser, so the only requirement is a device with web access.
  • You can compete against online friends or play locally, according to the site.
  • The platform is a free and open-source software project. The site also points to code, documentation, and a chat channel, so you can study how games are made, modify them, and contribute back to the community.

If your goal is simply to find something to play right now, pick a title from the tables above and open it — the games are listed individually on the site's Games section.