You asked. We misunderstood. And now, it’s here.
Play turn-based, real-time, or real-life. That’s right- Board Game Arena is leveling up, straight into your living room.
Now you can open a table from your very own physical game shelf and invite players to join you - in person. Whether it’s your gaming room, kitchen, attic, or secret underground dice vault, the table is officially open.
A Partnership with Bar à Jeux
We’ve teamed up with a real-world game café to bring you... chairs. And tables. And possibly snacks (not guaranteed). This partnership helps bring BGA IRL™ to life- literally.
The Guru App
Every IRL game must be validated by one of our certified Game Gurus, using our all-new, top-secret app (gurus only; download link hidden somewhere on the site). They will analyze your moves, check your snacks, and confirm your karma level before the match counts.
Add Extra Time. And Extra Drinks.
Running out of time IRL? Request an extra 10 minutes or extra 10 cl of beverage (your choice) through our built-in toast notification system. Just yell “PAUSE!” loud enough. Your host will understand.
BYOD: Bring Your Own Dice
Want better control over your fate? Bring your own dice. The luck algorithm respects custom equipment- as long as it is blessed by your host and rolled at a 45° angle. Undo moves are allowed up to three times per game, depending on the host’s mood and how many cookies you brought.
Record, Rewind, Replay
All ranked IRL games must be fully recorded. Smartphones, VHS camcorders, or medieval court scribes are accepted. Once uploaded, our Gurus will review your footage to award ELO points and ensure no forbidden spells were cast.
Global Game Hosting
From the game page, host a physical game- open to friends or players worldwide! Filter by city, country, or snack preference. Before hosting, you will be prompted to verify your address and confirm you actually own the game (no empty boxes, please).
Need a game you don’t own? Premium members will soon be able to rent physical games at “privileged” prices (payment in meeples not accepted yet).
Avatar Face Masks (Beta)
Worried about privacy? Soon, you will be able to order a real-life face mask of your BGA avatar. Play with anonymity, and confuse even your closest friends. Only approved masks will be allowed. No dragons. No tentacles. No celebrity lookalikes (we learned this the hard way).
Language-Based Cheating Detection
For games with hidden roles or secret info, BGA IRL™ includes auto-language detection. If anyone speaks a non-declared language at your table, you will be notified. Repeated violations may result in being sent to the Shadow Table (details classified).
Only the Worthy May Host
To ensure quality play, BGA IRL™ is restricted to users with high karma and excellent snack distribution records. Joining a low-karma table is done at your own risk- and may affect your ELO and your social life.
So there you have it. The most ambitious update to BGA since the "extra undo" button.
Ready to take board games where they've literally always been? Try BGA IRL™ today- available nowhere, everywhere, and only slightly in beta.
Let the dice fall where they may.
