Computer adaptation of the popular board game from Days of wonder.
At first glance, the game will seem rather complicated, so it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the section tutorial, in which they will tell in detail and show all the rules of the game.
A game UPDATED With v1.6.0.424 before v1.6.2.453. The list of changes has not been published.
Ticket to Ride is a classic family board game. The main goal of the players is to travel around as many cities in North America as possible. By collecting different wagon cards and following the instructions indicated on them, players earn additional victory points, which in turn makes the long-awaited victory closer. Ticket to Ride is a family game with fairly clear rules that do not require long development. A huge plus of this boardgame is the ease of development and the "tension" of the gameplay. Despite the fairly simple rules, players have to make decisions every turn and think through their actions several moves ahead.
On a bad autumn evening, five old friends gathered in one of the rooms of the oldest and most closed club in the city. Each of them has come a long way to be here. They met on a special day... October 2, 1900 - 28 years have passed since the moment when the eccentric gentleman from London, Phileas Fogg, won a bet of 20,000 pounds that he would travel around the world in 80 days. At the time, the story was all over the newspapers around the world. The young people that have gathered today were studying together at the same university at that time. They were so struck by this story that they themselves made a bet - a bottle of claret will go to the one who first gets to the Le Procope restaurant in Paris. Every year they met again to make an even more interesting bet. And now their next adventure awaits. Bet: $1,000,000 to the winner. Objective: to visit the largest number of cities in the United States, traveling by rail in 7 days! The journey starts immediately.
The playing field is a map of North America. Cities are marked on it, and are interconnected by multi-colored lines. Players will have to travel along them, moving between cities and earning victory points. The path between different cities has different lengths. When a player travels from one city to another, he places trailer tokens on the field. The longer the route was, the more wagons must be set up. Each player is given the same number of wagons at the beginning of the game, and they do not replenish during the game. The longer the routes from these wagons are, the more points the player receives. Also in the game there are train maps, with their help, routes are laid. Each player at the beginning of the game receives 4 cards, then during the game, players can get new ones. Players also have travel ticket cards. They are also issued at the beginning of the game, and during the game they get. The ticket card shows two cities, if the player manages to build an unbreakable route between us, he gets extra points.
The game ends when one of the players has less than 2 trailer tokens left in his supply. After that, the players make the last move and count the points. In addition to the points already scored when laying the routes, the players count the points for the cards of the Tickets of the route in the player's hand. This is where the main intrigue lies, because. players do not know who had what tickets, and the situation in game points can change dramatically. The player who walked at the end, it turns out, laid routes exactly with his tickets, and scored more points in the end than others.
past Ticket to Ride you just can't get past. This game is a real masterpiece that will not leave anyone indifferent. It is suitable both for playing in the company of experienced board game players, it is suitable for playing in a family circle with children. It is very difficult to find a more interesting, exciting and versatile game.
With its digital adaptation, and suddenly the idea arose to compile your personal top of the best transfers of desktops to the other side of the screen. There are actually quite a few good adaptations: at first I wanted to make a top 5; then I realized that five is not enough, and swung at the top ten. But even there, doubts began to arise about who deserves to be on the list and who is not. Then he came up with another requirement - these should be games for mobile devices, because at home you can play the original, boxed version of the board game, but having a good time by playing a full-fledged game with a friend somewhere in a train car or even standing in line is expensive costs! By a strong-willed decision, I threw everything away, leaving only three games - but what! In each of them I played more than a dozen hours, and I do not regret a minute of the time spent. I recommend them to anyone who wants to stuff a box with a bunch of cards, chips and other components in their pocket and always have an interesting pastime option with them. An important feature is that all the games included in the selection are available both on iOS and Android, for tablets and phones. Links to pages in the relevant "markets" are attached.
Neuroshima Hex
That rare case when the digital version brings more pleasure than the desktop version: there are no beautiful plastic miniatures or drop dead beautiful and pleasant to the touch maps in the original, and it is much more convenient to leave the calculations of the sequence of units’ moves, applying effects and causing damage to the processor than to follow all this routine myself.
What is the game about? About the armed clashes of various factions in the post-apocalyptic world. We lay out hexagons on the field, representing various units, so that when it comes to a fight, few of ours die, many enemies, and so that someone else’s base grabs the most, since the goal of the game is to destroy it. Neuroshim is notable for its simple and logical, but at the same time incredibly deep gameplay. You need to think ahead here, because after laying out the next title, changing its position will be problematic (although it is possible under certain conditions). And a large number of abilities for units and a dozen dissimilar factions (alas, there are only 4 factions in the basic version, the rest can be purchased as add-ons) make the replayability of Neiroshima truly inexhaustible. I've played hundreds of games on the digital version, but it's still not boring. Perhaps it got a little boring and ceased to be perceived as a shiny little thing alluring with novelty, but it certainly did not get sick of it. One hundred percent hit!
Star Realms
A simple, colorful and fun deck building game funded by Kickstarter. The digital version is designed for two players, although the card original can be played by more people if you combine several basic sets.
