The games · 6 checked

All 6 games, with filters and a fact table.

Filter by format, phone play, no-account trials or games that sell nothing; 3 of the 6 sell nothing at all. Below the cards, the table puts 13 facts side by side.

A hand holding a phone with a map of coloured hexagons on a train, another passenger reading
A hex map on a phone during a commute. Illustration made for PlayWharf, not a screenshot.

Quick matchesAgainst the computer

Territorial.io

David Tschacher · app since 2020

PW-01Territorial.io
One game
A few minutes
Check in
None
Players
Dozens per map
  • Paid membership
  • Shows adverts
  • Public chat
  • Try it without an account
  • Phone app

Real-time land grab, from 1v1 to battle royale. A single-player scenario ran with no sign-up at all.

Open the game page →

Quick matches

Generals.io

MUGA Gaming, LLC · online since 2017

PW-02Generals.io
One game
5 to 15 minutes (est.)
Check in
None
Players
2 or more
  • Paid membership
  • Shows adverts
  • Public chat
  • Username, no email

Capture the other generals on a grid. 1v1, 2v2 and free-for-all; a username is enough.

Open the game page →

Quick matchesTurns over daysAgainst the computer

Lichess

Lichess, a French charity run by volunteers · since 2010

PW-03Lichess
One game
2 minutes to weeks
Check in
None live; set days per move in correspondence
Players
2 per game
  • Players message you
  • Try it without an account
  • Sells nothing
  • No adverts
  • Phone app

Free chess with no adverts or shop. Play the computer with no account.

Open the game page →

Turns over daysAgainst the computer

webDiplomacy

Kestas Kuliukas and volunteer developers · code public since 2011

PW-04webDiplomacy
One game
Weeks to months (est.)
Check in
Once a day (est.)
Players
7 per game
  • Shows adverts
  • Players message you
  • Daily turns
  • Try it without an account
  • Sells nothing

Seven players, secret orders, no dice. A game against six AI players needs no account.

Open the game page →

Turns over daysAgainst the computer

Freeciv-web

Freeciv volunteers · Freeciv since 1996

PW-05Freeciv-web
One game
Hours solo; up to a year in LongTurn
Check in
None solo; daily in LongTurn
Players
Up to 20 seen
  • Players message you
  • Daily turns
  • Try it without an account
  • Sells nothing
  • No adverts

A civilisation from 4000 BC. Single-player with no account, or one turn a day in LongTurn.

Open the game page →

Turns over daysAgainst the computer

Planets.nu

Geographical Media Inc. · app since 2015

PW-06Planets.nu
One game
Months (est.)
Check in
1 to 7 times a week
Players
11 in most games
  • Email account needed
  • Paid membership
  • Paid perks in play
  • Players message you
  • Turns on set days
  • Phone app

A space empire for 11 players, with turns on set days and games that run for months. Needs an email account.

Open the game page →

Fact table

All six, side by side

FactTerritorial.ioGenerals.ioLichesswebDiplomacyFreeciv-webPlanets.nu
Made byDavid Tschacher (country not stated)MUGA Gaming, LLC (country not stated)Lichess, a French charity run by volunteers (France)Kestas Kuliukas and volunteer developers (country not stated)Freeciv volunteers (open-source project, no company)Geographical Media Inc. (country not stated)
Running sinceapp since 2020online since 2017since 2010code public since 2011Freeciv since 1996app since 2015
SettingReal maps and made-up islands, split into territoriesA square grid of land, mountains and townsThe chessboardEurope in 1901, from the board game DiplomacyA civilisation from 4000 BC onwardsThe Echo Cluster, a sector of space
FormatReal time. Lobbies for team games, battle royale, 1v1 and a zombie mode, plus single-player scenarios against bots.Real time on a square grid: 1v1, 2v2, free-for-all with at least 3 players, bigger teams and custom games.Chess for two: live games from one minute a side upwards, correspondence games with days per move, the computer, or a friend by challenge.Turn-based: all seven players write orders in secret, and every move resolves at once when the phase ends. No dice.Turn-based civilisation building: single-player against AI nations, multiplayer, play-by-email, hotseat on one computer, and LongTurn worlds with one turn a day.Turn-based space empire. Everyone sends orders and the server 'hosts' the turn on set days, from once a week to every day.
One game lastsA few minutes (est.: the store page says 'build empires in minutes' and lobby countdowns were 2 to 9 minutes)About 5 to 15 minutes (est.; one logged four-player free-for-all lasted 335 turns)From about 2 minutes (one minute each) to weeks for a correspondence game (est., from the time controls offered)Weeks to months at one phase a day (est.)As long as you like in single-player (saving needs an account); a LongTurn world runs up to 365 turns at one a day, so up to about a year (est.)Months (est.: running games were between turn 28 and turn 154, at 1 to 7 turns a week)
Check inNone; you play a match when you likeNone between matches; the ranked 1v1 ladder runs in seasonsNone for live games; in correspondence chess, one move within the days you chooseOnce a day in most games (est., from '1 day /phase' in the live game list)None in single-player; once a day in LongTurn worlds (est., from the 23-hour turn timer)Once per turn, 1 to 7 times a week depending on the game (est., from host days)
Players41 to 62 in the team games logged on 23 October 2026, 12 to 101 in battle royale; the App Store page says up to 5002 in 1v1, 4 in 2v2 and at least 3 in free-for-all; the free-for-all maximum is not published2 per game; the home page counted 112,787 players online on 23 October 20267 on the classic map; you win by holding 18 supply centres3 to 20 human players in the five LongTurn worlds listed on 23 October 2026; the home page says LongTurn takes up to 30011 in 105 of the 148 games running on 23 October 2026
PhoneAndroid and iOS appsPhone browser, no appAndroid app and phone sitePhone layout, no appNo app; phone not testedAndroid app
AccountNone; email optional laterUsername onlyNone to play the computerNone for AI gamesNone for single-playerEmail account
MoneyAdverts; Patreon $3 to $20 a monthAdverts; Supporter $2 a monthFree; donationsFree; donations; adverts now shownFree; donations; no advertsPremium $3.50 a month, with game advantages
Paid random itemsNone foundNoneNoneNone; free points use the words 'bet' and 'pot'NoneNone found
ChatPublic lobby chat; no private messagesPublic chat rooms on the menu; mute and blockGame chat and messages with an account; kid modePlayer messages (press); gunboat games have noneIn-game chat and messages; DiscordMessages in each game; mute
AgePEGI 3 for the app; no age in the termsNot stated15+ to register; PEGI 3 for the appNot stated13+ (privacy policy)PEGI 3 for the app