Board games have been a staple of entertainment for a very long time. Their replay-ability and multi-player nature make them great for killing boredom. A lot of great board games have made their way onto iOS and the iPad, which can bring the same sort of nostalgia without worrying about losing all the pieces. Here is our list of the best iPad board games!
If you’re rocking an Android device, you can check out the best Android board games on our sister site!
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Carcassonne
[Price: $9.99/In-App Purchases]
Carcassonne is a relatively newer board game as it only came out about 15 years ago. Its unique style allows you to build the game board tile by tile as you unlock new things and score points. It can be played offline with friends or family and there’s an online component if you just want some random people to play with. The are a ton of expansions to add new features to the game if you want them, although they do cost extra. It’s a fun game and it even has Game Center support.
Download from iTunes Now
Catan
[Price: $4.99/In-App Purchases]
Catan is a resource-building board game where the point is to get the biggest armies, build the biggest roads, and colonize the most settlements. It’s played with up to four players and you can play with your friends offline or play against random people online if you want. Much like Carcassonne, there are in-app purchases for expansions if you want more content. It’s a solid option and a unique board game experience.
Download from iTunes Now
Domino Drop
[Price: $1.99]
Fans of Tetris will find a familiar and satisfying experience with Domino Drop. Falling dominos must be matched with like colors in order to prevent the board from stacking up, but the further along you get, the more challenging it becomes. The gameplay is beautifully-matched with pleasant music and sound effects that accompany each tactile action within the game. It’s that pairing that made it hard for me to put this game down! This is one of those iPad board games that makes you want to physically grab the game pieces through the screen. Get to matching!
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Elder Signs: Omens HD
[Price: $6.99/In-App Purchases]
Elder Signs: Omens HD is unique on this list because it’s one of the few single player games available and it’s also a dice-based game. The premise of this game is to build a team of investigators, search for clues, and take on the bad guys. It makes a few tweaks from the original board game to help speed things along and make the game more difficult. It is intensely difficult sometimes and, of course, relies on luck of the draw with dice rolls. It’s also a ton of fun.
Download from iTunes Now
Exploding Kittens
[Price: $1.99/In-App Purchases]
Remember the Kickstarter card game that raised nearly $9 Million (not a typo) from backers? Exploding Kittens is that card game, and it is now an iPad game! This turn-based card game puts you in rotation with other players, in-person on separate devices, or online with players around the world.
The goal is to avoid drawing the exploding kitten card which will, hence the name, explode and put you out of the game. Fortunately, you can diffuse the exploding kitten by distracting it with laser pointers, catnip and more so that it doesn’t explode on you. The gameplay and hilarious concept and design of every card in this game make it my favorite on this list by far! If you’re looking for a game to add some life to your party, give this one a go for sure!
Download from iTunes Now
Forbidden Desert
[Price: $6.99]
Unlike many board games, Forbidden Desert pairs you up with a team of players to accomplish a goal instead of putting you against them. You and your team of explorers are stranded in a desert, needing to uncover the missing parts of your ship. If you can’t, you’ll either die by the storm, or die of dehydration from the perils of the desert sun. Fans of the original board game, created by Matt Leacock (also the creator of the popular board game, Pandemic,) will love how the iPad version enhances the experience through solid gameplay and a familiar experience. Don’t take this game lightly – it can be quite hard. Make sure you choose your team wisely!
Download from iTunes Now
Neuroshima Hex
[Price: $4.99]
Neuroshima Hex is a popular and highly rated board game. The game play is a sort of mixture of the board game Risk and a survival game as you lead armies against up to four other players to see who can gain the most influence and, well, survive. The players can be human or AI so you can play alone or with friends as well as online play. It also features three difficulties, and extra content via in-app purchases.
Download from iTunes Now
Talisman
[Price: $6.99/In-App Purchases]
Talisman is a very interesting board game because aspects of it actually play closer to a pen-and-paper RPG than an actual board game. In this title, you choose between 14 characters and then you must race your opponents through the game. Each character has specific strengths and weaknesses. The winner is the first to reach the destination and activate the spell that takes everyone else out. It’s involved, includes offline multiplayer and online multiplayer, and the in-app purchases contain character packs and other expansion items.
Download from iTunes Now
Ticket to Ride
[Price: $6.99/In-App Purchases]
Ticket to Ride is another builder-style board game where you must race other players to build the longest train routes. There are a limited number of tracks and the scores are judged once the final route has been claimed. The game comes with online and offline multiplayer support and you can play against the AI if you want to. The in-app purchases include various maps to give you more options to play.
Download from iTunes Now
Tsuro: The Game of the Path
[Price: $4.99]
Truro: The Game of the Path is a unique sort of gameplay. The premise is pretty simple, but playing against up to 8 other players either in-person or online makes it quite challenging. The goal is to lay tiles that extend your character’s path, taking them through as many loops as possible before running off the board. The tough part is that each tile that is played will have an effect on every player, either derailing or aiding in their master plan. Choose your placements carefully! All-in-all, this game takes the cake when it comes to overall experience. From the second you open the box to start the game, you’re engaged with smooth 3D animations. Definitely worth the download.
Download from iTunes Now
Wrap up
So there you have it. Ten of the best iPad board games full of strategy, great gameplay and even humor! If we missed any of your favorites, drop us a line in the comments below! If you want to stay up to date on the latest news, you can find our iPad news coverage here!
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