Top 15 Games Like Carrom to Explore in 2026 Board & Digital List

With time, the players are now shifting from the offline games to the online ones. And the Carrom game is the one that is doing great in both terms, whether it’s online or offline. With its increasing demand in the gaming market, many entrepreneurs are now looking to invest in games like carrom for their users. 

If you are an entrepreneur and want to invest in carrom alternatives, then this guide lists 15 of the best games like Carrom, including tabletop classics, mobile-friendly titles, and dexterity-based games. Whether you’re looking for offline family board games, competitive two-player alternatives, or app-based Carrom-style games, this list covers it all, perfect for enthusiasts, researchers, and casual players alike. 

S.No	Game Name	Game Type	Platform	Core Gameplay Similarity to Carrom	Market Relevance (2026)
1	Crokinole	Dexterity Board Game	Offline / Digital	Disc flicking toward scoring zones	Strong in the USA & Europe board game cafés
2	Pichenotte (Pitch-Nut)	Tabletop Shuffle Game	Offline	Finger-flick scoring & disc displacement	Niche but growing casual board game
3	Air Hockey	Arcade Dexterity Game	Offline / Digital	Strike-and-score mechanics	High commercial appeal globally
4	Nok Hockey	Tabletop Hockey Game	Offline	Puck-based goal scoring	Popular casual alternative in North America
5	Sjoelbak	Shuffleboard Game	Offline	Precision sliding into scoring zones	Family & competitive board game market
6	Subbuteo	Tabletop Sports Game	Offline / Digital	Flick-controlled movement	Retro resurgence in casual gaming
7	Pitch Car	Dexterity Racing Game	Offline	Flick-based control & physics	Premium board game audiences
8	Bonk	Physics-Based Party Game	Offline / Digital	Knock-off opponent mechanics	Party & casual multiplayer appeal
9	Carrom Party	Digital Carrom Game	Mobile (iOS/Android)	Classic Carrom rules & striker control	Strong mobile monetization potential
10	Duboo	Regional Carrom Variant	Offline / Digital	Traditional Carrom clone	Emerging regional-to-global adaptation
11	Flick ’em Up!	Strategy + Dexterity Game	Offline	Flick-and-action mechanics	High engagement tabletop experience
12	Klask	Magnetic Skill Game	Offline	Precision striker control	Competitive & esports-style appeal
13	Novuss	Cue-Based Dexterity Board Game	Offline	Corner-pocket scoring with striker & discs	Competitive clubs in Europe & USA
14	Shove Ha’penny	Traditional Skill Board Game	Offline	Sliding discs into scoring zones	Heritage casual gaming in UK & pubs
15	Shuffleboard	Precision Tabletop Game	Offline / Digital	Sliding pucks with force & angle control	Very high commercial success in the USA & Europe

1. Crokinole 

• Number of Players: 2 or 4
• Average Play Time: 10-20 minutes
• Skill Level: Easy to learn, difficult to master
• Best For: Board game cafés, competitive play, skill-based tournaments

Originating in Canada, Crokinole is a disk-flicking board game, one of the best alternatives to games like Carrom. A round tabletop board, including wooden disks, where players come and take turns shooting discs across the circular playing surface in an attempt to defeat their opponents and put discs into the ditch. 

A bit different from the original carrom game, Crokinole allows players to generally shoot toward the centre of the board instead of the four outer corner pockets. Generally played with the cue sticks, the main objective of this carrom-like game is to shoot the discs of the opponent off the board and earn as many points as scores you can. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	1876
Place of Origin	Canada
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	Yes
Game Engine Used	Unity (digital adaptations)

2. Pichenotte 

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Average Play Time: 10-15 minutes
• Skill Level: Beginner-friendly with strategic depth
• Best For: Board game cafés, family play, casual competitive formats

Pichenotte, also known as Pitch-Nut, is one of the most authentic and historically rich games like Carrom. As a player, from my experience, I personally say this game is a Western cousin of the Carrom game because the core experience is striking similar: finger-flicking discs, controlling angles, and displacing opponents’ pieces with precision. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	Late 19th Century
Place of Origin	Canada
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	No
Game Engine Used	N/A

