A Board Game Arena alternative for quick social games
Letternerd is a Board Game Arena alternative when you want quick social and word games rather than full board games. It is free in the browser, friends join a room from a link as guests, and rooms run live or over several days. It has no board games, so for strategy games Board Game Arena remains the place to go.
What is Board Game Arena?
Board Game Arena is a website for playing board games online, with a large catalogue of modern board games adapted for the browser. You can play live with people who are online at the same time, or play turn-based games that move on whenever each player takes their turn. It runs in the browser with nothing to install, and it has ranked play.
Why people look for a Board Game Arena alternative
- You want something your non-gamer friends can start in a minute, with no rules to learn.
- You want party games, quizzes and games about each other rather than strategy.
- You want friends to join from a link without making an account.
Letternerd vs Board Game Arena
| Feature | Board Game Arena | Letternerd |
|---|---|---|
| What you play | Modern board games, adapted for the browser | Party games, quizzes, word puzzles and couples games |
| Live or over time | Live, or turn-based | Live with countdowns, or over several days |
| Where it runs | In the browser | In the browser |
| Learning the rules | Each game has its own rules to learn | Most games explain themselves in a sentence |
| Competing | Ranked play | An Arcade of solo games with a daily board to compare with friends |
| Make your own | Play the games in the catalogue | Describe a game in a sentence, or edit one by hand |
Which should you pick?
Pick Board Game Arena if
- You want real board games: strategy, engine-building, cards and tiles. Letternerd has none of those.
- You want ranked play against strangers.
- Your group already loves a particular board game and wants to play it remotely.
Pick Letternerd if
Pick Letternerd if- You want a game for people who would never sit down to learn a rulebook.
- You want quizzes and games about each other for a group chat.
- You want to make your own game from a sentence.
A Board Game Arena alternative for turn-based play with friends
Any Letternerd room can run over several days instead of live. Each person takes their turn when they are free, so nobody has to be online at the same time.
- Pick a game and choose to host it over several days.
- Share the link in your group chat. Friends join as guests in their browser.
- Take your turn whenever you see it. The reveal and scores wait for the round to finish.
Games with a bit of strategy
These are short, but there is a decision to make every round.
- Going Once: sealed-bid auctions for lots worth different amounts. Spend your purse where it buys the most.
- Pick a Power: a scenario, three superpowers, one card. Play the one that solves it best.
- Bank or Bust: one draw for the table each round. Push for a bigger pot or bank it.
- Spread the Points: split a budget of points across the table each round. The most-backed player wins.
- In the Arcade, Unjam asks you to slide blocks out of the way in as few moves as you can, and Tessel is about clearing full rows and columns.
- Going Once3–8 players · 11 minSealed-bid auctions for lots worth different amounts. Spend your purse where it buys the most.
- Pick a Power3–8 players · 8 minA scenario, three superpowers, one card. Play the one that solves it best.
- Bank or Bust3–10 players · 9 minOne draw for the table each round. Push for a bigger pot or bank it — a bust catches everyone who pushed.
- Spread the Points3–10 players · 9 minSplit a budget of points across the table each round. Most-backed player wins.
Games to play instead of Board Game Arena
Free in your browser on any phone or computer. Play alone, or share the room code and everyone joins as a guest.
- Going Once3–8 players · 11 minSealed-bid auctions for lots worth different amounts. Spend your purse where it buys the most.
- Pick a Power3–8 players · 8 minA scenario, three superpowers, one card. Play the one that solves it best.
- Bank or Bust3–10 players · 9 minOne draw for the table each round. Push for a bigger pot or bank it — a bust catches everyone who pushed.
- Spread the Points3–10 players · 9 minSplit a budget of points across the table each round. Most-backed player wins.
- Four Links1–12 players · 8 minSixteen words, four hidden groups of four. Find them all before your four mistakes run out.
- Category Clash2–10 players · 10 minOne letter, six categories, ninety seconds. Only the answers nobody else thought of score.
In the Arcade
- UnjamArcade · 1 player · daily boardSlide the blocks out of the way to free the red one, in as few moves as you can.
- SweepArcade · 1 player · daily boardClear a minefield you can always solve without guessing.
- TesselArcade · 1 player · daily boardDrag three shapes onto the grid and clear full rows and columns.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a site like Board Game Arena for party games?
Letternerd is one: free party games, quizzes and word games in the browser, where friends join from a link as guests.
Can I play turn-based games with friends in the browser?
Yes. On Letternerd, any room can run over several days, so each person takes their turn when they are free.
Does Letternerd have board games like chess?
No. There are no board games. For chess and modern board games, Board Game Arena is the better pick.
More games
Other comparisons
See all- Messaging app with multiplayer gamesPlato alternativeWant games like Plato without joining another chat app? Letternerd runs in the browser: share a link in the chat you use, and everyone plays on their phone.
- Games played inside iMessageGamePigeon alternativeGamePigeon only works in iMessage. Letternerd plays in any browser, so Android and iPhone friends can play together from one link. Free, no download.
- Team word-clue board gameGames like CodenamesWant games like Codenames online? Letternerd has free one-word clue and word-group games you play in the browser with friends, each on their own phone.
- Party game packs played on a shared screenJackbox Party Pack alternativeWant free games like Jackbox? Letternerd runs party games in the browser: everyone plays on their own phone, with nothing to buy and no screen to share.
Board Game Arena is a trademark of its owner. Letternerd is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. The comparison describes each product as publicly presented and may change; check their site for the latest.