What “play with friends” actually requires
A board game is “play-with-friends-ready” if it has these:
- Online multiplayer — not just local pass-and-play.
- Friend invites — a way to send your friend a code or link so you both end up in the same match.
- Cross-platform — works whether your friend is on iOS or Android (or web).
- Async or live — async lets you take turns over hours/days; live is real-time. Both have their use.
- Free for both of you — paid friend-required apps fail at scale.
The list below ranks by how completely each app delivers these.
1. Pop Play (19 board games, full friend support, free)
Platforms: iOS, Android (cross-platform play between them).
Friend invite system: Yes — share a 6-digit room code or a link. Your friend taps it, joins your room, you both see the match start.
Sync model: Real-time only (turn-based with a per-turn timer). Not async.
Games available: Ludo, Quick Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, Connect 4 (Join 4), Reversi, Checkers, Dominoes, Bingo, Mancala, Onitama, Santorini, Abalone, Gomoku, Mega Tic Tac Toe, Code Breaker, Color Flood, Greedy Dice, Sea Battle, Ono.
Cost: Free. No ads, no pay-to-win.
Best for: Friends who want one app for many board games. The room-code system is fast and works reliably. Get Pop Play →
2. Lichess (chess only, free, no ads, world-class)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web.
Friend invite system: Yes — share a “challenge link” with your friend. Works with or without an account.
Sync model: Real-time and async (correspondence) both available.
Games available: Chess (and chess variants — Atomic, Crazyhouse, etc.).
Cost: Free. No ads ever. Donor-supported non-profit.
Best for: If you and your friends just want to play chess at a high level. Lichess is the gold standard.
3. Words With Friends 2 (word game, free with ads)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web.
Friend invite system: Yes — search for friend username or invite via SMS.
Sync model: Async (turn-based, can play multiple games over days).
Games available: Words With Friends (similar to SCRABBLE).
Cost: Free with ads. Premium tier removes ads.
Best for: If you want a long-running word game with friends across timezones. Async play means you don’t need to coordinate.
4. Chess.com (chess + variants, free with paid tiers)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web.
Friend invite system: Yes — extensive friend list, club system, tournaments.
Sync model: Real-time and async.
Cost: Free tier is generous; paid tiers unlock training tools, puzzles, video lessons.
Best for: Chess players who want a richer ecosystem (lessons, puzzles, variants).
5. Boardspace.net (abstract strategy hub, free, web-only)
Platforms: Mobile browsers (no native app).
Friend invite system: Yes — tournament rooms, direct challenges.
Games available: Hive, DVONN, YINSH, Push Fight, Onitama, plus 30+ other abstract strategy games.
Cost: Free. No ads.
Best for: Strategy purists who want a single hub for many abstract games (especially the GIPF Project series). Downside: web-only, dated UI.
6. Twenty20 / Tabletopia / BoardGameArena (curated board game hubs)
Platforms: Mostly web, some native apps.
Friend invite system: Yes.
Games available: Hundreds of board games — Catan, Carcassonne, 7 Wonders, etc. Often the official digital adaptations.
Cost: Free tier limited. Paid tier unlocks more games and faster matchmaking.
Best for: Friends who want to play modern Eurogames (Catan, Wingspan, Spirit Island) digitally. Pop Play doesn’t ship those.
7. Letterpress / Trickster Cards / Wingspan iOS (single-game paid apps)
Platforms: Vary.
Friend invite system: Yes, varies by app.
Cost: Paid (one-time or subscription).
Best for: When you and your friends specifically want a deeper digital adaptation of a particular modern board game. Less flexible than the multi-game options above but often higher per-game polish.
How to pick
| Need | Pick |
|---|---|
| Multiple games with one friend | Pop Play — 19 games, one app, share a code |
| Chess with deep tools | Lichess (free) or Chess.com (more features) |
| Word games async | Words With Friends 2 |
| Abstract strategy games (Hive, DVONN) | Boardspace.net |
| Modern Eurogames (Catan, Wingspan) | Tabletopia / BoardGameArena |
Friend-invite mechanics — what to look for
The differences between “play with friends” implementations matter:
Room codes (Pop Play, BGA)
You create a private room → app generates a 6-digit code → you text the code to your friend → they enter it in their app → you’re both in the match. Works in any chat app, no friend list required.
Friend list (Chess.com, Lichess, WWF2)
You add your friend by username → they appear in your friend list → you can challenge them directly. Requires account creation for both.
Direct challenge link (Lichess)
You generate a link → send it via any chat → your friend taps it → match starts. No account required for either side.
Auto-pairing only (some apps)
Some “online multiplayer” apps don’t have explicit friend support — you both queue separately and hope to get matched. Avoid these for friend play; you’ll spend more time trying to match than playing.
Why room-code systems win for casual play
The friend-list model assumes both of you set up accounts first. The room-code model just works:
- You open the app.
- Tap “Create private room”.
- Text the code to your friend.
- They open the app, enter the code, tap join.
- Match starts.
Total setup: 30 seconds. No usernames, no friend requests, no waiting for account verification. Pop Play uses this model — it’s the friction-minimum path.