The essence is simple: we play cards from our hand, attacking the enemy and earning resources to buy more powerful cards from the center of the field. The one who better balanced the composition of his deck, which is formed right in the course of the game, and managed to inflict a sufficient amount of damage on the opponent, while protecting himself from his attacks, is well done. They say that such gameplay is very similar to Ascension - I don’t know, because I haven’t played either the desktop or digital version: the art is embarrassing, although I may still get to it. Now the authors of Star Realms are creating another similar game - Epic, but it is still being prepared for release, and there are not even rumors about the digital version yet. Star Realms, on the other hand, is a definite hit for two players: fast, understandable, interesting!
Small World 2
Hi all! Below is a selection of the best board games that have been adapted for computers.
Carcassonne
Release date: 2007
Turn-based video game based on the board game of the same name. The player has a playing field with a set of chips and a deck of cards. In the game, we equip territories by placing cards of roads, monasteries or, for example, city walls on the field. We can also populate our possessions with vassals by placing knight, robber, sheriff and abbot chips. Proper distribution of cards and vassals leads to victory.
At the moment, three games of the Carcassonne series have been released on computers - these are Knights and Merchants, The New Kingdom, and The Age of Mammoths. Each of the games has its own gameplay features, but the gameplay is based on all the same rules as the famous board game that served as a prototype for them.
RISK: Factions
Release date: 2010
Genre: Strategy
"Risk" is a high-quality transfer of the famous board strategy game to personal computers. The players here are fighting for total power over the globe, and the gameplay itself is divided into several phases: recruiting and deploying troops, attacking, strengthening the defense. The more territories a player manages to capture, the more army he will have on the next turn. Of course, dice rolls (and here, as in the "board" to perform various actions, we roll dice) introduce a large amount of randomness into the gameplay.
There are five equally fun factions available in the game: zombies, yeti, US military, robots and fascist cats. Unfortunately, for the sake of balance, the factions do not have unique abilities. But their confrontation gives rise to a huge amount of selective humor that will not let you get bored throughout the game.
Memoir '44 Online
Release date: 2011
Genre: Turn-based strategy, simulation
A good online PC adaptation of the popular World War II-themed turn-based board game that takes you through the greatest battles of the biggest conflict in the history of mankind. A lot of different scenarios, which take an average of 15-20 minutes of time. At the same time, despite the short duration of the game, everything is played quite cheerfully. During one battle, the player will need to adapt to the changing state of affairs and try in every possible way to use the skills of the units, cards, as well as the features of the selected nation.
The game is distributed on a "pay and play" basis. After registration, you will be given 50 gold, while each battle will cost 2-3 "golds", after which the virtual wallet will have to be replenished. I am glad that for these first 50 gold you manage to fight enough battles to understand whether you will continue to play this project and whether it is worth “pouring” real money into it.
Elder Sign: Omens
Release date: 2011
Genre: Strategy
The computer version of the famous board game "Arkham Horror", designed for one player. Unlike the original "tabletop", the mechanics are simplified here, but characters from add-ons are added. The gameplay is based on dice rolls in order to obtain certain combinations. The entire game takes place in the universe of the writer Howard Lovecraft, where four heroes must stop the awakening of one of the ancient gods.
Unlike the original board game, this project has several modes that bring a tangible variety to the gameplay. In general, the game is not bad, but the element of chance plays a huge role here. It is not uncommon for a player to have a black streak, and literally every dice roll leads to the worst result. However, when the cubes fall “as they should”, at such moments you feel like a real strategist.
Ticket to Ride
Release date: 2012
Genre: Strategy
High-quality transfer of the famous "table" about the construction of railways in digital form. At first glance, the game seems quite simple - collect cards of cars of various colors for yourself and make routes between points while completing tasks. The longer the path, the more points you get. Just? Certainly! But there will be four of you on the field, and each of the players will have at least two tasks (of course, you will not know about the tasks of other players or the type of cards in their hands).
The game skillfully balances on the verge of greed and fear, when everyone has to predict the actions of opponents. It is not uncommon for an enemy to suddenly build up a vitally important path for you (by the way, you can do the same) and thereby confuse all your plans. An excellent project that does not require a lot of time, but at the same time it forces you to actively apply logic and tactics.
100% Orange Juice
Release date: 2013
Genre: Indie strategy
A turn-based online board game for 2-4 people about… luck, pain and humiliation! In this project, the element of chance is elevated to the absolute. Not only is the whole gameplay based on dice rolls, but the whole map is one "special" field with the ability to lose gold, get a random card, run into a boss or fly to the other end of the playing field. Fights here are held on the principle of "all or nothing".
Before the start of the game, each of the players draws a deck from the cards he has, which will then be mixed into one common pile. Then, during the game, they can be used (set a trap, heal your character, etc.). The main resource here is stars obtained in battles or on special panels. There are also very strong hyper cards, but they are expensive to use. As a result, everyone runs in a circle, completing tasks and getting new ones (for stars or for victories). In total, you need to complete 5 quests, which, due to the ruling randomness in the game, is very, very difficult to do.
