What is asynchronous gaming? A simple guide

Not every game needs everyone to be online at the same time.

Sometimes you have five minutes and your friend has ten. Tomorrow, you might have more time and they might not.

That’s where asynchronous gaming comes in.

What is asynchronous gaming?

Asynchronous gaming means playing a game with other people without having to play at the same time.

Instead of sitting down together for one continuous gaming session, each player takes their turn when they have time. The game saves your progress, waits for the other player and is ready whenever you come back.

You make a move, they make theirs later and then you come back again. There’s no need to find an hour when both of you are free.

How do asynchronous games work?

The idea is simple: you start an asynchronous game with someone and take your turn. Once you’re done, the game waits for the other player. They can make their move when they have a minute, whether that’s in ten minutes, a few hours or the next day.

The game keeps track of everything in between.

This makes asynchronous gaming different from traditional multiplayer games, where everyone needs to be online at the same time.

Instead of asking, “When are you free to play?”, you can simply start playing.

Why play asynchronous games?

The biggest advantage is flexibility.

Life doesn’t always fit neatly around a game. Work, travel, different schedules and time zones can make it surprisingly difficult to find a moment when two people are available at once.

Asynchronous games take the pressure and planning away.

You can play during your morning coffee and your opponent can play during their lunch break or before bed.

The game fits around your day instead of asking your day to fit around the game.

Asynchronous gaming is great for staying connected

Playing games asynchronously isn’t just about convenience. It can also be a simple way to stay connected with people.

Maybe your best friend lives in another city, your family is spread across different countries or you’re in a long-distance relationship.

You don’t need to schedule a video call or find a whole evening to spend together. You can just start a game.

A shared game creates a little thread between you. You make a move, they make one later, and the game keeps going while everything else around it carries on.

You might even find yourself checking in just to see what they played.

What games work well asynchronously?

Turn-based games are particularly well suited to asynchronous play.

So board games, card games, strategy games and other games where players take individual turns can all work well this way.

Backgammon is a natural fit.

Each player makes one move at a time. You don’t need to play the whole game in one sitting, and there’s enough strategy to make each turn interesting.

You can think about your move, make it and leave the game. Your opponent can do the same whenever they have time.

Asynchronous gaming vs real-time gaming

Neither way of playing is better. They’re just different.

Real-time gaming means everyone plays together, at the same time. It’s fast, immediate and often more intense.

Asynchronous gaming gives everyone more flexibility. You can take your turn when it suits you and come back whenever you’re ready.

Sometimes you want the excitement of playing together right now. And other times you just want to play a game with someone, even if “right now” doesn’t work.

That’s the beauty of asynchronous gaming.