3. Air Hockey 

• Number of Players: 2
• Average Play Time: 5-10 minutes
• Skill Level: Easy to learn, medium difficulty for mastery
• Best For: Arcades, casual lounges, online multiplayer adaptations

As the name says, it’s a table-top hockey game, which emphasizes fast-paced, real-time action, where players aim to strike a puck into the opponent’s goal on a low-friction table. Despite the speed, the game still relies heavily on accuracy, timing, and hand-eye coordination, core traits that carrom enthusiasts value. 

Generally, the surface of the board is smooth, which causes less friction and allows you to move discs across the board with ease. This also causes the puck to hover and move easily across the table with less velocity. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	1972
Place of Origin	United States
Game Format	Offline & Online
Online/Digital Versions	Yes
Game Engine Used	Unity / Unreal (for digital versions)

4. Nok Hockey 

• Number of Players: 2
• Average Play Time: 10 minutes
• Skill Level: Easy
• Best For: Family entertainment, casual competitive play

If you are looking for the best alternatives to the Carrom game, which combines an interactive interface and appealing design to offer players an engaging gameplay experience. Playing this classic board game brings back all the nostalgic vibes and childhood memories of playing different carrom board games. 

It is a different games that consist of unique goals, structure, and rules. Herein, a player uses a puck to hit a larger puck into their opponent’s goal. Although it is a two-player game that can be played with great ease and comfort. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	Early 20th Century
Place of Origin	Scandinavia
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	No
Game Engine Used	N/A

5. Sjoelbak

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Average Play Time: 15-20 minutes
• Skill Level: Medium
• Best For: Family play, competitive scoring games

Sjoelbak, also known as Dutch Shuffleboard, is a classic shuffleboard-style game and a fantastic Carrom alternative. Players slide wooden discs along a long board, aiming to land them in scoring compartments at the far end. The game rewards precision, strategy, and controlled flicking, making it ideal for fans of Carrom’s skill-based mechanics.

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	19th Century
Place of Origin	Netherlands
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	Limited
Game Engine Used	N/A

6. Subbuteo 

• Number of Players: 2
• Average Play Time: 30-45 minutes
• Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Subbuteo is one of the most unique games, like carrom, and has made a special place in the player’s heart. While the theme revolves around football (soccer), the core interaction, flicking players to pass, shoot, or defend, feels instantly familiar to anyone who has played Carrom. 

Playing Subbuteo is just like a physical simulation of association football, which involves the perfect combination of flicking skills and strategic tactics, in which a player can defeat their opponent. It is not an exact carrom-like game, but it has a slight touch of carom. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	1947
Place of Origin	United Kingdom
Game Format	Offline & Digital
Online/Digital Versions	Yes
Game Engine Used	Unity (digital adaptations)

7. Pitch Car 

• Number of Players: 2-8
• Average Play Time: 20-30 minutes
• Skill Level: Medium to High
• Best For: Premium board game lounges, hobbyist communities, competitive casual play

Pitch Car is a highly engaging dexterity-based racing game and one of the more creative carrom alternatives available in 2026. Instead of striking discs into pockets, players flick small wooden cars around a modular racetrack, relying on precision, force control, and angle judgment skills that Carrom players naturally excel at.

If you violate any of the rules, then you will be penalized for the same, and hence you will have to start from scratch to regain the scores. The player who finishes the racing track first will get a lot of bragging rights and all the glory of the game. There are some exciting add-ons that you can purchase to make your gameplay more rewarding.

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	1995
Place of Origin	France
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	No
Game Engine Used	N/A

8. Bonk 

• Number of Players: 2-8
• Average Play Time: 10-15 minutes
• Skill Level: Easy to learn, skill-based outcomes
• Best For: Party gaming, casual multiplayer environments

One of the best alternatives to the Carrom game. It is usually played between two players who play offense and defense like an actual contest. As compared to other games, the rules of this game, like Carrom, are quite simple. 

