Cockatrice and Untap.in are beloved for one reason: they let you play any trading card game online without a publisher, a client, or enforced rules. You run the game yourself. If you love that philosophy but want something simpler to set up, prettier to look at, or fully in-browser, here are the best alternatives.
Fully in-browser, zero setup
- Infinite Ambition — A browser-based manual tabletop built around its own history-themed card set. No download, no account — pick a deck, create a table, share the link. The trade-off: you play its cards, not an import of your paper deck. The upside: it just works, instantly, on any device.
- Untap.in — The browser original. Import or proxy any deck and play it manually. More flexible than a fixed-set game, with a steeper interface.
Desktop clients with more power
- Cockatrice — Open-source, card-set-agnostic, and endlessly customizable — the gold standard for playgroups willing to download and configure a client.
- XMage / Forge — If you actually want the rules enforced (and an AI to play against), these free Magic engines do it. Heavier, but automated.
- Tabletop Simulator — A paid sandbox that plays any tabletop game with full physics. The most flexible option, if you do not mind the price tag and the learning curve.
Which should you pick?
If you want maximum flexibility to play your exact paper deck online, Cockatrice or Untap.in remain the answer. If you want enforced rules and solo play, reach for XMage or Forge. But if you just want to open a page and be in a game against a friend thirty seconds later — no install, no import, no account — a fixed-set browser TCG like Infinite Ambition is the fastest path from “let’s play” to actually playing.
Try one for free right now
Infinite Ambition is a free, browser-based trading card game you can play two-player online — no download, no account. Pick a 40-card deck, create a table, and share the link. The cards are the greatest minds and conquerors in history, from Augustus to Einstein.
PLAY INFINITE AMBITION FREE