Board Games Online with Family
Seven picks for playing chess, cards, and board games online with grandkids and far-away friends. Most are free.
Start with the free options
Lichess and Bridge Base Online are 100% free and ad-free. Chess.com and Pogo are free with ads. Try those first — you may find everything you need at no cost.
Chess.com
Best for: Chess with grandkids or distant friends. Largest chess community in the world.
Pros
- +Free account covers unlimited play and daily puzzles.
- +Built-in lessons and a coach mode that explains every move.
- +Big text, clear pieces, and a play-vs-computer mode for practice.
Cons
- −Free tier shows ads.
- −Paid tier needed for unlimited tactics training.
Lichess.org
Best for: Chess without a single ad or pop-up. Volunteer-funded, open source.
Pros
- +Every feature is free for everyone — no paid tier.
- +Zero ads, zero tracking. A nonprofit project.
- +Plays well on older phones, slow internet, and has a great puzzle trainer.
Cons
- −Smaller community than Chess.com.
- −Less polished tutorial flow for beginners.
Tabletopia
Best for: Turn-based digital board games. Over 1,800 titles including classics.
Pros
- +You and family can take turns over days, not all at once.
- +Huge library (Carcassonne, Scythe, classic card games), plays in any browser.
Cons
- −Premium needed for many newer titles.
- −Learning curve on the 3D table view.
Pair it with a video call
The fun is the conversation, not the game. Open FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Meet on your phone, then play the game on a separate device or browser tab. It feels like sitting across the kitchen table.
Related
Quick Tip: pick one game and play it weekly with the same person. The routine matters more than variety.