A few weeks ago, we wrote at length about the components of Tabletop Inc. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been tabling this game quite a bit, and while we definitely have some problems with the game, it keeps coming back which is a good sign.

First and foremost, it’s worth noting that Tabletop Inc. is a quite unique game, so if you are looking for something that goes against the grain quite a bit, then I think this is probably worth investing in. Sure, you have elements of card management, card placement, worker placement, etc., and all of that will be very familiar to you. But it feels distinctly different when it’s all brought together in this game about making games.

We are not going in depth on how to play Tabletop Inc. because that would be 2000 words all on its own! Check out their official How to Play video below!

How to Play Tabletop Inc

To that end, I think the largest hurdle here is just getting the game played the first time. There is a lot going on in Tabletop Inc., and if you have numerous-rules-adverse people in your gaming group, don’t bring this one out when they come over. There is a lot to wrap your head around here, and since it is a fairly unique experience, it’s likely not going to “click” like some other games the first or second time you play it. It’s different, in the best and worst possible ways.

I’ve seen a ton of complaints about the busy board, and that is 1000% true. Even after a half dozen plays, I’m probably never going to use the “artistic” side of Tabletop Inc. game board. It looks really cool, and we know the flow of the game well enough to use it. But, sometimes something that is aesthetically pleasing is actually a hindrance, and that is true of the one side of the board.

I’m not knocking the game’s score over my dislike of the artistic board, though, as they WISELY gave players the option to use a less beautiful, but much more user friendly board. This is a legitimate concern, but one the design team recognized and rectified prior to shipping the product.

Tabletop Inc. is a theme heavy game, and what board game enthusiast hasn’t thought about creating their own board game at one point or another. Each and every time I finish a game of Tabletop Inc., I feel like I’ve created something – so in that sense, Tabletop Inc. delivers on theme in spades, more than many games I’ve played recently have.

The concepts here are thought out well, too. I like the idea of having specific values around your board game table that will allow you to use a maximum value of components, mechanics, etc. I like the idea of bringing in more experienced helpers to improve aspects of your company and produce better quality games. From a gamers perspective, it all makes logical sense and feels satisfying when it all comes together.

There are a ton of components, and that might be overwhelming for some, but it just added to the experience for me. Collecting ideas and researching concepts gave you light bulb and magnifying glass tokens, which then could be used to start crafting games. But games need pieces, so you’ll need to collect those as well. I’ll say it again, and I might be a broken record, but the theme, in my opinion, drives this game.

For me, though, that also becomes one of the problems. I enjoy Tabletop Inc. quite a bit, but I found that more people in my gaming group were less enthused about it simply because the theme didn’t matter to them. And when the theme doesn’t matter to someone in a thematically heavy game, that takes away a lot more than one might think from the overall experience. It’s been a while since our group had very polarizing opinions on a game, but this is one of those unique situations. A few loved it, a few wouldn’t look to play it again.

To me, this makes Tabletop Inc. a very niche game. Honestly, I’m not sure that’s a major problem, though. I’d argue that many board games produced now are niche game experiences. With so many options, it’s not often you get home runs like Wingspan or Cascadia to hang your hat on. If Cogito Design is OK with this being for a select few, then I think they hold their heads high and should be proud of a wonderfully designed, well thought out game.

Tabletop Inc. was one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had in 2025 and also the hardest to write about as I try to balance my own opinions with that of my (experienced) gaming group. It lives in this weird space where some felt the game was too long, and others felt it was too short. Some people felt that each and every option made a ton of sense, while others felt overwhelmed by choice. Some felt the scoring was logical, and others couldn’t make sense of what to do to maximize their game. And this is an experienced group!

So where does that leave you, the reader? This is one that requires a lot of reading and a lot of watching. The Rules video we linked above is a great start, as it will help you understand the turn-to-turn structure of the game. Then check out the opinions of others. Generally, I’m pretty lukewarm on board game reviews – yes, I note the irony there as a writer. I generally look at games and say, “That looks good, I like the concept, let’s buy it.” But I think this one is different. Tabletop Inc. with the Deluxe Upgrade is not a cheap investment, so it’s one I would research, and research well.

If you want my final opinion, though, it is simply this: I think Tabletop Inc. will be a divisive tabletop experience, but the theming, components, and options game-to-game are enough to make me and (at least) some of my group to return again and again over the next year.