Small World 2
Release date: 2013
Genre: Indie strategy
Excellent digital adaptation of the board game. In "Small World" there is an exciting gameplay and a minimum entry threshold (even a beginner can easily "do" a veteran here). One game is played by 2 to 5 people. At the beginning of the game, everyone chooses a race and receives a certain number of abilities, as well as creatures. Creatures are laid out on the field in turn. At the same time, you can occupy empty regions or knock out rival tokens from occupied ones. Each region brings one coin per turn. Whoever collects the most coins per game wins.
The project has several modes, and thanks to the large number of races and abilities, the replay value here is simply colossal. In technical terms, the game is thought out to the smallest detail, but it’s better to play against live opponents (fortunately, a party of 3-4 people gathers quickly), because. artificial intelligence here is only suitable for teaching beginners.
Space Hulk
Release date: 2013
A video game based on the Warhammer 40,000 game of the same name. The gameplay is very dynamic - each move must be correctly calculated, and the slightest mistake or unsuccessfully rolled dice can lead to big losses and even to the complete collapse of the mission. From its desktop counterpart, the game copied all 12 missions + 3 prequel missions. The mechanics of battles, tasks and other components are left unchanged, however, a certain tactical variety has been added to the computer version.
In general, we traditionally roll dice for a board game, move figures, use “action points”, etc. The games can be played for quite a long time, and in general the project is very hardcore, especially if you play as Terminators. All fans of complex tactical board games, as well as fans of the universe, are highly recommended for review.
Talisman: Digital Edition
Release date: 2014
A turn-based fantasy-style adventure video game based on the fourth edition of the famous board game of the same name. We, as one of the 12 heroes, must get to the center of the playing field and get a Powerful Artifact. You need to do this faster than your opponents. Despite the huge weight of randomness in the game (after all, the main part of the actions depends on the roll of the die), the player's decisions here also play a significant role.
The playing field is a plexus of three circular paths divided into locations. The movement is based on a roll of the die. On the locations there are places that give a fixed effect. Battles with opponents are also built on dice rolls and taking into account various parameters obtained from equipment, allies, etc. A long movement along the "ring" will allow you to accumulate more "clothes" (or lose everything and start moving again) to pass the guards on the way to the artifact, but if you delay, the enemies will get there earlier, and you will lose.
The Witcher Adventure Game
Release date: 2014
Genre: Card
Card strategy based on the universe of the famous Witcher with turn-based battles and role-playing game elements. The game is designed for four players, while each of the participants will take on the role of one of the famous heroes, such as the witcher Geralt himself, the sorceress Triss Merigold, Gerald's friend the bard Buttercup or the dwarf warrior Yarpen Zigrin. Together, players will have to fight monsters and complete various quests, while the gameplay is based on traditional tabletop dice throwing, step-by-step movement around the playing field, etc.
In general, the project should appeal even to those who are not too keen on board games. The rules can be mastered from the first or second time, and besides, the games here do not drag out and last about half an hour on average.
Table Top Simulator
Release date: 2015
Genre: Indie, Simulation, Strategy
Simulator of classic board games such as checkers, backgammon, chess, various card games, etc. At the same time, if someone likes other entertainment, then the developers do not forbid inventing their own games, setting their own rules within this kind of physical game “sandbox”.
The project is focused more on multiplayer mode, in which up to 8 people can take part in the game at the same time (if it is allowed by the rules of a particular game). However, for fans of single games there will be entertainment here (for example, solo solitaire). The features of the project also include the presence of voice chat, the presence of realistic physics of objects, the ability to look at the game table by rotating the camera 360 degrees, etc.
Armello
Release date: 2015
Genre: Role-playing, adventure strategy
A video game that combines elements of board games, RPGs and card tactics. The game has several characters with their own characteristics, many cards that can be used at the right time to gain an advantage, and the main task of the party is to seize the throne of the king (and there are several ways to win).
The project is distinguished by a well-developed world (on which you can write a whole cycle of good fantasy), interesting game mechanics and an unusual combat system tied to cards with throwing dice. The fabulous graphical style of the game also captivates. Traditionally for board games, the influence of randomness is high here, and often you will literally pray that something worthwhile will fall out.
Blood Bowl 2
Release date: 2015
Genre: Strategy, sports
An excellent project based on a board game set in the Warhammer universe and combining elements of a sports simulator and turn-based tactics, where every move has to be carefully thought out. In essence, the game is an American football simulator, but with its own rules and a huge amount of randomness, as well as with elves, orcs, gnomes, skeletons, vampires and other fantasy races.
The gameplay includes not only the fight for the ball, but also the need to block (or even better injure) the players of the opposing team. Each of the races has its own unique skills and features, the proper use of which leads to victory. Tactically, everything here is on top - many options for actions, captures, surprise strikes and power moves, which, moreover, look great visually.
