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I’m sure most of you have heard of both of these terms, although you’re probably more familiar with the term board games. So, if you happen to come across tabletop games but aren’t sure what they are, keep reading.
What Are Tabletop Games?
Tabletop games, as the name implies, are games that are typically played on a table or other surface. That is to say, a board game is a subset of tabletop games. There are numerous different forms of these games, including card games and dice games. Other than the fact that these games are played on a hard surface, there aren’t many similarities between them. Other subsets include tile-based games, role-playing games, and miniature wargames.
Some specific examples include:
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Checkers
- Yahtzee
- Chess
- Solitaire
- Dominoes
- Mahjong
- Warhammer
Technically, tabletop games can also be played online or on some other electronic device. I’m sure you’ve heard about people playing chess online or that many PCs come with solitaire. With technology constantly evolving, it is very easy to play these games online without having a physical game in front of you.
What Are Board Games?
Board games are like a subgenre. They are tabletop games with boards, hence the name.
Some examples include:
- Monopoly
- Checkers
- Chess
- Catan
- Sorry!
- Candy Land
However, a solid board is not required for all board games. The “board” could also be a modular board, such as cardboard squares or hexagons that can be rearranged for varied gameplay each time. There are a variety of different board games out there, with many different ways to play them.
Other Tabletop Games
Tabletop games, as previously mentioned, have a variety of other subgenres. Card games are games played with playing cards. Some examples include Poker, Uno, Cards Against Humanity, and Magic: The Gathering. Dice games use dice. Yahtzee is an example of a dice game.
Tile games are those that make use of tiles, such as Dominoes or Mahjong. Role-playing games are games where the player takes on the role of a character. One of the most well-known role-playing games is Dungeons and Dragons (also known as D&D).
Miniature wargames, which often use miniatures, simulate wars. Warhammer is one of the most well-known miniature wargames. There are also pencil and paper games, such as Pictionary. There are many more types of tabletop games than just these. Many of the ones I just listed even have their own subsets as well.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different kinds of tabletop games other than board games or those you’ve probably heard of since they’ve gained popularity (such as D&D and Warhammer). Anyone can play them; it all depends on what you want to play. Each game can be vastly different from the next. Some games require luck. Other games use skill or strategy. Some are designed for younger players, while others are designed exclusively for older players. Still, there is a tabletop game for everyone.
Check out some of my reviews of various board games or my glossary of tabletop gaming terms.
Have you played any tabletop games before? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.