Board game apps

Applications not appetizers…though now I have an idea for a follow up post!

There are a lot of apps out there for board gamers. I’m not referring to apps that are board games (that is a whole different post!) but apps that act as supplements to games, enhancing the experience in some way.

Here are a few that I use on the regular:

BoardGameGeek (Free, app and website) - I used to use this site for tracking my collection and plays, but I’ve moved away from feature. But it is still my go-to app for when I have game play questions. I’m awful at skimming rule books for rules clarifications, especially if the book is a chonky one, so I always reach for my phone to search for the “what does the thing on this one card mean” and most of the time, there is a forum post for that.

BGstats ($6 app) - I put off getting bgstats for a long time. I just didn’t think it would be useful for me, but as my gaming ramped up both in-person and online, the nerdy need to know how many times I have played a game, if my score has improved over time, and to make very pretty graphics each month won me over. I love that I can also track where I played a game, making it easy to look back at conventions and meet ups.

Another feature that I’ve started using is tracking when I play a personal copy of a game so I can work on my shelf of shame/opportunity. It can also help when it is time to think about getting rid of game and evaluating if it has ever made it to the table and how long between plays.

Dire Wolf Digital Game Room (free, app) - This app works with both Dire Wolf’s awesome video game adaptations but also has a great collection of companion apps for your physical board games - specifically for me, CLANK!

There are solo modes for Clank!, Clank! in Space and Clank! Catacombs. I have played the solo Clank! game which adds another thief to put clank in the bag and randomly removes cards from the market row each turn. It’s a great way to get the game to the table.

Clank! Catacombs has a solo campaign mode, which adds a bit of loose story about delving into the dungeon for specific items and facing up again specific creatures. This has been a lot of fun - I need to revisit it soon because the random events, like tunnels collapsing behind you - made for a challenging experience. And it’s just a great way to learn the game before playing with friends.

Other physical games with special app modes are Wild Tiled West, Dune Imperium, and Invincible: The Hero-Building Game. Lightning Train has a spot but it helps with game setup, no mention of a solo mode.

Final Girl Companion App ($3) - I adore the Final Girl games. They are fantastic solo games that are fun but brutal. The companion app is a must if you have started collecting the series. Beyond just tracking your win, or more realistically, loss rate, there is also a great tracker for while you play. Final Girl has several phases of play and it is easy to lost track of where you were in the moment after the monster jumps out from behind a tree because of an event you drew. It has a timer and you can track the phase which means you actually can like get up, make a sandwich, and come back (FG games can go longer if you’re in the zone) and not have to try to remember what the heck you were doing.

You can also use the app to suggest variations on setup - you can put in which FG boxes you own and the app will shuffle together a girl and location and killer for you. You can also have the app decide the location setup.

Slay the Spire: TBG Companion (Free app) - Another must if you have the game. The companion app has the rule book, which means everyone can access it on their phone, if needed. It also lets you track where you are in the campaign, and as an epic deck-builder that is really important! I played the first act with my brother before he moved but our game is saved on the app so when he comes back, I can easily rebuild the decks we had, along with our items, potions, and gold supply.

And if you really want to geek out, it also has the music from the game so you can play the boss battle theme during the boss battles.

Cardboard (Free - website) - so this is the app what inspired the post. It’s relatively new and aims to be an ALL THINGS BOARD GAMES site. You can log your plays, track your collection, post reviews, buy/sell games, and post game nights. It is in the early phases and very small, but it feels like it has a lot of potential for a online community space. Since it is so small, there’s a lot of interactions with the group, so potential for meeting new online gamers, which is always one of my goals. I use social media to be social.

I do have thoughts about only posting about your games in a game setting. I have been posting about games on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and now here, and I have found so many friends that way. I’ve also had friends from other areas of my life discover board games because of my post, so I worry only sharing my game things in a closed site like BGG or Cardboard means I’m missing out on sharing the joy of the hobby with potential new players. But it is also nice to post in a space that is as into a hobby as I am.

I will keep experimenting with the site. If you end up joining, look me up!

What apps do you use while gaming? There are lots of great scoring apps, apps that help you pick who goes first, and more! Do you have favorites? Let me know in the comments or link to your post.