The terms tabletop game and board game are used so interchangeably that, for a long time, I didn’t even realize they were technically two separate things. I wanted to know what a tabletop game was, so I did some research and came up with this definition for it.
What is a tabletop game? A tabletop game is any game that is typically played on a flat surface, primarily a table. Board games, dice games, role-playing games, pencil and paper games, card games, and tile-laying games are some examples. There is no standard number of players, difficulty to play or game style to tabletop games.
Let’s look a little more into it with some more detail, as well as some examples, below.
Detailed Explanation
Tabletop game is a broad term that describes many different types and styles of games that are usually played on a flat surface. That usually means they’re played on the top of a table so that players can easily sit around it and play comfortably—though that obviously isn’t required. More than anything, though, it is referring to the fact that the game can be contained entirely on a small, flat surface. People aren’t usually getting up and moving or running around. Although some “tabletop games” may require a small amount of this.
Tabletop games widely vary in complexity. There is absolutely no standard in how complex a game may be. Some tabletop games are extremely simple and can be learned in a matter of seconds as the game is playing. While others may require serious explanation and lots of practice to fully grasp—which just sounds like a nightmare to me.
The number of players in tabletop games is really only limited by the size of the table, or at the very least, by the size of the room in order to fit people. Again, some tabletop games may be designed only for one or two people, while others can be played with a dozen or more.
What does a tabletop game look like?
As you probably already surmised, what a tabletop game looks like depends highly on what type of game it is. But they do follow some patterns that can give us a glimpse into what they look like.
Tabletop games often have a board and game pieces that move around the board according to a specified set of rules. Other tabletop games are made entirely out of cards or dice, where players exchange cards or dice throughout the game. Most tabletop games have some combination of the three. But there are also more simple ones, which often just use pencils and paper while one of the players tells everyone else what to do and when. Whatever it is, players are sitting down with each other and manipulating some sort of game component in a competitive way.
Common Categories of tabletop games
Some of the most common types of tabletop games are listed below.
Board games- Board games may be the most common tabletop game of all of the categories on the list. Possibly because there are so many of them and they all look so different. They also often incorporate other tabletop-game categories into them like cards, dice, role playing, etc.
Board games are games that usually come in a box. The contents vary widely but all contain some sort of game board that interacts in some way with the game. Most of the time that means the game is played entirely on top of the game board by moving pawns, meeples, or pieces—but there are certainly exceptions to this.
Dice games- Dice games are just that, games focused on dice. They are played on a tabletop because that’s by far the easiest way to contain dice and get a definite outcome. They usually are pretty simple and tend to be “just for fun” games. They usually aren’t overly strategic because dice usually add an element of luck into the game—though, like everything else, that’s not always the case.
There are many dice-specific games, but the vast majority of tabletop games contain dice only as one element to the game; not as the main focus. They add just the right amount of luck or mystery to the game without overwhelming the game with it.
Role-playing games- Role-playing games fit into tabletop games in an obvious way. Players sit around a table and assume roles dictated by the game. They go on adventures, encounter unexpected obstacles, and often roll dice to determine outcomes. These types of games are often about the experience while playing and less about the competition to see who can earn the most points or have the most money.
Pencil and paper games- Pencil and paper games are often old-but-good games. Players absolutely need a tabletop when playing these games because—you guessed it—they will be writing on their paper with their pencils. They are usually games that can’t be put into a box and sold as a packaged product very easily because of their lack of required components. Groups can just recreate the games with the pencils and paper they already have.
Card games- Card games are another category that is often used as a component of other game categories. But unlike dice games, it is a massive category in and of itself. These games usually come in very small boxes that contain only a deck of cards with rules on how to play. They aren’t usually overly complex and usually play pretty quickly; but that rule of thumb doesn’t always hold true.
Tile-laying games- Tile laying games are games where the game “board” is built as the game progresses. The main purpose of the game is to lay tiles more effectively than the other players. The game often looks different each time because players have discretion on what tiles to lay, where they want to lay them, and when they want to lay them. These are often some of my favorite games to play.
Examples of popular tabletop games
To get a more concrete idea of what tabletop games are, here is a list of extremely popular tabletop games.
| Game | Category | Difficulty | Duration | Players |
| Checkers | Board | Easy | 30 min | 2 |
| Carcassonne | Tile-laying | Easy | 30 min | 2-5 |
| D&D | Role-playing | Easy | 60+ min | 2-5+ |
| Yahtzee | Dice | Easy | 30 min | 2-10 |
| Tenzee | Dice | Very Easy | 5-10 min | 2-10 |
| Phase 10 | Card | Easy | 45 min | 2-6 |
| Dominion | Card | Medium | 30 min | 2-4 |
| Pictionary | Pencil and paper | Very Easy | 60-90 min | 3-12 |
Related Questions
Is Chess a tabletop game? Chess is a tabletop game. It is played on a game board that is designed to be played on a flat surface, most commonly a table. It is a board game—and board games are a popular subgenre of tabletop games. It uses game pieces that are strategically moved throughout the board and doesn’t contain dice or other luck produced components.
Can tabletop games be played online? Tabletop games can be played online. While they have traditionally been solely physical games with everyone around the same table, with the rise of the internet, it has opened up the possibility for tabletop games to be played online. Players can use electronic devices to play games with friends and family anywhere in the world. Though that takes away that tabletop nature of the game, they are still considered tabletop games.