Tabletop Together
You know the feeling.
You walk past your game shelf and see that game you had to have.
Maybe you watched three reviews before buying it. Maybe you backed the Kickstarter two years ago. Maybe you spent an entire evening punching cardboard, organizing components, sleeving cards, and reading the rulebook.
You were excited.
You were going to play this thing all the time.
And then...
It went on the shelf.
A month later, it's still there.
Six months later?
Still there.
Meanwhile, you're browsing BoardGameGeek looking at another game you're thinking about buying.
Sound familiar?
Here's the uncomfortable truth:
For a lot of us, buying board games is much easier than actually playing them.
And if you've ever thought, “I wish I could play board games more often,” you're definitely not alone.
The question is: What's actually stopping us?
The Problem Usually Isn't the Games
There has probably never been a better time to be a tabletop gamer.
Games exist for practically every taste imaginable.
Want a massive campaign?
You've got options.
Want something you can finish in 20 minutes?
Absolutely.
Want deck building, worker placement, social deduction, miniatures, dungeon crawling, trading cards, cooperative games, two-player games, party games or ridiculously complicated economic simulations?
Take your pick.
The problem isn't finding games we want to play.
It's getting those games onto the table.
And once you start looking at why that doesn't happen, the same obstacles keep appearing.
1. Finding People to Play With Is Harder Than It Sounds
This is probably the biggest one.
You can own 100 incredible games, but if nobody wants to sit down and play them with you, you've basically built yourself a very expensive bookshelf.
And finding another board gamer isn't necessarily enough.
You need people who want to play the kinds of games you want to play.
Maybe your friends love party games, but you've been dying to play Dune: Imperium.
Maybe you're into miniature games, but nobody in your normal group wants to spend an evening learning one.
Maybe you want to start a tabletop RPG campaign, but finding four people willing to commit regularly feels like assembling the Avengers.
Even within tabletop gaming, we're not all looking for the same experience.
That's why the real question isn't:
“Where do I find board gamers?”
It's:
“Where do I find board gamers who want to play the same things I do?”
That's a much harder problem.
2. Adult Schedules Are the Final Boss
You found the players.
Great.
Now find a time when everyone is available.
Good luck.
One person works weekends.
Someone else has kids.
Another person travels.
Someone can't do Fridays.
Someone can do Fridays but only after 8:00.
Someone else needs to leave by 9:30.
Suddenly organizing four people for a two-hour board game requires more coordination than some military operations.
And I'm speaking from experience here.
As someone from a military family, I've seen firsthand how quickly your gaming community can change. People move. Schedules change. Friends get stationed somewhere else. Life happens.
You can have a fantastic group one year and find yourself rebuilding it the next.
That's one of the things people don't talk about enough when discussing this hobby.
Sometimes the hardest part of game night has nothing to do with the game.
It's getting everyone into the same room at the same time.
3. Somebody Has to Be the Organizer
Every gaming group seems to have one.
The person who sends the message:
“Anybody want to play something Saturday?”
Then follows up.
Then asks again.
Then figures out where everyone is meeting.
Then chooses the game.
Then confirms everyone is still coming.
Then reminds the person who somehow forgot despite agreeing three days ago.
If you're that person, you know exactly what I mean.
Hosting can be fun.
Constantly organizing can be exhausting.
And when that organizer gets busy or burned out, something interesting happens:
Game night disappears.
Everyone still wants to play.
Nobody stopped liking board games.
But nobody actually plans the next night.
Three weeks go by.
Then six.
Then someone eventually says:
“We really need to start playing again.”
Yep.
We do.
4. The Games We Buy Aren't Always the Games We Can Play
I'm guilty of this one.
There's the game you want to play...
…and then there's the game your group will actually play.
Those aren't always the same thing.
You might love heavy strategy games, but your normal group wants something lighter.
You might buy an incredible six-player game when you normally only have three people available.
You might buy a campaign game requiring a consistent group when your gaming friends can barely coordinate one Saturday.
That's why one of the best questions you can ask before buying another game isn't:
“Does this game look awesome?”
It's:
“Who am I actually going to play this with?”
That's a much less exciting question.
It can also save you $70.
5. Walking Into a New Group Is Awkward
Here's another barrier that doesn't get enough attention.
Let's say you find a local board game night.
Perfect.
Except...
You don't know anyone there.
Walking into a game store or meetup full of strangers and saying, “Hey, can I play with you?” isn't easy for everyone.
Especially if you're new to the hobby.
You don't know how serious everyone is.
You don't know whether beginners are welcome.
You don't know whether they're already a regular group.
You don't know whether you're expected to know the game.
You don't even know whether there's actually an open seat.
For someone comfortable meeting strangers, that's manageable.
For someone who's shy, anxious about unfamiliar social situations, new to town, or simply hasn't attended a public game night before?
That's a legitimate barrier.
And it's unfortunate because there could be a table five miles away filled with people you'd absolutely love gaming with.
You just haven't met each other yet.
6. The Shelf of Shame Keeps Growing
This is where things get funny.
