Best Online & Board Games to Play When You're Bored

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Pass the time with these boredom-curing games
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Gah! Can anything cure your boredom? Yes, as a matter of fact, we have the perfect cure! Check out these lists of online games, board games, and apps you can play by yourself or with friends to pass the time and get rid of boredom instantly. Don’t believe it’ll work? Give one or two a try, and then tell us how you feel.

The Best Games to Play When You’re Bored

  • Slither.io
  • Scrabble
  • Hades
  • Two Dots
  • I Spy
  • Fortnite
Section 1 of 5:

Online Games to Play When Bored

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  1. Step 1 Slither.io
    Slither.io is an online game where you’re a snake trying to eat and avoid other snakes. This multiplayer game connects you with players all across the world, and all you need to play is an internet browser and WiFi connection.
    • Price: Free
    • Available online
  2. 2
    Quick, Draw! Quick, Draw! is an online guessing game you can play alone. You’re given a subject or theme and asked to draw it quickly. Then, the computer has to guess what you’re doodling.
    • Price: Free
    • Available online
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  3. 3
    Roblox Roblox is an online gaming platform where you can play mini-games, explore new worlds, and chat with friends. Once you make a free online account, you can explore the virtual reality and find all types of games to cure boredom.
    • Price: Free or Premium for $4.99 per month[1]
    • Available on computers, mobile devices, Xbox One, and VR headsets
  4. Step 4 Among Us
    Among Us is an online multiplayer game that makes you a suspect or detective. You’re placed on a spaceship with friends (or strangers), where one of you is the Imposter. You must either destroy other players as the Imposter or guess who the Imposter is.
    • Price: Free
    • Available online or on iOS and Android
  5. 5
    Line Rider Line Rider is a free sandbox game where you draw tracks for a sleigh to ride on. While the concept is simple, the possibilities are endless!
    • Price: Free
    • Available online or on iOS and Android
  6. 6
    Parkour Race Parkour Race is a 3D running game. In this online game, you race against the clock, running and jumping over a city skyline. Each level comes with new challenges, which can keep you entertained for hours!
    • Price: Free
    • Available online or on iOS and Android
  7. 7
    Bubble Shooter Bubble Shooter is an arcade-style online game that’s great for all ages. Kill time by matching bubble colors and ensuring the wall of bubbles doesn’t fall on you.
    • Price: Free
    • Available online
  8. Step 8 Block Champ
    Block Champ challenges your speed and strategy with its ticking clock and puzzle-like features. Beat levels by getting rid of as many blocks as possible in your queue, stacking them in between blocks on the dashboard.
    • Price: Free
    • Available online
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Section 2 of 5:

