It’s no secret that I ADORE tabletop games. So I’ve put together a list of ten games (plus a few honorable mentions) that content creators—writers, marketers, YouTubers, photographers, etc.—will love, even if they normally aren’t fans of tabletop gaming.
So without further ado, let’s get into it! My 10 recommendations, in no particular order…:
1. Danger: The Game
Danger is like Apples to Apples’s mentally unstable little brother. In this game, players take turns being judges who flip over a card that puts them in a horrible, zany, dangerous situation. Other players then have to play tool and skill cards from their hand to present a plan to save the judge. The judge picks their favorite rescue plan, but wait!—someone might throw a plot twist into the mix. This game is perfect for storytellers and anyone who likes to live dangerously.
Find the game here.
2. Icarus
Icarus is a GM-less role-playing game, where players work together to create a civilization… then watch it fall. It takes about 2-3 hours to play. Each player creates a character, and everyone works together to create a city—it can be an old wild west town, a city on another planet, a fantasy kingdom, anything! But problems will arise, dictated by a dreaded deck of cards. They’re solved (or worsened) by rolling dice. Dice from any unsuccessful rolls are stacked into a tower, which is your city’s monument… and when the tower falls, so does your city.
This game is perfect for storytellers and anyone who loves unique settings, real or imagined. Find it here.
3. Fiasco
Similar to Icarus, Fiasco is a GM-less RPG that can be played in about 2 hours. It’s a hilarious—and tragic—game about high stakes and poor impulse control. Using dice, players will create characters and relationships full of secrets, betrayal, blackmail, and greed. They’ll create a plot—a heist, escape, or other risky plan doomed to fail—but after a plot twist in the middle of the game, things will go awry. You’ll be lucky if you make it out alive.
I love Fiasco! It’s a careful balance of tragedy and humor, which perfect for storytellers who want to tap into their dramatic dark side. There are two versions of the game (a book version and card version), so look at both carefully before purchasing. You can find the game here.
4. (Beyond) Balderdash
Balderdash is an oldie but a goodie. I have an absolute blast every time I play it! Players will be presented a word, movie, year, acronym, or person, and must then write down a definition, plot, event, name, or achievement related to the presented noun. The answers can be funny or convincing, but all are shuffled and read aloud, along with the real answer. Players must vote on which answer they think is the truth. You get points for the number of players who vote for your answer, or for voting for the correct answer.
This is a great game for creatives who want an opportunity to showcase their powers of deception. Find it here.
5. Scrabble
Of course Scrabble has to be on this list! I don’t think it needs an explanation. 😉
Ironically (since I'm a writer), I'm absolutely HORRIBLE at Scrabble. I get obsessed with placing impressive words, forgetting that the goal of the game is to get points. 😂
Find the game here.
6. The Chameleon
The Chameleon is a fantastic and hilarious bluffing game for up to 8 players! Every player knows the secret code word…except one: the chameleon. Each player must give word clues about the secret code word, and the chameleon is trying their best to blend in while figuring out what the code word is. Perfect for skilled wordsmiths with robust vocabularies or for abstract thinkers who like putting clues together.
Find the game here.
7. Chronicles of Crime
This game gives you a thrilling mystery-solving experience. All players are working together to solve a mystery in the shortest amount of time possible. You’ll search the crime scene for clues, interrogate suspects, and analyze evidence by scanning QR codes using the game’s app. It’s an immersive experience that tests your investigative powers!
Find it here.
(A similar game that almost made it on this list is TIME Stories. It’s very similar to Chronicles of Crime, but involves TIME TRAVEL! Find it here.)
8. Sheriff of Nottingham
In this part-bluffing, part-card-management, part-bribing game, players take turns being the Sheriff of Nottingham, trying to figure out if the other players are transporting legal goods or contraband into Nottingham. This is a great game for people who love to get into character, but it also has a little more strategy involved than some of the previously mentioned games.
Find it here.
9. Mr. Lister's Quiz Shootout
Mr. Lister is a trivia game for people who hate trivia but love making lists. Teams are given a category and must make a list of as many things as they can think of in that category, without listing something the other team has already written down.
Find it here.
10. Scribblish
Pictionary meets the telephone game in this zany, quick-playing game. The best part is that you don’t have to be a fantastic artist or clever writer to enjoy the game—in fact, it’s usually more fun if you aren’t!
Find it here.
Thus concludes my list of 10 tabletop game recommendations for content creators. Below you’ll find a few honorable mentions (especially for more serious gamers)…
Any game by Stonemaier Games:
Stonemaier Games publishes amazing strategy games of all types—the reason they’re an honorable mention is not just because their games are fantastic, but the theming and art are incredible. If you appreciate good worldbuilding, theming, or art, you’ll be enchanted by their games (my personal favorites are Scythe and Tapestry). Learn more about them here.
Lord of the Rings: Jouneys in Middle Earth
Where are my fellow LotR fans? This strategy game blends board game, card game, virtual, and role-playing elements to make a mega 10-game story campaign. Play as beloved characters through iconic locations, battling dark forces to save Middle-Earth. Find the game here.
Legacy Games: (Pandemic Legacy, Risk Legacy, Charterstone, etc.)
Legacy games differ from regular board games in that the decisions you make in one game will effect how the next game (and every subsequent game after that) is played. Players play through a story campaign of a set number of games, unlocking new elements (and destroying them) as the story, setting, and rules evolve. If you love stories and gaming, legacy games are a fantastic blend of both. Find a variety of legacy games here.
Space Alert
A 10-minute mission to space on a ship named Sitting Duck. What could go wrong?
Everything. Literally everything can go wrong.
In this insanely-chaotic real-time game, players work together to keep their ship from blowing up for 10 minutes. The thing is, you won’t know if you’ve succeeded until after the 10 minutes is over and you retrace your steps.
Be warned—this game has SO. MANY. RULES. I’m not kidding. This is the most rules I’ve ever seen in a game. Fear not, though—the game comes with a rulebook specially made to teach the game in a fun story-based format, where rules are introduced bit by bit over several introductory games.
This is perfect for hardcore gamers who like a little bit of role-playing and a whole lot of crazy. Find it here.
(A game similar to Space Alert but a lot easier to learn is Captain Sonar—two teams compete in this real-time Battleship-style game, trying to be the first to find and blow up the other team’s submarine! Find it here.)
*deep breath* Phew! That’s a lot of games! Though, trust me, I could go on. ;)
Have you played any of the games mentioned above? What games would you recommend for content creators? Tell me in the comments below!
Until next time,
Madison