This is a list of tabletop & video games that you can play at no cost. The games are ones that are referenced either in Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop or in an article that was posted on this site.
View tabletop games only
View video games only
| 3-to-15 | Marc LeBlanc‘s version of Tic-Tac-Toe. (Pencil & paper tabletop game) | |
| Agar.io | A clever multi-player browser game that shows great game design doesn’t have to be epic in scale. | |
| Agon |
A tabletop game that is notable for being the first known one to use hexagonal game spaces. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Airborne in Your Pocket | Another variant of Zombie in my Pocket. The download requires creating a (free) BoardGameGeek account (which you should do anyway). (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Alquerque | This Middle Eastern game is the forerunner of Checkers (Draughts). Play an online version against the computer (scroll to the page’s bottom) or download a print & play file. (Browser and print & play versions of the tabletop game) | |
| Among Us | Among Us adapted tabletop social deduction mechanics to a video game. Available on many different platforms, including in a web browser. | |
| Backgammon | Note that you can play against the computer a guest, you do not need to create an account. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Bagh Guti (links to the right) |
An Indian “hunt” game that is played on an Alquerque board. The rules and board are available on the Cyningstan game site. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Balance of Power | Player a cold war super power (browser Windows emulator). Read more about the game and its designer in this post. | |
| Battlezone | Play the classic vector-graphics arcade game in a browser MAME emulator. Click on the “controls” icon in the bottom left of the game screen in order to see how to insert a coin, etc. | |
| Blueprint Billiards |
A billiards game simulator. (Browser video game) | |
| Brandub | An Irish “hunt” game belonging to the Tafl family of games. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Button Men | A great little dice game for two players from James Ernest & Cheapass Games. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Canabalt | A side-scroller in which you see how far you can run (cf. Jetpack Joyride). (Browser video game) | |
| Carcassonne | Play the tile-laying game at Brettspielwelt (link to the left) or try the clone version at Kongregate. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Cathedral | Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop comes with a copy of Cathedral that you can cut out or photocopy. Find out more about that game and where it can be purchased at its publisher’s website. (Tabletop game) | |
| Checkers (Draughts) | Play online against a computer AI. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Chess | Play online against a computer AI. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Chess960 | This Chess variant was created by Bobby Fischer as a way of breaking free from rote play. This website supports standard Chess and several variants (including Chess960) against humans or a computer AI. (Browser version of a Chess variant) | |
| Coin Age |
A strategic tabletop micro-game for two players. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Contract Bridge |
Four-person playing card game where you work with a partner to capture tricks (Browser game version of the playing card game). | |
| Conway’s Game of Life |
A “sandbox” game that simulates cells growing and dying in a petri dish. (Browser video game) | |
| Cribbage | A playing card game dating back to the early 17th century. (Browser version of the tabletop game, requires Java) | |
| d20 System | An open-source RPG system developed by Wizards of the Coast for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons. | |
| Deluxe Pool | A billiards game simulator. (Browser video game) | |
| Diplomacy | There a number of websites that host games of Diplomacy and its variants. A couple of the best are webDiplomacy (link to the left) and PlayDiplomacyOnline. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Dominion | This is the game that originated the “deck building” craze. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Dungeonquest in my Pocket | A variant of Zombie in my Pocket. The download requires creating a (free) BoardGameGeek account (which you should do anyway). (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Egyptian Rat Screw | A playing card game with a “slap” mechanic. | |
| Fairy Tale in my Pocket | Another variant of Zombie in my Pocket. The download requires creating a (free) BoardGameGeek account (which you should do anyway). (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Farmville 2 | The farming simulation social game that launched a gold rush of Facebook game development. (Browser game) | |
| Five Card Draw | Your basic poker game. (Browser version of the tabletop game) | |
| Fox and Hounds | A “hunt” game that is played on a Chess board.The fox is trying to move across the board and occupy one of the squares from which one of the hounds started. (Browser version of the tabletop game) | |