It is a multiplayer physics-based game played by more than 8 players, aiming to push them off the board, causing enough destruction and explosions. By offering something exciting and new, this alternative has gained attention for its unique twist on physics-based gameplay.

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	2017
Place of Origin	France
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	Yes (limited adaptations)
Game Engine Used	Unity (digital versions)

9. Carrom Party

• Number of Players: 1-4 (online and local multiplayer)
• Average Play Time: 5-15 minutes
• Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
• Best For: Mobile gaming platforms, casual competitive play, monetization via ads & in-app purchases

The name of the game totally justifies it; the players actually feel like they are partying. This game is a perfect mixture of fun and competitiveness. In this game, players take part and compete against opponents to get a high revenue. 

Its popularity on the Android and iOS markets highlights the continued global demand for board games, India-inspired mechanics adapted for modern digital consumption, especially in the USA and other Western regions where casual multiplayer games dominate app stores.   

Its popularity across Android and iOS markets highlights the continued global demand for board games. India-inspired mechanics adapted for modern digital consumption, especially in the USA and other Western regions where casual multiplayer games dominate app stores.

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	2018
Place of Origin	Digital (Global)
Game Format	Online (Mobile Game)
Online/Digital Versions	Yes
Game Engine Used	Unity

10. Duboo

• Number of Players: 2-4
• Average Play Time: 10-20 minutes
• Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
• Best For: Traditional Carrom fans, regional-to-global digital adaptations

Duboo is a game that is extremely close to the traditional Carrom experience, making it one of the most authentic games like Carrom available today. Generally known as one of the nearest identical adaptations of classic Carrom, Duboo allows players to showcase the same precision, strike control, and tactical planning that define the original game. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	Early 2000s
Place of Origin	Pakistan
Game Format	Offline & Digital
Online/Digital Versions	Yes
Game Engine Used	Unity (digital adaptations)

11. Flick ’em Up!

• Number of Players: 2-10                                                      
• Average Play Time: 30-45 minutes
• Skill Level: Medium to High
• Best For: Hobbyist gamers, themed tabletop events, strategic dexterity play

If you’re a fan of precision and strategy like Carrom, Flick’ em! is a game you simply can’t miss. Set in a Wild West theme, this dexterity-based tabletop game involves flicking discs to shoot, move, or take cover as part of cowboy duels. 

Whether you’re robbing banks or defending your town, every flick counts. It’s a delightful mix of action, planning, and coordination that makes it a hit at family gatherings and game nights alike. Plus, the wooden components and immersive scenarios bring a tactile joy that feels just as satisfying as pocketing a striker in Carrom. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	2015
Place of Origin	France
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	No
Game Engine Used	N/A

12. Klask

• Number of Players: 2
• Average Play Time: 5-10 minutes
• Skill Level: Easy to learn, high skill ceiling
• Best For: Competitive casual play, board game cafés, tournament setups

The Klask game is played on a small wooden table with magnets under the surface. Players use them to control strikers on top and score goals while avoiding traps and obstacles. It’s fast-paced, wildly fun, and perfect for competitive spirits. The magnetic control adds a unique layer of skill and unpredictability, making it one of the most entertaining board games you can pick up in 2026. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	2014
Place of Origin	Denmark
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	No
Game Engine Used	N/A

13. Novuss

• Number of Players: 2
• Average Play Time: 15-25 minutes
• Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
• Best For: Competitive clubs, skill-based tournaments, serious board gamers

Novous game is one of the best alternatives to Carrom in the global board gaming ecosystem. Originating in Latvia, Novous is often referred to as “ European Carrom” because it uses corner pockets, discs, and striker-based precision, just like traditional Carrom. 

The only difference is that instead of finger flicking, players use a small cue stick, which introduces a billiards-style feel while retaining Carrom’s strategic depth. From my playing experience, Novuss strongly focuses on skill-game purists and competitive players, making it an excellent option for clubs, leagues, and tournament-driven environments in the USA and Europe. 

