simple Mac multiplayer games?

[toronado455]

I would like to find a way to play simple games over the internet with friends and family, preferably old school card or board games like Chinese checkers.

Years ago there used to be Mac games that would allow one person to function as the game host and others could join the game via internet without the need for everyone to log onto a third party server. Was wondering if anything exists like that now in the Mac app store.

If that doesn't exist, I would prefer something that is lightweight enough to use on older hardware, like a 8 year old MacBook Pro.
I've tried Google searches, but all the hits seem to be games that require both people to be at the same location using the same computer.

 

[BrianBaughn]

It's more practical and cross-platform compatible for a game to be browser-based and hosted on the web. I use a dummy email account to sign up for such things.

This site has a ton of good stuff:

FlyOrDie

Play free online multiplayer games against live opponents - Pool Games, Snooker, Chess, Curling and lots of board games are waiting for you!

www.flyordie.com

 

[simonmet]

Game Centre is still a thing, though you’re forgiven for not knowing because Apple has completely ignored and de-emphasised it since they stopped mandating its use for multiplayer functionality, and as a result most games moved away from it as a result. It’s a shame, because it was a single account and worked really well (notifications etc) though it didn’t work outside of Apple hardware, so that was a problem.

Now, most games prefer you to create profiles/accounts for their own servers. There’s nothing much you can do about this.

Most stuff on the Mac App Store work on a wide range of Apple hardware.

 

[Huntn]

There is an 8 Ball pool on iOS but I don’t know if you can challenge friends with that or not.

 

[hieromonk]

I would like to find a way to play simple games over the internet with friends and family, preferably old school card or board games like Chinese checkers.

Years ago there used to be Mac games that would allow one person to function as the game host and others could join the game via internet without the need for everyone to log onto a third party server. Was wondering if anything exists like that now in the Mac app store.

If that doesn't exist, I would prefer something that is lightweight enough to use on older hardware, like a 8 year old MacBook Pro.
I've tried Google searches, but all the hits seem to be games that require both people to be at the same location using the same computer.

You should try Apple Arcade
They have a bunch of multiplayer games great for playing with family friends

 

[0128672]

Game Centre is still a thing, though you’re forgiven for not knowing because Apple has completely ignored and de-emphasised it since they stopped mandating its use for multiplayer functionality, and as a result most games moved away from it as a result. It’s a shame, because it was a single account and worked really well (notifications etc) though it didn’t work outside of Apple hardware, so that was a problem.

I don't know how it is on macOS, but Game Center was nicely updated in iOS/iPadOS 14.

You should try Apple Arcade
They have a bunch of multiplayer games great for playing with family friends

I agree that Apple Arcade is the easiest way to go to find multiplayer to use via Game Center.