Chaos Reborn
Release date: 2015
Genre: RPG, indie strategy
A turn-based multiplayer tactical game inspired by the 1985 video game Chaos: The Battle of Wizards. The notorious element of randomness is at the head of the gameplay here, so experienced players recommend considering each of their actions from the worst side of development. The game looks great, and from the abundance of all kinds of tactics and "multi-move" fans of all kinds of "tabletop" and "wargames" can experience indescribable pleasure.
The essence of the game is in the battle of wizards who can cast all kinds of spells and summon creatures. The goal is to be the last survivor. By the way, the game has a mode in which "randomness" when casting spells is replaced by the use of mana.
Battle Chess: Game of Kings
Release date: 2015
Genre: Casual strategy
A great project based on the classic board game. Yes, yes, yes, this is chess, but in a more beautiful and animated form, in which a turn-based board game is combined with epic battles and beautiful animation, as well as a bit of humor. The dynamism is surprisingly over the top, while all fans of classical chess have the opportunity to play the most ordinary virtual chess, without animation and “bells and whistles”, but with the ability to change the board or models of figures.
The game is suitable for both beginners and professionals. The former will find here a special mode with training in all the basics of the game, and the latter will be able to play not only against computer AI, but also against a live opponent.
Tharsis
Release date: 2016
Genre: RPG, indie strategy
A turn-based space strategy that includes elements of a board game in which members of an expedition to Mars as a result of a catastrophe must hold out for 10 weeks (10 moves) and still fly to the red planet. Almost every turn something happens on the station, and our staff of four astronauts are not always able to immediately fix a broken module (it all depends on the roll of dice, which are the main element of the gameplay).
The project constantly keeps the player in suspense and forces him to make important, and sometimes even morally difficult decisions. Do I need to fix this or that compartment right now? Which of the astronauts to sacrifice for the successful completion of the mission? Hell, you can even do cannibalism in this survival game! In general, the project is definitely recommended for review.
Gremlins Inc.
Release date: 2016
Genre: Indie, strategy
A turn-based tabletop strategy video game with card game elements in which a group of gremlins fight for power in a mecha city. The project is designed for 2-6 players, each of which is represented by a chip on the playing field and the image of one of the twelve gremlin characters. The goal of the game is to score the most points, while the main emphasis in the gameplay is on the interaction between the players. The interaction is expressed in the fact that each of the players must build various intrigues for their opponents (this is done with the help of special cards).
It is noteworthy that in addition to the network game, it also supports a single mode when artificial intelligence plays against you. Also, the developers periodically hold tournaments for the game and support it with regular free updates (there are also paid DLCs, but they are purely cosmetic and do not affect the gameplay).
Twilight Struggle
Release date: 2016
Genre: Simulation, strategy
High-quality transfer of the famous card tabletop wargame for two players to the digital version. The game is dedicated to the theme of the Cold War. It has a user-friendly interface, clear tutorial and incredibly addictive gameplay. The goal of the game is to score the most points, either by the end of the tenth turn to have a marker in your half of the scale, or to control Europe when the European scoring card is drawn. In addition, the player can lose if he unleashes a nuclear war.
One of the deepest strategy board games that literally makes you feel like the head of a superpower (America or the USSR). Influence other countries, monitor the level of stability, control the enemy and place markers of your influence and, ultimately, you will achieve world domination!
Warbands: Bushido
Release date: 2016
Genre: Indie strategy
A colorful turn-based strategy board game with dice, cards, miniatures, single player and multiplayer, set in 16th century Japan. The game has a lot of hand-drawn maps and characters. The combat system is reminiscent of a mixture of "combat" from the series "Heroes" and "Magicka". Of course, many things are affected by randomness, but the competent use of characters and their skills allows you to minimize this effect.
To get new cards, you need to purchase boosters, which are bought for in-game currency. In addition to single and multiplayer modes, the game has ranked matches that can be entered with four legendary fighters. At the moment, the project is in early access, but it is developing rapidly, and the developers themselves promise to implement many more interesting game features.
Patchwork
Release date: 2016
Genre: Casual, indie strategy
A virtual embodiment of an abstract board game for two players in which you need to assemble a beautiful blanket from pieces of material. Each of the players has a field of 9x9 patches, buttons (the local analogue of the game currency) and pieces of fabric in the form of figures from Tetris. The task of the players is to acquire shreds and lay them out on the field in such a way that they are best suited to each other. On their turn, a player can sew any number of pieces.
In addition to multiplayer battles, the game features battles against artificial intelligence of various difficulty levels. There is also a leaderboard here. In general, the project is distinguished by addictive gameplay, nice graphics and mechanics honed to the smallest detail. At first glance, everything looks elementary, but the game makes you use your brains and even develop certain strategies aimed at winning.
Through the Ages
Release date: 2018
Genre: Card game
Virtual adaptation of the famous card board game, dedicated to the rivalry between different civilizations in their development from antiquity to the present. The game is designed for 1-4 players, while it is possible to play both against artificial intelligence and with real people online or on the same computer. Unlike the "tabletop" games here are faster.
