Online group games can give you the freedom to be yourself and explore different personalities in an exciting, yet safe environment. This gives players the space, comfort, and anonymity to freely explore new games either with peers or strangers. Check out our list of thrilling group games online based on the classics you may already know.
🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Group Board Games Online
In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: BOARD GAMES ON SWITCH | DIGITAL BOARD GAMES | BOARD GAMES ON STEAM | iOS BOARD GAMES | ANDROID BOARD GAMES | TABLETOP SIMULATOR GAMES
Codenames Online
Players: 2-8
Playing time: 15 minutes
Age: 14+
If you’re a fan of wordplay, then Codenames won’t disappoint. It is a fantastic online multiplayer board game that is not only fun but pretty easy to learn. To play with friends, simply create a room and send the link to your opponents, and join the video call.
Tantamount to the Codenames board game, red and blue team members must attempt to uncover their agents’ cards. Team members will be able to see a board with 25 cards marked with a word. Designated spymasters can see the location of the red and blue cards and offer clues with the goal of their teams’ choosing the cards. The first team to successfully uncover all of its agents’ cards are the champions.
What we liked
Codenames is an awesome game for large groups of non-gamers as playability is easy to grasp and for a group challenge, it offers a good amount of competition and cooperation between players. This online version is becoming super popular.
What could be better
Players are at risk of a bit of confusion, as there are barely any instructions given at the start. To have optimal enjoyment from Codenames Online, players should be aware of how to play the board game version first too.
Battleship War Multiplayer
Players: 2
Playing time: 30 minutes
Age: 8+
Battleship War Multiplayer online sees players racing to sink their opponent’s ships. In this online version, you can play with friends or easily find random opponents. All players have an ocean grid map and should position their ships where they would like on the grid.
Players take turns hitting one another’s ships by saying out loud the grid coordinates they wish to attack. The main objective is to sink all of your opponent’s ships and when the ship matches the called-out position, it takes a hit. Players that participate regularly, can be awarded coins to trade for emojis and custom-made avatars.
What we liked
Battleship is a game dedicated to using your memory but also a fun guessing game that is easy to learn for all age demographics and non-gamers. The graphics are pretty cool and this online version offers a ton of levels. It’s also possible to play solo against the computer, or on a mobile phone.
What could be better
Unless you’re a super fan of Battleship (and they have plenty of variations to enjoy), you probably won’t find a ton of replayability in this online version.
Monopoly Online
Players: 2-8
Playing time: 180 minutes
Age: 8+
Monopoly is a super popular game and it feels like it’s been around forever. The old classic version can become a bit mundane if you’ve been playing it for years, so luckily there are an array of choices now when it comes to online versions of the famous game.
There are tons of ways to play Monopoly games online, and players can choose from different boards, dice, and counters which keeps the game interesting. There is also a version of Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition, made specifically for iPhones, as well as versions designed for Android.
The sites are usually set up for up to six players and have a feature that invites Facebook friends. Some of the games are platform-specific, with downloadable options for video game consoles as well as phones and tabletop simulators.
What we liked
We like that there are plenty of options available for this game. For young people, it may seem unexciting to play the old classic, but with these modern versions allowing players to choose various boards and styles of play, it can become more creative.
What could be better
You may find yourselves scrambling for the rules every so often. The issue with Monopoly is that it is so famous and has developed so many house rules that if you don’t know your opponents, the chances are you were brought up on different rules.
Guess Who?
Players: 2-8
Playing time: 20 minutes
Age: 8+
Guess Who? Jumps from the 70s into the digital realm! With multiplayer and solo modes, this version is a ton of fun, even if we used to love slapping those plastic keys down in reality.
When enjoying Guess Who? Online with friends, players can create a private room and send the link and password to their opponents. Each player has a character and the opposing players should guess who they are, by using a variety of questions. Once a player responds to a question, the program will automatically eliminate the specific options. It’s a straightforward game and easy enough to enjoy in solo mode.
What we liked
Guess Who? reminds us of the simplicity we enjoyed with board games at the end of the last century. It can be enjoyable for kids but there’s still something about Guess Who? that we’ll always go back to and go back for another game.
What could be better
As far as deduction games go, we were pretty impressed with the digital version but ultimately it’s better for groups of children or young adults.
All Bad Cards
Players: 4-50
Playing time: 45 minutes
Age: 18+
All Bad Cards is tantamount to Cards Against Humanity, basically a clone that works like the classic game, and includes an array of equally horrific cards. Players can either create a room with friends or join other rooms and play with strangers. You can even enjoy a challenge with solely AI competitors.
In each round, a player will ask a question using a black card, then all opponents will choose a white card to submit the most hilarious or inappropriate answer. The player who asked the question will choose which white card is their favorite answer.
What we liked
Providing all players let go of their inhibitions and appreciate the banter then it can be a game of endless amusement. The rules are simple and ultimately it’s not hugely competitive as plenty of laughs can be enjoyed.
What could be better
This type of game can be a risk when played with people you don’t know well or who have strong ‘politically correct’ beliefs. Having said this, we imagine most players check the rules before they begin so the ‘stranger version’ can still be a hoot!
