Parlour for Windows is a free, open-source card game app for people who want to play Hearts, Euchre, Spades, Cribbage and other classic games with friends without signing up for anything. It suits families, friend groups and anyone who wants a quick game with people in other rooms or other cities.
Instead of a traditional game server, Parlour uses Nostr relays to pass room announcements and WebRTC signaling between players. You create a room, get a four-character code or a shareable link, and your friends join from any browser or device. The current release is v0.5.5, and the code was last updated in September 2026, so the project is recently active, though still at an early 0.x version.
What Is Parlour and Who Is It For?
Parlour is a multiplayer card table packaged as a lightweight app. It is aimed at people who already know the classic games and want a simple way to play them with others, rather than people looking for a general-purpose social network.
The most natural users are small friend groups and families spread across different homes. Someone with a Windows PC can host a Euchre game, and a relative on an iPhone can join by tapping a link in a message thread. Because there is no sign-up step, nobody has to remember another password just to deal a hand.
It also suits people curious about Nostr who want a practical first project. Seeing a decentralized protocol used for an everyday activity, like a card game, can make the idea easier to grasp than abstract protocol discussions.
How Nostr Relays and WebRTC Work Together
Nostr is an open protocol in which messages travel through relays, which are independent servers that anyone can run. Parlour uses those relays for the first part of a game: announcing that a room exists and passing connection details between players. Once everyone has found each other, WebRTC signaling sets up direct connections so the game state can move between players.
This split is the core idea behind the design. Relays are interchangeable and do not hold the game logic in one central database, so there is no single game server to maintain. If one relay goes offline, other relays can carry the same signals.
For a player, none of this is visible. You still type four characters or tap a link. The architecture matters because it explains how the program works without a company hosting the games, which is also why the wider catalog includes so many other Nostr tools.
Practical Ways to Use Parlour
Parlour fits moments when a group wants a shared activity without much setup. A few examples:
- A weekend Hearts game between friends who live in different cities.
- A family Cribbage night where grandparents play from a tablet while the grandchildren use a laptop.
- A lunch break Euchre game with colleagues, each joining from their own phone.
- Testing a Nostr-based project with a small group, since a live game shows how room signaling behaves in real time.
Because the room code is short, it is easy to read aloud on a phone call. Hosts can also share a link in a group chat so latecomers can join without asking. Keeping tables small is a sensible choice when you are testing something new, because every extra device adds one more connection to manage.
Key features
Room codes and shareable links
Join from any browser
Bots fill in for dropped players
Automatic host handoff
Rejoin with the same code
Supported coins
Parlour focuses on classic card games. The games mentioned by the project include Hearts, Euchre, Spades and Cribbage, with more titles beyond those. Everything runs at the table level, so the choice of game is made by the host when the room is created.
How to install Parlour on Windows
- 1
Open the official release page
Go to the Parlour project on GitHub at github.com/braedonsaunders/parlour and open the Releases section. The latest release is v0.5.5. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and avoid mirror sites or links shared in chat.
- 2
Download the Windows installer
In the latest release, select the Windows installer and save it to a folder you can find easily. Do not run installers received through email or messaging apps, even when they appear to come from someone you know.
- 3
Verify the file
If the release page lists a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, check the file before running it. In PowerShell, the Get-FileHash command computes the hash, and you can compare the result with the published value. A mismatch means the file should not be used.
- 4
Run the installer
Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen prompts. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning for less common installers. Read the publisher details and confirm that the file came from the project's official release page before continuing.
-
Launch and create a room
Open Parlour from the Start menu, choose a game and create a room. Copy the four-character code or the link, and send it to your friends so they can join.
How to use Parlour
Parlour is built so the host handles most of the setup, and everyone else joins with a code or link.
- Open Parlour for Windows or the browser version on the device you will use for the table.
- Choose the card game you want, such as Hearts, Euchre, Spades or Cribbage.
- Create a room and note the four-character code, or copy the link.
- Send the code or link to your friends through any chat app.
- Wait for players to join. Each player types the code or taps the link.
- Start the game when everyone is seated. If someone drops out, a bot takes their seat.
- If you lose your connection, enter the same room code to rejoin and return to your seat.
- If the host leaves, the table elects a new host and keeps playing.
Agree on the rules before you start. Euchre and Cribbage vary from one group to another, so a quick conversation about scoring and variants prevents arguments in the middle of a hand.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and released under the MIT license
- No account or sign-up needed to play
- No central game server to rely on
- Bots take over seats when a player drops out
- Host role passes automatically if the host leaves
- Rejoin with the same code after a dropped connection
- Guests can join from a browser without installing anything
- Covers card games only, not general Nostr messaging
- Version 0.5.5 is an early release, so expect rough edges
- Real-time play depends on connections between players working well
Is Parlour safe?
Parlour is an open-source program under the MIT license, but any downloaded executable carries some risk. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for the project, and avoid copies on third-party download sites. Before running the installer, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value published on the release page, or verify the signature if one is provided. If no checksum is published, be more cautious and let a trusted friend test the build first.
Parlour does not ask for a wallet, seed phrase or other financial keys, so the main risks are a tampered file and a mistaken download. Keep your antivirus active and up to date. The project was last updated in September 2026, so check the release page for the newest version before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/braedonsaunders/parlour. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Parlour differs from most Nostr projects in the catalog because its purpose is entertainment rather than messaging or networking. Amethyst and Coop are Nostr clients for reading and sending messages, while Gossip is a desktop Nostr client written in Rust. Vega is a cross-platform desktop client, and Nostr Commander RS is a command-line client for people comfortable typing commands. Nostr VPN applies Nostr signaling to a mesh network, so it is a networking tool rather than a social app.
Parlour is the one here built around a shared activity, with a card table, bot seats, host handoff and room codes. If you want a Nostr client for daily use, a messaging or social client is the better starting point. If you want a game to play tonight with friends, Parlour is the more direct choice.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v0.5.5
- Last update
- 28 Sept 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/braedonsaunders/parlour
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Parlour is listed as free and is released under the MIT license, which sets the terms for using and modifying the source code. You do not pay to create rooms or invite friends. Check the GitHub repository for the full license text if you plan to build on the code.
No. Players can join from any browser on any device, so they do not need to install anything. You create a room and then send the four-character code or a link through any chat app. Friends who prefer a desktop experience can install the Windows build themselves.
No. Parlour does not use accounts or a central game server. Rooms are coordinated through Nostr relays, and you join by entering a code. You do not need to sign up or log in before starting a game with your friends.
Parlour includes classic card games such as Hearts, Euchre, Spades and Cribbage, and the project describes additional games beyond those. The variety suits families with different favorites. Check the app in your version for the full list, since game selection can change between releases.
The game does not have to end. The player can rejoin with the same room code and return to their seat. While they are away, a bot takes their place so the table keeps moving, and rejoining brings them back to where they left off.
Parlour is open source, but safety depends on where you get the file. Download the installer only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, compare its SHA-256 checksum when one is published, and keep your antivirus active. The safety section covers the full steps.
Parlour is built for playing card games, while a Nostr client is for reading and posting notes or messages. Parlour uses Nostr relays behind the scenes to set up games, but you do not browse a feed. If you want a social or messaging app, Amethyst or Coop is a better match.
Verdict
Parlour is a strong pick for groups who want to play classic card games online without signing up for anything. It is free, open source and easy to join from almost any device, with practical touches like bot seats and host handoff. Its limits are clear: it is a card game first, and version 0.5.5 is still early. If you want a casual table for friends, give it a try. If you need a full-featured Nostr client, look at the alternatives listed above.