Soldato
Sometimes you have a new game that you want to learn, or want to try it out to see if it's worth parting money with, but you don't know anyone with a copy to try. That's where the internet comes in! Developers are slowly starting to release games on the PC (Most notably Days of Wonder on Steam), but we're too cheap for that. What free options are there?
Dominion.net
Dominion is one of the board gaming staples, carefully building the right deck with the cards available to buy. This version features most of the current expansions (I think), lets you select which cards to use or selects them randomly and supports up to 6 players with a few different AIs to play against.
Personally, I prefer to play Dominion this way because it saves the headache of trying to remember how many actions and buys and so on you have left, which can get pretty complicated depending on the cards available. This lets you speed through the games pretty quickly.
Race for the Galaxy (plus patch)
Again, this PC version adds AI, includes a multiplayer option, and simplifies a lot of things. During your development phase, for example, it greys out cards that are either not development cards, or you simply can't afford. Streamlines the game, includes all three expansions, and lets you practice lots of different strategies. The AI is tough, but when you do win, it feels good.
Kingsburg (Direct download link)
Building a city with dice. Implemented in java with AI and a version of the expansion (A preview of the expansion, I believe this version was released before the actual expansion was, and hasn't been updated since).
Again, it plays very well, everything is simple to see and understand, I have a couple of minor niggles but besides that its a good version of the game.
Special Mention:
Vassal
Not a game but instead a tabletop engine, Vassal lets anyone create game 'modules' which are essentially different board games all within the engine. There are currently over 1300 modules available on the Vassal website to download, and simply loading one of these up in Vassal loads up the graphics, cards and rules required to play the game online. And while a few of those modules are expansions which are usually listed separately, there is a huge selection of games available. A number of them (Mostly FFG games) have had some of the cards blanked out at the request of the publishers, meaning you need to own a copy of the game to be able to see the card text to know what it does, but otherwise they are the complete game. There is already a popular Vassal 40k thread going here showing the flexability of the engine.
So, anyone know other options available? Tried any of these listed above? Comment!
Dominion.net
Dominion is one of the board gaming staples, carefully building the right deck with the cards available to buy. This version features most of the current expansions (I think), lets you select which cards to use or selects them randomly and supports up to 6 players with a few different AIs to play against.
Personally, I prefer to play Dominion this way because it saves the headache of trying to remember how many actions and buys and so on you have left, which can get pretty complicated depending on the cards available. This lets you speed through the games pretty quickly.
Race for the Galaxy (plus patch)
Again, this PC version adds AI, includes a multiplayer option, and simplifies a lot of things. During your development phase, for example, it greys out cards that are either not development cards, or you simply can't afford. Streamlines the game, includes all three expansions, and lets you practice lots of different strategies. The AI is tough, but when you do win, it feels good.
Kingsburg (Direct download link)
Building a city with dice. Implemented in java with AI and a version of the expansion (A preview of the expansion, I believe this version was released before the actual expansion was, and hasn't been updated since).
Again, it plays very well, everything is simple to see and understand, I have a couple of minor niggles but besides that its a good version of the game.
Special Mention:
Vassal
Not a game but instead a tabletop engine, Vassal lets anyone create game 'modules' which are essentially different board games all within the engine. There are currently over 1300 modules available on the Vassal website to download, and simply loading one of these up in Vassal loads up the graphics, cards and rules required to play the game online. And while a few of those modules are expansions which are usually listed separately, there is a huge selection of games available. A number of them (Mostly FFG games) have had some of the cards blanked out at the request of the publishers, meaning you need to own a copy of the game to be able to see the card text to know what it does, but otherwise they are the complete game. There is already a popular Vassal 40k thread going here showing the flexability of the engine.
So, anyone know other options available? Tried any of these listed above? Comment!