The main goal is to score more culture points than your opponents, while players can use different strategies to achieve the goal. For example, you can build a balanced state or develop one of the areas: culture, science, military power, industry, agriculture. To build their strategy, players have access to civil or military maps, which are divided according to the time they appeared in the game (depending on the era). On their turn, each player does the following: adds new cards to their deck, plays civil or military cards, and goes through the consumption and production stages.
Clash of Cards
Release date: 2018
Genre: Card game
Deep, smart and moderately hardcore card game with single missions and multiplayer. The project is distinguished by addictive gameplay with several game modes, the presence of a large number of various cards (more than 300 pieces) that affect the gameplay, a pleasant soundtrack and even the presence of a plot with video inserts between battles.
There are six factions to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The balance between the factions is good here and there are no frankly "imbe" factions - victory depends solely on the player's skills and some luck. Impressive artificial intelligence, which is very difficult to beat in the later stages of the campaign.
Scythe: Digital Edition
Release date: 2018
Genre: Step-by-step strategy
A digital adaptation of the famous board game with retro-futuristic illustrations by renowned artist Jakub Rozalski, set in an alternate 1920s Europe. There are 5 factions in the game, each of which is fighting for the title of the most powerful and richest in all of Europe. To ensure victory, players will have to do research, recruit troops, create battle mechs and wage wars of conquest.
Each faction here starts with its own set of resources and assets. The element of randomness in the game is practically absent, and players have to rely only on their own mind and strategy. The only exception is the meeting cards, which are drawn from a special deck. You can play both on your own and with friends on the same computer or online.
Fated Kingdom
Release date: 2018
Genre: Detective, Strategy, Indie, Puzzle, Casual, Card Game
Dark fantasy digital sandbox board game for 1-4 players with detective elements and complete freedom of action for players. According to the plot, the kingdom of Kinmarr is going through hard times and 4 guilds, with the permission of the king, are trying to regain control over the country, using any resources and opportunities to their advantage.
At the beginning of the game, the player chooses one of the four guilds, which in its own way will affect the methods of achieving their goals. Traditionally for table games, players take turns rolling dice, making moves on the playing field and using cards. The "chip" of the game was that the players themselves need to monitor compliance with the rules, which means that if they wish, they can cheat somewhere. The main thing is that opponents do not notice this. Complete freedom of action for players and the sandbox element allows each game to be unique.
This is a multiplayer board game made in the form of a "sandbox" without strict programming of the gameplay part. Instead of driving players through a looped algorithm, as is often the case with digital adaptations of board games, we decided to give as much freedom of action and interpretation of the rules as possible.
Everything is like in life: manipulations with cubes, figures of characters and cards are made in manual mode. The game does not interfere in the process in any way and does not even monitor the implementation of the rules. However, they are in the game, so for a full-fledged game you don’t need to invent anything, just open the “rulebook” through the main menu.
We tried to make the key art of the game as realistic as possible in order to attract fans of real board games
The development has been going on for more than two years, there are two people in the team: a game designer-artist and a programmer. The game has practically no budget, work on it is in full swing in the evenings after the main work. This greatly complicates the process, so we decided to release the game in early access in order to improve the financial situation and get feedback from interested people.
On May 28, Fated Kingdom became available on Steam. The project received mostly positive reviews, but it still has a small audience. Mainly due to the general specifics (read niches) and the lack of money for marketing. In addition, many people are waiting for a full-fledged release - we have 12 times more wishlists than sales. Trust in Early Access is lower than it was three or four years ago.
All the King's Men update trailer
But we do not lose heart and do our best to show that we are not going to abandon the project. In two months, we have released five updates, including one major one. There are many useful features: public lobbies, Steam friends list integration, help screen, text chat. We have added a lot of new content and improved the graphics.
In more detail about the process of creating a game, we are already at DTF, as well as self-promotion, which also takes place with the right approach. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of digital board game development and share our discoveries, which will certainly be useful to those who decide to try their hand at this genre.
Expensive art VS stylization
Perhaps one of the most serious problems in the development of any board game is its visual design. Of course, there are small titles, such as "", for example. They have little graphics, but Fated Kingdom is much closer to large projects like Talisman, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game and Gloomhaven. They use illustrations from professional artists.
Gloomhaven board game cards that raised over $4 million on Kickstarter
Needless to say, the price of one piece of art can reach up to several hundred dollars? That's why "big" desktop games have big budgets and corresponding Kickstarter fees.
Pathfinder board game cards
We don't have the money to hire professional artists, and we don't have an individual artist in the team who is ready to work on enthusiasm for a long time.
No matter what you've heard about the challenges of making board games, the problem of art always comes first. And in order to solve it, the author of these lines decided to turn to styling.
10 cards from a recent patch
All Fated Kingdom cards are made in the same style, which combines lubok and digital graphics. The very first illustrations were very simple, but over time they became more detailed and complex.
But the main thing is that this style can be quickly reproduced, making the creation of 200 maps a completely feasible task without freelancing, solely by working on your own. Of course, there are still a lot of difficulties, because not every stylization is suitable for a particular task. But it seems to us that the illustrations on the cards fit well with the gloomy visuals of the game board and other elements.
