What it does
VASSAL builds and plays online adaptations of board and card games. It supports live play and email-based play through game modules.
Find the module and its instructions before arranging a session. A module can implement a table without teaching or supplying all copyrighted rules, so use the source game’s permitted materials as required. VASSAL’s editor also lets an experienced group build its own module, with Java requirements depending on the operating system.
The Java requirement is packaged differently by system: the About page says Mac and Windows installers include the Java version they use, while Linux and other systems need Java installed separately. Module instructions and rules material are still separate from that application setup.
Strengths
- Live and email-based play
- Module editor
Best for
- Playing a supported board-game module remotely
Sources
- About Vassal (Oct 26, 2026)