| Full Throttle | A point-and-click adventure game by Lucas Arts. (Browser-based DOS emulator) | |
| Go | The link to the left takes you to a site where you can play a browser version of the game against an AI opponent. Visit the American Go Association for other play options (AIs, online human opponents, in-person human opponents). (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Grand Theft Auto | Play the game that launched the franchise. (Browser-based DOS emulator) | |
| Hive | Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop comes with a copy of Hive that you can cut out or photocopy. Find out more about that game and where it can be played online or purchased physically at its publisher’s website. (Tabletop game) | |
| Hut | Reiner Knizia describes this game in his classic book, Dice Games Properly Explained. (DIY tabletop game) | |
| Janggi (links to the right) |
Korean Chess. Rules and printable board & pieces. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Jetpack Joyride | A fun little side-scroller (cf. Canabalt). The link to the left is for the Facebook version of the game. Visit the publisher’s website for free iPhone/iPad, Android, Vita and Windows 8 versions. (Browser & other platforms video game) | |
| Kill Doctor Lucky | A Cheapass game that serves as a kind of prequel to Clue/Cluedo. See Crab Fragment Labs for other free print & play Cheapass games. (Print & play tabletop game). | |
| Kingdom Rush |
A fantasy-themed tower defense game. (Browser video game) | |
| Lord of the Fries | A Cheapass game where you run an undead fast food restaurant. See Crab Fragment Labs for other free print & play Cheapass games. (Print & play tabletop game). | |
| Magic: the Gathering | Play the collectible card game online. | |
| Master of Orion | A classic, open-ended strategy video game (Browser DOS emulator) | |
| Misère Chess | A version of chess in which your goal is to lose all your pieces. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Monopoly | If you somehow got through childhood having never played this game, you can play a free online version. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Marrakech | Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop comes with a copy of Marrakech that you can cut out or photocopy. Find out more about that game and where it can be purchased at its publisher’s website. (Tabletop game) | |
| Neptune’s Pride | A multiplayer, science fiction strategy game. (Browser video game) | |
| NetHack | This dungeon crawl “Rogue-like” game has been in continuous development since 1987 and provides incredibly rich gameplay. (Video game, many different platforms including Mac, Linux, Windows, and Internet) | |
| Nine Men’s Morris | An interesting traditional game that includes piece placement, movement, and “teleportation.” The link to the left is for a print & play version of the game, click here to play against a computer opponent. (Print & play and browser versions of the tabletop game) | |
| Octodad |
A third-person 3D game (created by DePaul University game development students) whose major challenge is simply managing to control the octopus avatar in order to move place to place. (Windows & Macintosh video game) | |
| Old Maid | Don’t get stuck with the Old Maid. (Playing card game) | |
| Pac-Man | Play the classic arcade game in your browser. (Browser video game) | |
| Pachisi | The national game of India. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Pente | Play the five-in-a-row abstract strategy game against an AI or human opponents. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Penultima | A Chess variant in which the players do not know the rules to the game. (Chess variant tabletop game) | |
| Pong | Play the first ever arcade game in your browser. (Browser video game) | |
| Reversi (Othello) | A classic board game. (Browser version of the tabletop game). | |
| Risk | Risk: Global Domination (Steam link to the left, also available for Android) is the brand name version of the game. WarGear is a worthwhile variant available in the browser. You might try downloading the Risk-clone Lux‘s free version (Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, & Android versions of the tabletop game). | |
| Rebuild | Rebuild and Rebuild 2 from designer Sarah Northway are Flash games that no longer function correctly. Your best option for playing the game is the commercial Steam or Android versions of the game. | |
| Rock-Paper-Scissors |
Play against The New York Times AI. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Rogue Fable III | A fantastic rogue-like. If you enjoy it, you might try Rogue Fable IV. (Browser game) | |
| Sanctum | An online collectible card game (with free starter pack) that I helped create back in the 1990s. (Windows video game) | |
| Save Doctor Lucky | A Cheapass sequel to Kill Doctor Lucky . See Crab Fragment Labs for other free print & play Cheapass games. (Print & play tabletop game). | |
| Scrabble | Play against other players or an AI. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Sea Battle | A web-based version of the pencil & paper tabletop game that Battleship was based upon. | |
