The games cupboard, on your phone
Strategy games started on boards. Some of the games on this shelf, such as Mancala, Go and Hnefatafl, are many centuries old; others, like Dots & Boxes and Four in a Row, are the quick games that fill a rainy afternoon. Almost every one has a computer rival, usually with an Easy, Medium or Hard setting, so you can learn gently and then turn up the heat.
Thinking games, luck games and the in-between
No luck at all. Checkers, Chess, Disc Flip, Five in a Row and Go reveal every piece on the board. The better plan wins, which makes them the most satisfying victories on the site.
Dice decide. Dice Five, Farkle, Pig and Shut the Box hinge on the choice you make once the dice land. Ludo and Snakes and Ladders leave almost everything to the dice, so anyone can win.
A bit of both. Backgammon mixes dice with real decisions about when to run and when to block. Four in a Row and Dots & Boxes look simple but hide surprisingly deep tactics.
A starting route
Play Four in a Row for a two-minute win, then try Checkers on the easiest level — our guide below that game walks through openings, forced jumps and the endgame. Once you are comfortable, Backgammon is the best next step, and Dice Five brings back family games night even when you are playing solo. Blackjack also lives here as a points-only card table, with no real money involved.
More shelves: puzzle games, word games, arcade games, card games, or browse our articles.