I’m an avid tabletop board gamer with hundreds of games in my “game library”. At least a couple times a week I head to the table with some friends and family to get in my fix of cardboard and dice. However there are still times when I want to play a game, but I don’t have the time or fellow players. Fortunately for me, the iPad has turned into a fantastic tabletop gaming substitute. Since its launch, there have been MANY fantastic tabletop games released for iOS. Today, we are going to look at some best digital translations of iOS board games. It was definitely hard to narrow the list down, and I’m sure it will change over time. But for now, here are the Top 10 iPad Board Games. And for clarities sake, we are only including iOS games that already have a cardboard counterpart.

Top 10 iOS Board Games

10. Battleore: Command

Battlore is a tabletop minis game where one player controls the heroic forces of light, while the other controls the monstrous minions of darkness. Fantasy Flight Games has taken this miniatures game and digitized it to run on your iPad and iPhone in the form of Battlelore: Command. While the rules have been altered slightly, the core of the game play remains the same. With both skirmish and campaign mode, Battlelore: Command has successfully brought a minis game to the digital realm.

Battlelore: Command • iPad, iPhone • 509mb • $9.99

9. Sentinels of the Multiverse

One of my favorite cooperative card games, Sentinels of the Multiverse puts players in control of a super hero as they work to stop an arch-villain. One of the great things about the Sentinels of the Multiverse app is that it takes much of the bookkeeping that slows down the card game. Players can now jump in and play Sentinels of the Multiverse both quickly and efficiently. The developers have also released a number of expansions for the app, so players have quite a bit of variety when firing up a game.

Sentinels of the Multiverse • iPad • 489mb • $9.99

8. Pandemic

One of the most popular cooperative games on the market today, Z-Man Game’s Pandemic tasks players with stopping four diseases from overtaking the planet. Easy to learn mechanics and challenging game play, Pandemic is a great game for just about anyone. The developer has also released the On the Brink expansion for the app in case you want to get some extra roles into your game.

Pandemic • iPad, iPhone • 63.4mb • $6.99

7. Carcassonne

A staple of “Gateway Games” for years, Carcassonne feature some very simple game play that has players building out the Carcassonne region of France. This tile laying game is easy to learn, yet the game play continues to draw people in even after all this time. To play, you simply place your tile onto the board, adding it to the existing layout. Points are scored for completing one of the game’s various structures. Carcassonne features both solo play vs the AI, pass and play, and also online play.

Carcassonne • iPad, iPhone • 275mb • $9.99

6. Cthulhu Realms

Designed by White Wizard Games, Cthulhu Realms (or Star Realms if you prefer a SciFi Theme) is a deck building game where players are trying to reduce their opponent’s life to zero. The nice thing about Cthulhu Realms is that it’s Free to Play done right. What that means is that you can download the app for free and try out a few missions in the campaign. If you decide you like it, you can make a one time purchases that unlocks every mode of the app. And not only do you unlock it on the device you bought it on, but you get the app on every platform its available on! This is how free to play should be done.

Cthulhu Realms • iPad, iPhone • 134mb • Free – $4.99 Unlocks All Play Modes

5. Galaxy Trucker

If you’ve never played the tabletop version of Galaxy Trucker, you owe it to yourself to try this one. It’s strategic, chaotic, and a whole mess of fun. The app does a great job of translating this game into the digital realm. Galaxy Trucker is a two part game that will have players building out a spaceship in real time, and then flying their crazy ship on a series of missions trying to earn the most money. The app is very well done and features pass and play or vs AI play.

Galaxy Trucker • iPad • 124mb • $4.99

4. Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a best selling board game designed by Alan Moon. With over a million copies sold, it’s hard to argue the success of this title. The rules are easy to learn, with an almost rummy like feel to it and the game play stays fresh even after repeated plays. The Ticket to Ride app includes play via the AI, local play, or even online play. And with a number of expansions available as an in-app purchase, this one has a lot of replay value.

Ticket to Ride • iPad, iPhone • 271mb • $6.99

3. Neuroshima Hex

Neuroshima Hex is an absolutely fantastic tactical board game. Set in a post-apocalyptic future of our world, players each control a unique faction set on domination of the globe. Neuroshima Hex is one of those games that’s easy to learn, but difficult to master. The best part of the game is the asymmetrical nature of the factions. Each faction has its own unique power, tiles, and will approach the game just a little differently. What I like about the app is how it takes all the book keeping out of figuring out the combat numbers. I’ve played over a hundred games of the Neuroshima Hex app and still go back to it quite often.

Neuroshima Hex • iPad, iPhone • 480mb • $4.99

2. Lords of Waterdeep

A close contender for the #1 spot, Lords of Waterdeep is a worker placement game where players take on the role of a power player in the Forgotten Realms city of Waterdeep. The mechanics are easy to pick up, and the game play is highly engaging. Don’t let the Dungeon and Dragons theme fool you though, you don’t have to be an RPG fan to enjoy this board game. The app also features both the Undermountain and Skullport expansions as in-app purchases. The Lords of Waterdeep app is a great translation of an already excellent board game that has both fantastic visuals and smooth game play. You can play solo vs the AI, pass and play, or online. This one is a must own.

Lords of Waterdeep • iPad, iPhone • 553mb • $6.99

1. Agricola

Barely edging out Lords of Waterdeep for our Number One spot is Agricola. One of the oldest and most popular euro-games, Agricola definitely has a large following. Created by famed designer Uwe Rosenberg, Agricola has a very deep, complex, and strategic game play. This worker placement game has players running a medieval German farming. Despite its farming theme, this isn’t one of those click and wait for a timer type of game. Agricola will challenge you from day one with its excellent and in-depth game play. If you are looking for an absolutely fantastic board game, then look no further than Agricola.

Agricola • iPad, iPhone • 334mb • $6.99