| Settlers of Catan, The | Play the tabletop game that introduced the U.S. to Eurogames. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Shoot-Out | Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop comes with a copy of Shoot-Out that you can cut out or photocopy, courtesy of its designer, Reiner Knizia. (Tabletop game) | |
| Shoot-Out’s Core | Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop comes with a copy of Shoot-Out’s Core. It is a stripped down variant of Shoot-Out that the book uses in its discussion of core mechanics. (Tabletop game) | |
| Sid Meier’s Civilization | A turn-based strategy classic. (Browser based Windows Emulator) | |
| Sid Meier’s Civilization II | The follow up to Civilization. (Browser based Windows Emulator) | |
| SimCity | The original “sandbox” game. (Browser based Windows Emulator) | |
| Six-Sided Streets | A “roll & write” style video game. (Browser game) | |
| Slapjack | A children’s playing card game that incorporates simultaneous physical action (i.e., card slapping). (Playing card game) | |
| Snakes & Ladders | A traditional Indian game that was re-themed into Chutes & Ladders by Milton Bradley. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Spades | A classic trick-taking card game. (Playing card game) | |
| Spoons | A card passing playing card game that has players making a simultaneous grab for spoons. There is a card-matching playing card game of the same name that also has players grabbing spoons. (Playing card game) | |
| Sprouts | A game by John Conway & Michael S. Paterson. (Pencil & paper tabletop game) | |
| Stock Exchange | A 1936 expansion for Monopoly. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Stratego | A classic game of hidden information. Play online for free play against humans and AI opponents. Also available as a mobile app purchase. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Switch | A great game by Robert Abbott that utilizes a grid of playing cards as a game board. It features an innovative mechanic for forming player alliances. (Playing card game) | |
| Tabletop Billiards | A game by Walter Joris whose rules are included in Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop . (DIY tabletop game) | |
| Tactical Assassin 3 | Assassinate stick figures. You can find all of Simon Hason’s games here. You may also want to try his Weapon and Sierra 7 games. (Browser video game) | |
| Tetris | A classic time waster. (Browser video game) | |
| Three Musketeers | An asymmetrical abstract strategy game. Play it by drawing a 5×5 grid and using coins, checker pieces, poker chips, or other tokens as game pieces. (DIY tabletop game) | |
| Tic-Tac-Toe | Relive your childhood by playing against an AI that lets you win. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Ticket to Ride | A great Euro-style game designed by Alan R. Moon. Create a player account (link to the left) to play the online version for free (you will need to create an account). (Browser version of the tabletop game) | |
| Tiny Epic Kingdoms |
A “4X” (eXpand, eXplore, eXploit, & eXterminate… hmmm, shouldn’t that be “4E”?) tabletop micro-game for two to five players. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Tiny Islands | A “roll & write” style video game. (Browser game) | |
| Town |
A Twine-based interactive fiction (text adventure game) by Anna Anthropy that was inspired by Tim Sweeney’s ZZT. (Browser video game) | |
| Tower, The | The Tower is dice game from Reiner Knizia‘s classic book, Dice Games Properly Explained. The rules are included in Learning Video Game Design on the Tabletop . (DIY tabletop game) | |
| Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe | This version of Tic-Tac-Toe involves playing nine games simultaneously. The board that is played upon each turn is determined by the other player’s previous move. (Browser version of tabletop game) | |
| Ultimatum Game, The | An economics game theory exercise. (DIY tabletop game) | |
| Westerado | A western-themed adventure game. (Browser video game) | |
| World of Warcraft | You can try out this online persistent world game using a free trial period. (Windows & Macintosh video game) | |
| World’s Most Boring Tower Defense Game, The |
This “game” is intended to demonstrate how a video game’s “real time” action actually takes place over a series of discrete turns. It also is example of what a digital prototype might entail. (Browser video game) | |
| X-COM: UFO Defense | A video game from the mid-1990s that combines real time resource management with turn-based strategy/tactics. (Browser-based DOS simulator) | |
| Xiangqi | Play the Chinese version of Chess against a computer AI or download a print & play copy of the game. See also Janggi. (Browser version) | |
| Yacht | A classic “roll & write” game. Yacht is the original public domain version of the game that Hasbro sells as Yahtzee. Download a printable score sheet. (Print & play dice game) | |
| Yut Nori | A traditional Korean “cross & circle” game. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| Zamboni Doodle |
A Google “Doodle” in which players control a Zamboni. (Browser video game) | |
| Zombie in my Pocket |
A single player tile-laying tabletop game. (Print & play tabletop game) | |
| ZZT | A quirky adventure game. (Browser-based MS-DOS video game emulator) |