It’s ideal for card games and the platform’s selection of games skews in this direction, but larger board games feel less immersive and more awkward to play.
In the right game, it works very well, but Boardgame Arena’s presentation is a little limiting. Rules and scoring are automatically enforced and there are useful tool tips to explain the ins and outs, which makes it easy enough to pick up new games, though you still need to learn the rules beforehand. And if you don’t mind playing with strangers, a quick and easy matchmaking system will pair you with other players in just a minute or two and you don’t need to pay for the privilege. Only one player needs a premium account to host a game, so organising one with friends and family isn’t expensive. Premium costs £3.50 per month and gives you access to the premium only (and generally the most popular) games and other convenient benefits free users don’t enjoy. There are free and premium tiers and no one-off costs to buy games. It’s browser-based and the presentation is a basic, 2D affair that won’t tax even the most feeble laptop – you can play via an app, too. What to try: Cosmic Encounter, Wingspan Boardgame Arenaīoardgame Arena is the polar opposite of Tabletop Simulator. Pros: Immersive graphics, huge range of contentĬons: Intimidating for beginners, old laptops may struggle
