The first time I craved a larger screen on my iPod Touch was just after downloading Monopoly. Always a fan of the classic board game from Parker Brothers, the idea of playing it on a bigger surface seemed fantastic, so it is not surprise that it was one of the first games I played on the iPad. With its size and weight -- or lack thereof -- the iPad is uniquely suited to replace the table in tabletop games. Or, at least, to replace the dice, cards and other paraphernalia.
The best board games for the iPad range from classics to retakes on a familar theme to brand new games. Here are the best of the best:
Monopoly
While this list is not in any particular order, it only seems fitting to list Monopoly first. After all, it is one of the most popular boad games of all time. The iPad version doesn't stray too far from the essense that makes this game so great, with the ability to customize house rules like free parking and doubling up when landing on Go. But iPad users will get one thing that is special: the ability to drive around the board in a Toyota Prius.
Words With Friends
For anyone that loves Scrabble but doesn't want to pay $10 for the Scrabble app, there is Words With Friends. But don't think you are getting the ugly step sister version of the all-time great board game. Words With Friends has the same great arrange-the-letters-into-words game play in a turn-based style, letting you play against friends on Facebook or smartphones like the iPhone or Android. And the gaming gets really fun when you play in multiple games at the same time.
Chess
Risk
Word Solitaire
What do you get when you cross Klondike Solitaire with Boggle? Word Solitaire combines elements of classic word games by letting you arrange letters into words with elements of Solitaire by placing the game on a Klondike-like board. The game has plenty of free levels and a great tutorial to help you get started.