Taboo
Players: 4-10
Playing time: 20 minutes
Age: 12+
Taboo is a fun word game based around teams having players describing a term that must be guessed by their team members without them using any similar listed words to help them. The taboo words are terms that would usually be used to explain the keyword, making this part the biggest challenge.
There are a couple of different ways to enjoy this game online with friends; LINGO-TABOO is a cool option that is available in 6 different languages. It is best played over Zoom and includes a timer. Simply click the instructions button for more info when you arrive on their website. There is also a digital version of Taboo named eTABU that is available for smartphones and PCs, best played on Zoom too. It is also possible to create your own unique version with a slideshow template.
What we liked
Taboo has been around for a while but it still has great replayability value. It was an awesome tool to use during lockdowns as a way to have socially-distanced meet-ups with friends and the possibilities are endless.
What could be better
Non-creative types may struggle as the game definitely requires some imagination to get your point across. In some cases, we found it is actually an excellent game to perfect these skills and play with the whole family.
Ticket to Ride
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 30-60 minutes
Age: 10+
Ticket to Ride is another aging, yet well-established game that still holds optimal value. If you’ve played the board game version you’ll know that participants build a rail track that connects two random destinations.
The digital version of this train-themed game includes tutorials to make life easier for non-gamers and excellent instructions on how to get started. There is a Pass-and-Play mode that enables players to enjoy the game with up to four other peers or strangers.
What we liked
The Days of Wonder website is super clear and easy to navigate which made playing a total pleasure. Another nice touch is that players have the option of using various maps such as Europe, Switzerland, Asia, and Nordic Countries. We are impressed by the graphics too!
What could be better
We found that it works well with young groups and is very well-adapted for children but as an adult group, we are happy to play a few times and move on to something different.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: BEST TICKET TO RIDE EXPANSIONS | 5 GAMES LIKE TICKET TO RIDE
Pandemic
Players: 2-5
Playing time: 45 minutes
Age: 8+
It felt necessary to include Pandemic in this list. As a cooperative game, it rates pretty highly and is fantastic for enhancing your teamwork skills.
The online version on Board Game Arena depicts several major population centers, and players can use a maximum of four actions to move between cities, treat the infected, find a cure, or construct a research station. The objective is for each participant to assume a role and collaborate with their group to prevent a worldwide epidemic. The digital version is available on numerous platforms as well as on smartphones and video game consoles.
What we liked
The setting is impressive and we enjoyed the role-playing aspect, which works just as well while playing online. It is interesting that the game was created before the recent real-life pandemic, allowing us to view everything from a hypothetical stance, but with real-life experiences.
What could be better
Gamers who don’t appreciate reminders of 2020 may get less enjoyment out of the game. The website offers tutorials but we found it a little slow and glitchy, which we’re sure will improve over time.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: BEST PANDEMIC EXPANSIONS | 5 GAMES LIKE PANDEMIC
Scattergories
Players: 2-6
Playing time: 30 minutes
Age: 12+
Scattergories is a perfect game for any group, young or old! It is easy and simple to follow, but one that keeps the wheels of your imagination spinning. The classic board game includes lists, and a timer, however, all you need for the digital version is a list of categories and a way to random letter generator, easily found online.
During the game, each player completes a category list with answers that start with the same letters, and providing no other player chooses the same as your answer, you are awarded points for that round. To play Scattergories via Zoom, you can use ScattergoriesOnline and share your screen with your opponents.
What we liked
The website functions well and automatically chooses letters, prompts players, and uses a timer. It also has a cool feature that can generate prompts in several languages.
What could be better
It’s undeniably a game of fun and creativity, however, it feels as though the interactive aspect of the game during scoring phases can sometimes result in pointless and picky arguments over word choices. Of course, you could keep this light-hearted though.
Pictionary
Players: 3-16
Playing time: 90 minutes
Age: 12+
Pictionary is an online board game, perfect for groups, and is also child-friendly. There are a couple of different ways to play and Drawize is an excellent option for a platform that allows you to enjoy a multiplayer online version of the famous game.
Players can create a private room and simply take turns creating their masterpieces while their opponents guess the drawings. Another way to play is by using a digital whiteboard feature in Zoom which essentially offers the same options.
What we liked
We love that it is family-friendly and is a more fun way of playing charades. You can play this game simply with a pen and paper but what we like about this is that you can have a fun socially-distanced game too, making the online version worth our time.
What could be better
Obviously, without satisfactory drawing skills, you may not excel in this game. The major drawback is that since the original was produced the game has plenty of competitors that you may find have done it better.
Wrap-Up
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best group board games online! There are new online versions of your favorite classic board games popping up all the time. Let us know what you think of this list and if you have played any of the games yet. Drop a comment below and share your thoughts! We’d love to hear from you.
Growing up in a rainy old English city allowed plenty of time for board games with the family. Whether it was an afternoon Dominion marathon or a rivalry-fueled round of Catan with my brothers, there was always time to get to know the latest board games. Today, I have a continuous thirst to attempt the newest and most challenging games available.