The 9 Best Electronic Dartboards

For a game room that sees play most nights, the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 is the board to beat. Tough nylon segments and very thin dividers grab more darts and cut bounce-outs, and the regulation target matches what bar leagues use. Up to eight people can play, and a cricket scoreboard marks hits like a pub chalkboard. An optional heckling voice teases bad throws. Each dart lands with a loud thud, so a foam backer helps.

Families who want a full-size board without a big bill should look at the Viper 800. Its wide screen shows points per dart and marks per round after each game, so players can track progress. Up to 16 people can join, and a handicap setting lets kids play adults fairly. A laser throw line, sold separately, plugs in to light the floor mark. The catch is a 30-day warranty, short for electronics that take hits all night.

The GranBoard 3s has no screen at all; a free app on a phone, tablet or smart TV keeps score and draws each game. That buys online matches against players around the world, rankings, computer opponents and new games through free updates. A ring of color-changing lights circles the numbers and reacts to hits. You'll need a charged device nearby every time you play, and the price is steep for a board that leans on an app.

Shoppers who want the board to look like furniture between games can start with the Viper Neptune. A regulation board comes built into a wood cabinet, and the doors close over it while holding darts and spare tips. The backlit screen covers dozens of games, including Minnesota and Spanish cricket, for up to 16 players. It's heavy, so hang it with a helper and leave wall space for the open doors. The warranty runs just 30 days.

Online matches, computer opponents and tournaments come to a cheaper board with the Gran Dash, which scores through a free phone or tablet app. It runs on batteries, so no cord hangs down the wall, though it can't be recharged or plugged in. The app finds the board without a pairing step, and the regulation-size face has no screen of its own. Skip the flimsy mounting hardware in the box and buy proper wall anchors.

Bright red scores you can read from the throw line set the Viper 850 apart, and a computer opponent fills in when nobody else is home. It's rated for heavier soft darts, which suits players who like more weight in the hand. You can choose split or full bull and double in or double out, as league players do. The tan, green and red face looks closer to a pub board. The warranty lasts only 30 days.

Cricket fans who want a pub look in a small space should consider the Arachnid CricketMaxx 4.0. A large green and red X/O panel on the cabinet door tracks cricket marks like a chalkboard, while LED displays up top keep score for up to eight players. The gray wood cabinet stores a dozen darts. The target is a smaller recreation size, so doubles and trebles are tighter and league practice won't carry over cleanly.

Hang the Viper Showdown in a garage or rec room with no outlet nearby, because it runs on three AA batteries instead of a cord. It still has a regulation target with thin dividers and a catch ring that keeps strays off the wall, plus dozens of games for up to eight players. A throw line and a tape to measure it come in the box. Batteries aren't included, and the small LCD screen is basic.

Families with older kids get a cheap start with the Franklin Sports 3643X, a talking board that comes with soft darts and spare tips and runs on AAA batteries. It calls out scores with sound effects and holds dozens of game versions. Family Handyman named it a budget pick but found the voice grating and the target smaller than regulation. That makes it a fun first board, not one for league practice. Batteries are sold separately.