Board games have been going through a renaissance over the past decade, and it doesn't take a lot of digging in the Play Store to see that. If you don't have enough shelf space for another box, or you're having trouble getting everyone together under one roof, you can grab these board games on your phone or tablets.

It is difficult to find highly-rated board games on the Play Store. Many of the board games barely pass my approval, whether it is because new updates broke theUI, fundamental aspects didn't get ported over correctly, or the spirit of the original was lost in translation. There are some gems here that are worth considering.

When you get the gaming crew together, we include a couple of great apps to have on hand. When you are done here, be sure to check out the best games on the internet.

AI Factory Limited games

Ai Factory

Source: Google Play Store (Image credit: Source: Google Play Store)

I had trouble picking one game from this developer, so we are featuring its entire library. A lot of us grew up playing chess, checkers, backgammon, and so on, but the games are pushed out by the company. My go-to chess game onAndroid is the one by Artificial Intelligence, and I have had it installed on my phone for many years.

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There are many card games and tic-tac-toe. If you like the classics, you'll find it at AI Factory. Most of the games have a free version or you can pay a couple of dollars to get the ad-free version.

Among The Stars

Source: Google Play Store (Image credit: Source: Google Play Store)

Among the Stars is an adaptation of a board game. It is set in a war-torn universe with alien races having to band together in order to survive. The goal is to build the greatest space station. Even though this is a mobile port, it is still a board game that uses cards for building purposes.

The space station has a new room on it which is where the competitive element comes in. You can use cards to improve your space station or use something to hinder another player. Among the Stars requires a lot of planning to make sure your station has enough power.

There is a single-player campaign with the Android version. It is a very good port of an interesting game. Give it a try.

Armello

Armello is a game of thrones with animals. Armello combines strategy board games with card gaming elements wrapped up in a grandiose fantasyRPG storyline.

You are one of three characters who are on a quest to become Queen or King of Armello. To take the throne, you have to explore the land, hire your own agents, and use magic to destroy your enemies. The art style and animations are also beautiful.

There is a lot to like about Armello, but there are a few less than stellar aspects of the game, the first being that Armello hasn't been updated in a while. Some players have reported game freezing bugs, and the matching in the game's multiplayer mode can be lengthy.

The game has some great potential and can be fun in single-player mode. Armello is free to play with ads and in-app purchases, making it a good choice if you are looking for a more in-depth experience.

Better Settlers

Better Settlers

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

There are a couple of versions of Catan that are available in the Play Store, but they seem to be hopelessly broken after many user complaints and reviews. Catan is one of the greatest board games ever made, so it is a shame.

Better Settlers is a companion app that helps fix unfairness by using technology to create a board that encourages fair play. If you are a Catan fan and want a new way to enjoy a classic game with your friends and family, then this is a great option.

This app used to be called Better Catan Board Generator, but I think the developer got a request to change the name.

Carcassonne

The classic board game was adapted into a game by Asmodee Digital. It looks and plays better in 3D. It is a tile-based kingdom-building game where players take turns trying to complete roads, cities, and cloisters.

Each turn, players attempt to claim points by dropping a limited number of dice onto landmarks. You can still get a few points if you can finish a road by the end of the game.

Six expansions are available via in-app purchases in Carcassone. These expansions can change the game by adding new elements and landscape, as well as ways to increase the number of points you can earn. That all sounds great, but they are optional.

The Castles of Burgundy

The Castles of Burgundy is a board game that is fun to play. I am glad to see that it is in the Play Store. It was new to me while I was looking for new games to play.

You are in charge of a small fiefdom. The goal is to interact with other travelers. There are five turns. Each turn, players can make additional actions or move to establish their settlement.

Hard work and careful planning are required to win the game. No two games are the same and there are many ways to get to victory. If you like building board games, it is worth trying out.

Elder Sign: Omens

Elder Sign: Omens is one of the best board games available on the internet. You can get a spectacular arcane mystery for $2 upfront, where you are competing to find the most magical items, clues, and more.

You are fighting to stand against the Ancient Ones, like Yig, Azathoth, Cthulu, and Ithaqua. It is still a fun game and worth the price, even though the focus is less on the eldritch horrors. The Elder Sign dice game was adapted from the old-school Elder Sign game, but it has gotten a few changes to make it more acceptable for mobile audiences.

Elder Sign: Omens is one of the best mysteries board games you can play, and it is worth the time to check it out.

Galaxy Trucker

The board games on this list have been grounded so far. Let's take the fun to space. As you battle the final frontier, build your ships to protect you. You assemble your ship using a variety of tiles, and then you face terrors like pirates and meteors. At the end of the game, whoever gets the most credits wins.

The game has a real-time and turn-based mode. You can play online with your friends, or you can even run multiple online games at the same time. Extra goodies like a campaign, special parts, and so on are included in the mobile version of the board game.

You can get started with the optional expansion for $5. That is quite the deal for the kind of experience this game offers.

The Game of Life

The Game of Life holds a special place in my heart. Even though we had lost a lot of our homes and careers, my siblings and I still played our ancient copy on Christmas Eve. I am happy to see that The Game of Life's mobile adaptation is solid.

The Game of Life is a board game that takes you and your opponents through stages of life. You start out by going to college or getting a job, then you marry and have kids, and eventually retire. The winner will have the most wealth by the end of the game. This is a great choice for families and kids.

The Game of Life for mobile has online and local multiplayer, a new fast mode, and even mini games to make things more engaging. It is a faithful adaptation of a beloved classic for a low price. Overall, it seems to perform well for most players, even though there are a few bugs and glitches reported.