Number is great
Another important feature of the development of board games is the need to bring the project to full readiness. When the desktop is finished, it goes to print. The publisher makes a circulation and sells it. After this moment, you cannot make any changes to the rules, change cards and other components, or correct errors.
For a small team, “finishing” a large project is an almost impossible task, otherwise there is nothing to do on “paper”. You can't fix an error in the wording of a map property when the game is already on store shelves. Most people simply will not find Errata on the official website. And it's unlikely to search at all.
The digital format is much more convenient in this regard for an indie studio that wants to create board games. Thanks to him, projects can not only be released as beta versions, but also make changes to them as new content is added. And only then, when the game is brought to the ideal, it can be attributed to the "paper" publisher. This is a great option too!
Other Benefits of Digital Desktops
Releasing a board game digitally has many positives with relatively few negatives. Yes, you will need an intelligent programmer, but you can do what is often lacking in paper counterparts. For example, you can have a dynamic game board that is generated when a game is created.
This can be done in real life, but often game designers refuse this due to the fact that printing conditional cells of the board separately increases costs and has a bad effect on the gameplay. Who wants to tediously randomize tiles for 10 minutes before the game? Computers can easily solve this problem.
Board generation is a prime example of how digital performance can make a better board game.
There are 48 cells on the Fated Kingdom game board, which form two levels of the game - inner and outer. An array of possible cells is prepared for each level. At the same time, there are more cells in the database for each level than there are places on the board. When creating a server, the game generates a new board and thus significantly increases the replay value without any time wasted on the part of the user.
This is the most striking example, but it is far from the only one. It takes a few minutes to shuffle a real deck of cards well, but in Fated Kingdom, just shake it for less than a second. Finding the right information in the paper rule book takes minutes of valuable time, while our interactive table of contents allows you to quickly jump to the right section with one click.
tabletop narrative
With an extremely limited budget or none, you have to give up a lot. For example, from cool story screensavers and voiced dialogues. Indie developers solve this problem in different ways. Someone makes videos with running text on a static background, and someone tries to weave the narrative into other elements of the game (level design, characters and objects).
Someone completely refuses the plot content in principle. This is also one of the ways to reduce the cost of development, and it also suits some games. In the case of board games, there is a very cheap way to tell a story: make the cards themselves become the story. This may sound strange, but in fact there is no more precise wording.
These are good and necessary cards, but they carry almost no narrative in themselves.
It makes sense to make cards in such a way that their elements form a single composition. Here are the elements in question:
- Name;
- illustration;
- description.
All three components must be coordinated with each other. This seems to be very simple, and it is true when it comes to the simple cards examples above. They can be called "service". They perform simple tasks while working on game mechanics. But to tell a really interesting and memorable story, you will have to make great efforts.
History in cards
As an example, let's take a look at the three key cards of the All the King's Men update. It tells about the invasion of the undead army in the kingdom of Kinmarr. This initial data is obtained by the user by reading a brief description of the update on the game page. But when he enters the game, this simple concept begins to turn into a real story.
The cards form a narrative chain: beginning, middle and end. After drawing the prophecy "Death", the player sees a dead man against the backdrop of the setting sun. "Death" gives a specific goal - to defeat the Constable Gotrik. Reward for it - victory in the party, which means it makes sense to really look for the "boss". The prophecy is the same for all players, so you need to hurry!
The central maps of the update, the plot is built around them
The next card, All the King's Men, marks the arrival of the undead army in the kingdom. The sun from the prophecy has almost set below the horizon, in the background you can see a scarlet sunset. The card strengthens all the undead in the game until one of the players defeats the "boss" - all the same Gotrik. So it becomes clear that it is he who leads the army of the dead, and that the players should act even faster.
And finally, the “Constable Gotrik” itself is one of the most powerful creatures in the game, which can kill any party member with literally one hit. The background is dark red, which means that after the sunset comes the night, the time of the triumph of evil forces. To win, players must weaken Gotrik by killing as many of his minions as possible in the previous stages, while also helping each other survive.
Play some of your favorite board games online to save shelf space.
It's not always easy to get together with enough friends to play a game of your favorite board game, but fortunately there is a solution to this problem. Many of the most popular board games - Catan, Carcassonne, Twilight Struggle and others - have acquired digital editions worthy of their names, which makes it possible to play them with friends, computer opponents or just strangers.
Board games are a huge industry, and this list includes some of the more interesting ones. Their modern PC versions are easy to learn to play, fun to play, but challenge players with their difficulty. Titles like "Civilization" or "Armello" bring the board game experience to PC games. It can often be difficult to bring the appeal of a board game to PC, but our list contains only excellent examples of digital incarnations, or, well, good games, no matter how you play them.
In addition, having board games on a personal computer is damn convenient. Playing against the AI is great practice and challenging other online players is a breeze. In addition, compared to physical copies of such games, there are obvious advantages in terms of both price and storage space. Below are the best representatives of the genre, who have moved from gaming tables to computer screens.