We can't get our existing games played...
So naturally...
WE BUY MORE GAMES.
Of course we do.
A new release gets announced.
Someone posts an incredible playthrough.
A Kickstarter has 37 pounds of miniatures.
There's a sale.
Suddenly another box arrives.
And I'm not judging.
I love games too.
But eventually we have to acknowledge something:
Collecting board games and playing board games are two different hobbies.
There's nothing wrong with collecting.
But if what you really want is more gaming experiences, another box isn't necessarily the answer.
Maybe what you actually need...
is another player.
So How Do You Actually Play Board Games More Often?
Buying fewer games isn't the entire answer.
You need to make playing easier.
Tell People What You Want to Play
Don't just say:
“We should play something sometime.”
Pick something.
“I want to play Unmatched Saturday afternoon. Anyone interested?”
Specific invitations are much easier to respond to than vague plans.
Find More Than One Gaming Group
Your entire tabletop hobby doesn't have to depend on three friends having identical schedules.
Look for:
Local game stores
Board game clubs
Public gaming nights
Libraries
Conventions
Community groups
Tabletop meetups
Gaming cafés
Different groups can also satisfy different parts of the hobby.
One group might play heavier strategy games, while another gets together for Marvel Champions or miniature games.
That's okay.
Be Willing to Teach
Sometimes the person you've been looking for doesn't know the game yet.
Teach them.
Some of my favorite gaming experiences aren't necessarily with experts.
They're with people discovering something for the first time.
Every experienced tabletop gamer started somewhere.
Put the Date on the Calendar
“Someday” is where board games go to die.
Pick the date.
Pick the time.
Pick the location.
Then invite people.
Even if everyone can't attend, you've created something people can actually commit to.
Become the Person Who Creates the Table
This one might be the most important.
Sometimes we're all waiting for someone else to organize something.
What if you're that person?
Host the game.
Invite someone new.
Post in your local community.
Teach someone.
You don't need eight people.
Sometimes building a gaming community starts with finding one other person who wants to play.
This Is Exactly Why We're Building Tabletop Together
This entire problem is one of the reasons Tabletop Together exists.
We're not trying to create another place to catalog the games sitting on your shelf.
Great tools already do that.
We're interested in what happens after you look at that shelf and think:
“I really want to play this.”
Imagine being able to say:
I want to play this game.
And discovering other people nearby who are thinking exactly the same thing.
Someone willing to host.
Someone willing to teach.
A local store with tables available.
A player who's been looking for one more person.
That's the gap we want to close.
Because ultimately, tabletop gaming isn't about cardboard, plastic miniatures, dice or beautifully organized shelves.
Those things are awesome.
But they're not what makes the hobby special.
It's the people sitting across the table.
Get One Game Off the Shelf This Week
So here's our challenge.
Don't buy anything.
Don't reorganize your collection.
Don't spend two hours watching reviews of the next game you might purchase.
Walk over to your shelf.
Pick one game you already own but haven't played enough.
Then text somebody.
Post in your gaming group.
Call a friend.
Find a local game night.
Or be brave and organize one yourself.
Get that game off the shelf.
And get somebody around the table.
Then come back and tell us what you played.
Because we'd genuinely love to hear about it.
What's Keeping YOU From Playing More?
Is it finding players?
Scheduling?
Not having a regular group?
Not knowing where to play?
Or are you the person staring at 87 games while browsing Kickstarter for number 88? 👀
Tell us.
Those conversations help us understand what the tabletop community actually needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find people to play board games with?
Start with local game stores, gaming cafés, libraries, tabletop clubs, conventions, community groups, and organized game nights. Look for groups that play the types of games you're interested in, rather than searching for any board game group.
How can I play board games more often?
Make plans specific. Choose a game, date, time and location rather than waiting for a group to spontaneously organize. Expanding beyond one gaming group and being willing to host or teach can also create considerably more opportunities to play.
What if none of my friends like board games?
You don't necessarily have to turn your existing friends into tabletop gamers. Local gaming communities can help you meet people who already share the hobby. You can also introduce interested friends with approachable games before moving into heavier titles.
Is it awkward to attend a board game meetup alone?
It can feel that way at first. Look for events that explicitly welcome new players or offer game teaching. Contacting the organizer beforehand can also help you understand what to expect and whether open seats are available.
Should I stop buying board games if I don't play enough?
Not necessarily. Collecting can be part of enjoying the hobby. But if your real goal is playing more often, consider whether your next purchase solves that problem—or whether finding another player or organizing another game night would do more.
Until next time, get a game off the shelf, invite someone to the table, and make some memories.
🎲 Find Your Table. Build Your Community.
— The Tabletop Together Team
🔗 RELATED TABLETOP TOGETHER READING
🎲 Want something great to play when the group can't get together?
Check out Best Solo Board Games Under an Hour for games you can actually get to the table when you're playing on your own.
❤️ Why do we care so much about getting people around the table in the first place?
Read Why Board Games Bring People Together Better Than Social Media for a deeper look at the real-world connections tabletop gaming can create.