It feels weird to review this because everyone's experience with Tabletop Simulator (TTS) is different. Instead, I'll review it as a combination of my own experiences playing the game and how good it actually is at simulating tabletop games.
This game has a special place in my heart because I played it a lot during the pandemic - when my college had to shut down in 2020, my friends and I had to migrate to using this simulator instead of meeting up for our usual board game nights, and man did I have a fun time. Not only did we play our usual favorites like Villainous, but TTS introduced us to many new games that we ended up enjoying, like The Red Dragon Inn.
TTS was our saving grace at the time; board game nights on the simulator felt like board game nights in-person and helped us keep in touch over those rough months of the pandemic. We did have a couple mishaps at first trying to adapt and learn the game's controls, but overall we had a wonderful time. Also, TTS's library is endless, there are so many board games to that have been integrated into the library, so I still find myself returning to it to play more games.
I will say, however, that the game is mainly enjoyable playing with people you know. Of course, you can try matchmaking with anyone via online lobbies or Discord groups dedicated to playing TTS board games, but I've had a mixed experience with this: most of the people I've played games this way were cool, but there are still a couple bad apples here and there. The game's in-game lobby is also pretty toxic and I personally think the game would be better off without it.
This game has a special place in my heart because I played it a lot during the pandemic - when my college had to shut down in 2020, my friends and I had to migrate to using this simulator instead of meeting up for our usual board game nights, and man did I have a fun time. Not only did we play our usual favorites like Villainous, but TTS introduced us to many new games that we ended up enjoying, like The Red Dragon Inn.
TTS was our saving grace at the time; board game nights on the simulator felt like board game nights in-person and helped us keep in touch over those rough months of the pandemic. We did have a couple mishaps at first trying to adapt and learn the game's controls, but overall we had a wonderful time. Also, TTS's library is endless, there are so many board games to that have been integrated into the library, so I still find myself returning to it to play more games.
I will say, however, that the game is mainly enjoyable playing with people you know. Of course, you can try matchmaking with anyone via online lobbies or Discord groups dedicated to playing TTS board games, but I've had a mixed experience with this: most of the people I've played games this way were cool, but there are still a couple bad apples here and there. The game's in-game lobby is also pretty toxic and I personally think the game would be better off without it.
I LOVE BOARD GAMES, so the idea of having a game/engine powered by the community to play any board game imaginable remotely is awesome. so I can't help but love Tabletop Simulator. yeah okay if you ask me, of course i'd rather play the real deal IRL but COME ON, look at this!!!
I've sunken 40 hours into this thing without playing any of the officially made games, which can give you an idea of how long you could play this thing for. even just loading up different pieces and fucking around with the physics engine is fun. my only gripes with it would be the fact you can't have multiple people be the admin of a room and the bugginess of the game. i personally never had major issues in game, but a friend of mine we'd play with had problems every single time.
I've sunken 40 hours into this thing without playing any of the officially made games, which can give you an idea of how long you could play this thing for. even just loading up different pieces and fucking around with the physics engine is fun. my only gripes with it would be the fact you can't have multiple people be the admin of a room and the bugginess of the game. i personally never had major issues in game, but a friend of mine we'd play with had problems every single time.
my favorite part about this game is flipping the table and writing "YOU SUCK" on it in pretty pink colors and then spawning poker chips until my computer lags so hard I have to stop. I also like beating my friends to death in checkers, get rekt, losers. the only person who ever beat me was bug. shoutout to my homie bug, love that guy.