: online and local
For a long time, the disadvantages of board games in the genre of "civilization" include their duration and complexity. For the game Through the Ages, the decision to get rid of such an element as a world map turned out to be innovative. This game is considered phenomenal due to its deep strategy and smart design techniques.
In Through the Ages, the player builds his empire only with the help of game cards. The single-player action in the game overshadows the players' entire military and colonial ambitions. Therefore, one who begins to lag behind in the development of the armed forces soon discovers that this state of affairs is very erroneous.
Multiplayer game mode: online and local
Like other PC games based on the Dungeons & Dragons board game, Lords of Waterdeep is something you would expect to fight monsters and hunt for treasure, but it's completely different. Here, players control city Lords who hire adventurers to kill monsters and hunt for treasure on their behalf.
Claim your attempt to create your own story that mixes the right strategy and brutal betrayals. Try to prevent your opponent from doing the same. At the disposal of the player at each turn there are many options for action, which guarantees novelty and complexity when replaying the game.
hive
Multiplayer game mode: online and local
In this abstract arthropod game, all it takes to win is to surround the enemy Queen Bee with your hexagons. It seems simple, but you can't place your tile next to your opponent's tile. Instead, you'll have to move them around, with each insect drawn on the hexagon moving differently.
The resulting strange movements are made possible by a special "sweet and sticky" strategy. It takes literally a moment to learn how to play, and at the same time, you can enjoy playing online for at least a lifetime.
Multiplayer game mode: online and local
Digital board games rarely look pretty, but Tokaido is a delightful exception. But don't let these graphics fool you: they mask a ruthless mechanical heart. Players become tourists who go hiking around Japan collecting antiques.
The aim of the game is to make each other's life as miserable as possible. This means that some people block the way to the right places for others, or someone rushes forward to snatch the best piece of meat. In any case, this game is a seemingly beautiful, but still a quick way to lose friends.
Multiplayer game mode: online and local
This classic quest is another obvious reason why board games thrive on the PC platform. The original version consists of exciting stories in the fantasy adventure genre. But it's too random, too long, and takes up too much desk space with its sprawling components.
Moving the game to a PC platform solves all of these problems in one fell swoop, allowing you to sit back and lose yourself in the endless story that comes with it. In addition, the online mode means the possibility of battles with a huge number of players using the Crown of Command.
Colt Express
Multiplayer: local and online
In this game, you will have to try on the skin of a train robber, trying to simultaneously predict the actions of opponents, get rid of them and snatch the jackpot. The physical copy fascinated with three-dimensional cardboard trailers serving as a playing field. Here, the train is, of course, digital and rendered like in any other video game. Still, it's a fun game with some new perks added for the digital release.
Twilight Struggle
Multiplayer: local and online
The third game in the top according to BoardGameGeek.com (and a couple of years ago it was in first place), "Twilight Struggle" is about single combat in which players who sided with the Soviet Union or the United States fight in the Cold War. The game is full of political espionage and complex strategy, and the PC version is as close to physical as possible.
There is asynchronous multiplayer where you can start a game against a stranger and keep playing for a decent amount of time, as each player moves when he has the opportunity to do so.
Ticket to Ride
Multiplayer: local and online
A simple and straightforward game about building a railroad in America. You can try to pave the way along the given routes, competing with opponents. A notable part of the digital edition are the eight DLCs available for purchase, making it possible to play in other countries of the world. They reflect the actual expansions and alternate editions of Ticket to Ride, making the PC version of it the perfect incarnation.
The Witcher Adventure Game
Multiplayer: local and online
A computer adaptation of a board game adaptation of a computer game... which in turn is an adaptation of the Witcher book series. Take control of one of the four witchers, including Geralt himself, and set off on a journey through fighting monsters and completing tasks. The digital version can be played by up to four people locally and online. There is a single-player game against the AI, but it's not very exciting.
Small World 2
Multiplayer: local and online
A game about conquering a fantasy world. In the presence of several civilizations, experiencing in the course of action, the heyday and decline. Each player controls a race with a random set of characteristics, gains points by capturing territories, and then, when its time is up, abandons that race and gets a new one. Despite the number "2" in the title, in fact, this is a desktop "Small World" familiar to many with the addition of several new races and a bunch of other things in the form of DLC.
Splendor
Multiplayer: local and online
Up to four people can participate in this game, taking on the roles of merchants during the Renaissance. The goal of the game is to reach 15 victory points by collecting cards in a deck. The authors of the game, Days of Wonder, are also responsible for Ticket to Ride and Small World, so they have a decent amount of baggage. In addition, they provided the digital version of Splendor with a challenge mode based on real historical events of the 15th and 16th centuries.
Yomi
Multiplayer: local and online
A digital representation of the fighting game genre, something like "The Witcher Adventure Game" in its twisted origins. Each fighter has their own unique set of moves, and in a fight with an opponent, you will have to use strikes, combos, dodges and special moves. The base game offers 10 fighters to choose from, and a dozen more can be picked up with DLC, making the digital version a better value for money purchase than the physical copy of Yomi.
