Why you should Tabletop Simulator

Greetings couch-dwellers!

Today we’re talking to Treehouse Games Guru James to find out more about Tabletop Simulator, and why he would recommend it for new and experienced gamers alike…

Briefly, what is Tabletop Simulator?

Tabletop simulator, often abbreviated to TTS, is a piece of software that creates a virtual table on which you can play board games, card games and just about anything else you can think of. It’s available for download on Steam (a popular gaming platform for PC) for £14.99 and is often on sale for 50% or less, although this may not apply in the next few weeks while it’s seeing a surge in popularity!

What makes TTS special is that anyone can use the software to create virtual copies of real-world games. There are excellent fan-made copies of most games available, and some of the most popular board games have professionally made versions for sale at a fraction of the price of the real thing. Scythe, Wingspan, The Captain is Dead, Cosmic Encounters, Zombicide and Blood Rage are all available for less than £6. 

Often the virtual copies play identically to their real world counterparts. You can find everything from UNO or Cards Against Humanity to Twilight Imperium all ready to play at the touch of a button. 

What games have you played on it so far and who have you been playing with?

I’ve used TTS to play quite a few games so far, Seven Wonders Duel and Pandemic among my favourites. I am also taking part in a Gloomhaven Isolation Campaign with friends from all over the UK. I’ve also used the software to play D&D with my regular campaign buddies. 

One of the most exciting things I’ve done with the software is join a competitive gaming league for a tabletop war game I play. As we can’t get out and play locally we now have a league of 100 of us playing from all over the world and I’ve already made some new friends. 

How would you rate it as a gaming experience?

It’s brilliant! I was initially put off the idea of playing board games virtually: “Why not just play a video game with friends?” was my first thought. Well, it turns out that quite a few of my friends would much rather play a board game, and as soon as I tried it I came around. There are so many little elements in TTS that make the experience smooth and some that even enhance it.

Almost all games available on the platform are “scripted”. Put simply, this means that they have automated elements that work for you. Gloomhaven battle maps can be set up at the click of a button, and decks that shuffle themselves instantly are both excellent examples. Most importantly, all the quality-of-life improvements are never made at the expense of robbing you of the fun. Oh, and the physics of the game pieces makes things like rolling dice feel just as good as in real life. 

One last thing: you can rewind the game state by a few minutes if something goes horribly wrong. Like someone flipping the table in a fit of frustration (yes you can do this, and yes it can be turned off). The game also backs itself up every five minutes with an autosave function just in case someone’s internet goes down. There is also a save function, which is great if you have to leave the game for whatever reason so you can pick up where you left off last time. 

How about as a social experience?

Here we come to a few ways TTS differs from a real table experience. The lack of visible social cues can, if you’re not already a close-knit group, lead to people talking over one another, as you have no way of telling when someone’s about to speak.

You’ll also need a separate piece of software to talk to your fellow gamers. I highly recommend Discord as it’s straightforward to use and is available on PC, Android & iOS. If you already use Skype, Messenger or something else then you can also continue to use that. 

I’ve used TTS to socialise. I’ve met new friends and used it to connect with old ones. Whilst TTS will never replace a “real” tabletop experience, it’s something different, not less. I think I’ll end up continuing to use it after all this is over as a way to play games from my own home with players I can’t normally get together with. It’s honestly better than I ever expected. 

Who would you recommend it for?

Really, almost anyone who is comfortable using a computer or is happy to learn. it’s quick and easy to learn if you have any level of competency using a PC and a breeze for anyone who would call themselves a “gamer”. I found my way around it in a few minutes and the community is always willing to offer any help or assistance you might need. 

Find out more about Tabletop Simulator here.

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