A Clubhouse Games alternative for PC, Mac and phones
Nine of the classics from 51 Worldwide Games, free in your browser. Friends join from a link, no Switch needed.
The short version
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is a great box of games for one Switch and a sofa: 51 games, pass-the-controller play and local wireless. Playing with someone in another home needs a Switch at each end and a Nintendo Switch Online membership. If you want the classic board games from it on a PC, a Mac or a phone, or with a friend who doesn't own a Switch, nine of them are on Playboard for free.
Clubhouse Games vs Playboard
| Feature | Clubhouse Games | Playboard |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2 | Playboard does this betterAny browser: Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone or Android |
| Price | A paid game, $39.99 in Nintendo's US store | Playboard does this betterFree |
| Playing friends online | Needs a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Switch Online membership | Playboard does this betterSend a link. No account needed |
| A friend in another home | They need their own Switch and Nintendo Switch Online | Playboard does this betterThey need a browser |
| Number of games | Clubhouse Games does this better51, including Riichi Mahjong, Shogi, billiards, darts and bowling | Fewer: board, card, tile and puzzle games |
| Playing on one screen | Clubhouse Games does this betterYes. 1 to 4 players can share one Switch | No. Each player uses their own device |
| Games it doesn't have | No Hearts, Gin Rummy, Battleship, Go or American Mahjong | Playboard does this betterAll five, plus Sudoku, Nonogram and Minesweeper |
| Playing strangers | Online matchmaking or friend lobbies for most games, with Nintendo Switch Online | Quick match in every multiplayer game |
We last checked these facts about Clubhouse Games on November 3, 2026.
Games from Clubhouse Games you can play here
- ChessChess on Clubhouse Games
- CheckersCheckers on Clubhouse Games
- OthelloRenegade on Clubhouse Games
- BackgammonBackgammon on Clubhouse Games
- Connect FourFour-in-a-Row on Clubhouse Games
- Dots and BoxesDots and Boxes on Clubhouse Games
- DominoesDominoes on Clubhouse Games
- LudoLudo on Clubhouse Games
- SolitaireKlondike Solitaire on Clubhouse Games
Why people look for 51 Worldwide Games on PC
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, sold as 51 Worldwide Games in Europe, came out for Nintendo Switch in June 2020. It gathered dozens of the world's classic games into one tidy box, and it's still one of the easiest ways to teach someone a game they've never played.
Then the question comes up: can I play this on my laptop? On my phone? With my friend who doesn't have a Switch? As of November 2026 Nintendo sells it for Switch only, with Switch 2 also supported. Playing friends online needs a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and a friend in another home needs a Switch of their own.
Nine of the 51, free in your browser
Playboard has nine of the collection's board, card and tile classics: Chess, Checkers, Othello (the collection calls it Renegade), Backgammon, Connect Four (Four-in-a-Row), Dots and Boxes, Dominoes, Ludo and Klondike Solitaire.
They run in any browser, on Windows, Mac, a Chromebook, an iPhone or an Android phone. The eight multiplayer ones each have a bot, Quick match and a playroom to invite a friend. Klondike is a solo game, as it is on the Switch.
To play a friend:
- Open a game and press Play now.
- Choose Create playroom, then Copy link.
- Send the link in any chat. Your friend opens it in their browser and takes a seat.
The playroom has text chat, and when a match ends you can pick the next game without sending a new link.
Games the Switch box doesn't have
Playboard also has games you won't find among the 51: Hearts, Gin Rummy, Battleship, Go, American Mahjong, Mexican Train and Truco, plus Sudoku, Nonogram and Minesweeper for solo play.
One note for mahjong players: the Switch collection has Riichi Mahjong, the Japanese game. Ours is American Mahjong, played from a hand card. They're different games.
What Clubhouse Games still does better
- Variety. Fifty-one games against our much shorter list, including Riichi Mahjong, Shogi, Mancala, Gomoku, Chinese Checkers, Hanafuda, poker, blackjack, billiards, bowling and a set of toy sports.
- One screen, one sofa. Up to four people can play on one Switch, passing the controller or sharing the screen. On Playboard everyone needs their own device.
- The polish. The tables and pieces are lovely to look at, and the whole box feels made for a sofa.
If you have a Switch and the people you play with are in the same room, it's a great buy. When they're not, or you're at a computer, the board games are here, free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a PC or phone version of 51 Worldwide Games?
Not as of November 2026. Nintendo sells Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics for Nintendo Switch, with Switch 2 also supported. To play the same classic board games on a PC, Mac or phone, use a browser site like Playboard.
Can I play with a friend who doesn't have a Switch?
On Playboard, yes. Start a playroom, copy the link and send it. Your friend opens it in any browser and joins. No console, no account.
Which of the 51 games can I play on Playboard?
Nine: Chess, Checkers, Renegade (we call it Othello), Backgammon, Four-in-a-Row (Connect Four), Dots and Boxes, Dominoes, Ludo and Klondike Solitaire.
Is Renegade the same game as Othello?
Yes. Renegade is the collection's name for Reversi, which is the same game as Othello: flip your opponent's discs by trapping them in a line, and finish with more discs on the board.
Does Playboard cost anything?
No. Every game is free, with no subscription, no ads and nothing to buy.
Can we play on one screen, like on the Switch?
No. On Playboard each player uses their own phone, tablet or computer. If you're on the same sofa with one Switch, Clubhouse Games is the better pick.
Clubhouse Games is a trademark of its owner. Playboard is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Clubhouse Games.