Blood Bowl 2
Multiplayer: local and online
Perhaps this game is the furthest from this list from its desktop roots. BB2 is a Warhammer take on American football and, in true Warhammer fashion, is rife with orcs, skaven, death and mutilation. A sequel to the original 2009 Blood Bowl adaptation based on the board game of the same name. The second part in some way stepped aside, and yet, if you choose, then it is her.
Patchwork
Multiplayer: local and online
Competitive game for two players from Uwe Rosenberg, the author of the popular "Agricola". Players take turns placing different-sized pieces of cloth on the field, trying to pack it more than the opponent. One of the most easy to understand games on the list and definitely worth playing with your young kids. Asynchronous multiplayer and even replays are available.
Risk: Factions
Multiplayer: local and online
There are three different versions of Risk available on Steam, but if you want to conquer the world online, then you need exactly Risk: Factions. It's nicely (but a bit redundantly) framed as a zombie vs. cat and robot war, but that's exactly what "Risk" is. There is another version of the game, purely single-player, and it is called "RISK - The Game of Global Domination", but all the reviews smashed it to smithereens due to low performance and missing features. So, although "Risk: Factions" is not the ideal embodiment of the desktop, it is more than worthy.
Carcassonne
Multiplayer: local and online
The player's task is to place square pieces, building a large map, capturing cities, fields and roads, which gives points. A limited number of pieces are available for a certain amount of time, making the process more and more difficult as the map grows. This version of "Carcassonne" is only available in the Windows Store, and was introduced with the release of Windows 8, so the controls are specific and tailored to the touch screen. However, Carcassonne is probably my favorite board game, so I'm happy with any iteration of it.
Multiplayer: online only
I hope you've at least heard of Settlers of Catan with its hexagons and resource gathering. German strategy throws you into a fight with three other players against whom you will have to fight for the space needed to build settlements and roads. Unfortunately, I have bad news: it's not the most online right now, but there's no choice if you love Catan as much as some of my acquaintances.
There was a site, PlayCatan.com, which is now open only to previously registered members, and then there is a Steam version of the game, notorious for its lack of multiplayer and regular crashes. I recommend Catan Universe, an online version of Catan that is meant to replace PlayCatan.com and has most of the basic features free for testing. It doesn't look good yet, and it still costs some money, but it's by far the best way to play Catan online.
Multiplayer: online only
Another card game. Rather, it was the first card game that inspired people to create countless other games. You start in it with a small supply of cards, collect new cards, finish the deck. Like "Catan", "Dominion" is a bit of a shambles now, as the previously popular site went out of business at the end of 2016. The new version of the game, which appeared as a replacement, does not yet shine with beauty. The game works great, but there is no tutorial and you can't look at the cards before buying. It is assumed that the player is already familiar with the rules.
Table Top Simulator
Multiplayer: local and online
A program for creating board games and playing them. Includes both card and board versions and even D&D, we even have an article on how to play D&D on PC if you're interested. On the Steam Workshop page, you'll find fan crafts for a decent amount of games, including those that don't have official digital releases.
For example, fans have created "Cards Against Humanity", "Secret Hitler" and even "X-Wings Miniatures Game" with all the care and love. If you are not satisfied with the games from the above list, then there are fan-made versions of "Risk", "Catan", and "Carcassonne". You can even get games for free that are just about to be released digitally, like Mysterium or Agricola.
It should be mentioned that "Tabletop Simulator" is in a very dubious zone of legality and morality. Mods are not for sale, and developer Berserk Games has partnered with a number of designers to make their games officially purchasable DLC, but these fan creations use art and assets from existing games, which is piracy. I wholeheartedly support the support of the official versions of the games, but "Tabletop Simulator" offers a truly fantastic set of entertainment.
As there are still plenty of board games that can be ported to the PC, and with new releases coming out all the time, the genre is getting more and more diverse. Coming soon is Scythe, a civilization and dieselpunk game with an intricate combination of strategy and military clashes using retro robotic technology. Another genre that has been given a new lease of life by the move to the PC is the collectible card game. Among them, the most anticipated is the hobbit-obsessed co-op game The Living Card Game.
Many other games are also waiting for their release, while less significant, but still ready to surprise. In its physical form, the whimsical neo-Gothic misery sim Gloom is known for its artful transparent symbol cards that can be collected and stacked. The PC version of this game should be more convenient and even more fun. Also coming soon is the award-winning board game Evolution, the PC version of which has been well funded via Kickstarter. Despite its complex theme of biological processes, this game is quite fun and doesn't take long to get the upper hand on the opponent.
On the way to the release of digital versions, two famous games have been noticed. The first, Mysterium, is a Clue-style co-op game where one player appears as a ghost trying to guide "living" comrades to his killer using vague "visions" to do so. The release was scheduled for last month, but then was postponed to the beginning of the year. Another universal favorite, "Agricola", tells the story of a farmer's hard work in cultivating the land and surviving. At the end of last year, she got into the Steam Greenlight and at full speed is striving for a full release.
Know of other great digital board games? Write about them in the comments!
