Online Board Games
Play with grandkids, friends, or strangers — across any distance.
Chess.com
FREE; $7/mo PremiumBest chess site. Play random opponents at your level. Practice with computer.
Best for chess.
Words With Friends
Free with adsScrabble-style with friends. Most popular. Played at own pace.
Best for casual word game.
Scrabble GO
FreeReal Scrabble. Play live or async.
Best for Scrabble purists.
Tabletopia
Free; $5/mo PremiumHundreds of board games digitized. Play with family on Zoom.
Best for serious board gamers.
Boardgame Arena
Free; $4/mo PremiumCurated classics — Carcassonne, Catan, Splendor, etc.
Best classic game library.
Pogo
$5/moOld-fashioned casual games — solitaire, cards, puzzles. Run by EA.
Best for older interface preference.
NYT Games
$5/mo or with NYT subscriptionWordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Crossword. World's best puzzles.
Best mental workout.
Houseparty / FaceTime + game
FREEVideo call + screen share. Play any browser game with grandkids "in the room".
Best for grandkid time.
For grandkids specifically
- Words With Friends — easy app on any phone.
- Chess.com — set lessons + play together.
- Boardgame Arena — play Ticket to Ride, Catan during video call.
- UNO Online — fun for younger kids.
- Roblox with grandkid (younger ones love).
- NYT Games — older grandkids enjoy Connections.
Best Sunday ritual
Schedule a weekly Words With Friends or Chess game with one friend or grandchild. Once-a-week move-and-respond stays connected without long phone calls. After a year, you\'ve stayed close in a way that holiday cards never managed.