Games to Play Remotely

Posted by Erica Sanders on

Board games are such a great way to connect with people and spend time together, but board gaming while social distancing is difficult if you don’t live with your board gaming friends. Here’s a list of games that can be played remotely, separated out by how many copies of the game are required. Some games can be organized by a host with one copy of the game, others, each group playing would need a copy of the game in order to play well.
Only One Copy of Game Required:
Codenames - The host would need to have a camera pointed at the 5x5 grid of word options and the two spymasters would need to be able to see the key card.
Tiny Towns - Players without the copy of the game would need other pieces to stand in for the pieces in the game, so this one would take some creativity. Each player would also need to see the cards for each game, so a picture would need to be circulated, or a camera pointed on the cards would work too.
Pandemic - The host would need to have the camera pointed at the board, and each person would need a picture of their role. The host would need to move all pieces and draw cards.
Forbidden Island - The host would need to have the camera pointed at the board, and each person would need a picture of their role. The host would need to move all pieces and draw cards.
Forbidden Desert - The host would need to have the camera pointed at the board, and each person would need a picture of their role. The host would need to move all pieces and draw cards.
Forbidden Sky - The host would need to have the camera pointed at the board, and each person would need a picture of their role. The host would need to move all pieces and draw cards.
7 Wonders Duel - The host would need to have a camera pointed at the board, and move cards for the other player.
Scotland Yard - The host would need to move everyone around the board.
Just One - The guesser would need to avert their eyes while the rest of the group are shown the card for that round. The players (except the guesser) would then write their word down and reveal it to the camera. Duplicates would be removed, and then the guesser would be able to uncover their eyes and begin guessing.
Megaland - The host would need a camera pointed at the cards available for purchase. Each player would need to keep track of their own lives and coins with tokens at home. The host would reveal monsters from the deck and ask if anyone wants to retreat.
Incan Gold - The host would have to check in with everyone to see who is staying and who is going. This reveal would need to be simultaneous somehow.
Mysterium - The host would need to be the ghost player - the one who guides the game. They would need to put the camera on cards available and then as they’re assigning cards to each player, they would need to either take a picture of the cards and send it to a group chat identifying who is to receive each card, or hold each card up to the camera so people can see. This one may be difficult as the cards are very detailed, so it would be up to the ghost to not pick anything too tiny to focus on.
Splendor - The host would need a camera set up on the cards available to purchase. Each person at home would need a way to keep track of what gems and cards they own, unless the host can find a way to get all of that on the screen. The host would need to move the pieces around.
Carcassonne - The host would need a camera focused on the developing board. The host would need to draw tiles for each player and show the player what was drawn. Then the player can direct the host where they want the tile placed and where their meeple should go.
Spyfall - The host would need a camera focused on the board. Players would close their eyes and one at a time be revealed their card. Or the host could message each person their card, but it becomes more likely that the host would know who everyone is that way.
Wits & Wagers - The host’s camera would need to be focused on the board. The host reads out the card. Players can write down or message their answers to the host, who will then write them down and place them on the board. Bidding would be revealed simultaneously.
Labyrinth - The host would need to move everyone and the tiles around the board.
Boggle - The host would need a camera pointed at the Boggle board.
Corinth - Those without a copy of the game would need a picture/print out of the player sheets and some dice. (From BGG) Focus the host's camera on the harbor. The rest plays normally. Players need to make sure they make it clear when they complete a public section.
Railroad Ink - Those without a copy of the game would need a picture/print out of the player sheets and the person with the game would need to roll the dice for each person.
Brikks - Those without a copy of the game would need a picture/print out of the player sheets and some dice.
Qwixx - Those without a copy of the game would need a picture/print out of the player sheets and the person with the game would need to roll the dice for each person.
Encore! - Those without a copy of the game would need a picture/print out of the player sheets and some dice.
Roll for It! - Easier if each person playing has 6 dice in their possession, but can be played with just the host’s dice. The host would need a camera on the available cards, and they would need to put dice on those cards for each player.
Cartographers - (from BGG) Focus the host's camera on the play-space. As the host draws the explore cards they hold them close to camera. Houserule Ambush/monster cards: hold up your map and allow the other players to pick where you add them.
That’s Pretty Clever - Those without a copy of the game would need a picture/print out of the player sheets and some dice.
