The Best Free Games to Play With Friends Online
Getting friends together for a game should not mean everyone installing an app, creating an account and waiting for an update. All the games below run in a browser, so you can start one in the time it takes to send a message. They are grouped by the kind of evening you are after.
For family game night: Ludo and Snake and Ladders
Ludo Online Xmas is our first choice when several generations want to play together. Everyone already knows the rules, and a private code lets relatives in other cities join the same table. If younger children are playing, Snake and Ladders Multiplayer is even simpler. It is entirely down to the dice, so nobody is at a disadvantage.
For a proper strategy duel: Checkers and Backgammon
If you have one friend who always thinks they are the smart one, this is the place to settle it. Master Checkers Multiplayer is pure skill, with no dice to blame. Backgammon Multiplayer adds enough luck that a weaker player always has a chance, which often makes for a better evening.
For a five-minute break: Tic Tac Toe and Connect 4
Short on time? Tic Tac Toe Multiplayer takes seconds to start, and two people can pass one device between them. Connect 4 Multiplayer takes a few minutes per game and gives more room for planning. Our Connect 4 strategy guide will give you an unfair advantage.
For friendly football arguments: Penalty Challenge
Penalty Challenge Multiplayer is built for rivalry. Pick one of 32 teams, take five kicks and five saves, and find out who cracks first. It is very quick, which means there is always time for a rematch.
For card players: Rummy
Rummy Multiplayer comes closest to sitting round a card table, with online rooms as well as a mode for two people on one device. It takes a little longer to learn, and its page explains the rules. As with every game on Lmodire, it is for fun only, with no payments and no real-money play.
For a bit of chaos: Goose Game and Battleship
Goose Game Multiplayer is a nostalgic race with plenty of bad luck to laugh at. Battleship War Multiplayer adds power-ups to the classic naval duel, and it is especially satisfying when you find your friend's last ship.
How to start a game with friends
- Open the game on Lmodire and press Play.
- Look in the game's menu for a private game, a room or a friend option.
- Send your friends the code or room details the game gives you.
- They open the same game and join you.
The options vary from game to game, so look at each game's menu to see what it offers. Tip: send the link to the Lmodire game page as well, so that nobody has to search for it. If you are in the same room, many of these games also let two people share one device.
A note on connections
Real-time games work best on a stable connection. If someone in your group is on slow mobile data, turn-based games such as Ludo, Checkers and Rummy are likely to cope better than the fast penalty games. If you are playing on a phone, try turning it sideways. Many games suit a landscape layout.
