Board games have always been a fantastic way to connect with friends, and I have fond memories of Monopoly myself. However, finding the time and space for a physical game can be a challenge these days. Luckily, digital board games offer a modern solution.

The Digital Age of Board Gaming

Board game video games have existed for years, but they've truly blossomed recently. They’ve been coming out on consoles for years, with board games like the Game of Life coming out on Playstation as early as early as 1998. Even the Gameboy Advance had Chess! While they did come out from time to time, they were rare, and for good reason. They didn’t sell as well as actual games and had limited reach and potential compared to other genres.

Game of Life (PS1 game)

However, board games today are a celebrated genre. On Steam, games like Tabletop Simulator have a massive fanbase to draw on, with Steam offering a wide array of board games to play, all just a search away. Plus, you didn’t even need to pay for some of them! Some games like Risk: Global Domination operate on a free-to-play model, lowering the barrier of entry and adding a variety of options that a physical board game can’t compete with.

Risk: Global Domination

Options, Options

That really is the biggest benefit of board gaming online. The sheer number of options available cannot be understated.

Do you want to play alone? Board game-inspired games like For The King II and WilderMyth can scratch that itch in no time, and award-winning tabletop-inspired games like Baldur’s Gate 3 are always great choices. Want something to play with friends? Games like Uno and Heroes of Normandie will scratch that itch in no time.

Baldur’s Gate 3 | Courtesy of fextralife

And if you’re really in the mood for something different? How about trying 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel? These complicated board games are easier to learn in the video game format due in part to player-friendly tutorials and accessible rulebooks to help guide you along a real game. Even more in-depth experiences like Blood Bowl are far easier to play due to how the game automates dice rolls and rulings

5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel

All this helps boil down digital board games as a surprisingly accessible medium for newcomers.

Accessibility and Convenience

Accessibility really is the best reason to try your hand at the genre. The easy and quality of life improvements are hard to match.

Take a real board game, for instance. You’d have to take care of the box, the board, and its pieces, set them up properly, and keep track of them during the game. You have to have the space to play it, the time to run the game, and the presence of mind to decide on possible rule issues. It’s a fun pastime but one that always takes a considerable amount of time to lay out and play.

Board Gaming (Concordia) | Courtesy of Karthik Balakrishnan

Contrast that to the perks a digital board game can give. Multiplayer at will? Check. Online? Additional functionalities like random matchmaking, editable house rules, and different maps? Check. These things may seem small, but they add immense replay value to an already replayable game genre. What would’ve been a physical time sink is instead spent on time actually getting to play.

If you’re in doubt about all these benefits, simply check out a digital board game for yourself! Maximum Apocalypse: The Video Game finds its way on Steam and on Kickstarter. Based on the cooperative board game of the same name, its digital format will help ease you into the core gameplay loop. 

With tutorials to look forward to, a smooth single-player and multiplayer experience to enjoy, and a variety of ways to customize your experience, this game is the first easy step you can take to start enjoying the genre.

What are you waiting for? Try your hand at a digital board game today! Connect with others online and play your favorite board games on the web. The convenience will surprise you, and make enjoying the classic experiences even better!