Free Browser Strategy Games You Can Play With a Friend (No Download)
Six free strategy games that run in your browser and let you play a friend from an invite link: lane battles, territory wars, board games and chess.
By the Ageforge teamUpdated 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Ageforge: real-time 1v1 lane battles through 4 ages, in the style of Age of War. Best for quick duels against one friend.
- generals.io: a fast real-time territory game on a hidden map where you capture the enemy general. Best for short, tense matches.
- Territorial.io: a territory-conquest game for big lobbies of players. Best for a group of friends.
- Colonist.io: an online settlers-style board game for 2 to 8 players. Best for a relaxed game night.
- Board Game Arena: hundreds of board games, many of them strategy games, played in the browser. Best for variety.
- Lichess: free chess with no ads; send a friend a challenge link. Best for pure turn-based strategy.
Every game on this list is free to start, runs in a web browser with nothing to install, and lets you play a specific friend rather than only strangers. We make Ageforge, so it's first, but the others are good games we'd recommend too.
| Game | Style | Players | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ageforge | Lane battle with ages | 1v1 | Real time, a few minutes |
| generals.io | Territory war on a hidden map | 2 or more | Real time, a few minutes |
| Territorial.io | Territory conquest | Big lobbies | Real time, a few minutes |
| Colonist.io | Settlers-style board game | 2 to 8 | Turn-based, about an hour |
| Board Game Arena | Hundreds of board games | Depends on the game | Live or turn-based |
| Lichess | Chess | 1v1 | Anything from bullet to days |
1. Ageforge: real-time 1v1 lane battles
Two keeps face each other across one lane. You choose which units to train, they march and fight on their own, and you advance from the Stone Age to the Future to break the other keep first. It plays like the Flash classic Age of War, but against a real person. Press Play with a friend on the home page and send the invite link: your friend needs no account or download, and phones can play PCs.
Good if you want a quick duel with a rematch button. See how to play with a friend and is there a multiplayer Age of War?.
2. generals.io: capture the enemy general
A minimalist real-time strategy game on a grid. You start with a general and a few soldiers, expand across a map you can't fully see, and win by capturing the enemy general. You can create a custom game and share the link with friends. Play it at generals.io.
3. Territorial.io: conquer the map
You start with a small patch of land and spread across the map by spending troops, against many other players at once. It suits a group of friends better than a 1v1. Play it at territorial.io.
4. Colonist.io: a settlers-style board game
A browser board game about settling an island, trading resources and building roads and cities. Create a private room and invite your friends. Play it at colonist.io.
5. Board Game Arena: hundreds of board games
A large site of licensed board games you play in the browser, live or turn by turn. Many of them are strategy games, and you can invite friends to a table. Some games and features need a paid membership, but plenty are free. Play it at boardgamearena.com.
6. Lichess: free chess
Free, open-source chess with no ads. Create a challenge and send your friend the link, at any time control. Play it at lichess.org.
Which one should you pick?
- Two of you, ten minutes: Ageforge or generals.io.
- A group of friends: Territorial.io or Colonist.io.
- Something turn-based and slower: Colonist.io, Board Game Arena or Lichess.
- You grew up on Age of War: Ageforge.
FAQ
- What strategy games can I play with a friend in the browser for free?
- Ageforge, generals.io, Territorial.io, Colonist.io, Board Game Arena and Lichess all run in the browser, are free to start, and let you invite a friend.
- Is there a 1v1 strategy game I can play with a friend on my phone?
- Yes. Ageforge runs in a phone browser in landscape, and you invite a friend with a link. Lichess also works well on phones.
- Do these games need a download?
- No. All six run in a web browser. Some also have optional phone apps.
Put it into practice
Free, in your browser, no download. Quick match or send a friend a private room link.
Play free
