13 Classic Board/Card Games For Your Phone

It's All Going Digital

Classic board and card games are getting harder and harder to find since the popularity of digital media.  Most people that still have some of these games find they are missing pieces and are falling apart.  For people that want to play these classic games still you can find most of them for your phone and a lot of them are free.  So here is a list of 13 classics that will keep you occupied for a long time to come.



Monopoly

Monopoly was originally created in 1903 and was called The Landlord's Game.  The game was reissued in 1924 and gained immense popularity in the 1930's during the American depression.

There are several editions of monopoly available for download including a free version.  If you feel like getting the better version then it will only set you back $1.19.

"THE ORIGINAL FAST-DEALING PROPERTY TRADING GAME – FOR FREE. Take a ride on Reading Railroad. Buy Boardwalk. Go directly to Jail. It’s “GO” time, wherever you are, with beautiful, high-definition 3D-quality graphics."

iPhone: MONOPOLY Free
Android: MONOPOLY

Cribbage

Cribbage was created in the 17th century by English poet Sir John Suckling.  It became popular in America during WWII with American submariners who held it as their official pastime. The game involves scoring points by playing certain cards in combination then tracking your points on a board using coloured pegs.

Cribbage is a classic game that has been popular for a long time.  Has a reputation for being played by only older people but its catching on with a newer generation.

"Catch the crib! Play the App Store’s top rated cribbage game! With fluid action, this game is intuitive and easy to play for both novice and experienced players."

iPhone: Cribbage ⋆ Free
                                                                                    Android: Cribbage Classic
Othello

Othello is a classic game which is similar to other games that have the same concept like Go and Reversi.  Othello is a very old game that keeps being reinvented each generation.  Its simple, yet challenging and will get you addicted very fast.

"Othello Free indicates pip count for players, supports long moves, sound effects and multiple other options. "

iPhone: Othello Free
Android: Othello Clasico




The Game of Life

If you have a long bus or train ride you have to take every morning then this is the game for you.  The board game was notoriously long to play but so entertaining.  Almost every square you land on has something for you to do.  A version on your phone is the ultimate time waster.  Unfortunately, there isn't a free version available but the pay version is only $1.19 so that cant be much of an obstacle for anyone.

"WHERE WILL YOUR CHOICES TAKE YOU? The possibilities are endless in THE GAME OF LIFE! What does your future hold? Enjoy a new spin on the classic board game.  Enjoy a new spin on the classic board game..."

iPhone: THE GAME OF LIFE Classic Edition
Android: THE GAME OF LIFE

Scrabble

Scrabble was first issued in 1938 and has remained a standby for many board game players.  Scrabble is one of the very few board games that you can learn at the same time as playing which makes it ideal for young children.

Several versions of this game exist in digital format.  Most are versions you have to pay for but you can also get it for free by searching for the free version.

"CONNECT WITH FRIENDS. PLAY WITH WORDS. Get a game of SCRABBLE going with just about anyone – or play solo against the computer!"

iPhone: SCRABBLE Free
Android: SCRABBLE

Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders in my opinion is mostly luck, more so than any other game on this list but it is one of the most well known board games ever made.  Really super simple and requires no strategy at all.  If anything you would want to play it for nostalgia but it is very nostalgic for some people.  For that reason it is on the list.  One of the better free versions is Snakes and Ladders King.

"Dice, ladder (= step climb), snakes (= step down) enjoyed by the three rules.  Through a simple board game with dice game rules.  The game to do battle for who first to arrival 100 steps."

iPhone: Snakes & Ladders King
Android: Snakes & Ladders King

Battleship

As far as Battleship goes , on the app store you can find a couple different free versions of the game.  One of them is based off the movie Battleship where you play as humans defending against the aliens.  The layout and game-play is exactly the same as the old-school battleship.  For purists you can download Battleship - Classic and Retro which is just like the original game.

"Play this classic board game alone or with friends. With a fast, simple interface and Game Center integration, you can have multiple games in parallel."

iPhone: Battleship Classic
Android: Battleship Ultra

Connect 4

Connect 4 or Four in a Row is another simple yet fun old game that you can play if you have 5 minutes to spare.  There are a ton of different versions you can download on your phone.

"Connect Four Fun is the classic two-player game of four in a row. Two players take turns dropping their color checkers into one of the slots at the top of the board. Win the game by getting 4 or more of your color checkers either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally."

iPhone: Connect Fun - Four in a Row
Android: Connect Four Fun


Dominos

Dominoes has been around for a very long time and continues to be played to this day.  Easy to learn, fun and you can play with friends.

Dominoes as it appears today came from Italy in the 18th century and continues to be popular around the world.

"Place tiles which have a number of pips that matches one of the exposed ends of the chain. If you have no such tiles you have to draw from the boneyard one tile at a time until new one may be played."

iPhone: Dominos
Android: Dominoes Deluxe Free



Mancala

There are countless versions of Mancala under multiple different names.  The board can come in different configurations but all follow the same basic set of rules which is usually called "count and capture".  Mancala is one of the more well known versions.

"Mancala (also known as Kalah) is an ancient board game. Pick up marbles from any of bottom holes and move them counter-clockwise. If your move ends at your home hole (right one) you can move again. The game ends when all six holes on either side are empty. The winner is the player with the most marbles in home hole."

iPhone: Mancala
Android: Mancala Free


UNO

Uno was first released in 1971 and was sold out of a barbershop in Cincinnati by Merle Robbins. In 1992 UNO's popularity sky-rocketed when it was acquired by Mattel and re-released.  Uno is easy to learn and fast paced and can be played by people of almost any age.

"Playing UNO ™ with friends, family, and the millions of fans worldwide has never been easier! Join one of the largest mobile gaming communities and enjoy a free multiplayer experience, brand-new game modes and tournaments that let you shout "UNO!" on a whole new level!"

iPhone: UNO ™ & Friends
Android: UNO ™ & Friends



Skip-Bo

Skip-Bo is relatively new when compared to the other games on this list but its still a great game that is fun and easy to play.  Very underrated when compared to other classics like Uno.

Skip-Bo involves a custom set of cards that has gameplay similar to Uno where players match cards in sequence until they have none left.

"Skip-Bo™, the popular family card game, officially licensed by Mattel™ is now in the App Store! Test your skills, get into the action, and place all your cards in sequential order. Keep an eye on your opponents though, because the first player to get rid of all the cards in their stockpile wins."

iPhone: Skip-Bo™ - The Classic Family Card Game
                                                                                    Android: Skip-Bo™ Free

1000 Miles

This is a very oldschool card game that started in France under the name Mille Bornes and made its way to North America.  It is a very addictive game and easy to learn.  Also, went under the name Traffic in some places.  This is one of those games that is legendary for being great to play but hard to find but they have it on the app store for free so pick it up while you can.

"The game uses a special deck of cards which includes distance, hazard, remedy and safety cards. Hazards are played to slow or stop your opponent's progress. Remedies are played to remove hazards applied by your opponent and safeties are used to prevent hazards."

iPhone: 1000 Miles

Android: Road Rally 1000