International Tabletop Day

International Tabletop Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in June, bringing together enthusiasts worldwide to enjoy board games, card games, and role-playing adventures. This day is all about setting aside screens, gathering around a table, and diving into the joy of analog gaming.

History of International Tabletop Day

International Tabletop Day was founded in 2013 by Geek & Sundry, a multimedia company co-created by actress Felicia Day and actor Wil Wheaton. The inaugural event was live-streamed on March 30, 2013, featuring games like Takenoko, Ticket to Ride, and 7 Wonders, with participation from fans in over 60 countries.

Since its inception, the event has grown into a global celebration, with game stores, community centers, and gaming groups hosting events to promote the joy of tabletop gaming.

Why is International Tabletop Day important?

In an era dominated by digital entertainment, International Tabletop Day serves as a reminder of the value of face-to-face interactions. Gathering around a table to play games fosters communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. It’s not just about winning; it’s about the shared experience, the laughter, and the memories created.

Moreover, tabletop games often introduce players to new cultures, histories, and perspectives, broadening horizons in an engaging way. They can also be educational tools, teaching math, strategy, and language skills. By celebrating this day, we acknowledge the multifaceted benefits of unplugged play.

• Encourages meaningful social interactions
• Promotes cognitive skills like strategy and problem-solving
• Introduces players to diverse cultures and histories
• Provides an inclusive activity suitable for all ages
• Offers a healthy break from screen time

How to Celebrate International Tabletop Day

Celebrating International Tabletop Day can be as simple as gathering friends or family for a game night. Dust off classic games like Monopoly or Scrabble, or explore modern favorites like Catan or Pandemic. Local game stores often host events, providing opportunities to learn new games and meet fellow enthusiasts.

For those unable to attend in-person events, online platforms offer virtual tabletop experiences, allowing you to connect with players worldwide. Sharing your gaming experiences on social media using hashtags like #TabletopDay can also help spread the joy and encourage others to join in.

• Host a game night with friends or family
• Visit a local game store’s event
• Try out a new tabletop game
• Join an online gaming session
• Share your experiences on social media with #TabletopDay

Most Popular Board Games

• Catan
  A strategy game where players collect resources and build roads, settlements, and cities to expand their territory and earn victory points.
• Monopoly
  A classic real estate trading game where players buy, develop, and trade properties to bankrupt their opponents.
• Carcassonne
  A tile-placement game where players build a medieval landscape with cities, roads, and fields, placing followers to score points.
• Ticket to Ride
  A railway-themed game in which players collect cards to claim train routes across a map and complete destination tickets for points.
• Scrabble
  A word game where players use letter tiles to create words on a board, scoring based on letter values and bonus spaces.
• Risk
  A strategic game of world domination where players control armies and try to conquer territories through dice-based battles.
• Pandemic
  A cooperative game where players work together as a disease control team to stop global outbreaks of four deadly diseases.
• Dixit
  A storytelling game where players use abstract illustrations on cards to guess which card was played by the storyteller.
• 7 Wonders
  A card-drafting game where players build one of the seven great wonders of the ancient world while managing resources and military.
• Azul
  A tile-drafting game where players decorate the walls of a palace using beautiful ceramic tiles while strategically planning their moves.
• Chess
  A classic two-player game of strategy and tactics, where each side commands an army with the goal of checkmating the opponent’s king.
• Splendor
  A game of resource management and card development where players act as Renaissance merchants collecting gems to acquire prestige.
• Uno
  A fast-paced card game where players try to be the first to get rid of all their cards by matching colors or numbers.
• Clue (Cluedo)
  A classic mystery game where players gather clues to deduce who committed a murder, in which room, and with what weapon.
• The Game of Life
  A family-friendly board game simulating a person’s journey through life, including education, career, and retirement.

International Tabletop Day Dates Table