5 Video Games Every Tabletop Fan Should Play

Tabletop games are considerably more fun in person. However, it may not always be easy to get your gaming gang together as often as you may want. The complicated affairs of juggling calendars and commuting from one place to the other may get in the way of a promising group experience. Fortunately, there are hundreds of online games available that you and your friends can play over the internet at your own convenience. This allows you to overcome all sorts of barriers you may have faced before. 

These online tabletop video games offer a variety of classic games to choose from, most of which are free-to-play. Similarly, the games are easily accessible via PC and even mobile. This article aims to provide you with just a few ideas of the choices available for you. Let's take a look at five good options for video games every tabletop fan should play.

5. Dominion

Dominion is a deck-building game that involves each player acquiring a small deck of cards as it begins. They can increase their cards by purchasing them from a singular card supply, depending on the mode of the game. Players can use these cards to perform various actions, like help impede opponents, make their deck function, or obtain victory points. Dominion has a pretty medieval setup; the cards players use have a theme that references feudal, monarchical, pre-industrial, and social structures.

The game requires two to four players to compete. To gather the most victory points, they must strategically build a deck of cards. Hence, each player starts with a small deck of just a few cards, which they use to acquire additional, more powerful cards with better abilities. These cards have variant abilities, whereby some provide players with the in-game currency, while others let them draw more cards or perform additional actions. Players not only have to worry about improving their decks but their scores as well. The gameplay style for Dominion has been compared to the ‘draft' style, where players seek the best deck out of a single compilation of decks.

4. Codenames

Codenames is one of the most fun multiplayer video games, and any tabletop fan will undoubtedly enjoy it. It has a simple online layout that requires one host player to set up the game before inviting other players. Thereafter, the host can share the gamer link with friends who can join a video call and begin to play. 

Players then split into two teams; the blue team and the red team. Codenames require an even number of players on each side. Subsequently, one player from each team becomes the spymaster while the rest play as field operatives. The spymaster then begins to give players hints about codenames they can use to identify the cards that belong to one of the candidates on a specific team. Similarly, the spymaster can give a number as a hint; this number indicates how many words are related to the clue. 

3. Diplomacy

As the name suggests, Diplomacy is a classic strategic game that originates from the 1950s. It consists of devious plotting and vicious betrayal against opponents. In this case, players try to conquer the map to lead their European nation to triumph. They team up and form unlikely alliances to get ahead of their opponents, in order to force them out of regions they occupy.  

The online version features the same gameplay as the tabletop; however, player interactions are limited to press communications. This gives room for players to indulge in the exchange of some passive-aggressive letters as a result of the backstabbing that ensues during the course of the game. Diplomacy continues to stand out as an epic tabletop game like no other.

2. Catan

Catan is a classic multiplayer board game from 1995; it is only recently that it has found its place on the internet. This is thanks to Klaus Teuber, who redesigned the game for PC and mobile phones. Catan has encountered many expansions since its original design, all of which have been incorporated into its online version. The game takes place on the island of Catan, and players take the role of settlers. In this case, they can either play against a group of friends or AI opponents. 

Players create settlements, roads and cities that connect them as they occupy the island. The board representing the island is sectioned in hexagonal tiles for different types of land. There are resource cards depicting each land type and the kind of resources they produce. A six-sided dice is used to determine what number of cards a player gets. Players have to spend resources in order to build their settlements. For those new to the hobby, the game remains a steadfast experience as it can be enjoyed even when new to the genre.

1. Ticket to Ride 

Ticket to Ride gives players a virtual train ride across the globe within the shortest time possible. The game is available on several digital platforms, with the online version sharing the same operative functions as the physical edition. Players embark on a train adventure where they use collected train cards to claim major railway routes.

Typically, the game offers variant gameplay options. These include one-person matches against four AI opponents and virtual matches against random online players or friends with the Ticket to Ride app. Players can conduct in-game purchases that allow them to expand their maps of Asia, Europe, India, the UK, Switzerland, and many more. The game begins when players receive four Train cards and three Destination cards. For each turn, a player is required to choose between:

• Drawing two Railway cards from the draw piles
• Drawing three extra Destination tickets to use and keep only one
• Use their already acquires a collection of Railway cards to various routes on the board  

Similarly, players can claim any routes on the board that have not yet been claimed, whether or not the routes help complete their destination ticket. However, doing this does not help them get to their destination, therefore not adding to the score points. The game seems a bit complex but is worth a try to those who appreciate a good challenge.

Which games from the list above do you think every tabletop fan should play? Share your pick with us in the comments below or over on our socials here!