Good Knight Story

Good Knight Story is a spin on the tile-matching game genre. In this case, the added bonuses come in the form of a genuinely good, and hilarious, story mixed in with a few common RPG elements. Better matches will help you deal damage to your foes or shield you from the pain train.

Tiles can be matched vertically, horizontally, and diagonal in any combination of three or more, which is another light spin on a simple formula that keeps things interesting. You will be able to upgrade your knight and gear as you progress, so that you can take down some big bosses.

The ability to choose whether or not you want to see ads while you play is a delightful touch that I wish more games would employ. Good Knight Story is against it for having a boss that is borderline impossible to defeat unless you spend some real cash to purchase an extremely powerful sword that can lead you to victory.

It may not be a perfect game, but this free-to-play title has more going for it than most tile-matching games by a country mile, so that is a solid win in my book.

Hive with AI

One of the rare examples on this list that might be better than the original board game is this one. I have played Hive in person and have been confused by it, but this Versus version is a great way to learn about it.

There is no board in Hive. You can make the board as you go with your insects. The ultimate goal is to corner your opponent's Queen Bee, because different insect tiles can move in different ways.

Being able to practice different strategies against increasingly difficult opponents is a great way to pass the time and crush your friends and foes alike when the time comes.

Mahjong Epic

It is a shame because it is fun, easy, and challenging at more advanced levels. You can clear the twin tiles from the board by matching a tile to its twin counterpart. You cannot match a tile until you clear the ones on top of it. The goal is to clear the entire board. It's easy, right?

You gain more points when you finish the board in under X amount of time and without using tile shuffles. There are over 1,800 boards in the mahjong collection, along with gorgeous graphics, daily challenges, different tiles sets and background to use. This is more likely for mahjong lovers than the definitive mobile version.

You can get the ad- and IAP-free version of the game through the Play Pass, but it's free to play with ads and in-app purchases.

Risk

Risk is a classic board game that is incredibly fun to play, but it can be difficult to set up and take hours to complete. The mobile version of the game can be played on your own, offline, with friends using pass and play, or online for remote play against friends or strangers.

The classic strategy game action is enhanced with fun animations and a faster pace of play. If you are one of those people who enjoy playing Risk but can't find friends to play in person, this is a great version to take with you. What technology can do is amazing.

RPG Simple Dice

RPG Simple Dice

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Setting up to play a board game is a lot more frustrating than finding the dice are missing. There is an app that has other thoughtful features. You can roll up to 100 dice at one time with a single tap on the app. You can check what your last roll was with the history feature.

This is an ideal app for fans of any type of game, from standard six-sided die to d 100s and everything in between. You can even create a custom die to fit your needs.

This app is free and there are no ads to be seen. This is a must-have app on my device if I had any D&D friends.

Sea Battle 2

Don't let anyone sink your battleship! The classic game can be played against a random online opponent or a person sitting next to you. It goes beyond battleships to include planes, radar, mines, and submarines.

You climb the ranks from a lowly recruit to an admired admiral. Use the in-app chat feature to discuss strategy, and watch your scores on the global leaderboard. There is a choice between classic and advanced game modes.

The old-school graph paper design will make you want to play Battleship rounds again. The internet can integrate with the old school, and going against random people online is a blast.

Ticket to Ride

The players of Ticket to Ride can build rail empires by gathering colored cars. Every turn, a player gets to either pick two cars, claim a line by spending cars, or take on a new ticket, which challenges them to connect two cities before the first player runs out of cars.

It is in your best interest to keep your fellow players from succeeding because they will be trying to build their own railways. There is a single-player, local and online component.

Competition and construction are what Ticket to Ride is all about. You can get a new bundle of maps and boards with the in-app purchase.

Tokaido

Tokaido

Source: Google Play Store (Image credit: Source: Google Play Store)

The traveler is trying to walk from Kyoto to Edo in this digital version of the game. You will be focused on the journey despite having a destination. Take in beautiful landscapes, try new foods, find the best hot springs, and other things that make Japan such a lovely place along the way.

The player with the most satisfying journey wins. Your goal is to discover as many hidden marvels as you can, but how you go about your trip is up to you.

The inexpensive game Tokaido is great for multiple players. It has a huge leg up because of the visuals alone.

Tsuro

Do you want a completely new game experience when you load a board? Tsuro is a tile-based game. Lay your tiles and follow the path you created while you also try to derail your opponents as they lay their own paths. It is a wildly fun adventure. It is also a gorgeous game.

Tsuro has online and local modes exclusive to the mobile version. It is an easy to learn, difficult to master type of game. If you want to improve your skills, there are three different levels to play in.

One of the best games on this list is this one. Tsuro is a new board game that can pass the time during the Pandemic andQuarantine.

Wild Jack: Card Gobang

Wild Jack

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

I can now play this game on my phone. Sequence is a card-board game from the 80s. Two or three people are playing a game where the goal is to make two lines of five chips on the board by playing cards that correspond to the spots on the board.

You only need to complete one sequence if you are up against another player. You need two sequence to win if it is you and two others.

It is a lot of fun to play and explain it in text. You can play against anyone. Automatic matchmaking will keep your experience as smooth as possible.

Avoid boredom with these board games

When it is not possible to play a board game with friends and family, these mobile versions do just as well. I recommend all the games on the list, but I think Tsuro and Carcassonne are some of the best board games you can buy on the internet. The games are fun, and have been lovingly recreated in full 3D for phones.

Elder Sign: Omens is a game that I would highly recommend. Elder Sign is still a great game even though there isn't any horror in it. It's one of the best ways to kill time since it's unique in this list.

Hive with artificial intelligence was added to our list.