Video Games to Play When Bored

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  1. Step 1 Minecraft
    Minecraft is a classic game you can play online by yourself or with friends! This video game centers around the creation and deletion of blocks to survive. But watch out! Nighttime comes with deadly monsters and mobs ready to attack.
    • Price: $29.99 to $39.99[2]
    • Number of Players: 1 to infinity
    • Available on Windows 10 and above, Mac/iOS, Linux, Android, Fire OS/TV, Xbox One, PlayStation, Samsung Gear VR, and Nintendo Switch.
    • Pro Tip: Minecraft must be downloaded onto your computer or gaming device to play off- or online.
  2. 2
    Terraria Terraria is a console and PC game that makes the world your canvas. Build your own cities and kingdoms and develop your own social status in this charming and whimsical cozy game.[3]
  3. 3
    Animal Crossing Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series. In this game, you meet friendly animal neighbors, create your own home/island, and uncover fun, cozy mysteries. With the endless storylines, you’re sure to be entertained for hours![4]
  4. Step 4 Rocket League
    Rocket League is a video game that combines soccer with high-speed racing. In this game, you compete against friends or strangers to score points and navigate an ever-changing environment.[5]
    • Price: $1.99 to $29.99
    • Number of Players: 1 to 4
    • Available on PlayStation, Xbox One, Epic Games Store, and Nintendo Switch
    • Similar Games: Rocket Racing and Fall Guys
  5. 5
    Hades Hades is an action role-playing video game where you star as Zagreus, the son of Hades. It’s your mission to escape the Underworld and fight your way to Mount Olympus.
  6. 6
    Fortnite Fortnite is an online battle royale-style game that puts you in a fight-to-the-death competition. Players must shoot and build their way to victory, aiming to be the last player standing in an arena.[6]
    • Price: Free (without add-ons)
    • Number of Players: 1 to infinity
    • Available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, Mac/iOS
    • Similar Games: Valorant and Fall Guys
  7. 7
    Palworld Palword is a survival game with cute graphics and storylines. Travel through camps and a creative world to capture Pals and improve your gameplay. You can play by yourself or start a server with up to 32 friends.
    • Price: $30
    • Number of Players: 1 to 32
    • Available on Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Mac/iOS
    • Similar Games: Raft, Grounded, and Pokémon
  8. 8
    Little Kitty, Big City Little Kitty, Big City puts you in control of an adorable kitty in a big city. Hop, run, and play tricks throughout the city, embarking on unique feline quests. The world is expansive and free-roaming, so there’s always something new to explore!
  9. Step 9 Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
    Duck Detective: The Secret Salami puts you in the center of a crime. As the Duck Detective, you must uncover who stole the salami from your office’s lunchroom. This game is full of jokes, and its goofy story is sure to lift your spirits.
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Section 3 of 5:

Mobile Games to Play When Bored

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  1. Step 1 Two Dots
    Two Dots is a perfect game to play when you need to kill some time. Not only is it fun, but it’s also strategic and gets you thinking! Simply connect the colorful dots on your screen to unlock puzzles and storylines.[7]
    • Price: Free
    • Available on iOS and Android
    • Similar Game: Dot Link
  2. 2
    2048 2048 is an app that requires a bit of math skills—but we promise it’s fun! In this game, you have to strategically slide tiles to make multiples of a number. The goal is to reach the 2048 tile.
    • Price: Free
    • Available online or on iOS and Android
    • Similar Game: Tetris
  3. 3
    Candy Crush Candy Crush is a classic mobile game that uses strategy and fun to cure boredom. Simply combine matching candies to watch them explode and level up your score.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
    • Similar Game: Royal Match
  4. Step 4 Heads Up!
    Bored with a bunch of friends? Cure that boredom with a fun charade-like game! Heads Up! has you put a topic on your head. Your friends must then give you keywords to help you try and guess it correctly.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
  5. 5
    Trivia Crack Trivia Crack lets you challenge your friends, compete, and learn. Simply choose a topic or subject you’re interested in. Then, play a round of trivia to see if you know your stuff. You can even make your own quizzes for players to take.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
  6. 6
    StarMaker Show off your karaoke skills with StarMaker! This mobile app lets you sing karaoke anywhere. Play by yourself or with friends. You can even post your covers in the app for others to watch.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
  7. 7
    Crossy Road Crossy Road is a mobile action-packed tap game that puts you in the shoes of a very curious chicken. You’re tasked with trying to successfully cross extremely busy streets (and sometimes rivers). The farther you’re able to travel, the better your score.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
  8. 8
    Words With Friends Words With Friends is a multiplayer mobile game that tests your word knowledge. Challenge your friends to a game, taking turns putting words on the board. The player with the highest score at the end wins!
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
    • Pro Tip: You can also play online by going to wordswithfriends.com and logging in with your email or Facebook account.
  9. Step 9 Lily’s Garden
    Lily’s Garden is a relaxing mobile puzzle game with a cozy storyline and plenty of minigames. Play games as Lily and earn money to design and decorate your garden. The more characters you meet, the more objects and opportunities you’ll discover!
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on iOS and Android
  10. IMG_49641.png
    10
    Snake.io Snake.io is a fun, addicting, action game where players compete to be the biggest snake by collecting pellets and eliminating other snakes in the competitive snake arena.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on: iOS, Google Play, Amazon, Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch and Netflix Games.
  11. Pt2 banner.jpeg
    11
    Piano Tiles 2 Piano Tiles 2 is a fun, addicting, tile tapping game that puts players reflexes to the test as they tap the black tiles to match the rhythm of a song that gradually increases speed as they move forward.
    • Price: Free (without in-app purchases)
    • Available on: iOS, Google Play and Apple Arcade.
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Section 4 of 5:

Board Games to Play When Bored

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  1. Step 1 Scrabble
    Scrabble is a traditional board game all about words! Challenge your friends to see who knows the most words and who can gather the most points.
    • Price: $22
    • Number of Players: 2 to 4
    • Game Time: 60 minutes
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    Our Family Plays Games

    Board Game Experts
    Our Family Plays Games, LLC is a family-owned business based in Omaha, Nebraska. Launched in 2018, their mission is to promote growth and awareness of the modern board game hobby and bring more BIPOCs and families into the board game community. In June 2020 they were featured on Good Morning America and have since been featured on NBC News Online, Senet Magazine (UK), Ligadas.com (Brazil), a variety of YouTube programs, podcasts, and on local television. In January of 2022, they launched a second program on their channel, called OFPG Voices to highlight other underrepresented voices in the hobby. In addition, they make special appearances at board game conventions all around the country and work with board game publishers from around the world.
    Our Family Plays Games
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    Board Game Experts

    Change your strategy to match your opponent’s. When playing Scrabble, pay attention to what your opponent is doing. For example, if they’re playing a lot of 4-letter words, play 4-letter words.

  2. 2
    Monopoly Monopoly is a classic board game almost everyone knows how to play! You’re in charge of your wealth and estates in this game. Your goal: to buy as much real estate as possible and get money from other players.
    • Price: $22
    • Number of Players: 2 to 8
    • Game Time: 20 to 180 minutes
    • Level Up: Monopoly has various board game styles and themes—so pick up whichever one interests you most!
  3. 3
    Chess Chess is a classic game of strategy. You must outmaneuver your opponent and checkmate their king in order to win. The game requires thought and tactics, making it an instant boredom buster.
    • Price: $30
    • Number of Players: 2
    • Game Time: 90 minutes or more
    • Level Up: Download a chess app on your phone or compete in online chess tournaments to improve your skills.
  4. Step 4 Small World
    Small World puts you in control of your own fantasy world. You’re in charge of your own fantasy race and must use logic and strategy to ensure they survive.[8]
    • Price: $60
    • Number of Players: 2 to 5
    • Game Time: 60 to 80 minutes
    • Ages: 8 and up
  5. 5
    Mysterium Mysterium is an expansive card game that puts you in control of your own fate. You're tasked with solving a mystery and playing the role of a psychic or ghost. The psychics of the game must guess what happens to the ghost to win.[9]
    • Price: $30 (without expansions)
    • Number of Players: 2 to 7
    • Game Time: 60 minutes
    • Ages: 10 and up
  6. 6
    Pandemic Pandemic is a logic board game that puts you in the doctor’s seat. You and your teammates must try to save the world from a deadly virus outbreak. Will you be able to find a cure in time, or will the world cease to exist?
    • Price: $45
    • Number of Players: 2 to 4
    • Game Time: 60 to 120 minutes per session
    • Ages: 13 and up
  7. Step 7 Sagrada
    Sagrada is a beautifully designed board game that revolves around strategy. In this game, you’re an artisan tasked with building a stained-glass window. Every player starts with the same color panel but with different restrictions. Whoever completes their window first wins.[10]
    • Price: $45
    • Number of Players: 1 to 4
    • Game Time: 30 to 45 minutes
    • Ages: 13 and up
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Section 5 of 5:

Free Games to Play with Friends When Bored

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  1. Step 1 Charades
    Play this exciting and competitive game if you have a larger group of friends to entertain. Simply come up with a movie, book title, or celebrity. Then, act it out silently and pray your team guesses it correctly first.
    • Price: Free
    • Number of Players: As many as you want (as long as it’s an even number)
    • Level Up: Use an online charade generator for unique and out-of-the-box themes and topics.
  2. 2
    Tic-Tac-Toe Bored in class, at home, or wherever? This classic boredom-curing is perfect for you! All you need is a friend to be your opponent and something to write with and write on to play Tic-Tac-Toe.
    • Price: Free
    • Number of Players: 2
    • Level Up: Download a tic-tac-toe app on your phone or use your device’s note app if you don’t have a pen and paper.
  3. 3
    Rock Paper Scissors Fill the time with this fun but classic competition. Just ask a friend to be your opponent and start saying, “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”
    • Price: Free
    • Number of Players: 2
    • Level Up: Turn the game into a tournament with the best out of 3 or 5 games winning.
  4. Step 4 I Spy
    I Spy is an entertaining game for all ages! And what’s more, you don’t need any supplies to play—just your eyes. Look around the room and spot something you can describe. Then, have a friend try to guess what you’re looking at.
    • Price: Free
    • Number of Players: 2 or more
  5. 5
    Would You Rather Need to kill some time but don’t have any supplies to craft up a game? No problem! Entertain yourself and your friends with a game of Would You Rather. Simply ask a question that starts with “Would you rather…?” that pairs together two options. You can make the game as quick or long as you like!
    • Price: Free
    • Number of Players: 2 or more
  6. Step 6 Two Truths and a Lie
    This classic game is a great icebreaker for new friends! All you have to do is state 3 things about yourself—just make sure one of them is a lie. Then, have the group try to guess which statements are true and false.
    • Price: Free
    • Number of Players: 2 or more
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What Game Ideas Would You Suggest to Someone Who Is Bored?

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What are the best board games of all time?
Ashton Wu
Ashton Wu
Board Game Expert
This is totally subjective, but I love:
  • Brass: Birmingham
  • Star Wars Rebellion
  • Dune Imperium Uprising
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization 2010 (with 2 expansions)
  • Ashes: Reborn
  • Last Word
  • Twilight Imperium 4
Jon Purkis
Jon Purkis
Game Expert
That’s a tough one! I do have personal favorites, but I’m always a little hesitant to claim “best of all time” publicly, since games can be so subjective. I'll try to stick with more universal picks. So, I’d say Pandemic is one of the best of all time. It’s a cooperative game about trying to save the world from diseases (it came out long before COVID) but it’s widely considered the definitive cooperative board game. Another one would be Ra, an auction game set in ancient Egypt, where you’re collecting items to build the best civilization. It’s fantastic. And, if I could pick one more, I’d go with Codenames. You play on teams with a clue giver who gives one-word hints to help their team guess certain words in a grid. It’s a race against the other team, and it’s fascinating both to give and interpret the clues. Just a super fun and clever team game.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.roblox.com/premium/membership
  2. ↑ https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/minecraft-deluxe-collection-pc
  3. ↑ https://terraria.org
  4. ↑ https://animalcrossing.nintendo.com
  5. ↑ https://www.rocketleague.com/en
  6. ↑ https://www.fortnite.com/?lang=en-US
  7. ↑ https://www.twodots-game.com
  8. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/board-games-we-love/
  9. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/board-games-we-love/
  1. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/board-games-we-love/

About This Article

Ashton Wu
Reviewed by:
Ashton Wu
Board Game Expert
This article was reviewed by Ashton Wu and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Ashton Wu is a Board Game expert at Shelfside. After delving into the Yugioh tournament community while growing up, Ashton launched himself into the board gaming community in 2014 and went into reviewing board games as a career full-time in 2019. His YouTube channel Shelfside has over 50K subscribers and over 4 million views, assisted by written reviews on the Shelfside website and BoardGameGeek.com. He also consults with gaming companies to build high-quality gaming products. Ashton is a tournament commentator, board game playthrough director, and host of the Shelfside Podcast, where he talks about board games with his business partner, Daniel. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to the Technology Management Certificate. This article has been viewed 2,849 times.
2 votes - 50%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: April 23, 2025
Views: 2,849
Categories: Games | Boredom Busters
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