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	Early 20th Century
Place of Origin	Latvia
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	Limited
Game Engine Used	N/A

14. Shove Ha’penny

• Number of Players: 2
• Average Play Time: 10-15 minutes
• Skill Level: Easy to learn, high precision required
• Best For: Pub gaming, heritage board game collections, casual competitive play

Shove is an authentic British tabletop skill-based game that strongly aligns with the core mechanics of games like Carrom. What makes this game a bit different is that, despite flicking discs in the pocket, players slide coins (or metal discs) across a smooth board, aiming to land them within marked scoring zones, demanding precision, force control, and spatial judgement. 

From my point of view, studying legacy board games that still perform well in modern markets, Shove Ha’penny stands out as a heritage-driven casual board game that resonates with older demographics while still appealing to skill-game enthusiasts.  

Attribute	Details
Invented Year	15th Century
Place of Origin	United Kingdom
Game Format	Offline (Board Game)
Online/Digital Versions	Limited
Game Engine Used	N/A

15. Shuffleboard

• Number of Players: 2-4 players
• Average Play Time: 15-30 minutes
• Skill Level: Medium (high skill ceiling at competitive levels)
• Game Style: Turn-based, precision-based
• Winning Objective: Accumulate the highest score by puck placement

Shuffleboard is one of the most commercially successful games, like Carrom in the USA, and the global casual gaming ecosystem. While its origins are older, its modern table-top and bar-style varieties closely align with Carrom’s precision-driven, striker-based gameplay loop. 

This game is played by sliding weighted pucks across a smooth surface toward clearly marked scoring zones. Players must control force, angle, and placement, while also knocking opponent pucks out of scoring areas, very similar to Carrom’s defensive and offensive shot planning. 

Attribute	Details
Year Invented	15th Century (modern tabletop versions evolved in the 20th century)
Place of Origin	England
Game Type	Offline (Physical Board Game)
Digital Versions Available	Yes
Offline or Online	Both
Core Mechanics	Sliding pucks, zone scoring, opponent displacement
Game Engine (Digital Versions)	Unity, Unreal Engine
Primary Markets (2026)	USA, Europe, Australia
Commercial Relevance	Very High

What to Create Games Like Carrom: Choose BR Softech

Developing games like Carrom is a strategic opportunity in 2026 as global players increasingly prefer skill-based and casual board games over luck-driven formats. These games offer short play sessions, high engagement, and strong replay value, making them ideal for the USA and international gaming markets.

BR Softech helps gaming operators and business owners turn this demand into scalable products by delivering Carrom-style games with accurate physics, smooth multiplayer systems, and monetization-ready architecture. Their expertise ensures faster launches, reduces risks, and games built for long-term performance in competitive global markets.

What are the Top Games Like Carrom in 2026?

Looking for the best games that capture the fun and strategy of Carrom? Here are the top 5 alternatives to try in 2026:

1. Crokinole: A dexterity-based Canadian classic with flick-and-score mechanics.
2. Bonk: A frantic, fast-paced ricochet game perfect for parties.
3. Air Hockey: A dynamic arcade favorite where reflexes rule.
4. Sjoelbak: A Dutch shuffleboard-style game known for precision and skill.
5. Carrom Party: A modern mobile take on classic Carrom for digital fun.

These games offer the same engaging, competitive spirit Carrom fans love, each with its own unique twist.

Final Words

The resurgence of skill-based board games like Carrom signals a powerful shift in the global gaming industry. Players across the USA, Europe, and emerging markets are actively moving away from luck-driven formats toward games that reward precision, strategy, and mastery. This trend makes Carrom-style games an attractive and sustainable business opportunity for entrepreneurs.

For entrepreneurs, the real opportunity lies in modernizing classical mechanics, introducing real-time multiplayer, tournaments, AI opponents, physics-driven realism, and smart monetization models such as ads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases. With the right development strategy, Carrom-like games can scale globally while maintaining cultural authenticity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)