Snake Oil - The host calls out the words for each player or sends a private message to each player with their word if trying to keep things secret. The players would then write each word down and cross words off as they are used.
Tokaido - The host would need to move everyone around the board and reveal cards.
Dead of Winter - The person running the game would have to carefully text pictures of cards picked up to each person without seeing them, or the group would have to agree to play as cooperatively as possible.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong - The host would need to take on the role of Forensic Scientist - the one who guides the game. They would also need to have a camera on all available evidence.
Escape: Zombie City - The host would need to move everyone around the board.
Takenoko - The host would need to move everyone around the board
Dungeons & Dragons - This along with many other role playing games can be played remotely with the host or DM moving players where they need to be.
Sherlock Homes: Consulting Detective - The host would need to read all of the cards, but other play would continue as normal.
The Isle of Cats - Focus the host's camera on the tile market. Any tiles pulled by other players would be pushed aside. This game can be played with one copy if all other players follow these directions set up by the creator of the game.
Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game - The host would need to read things off and perhaps share some information via video chat, but all other play could continue as normal.
Each Group Needs a Copy of the Game:
Villainous or any of its expansions - this could be played as normal but with extra communication about what cards are being used.
Sagrada - Focus the host's camera on the play space. Each person playing remotely would select from the dice available but pull from their own collection and have the host remove those dice from play.
Azul - Focus the host's camera on the play space. Each person playing remotely would need to match the tiles pulled each round (separating tiles by color before the game might be helpful). Any tiles pulled by other players would just be pushed aside.
Quacks of Quedlinburg - One person would need to have a camera on the game. All other play would continue as normal with people directing the host to move things around.
Tiny Towns - Each player would need to see the cards for each game, so a picture would need to be circulated, or a camera pointed on the cards would work too.
Apples to Apples - The person whose turn it is to choose their favorite would need to close their eyes while another person reads all of the options off.
Cards Against Humanity - The person whose turn it is to choose their favorite would need to close their eyes while another person reads all of the options off.
What Do You Meme? - The person whose turn it is to choose their favorite would need to close their eyes while another person reads all of the options off.
Boss Monster - Each person would build their own dungeon, and one person would have a camera pointed on the upcoming heroes so that everyone is aware.
Superfight - Before beginning each round, the fighters would need to be announced.
Kingdomino - Focus the host's camera on the tile market. Each person playing remotely would need to match the tiles pulled each round (separating tiles by number before the game might be helpful). Any tiles pulled by other players would just be pushed aside.
Taboo - This could be played normally just over voice chat or video chat.
Barenpark - Focus the host's camera on the tile market. Any tiles pulled by other players would be pushed aside.
Above and Below - A camera would need to be on the cards available for purchase. Game play could continue as normal other than that.
Castles of Burgundy - Focus the host's camera on the tile market. Each person playing remotely would need to match the tiles pulled each round. Any tiles pulled by other players would just be pushed aside.
The Taverns of Tiefenthal - A camera would need to be on the cards available for purchase as well as the monastery board. During the drafting sequence, each person would need to indicate in some way which dice are being passed. Or, the drafting sequence could be dropped for remote play.
Atelier: The Painter’s Studio - The host would need to have a camera on the play space, and players would direct them to place each player’s dice where indicated.
Century: Spice Road - A camera would need to be on the cards available for purchase. The host would need to move cards after each purchase.
Concordia - The host’s camera would need to be on the board and the host would need to move pieces and cards around.
Patchwork - Focus the host's camera on the tile market. Any tiles pulled by other players would be pushed aside.
Scythe - The host’s camera would need to be on the board and the host would need to move pieces around. Each person would likely need to set the game up and follow along as best as possible. Encounter cards would need to be skipped if drawn a second time in another player’s game.
Orleans - One person would need to have a camera on the game. All other play would continue as normal with people directing the host to move things around.
Suburbia - Focus the host's camera on the tile market. Any tiles pulled by other players would be pushed aside. There would need to be more communication and openness among the players since there are tiles that reap benefits depending on what everyone else has in their city.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Both players need a copy of the scenario they are playing. Both players need to manage the game state ( locations, clues, investigator movement ) but only one person manages the active encounter deck and any other special decks involved in the scenario.
KeyForge - Each player would need their own deck.

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