I need an epic, but turn-based, game to play with friend in another state.

March 20, 2012 9:30 AM

I want to play an excellent turn-based computer/iOS game remotely with a friend who is stuck inside after major surgery. Something where each player makes 1-3 moves a day, yet it is still fun. Any suggestions?

My friend is a game geek, so epic fantasy-themed or SF-themed games are great, but we need something where face-to-face or phone conversation is not needed (ie Diplomacy is right out). Lots of electronic versions of board games require many back-and-forth plays before they are fun, I am hoping for something where each move is engaging from an early stage.

posted by blahblahblah to sports, hobbies, & recreation (20 answers total)

Civillization? I know you can play it on Facebook and via Steam, so I would be shocked if it wasn't available for iOS.
posted by canine epigram at 9:33 AM on March 20, 2012

I'm a huge, huge fan of Hero Academy on iOS.

It's a relatively light tactics game with quite a bit of depth.
posted by Oktober at 9:34 AM on March 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

There are also Pocket Legends and the other Spacetime games - they're MMOs, so if you can both be playing at the same time, you can play together directly. (I can't tell if this works for you or if you need asynchrony specifically.)
posted by restless_nomad at 9:39 AM on March 20, 2012

I haven't played it in ages, but it looks like there's now a web-based version of classic VGA planets.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 9:44 AM on March 20, 2012

Civillization? I know you can play it on Facebook and via Steam, so I would be shocked if it wasn't available for iOS.

There's a version of Civilization Revolutions, which is considerably simpler than actual Civ, but still plenty fun. Unfortunately, there's no multiplayer.
posted by griphus at 9:45 AM on March 20, 2012

Civilization (any of them) would be great for this.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:52 AM on March 20, 2012

Ferion is browser based, so iOS could handle it, and if your looking for epic, look no further. The game has a bit of a learning curve, but if you've played anything like civilization you should pick it up no problem. It is a galaxy wide colonization game where every hour is one turn. At first it seams like there is all this empty space around your one lone planet, but pretty soon you start bumping up against other players expanding empires. I was straight addicted to this game for about 6 months before I started dating my girlfriend.
posted by KeSetAffinityThread at 9:52 AM on March 20, 2012

Draw Something is my new addiction. I've got over a dozen games going with friends, and usually sit down and play all my turns once or twice a day. I find it delightful to watch them draw; it almost always makes me laugh.

It would be unfair, however, if your friend has had surgery on their dominant hand/arm.

FYI they make it look like you can't possibly play without hooking up to Facebook, but several of my opponents just have non-FB usernames they set up when they signed up.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:01 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Carcassonne? The iPad version is great.
posted by chairface at 10:02 AM on March 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

Seconding Hero Academy and Carcassonne for iOS.

I've heard good things about Hive, but haven't played it.

You could scan Board Game Geek's iOS Board Games listings for more. The users there rank Ascension and Ticket to Ride as 2011's best online multiplayer games for iOS. Ticket to Ride doesn't seem very "epic", but Ascension might do the trick.
posted by Boxenmacher at 10:08 AM on March 20, 2012

2nding Draw Something. I just loaded the (free) app on my phone. I am not on FB, but was able to log in with just an email account and username.

It's catchy!
posted by 6:1 at 10:16 AM on March 20, 2012

Check "Uniwar" (http://www.uniwar.com/) on android and iphone formats. Excellent turn-based strategy game imo.
posted by Cletis at 10:17 AM on March 20, 2012

I'm a big strategy game fan myself, but honestly, if you get 10 or 20 games of Draw Something going, you will almost have no time to do anything else.
posted by empath at 10:23 AM on March 20, 2012

Heroes of Might and Magic III is awesome, although the turns might not be complicated enough for your liking. It's worth a shot, though.

(Not clear if it has to be available for iOS or if computer games are also ok. I doubt it's been adapted for iOS since it's a pretty old game, but it's possible. )
posted by randomnity at 10:31 AM on March 20, 2012

I just dropped in to vote for Chess. Lots of good free turn-based sites out there (such as Chess.com - which also supports iOS quite well). A game can easily last several days to a week. It's the perfect game for taking your mind off of other things - and has a metric ton of depth and balance.
posted by machinecraig at 10:31 AM on March 20, 2012

Ascension, Ascension, Ascension!
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:54 AM on March 20, 2012

Civilization on the iPad lasted me two weeks in hospital, and has continued to be my go-to game for long waiting periods around hospitals. It is easy to pick up at the easiest level and gives you several hundred hours to play through levels and options.

The only other thing I'd consider is Zinio for stacks of magazines to download and read without having the hassle of a pile of paper magazines on your hospital bed.
posted by viggorlijah at 11:23 AM on March 20, 2012

I had great fun with Highborn, but I haven't had a chance to use the multiplayer mode because my friends are mean and won't shell out the 99 cents. Mean! But that may factor in for you too.
posted by nicebookrack at 12:57 PM on March 20, 2012

Chess @ chess.com has a version where you make 1 move per day, or less, or more - it's up to you. Computer, iOS and android versions available.
posted by Sonic_Molson at 8:22 PM on March 20, 2012

Try out some of Reiner Knizia's games: Tigris & Euphrates would be my pick.
posted by soonertbone at 2:16 PM on March 21, 2012