Overview
Tabletop Simulator is a 3D player-driven physics sandbox game developed and published digitally by Berserk for the PC, Mac, and Linux (all via Steam) on June 5, 2015. It was later made VR-compatible (supporting both HTC Vive and Oculus Rift) on June 3, 2016.
Focused on either single-player, online multiplayer, or turn-based "hotseat" gameplay, Tabletop Simulator uses a "no-rules" design to give players the ability to play numerous tabletop games with friends and strangers alike. Up to eight players can directly manipulate the game pieces (along with the environment) and can utilize a variety of special commands to make gameplay easier (including automatic dice rolling, special player-specific zones for hiding player card hands, automatic card deck manipulation, and game storage "bags").
Several basic games (including Chess, Go, Solitaire, Mahjong, and Backgammon) are included, along with numerous objects that can be used in other games (including multi-sided dice for tabletop role-playing games, electronic counters for counting, and "infinite bags" for holding an infinite amount of another object). Along with extensive LUA scripting and Steam Workshop support for custom content (most of which are unlicensed adaptations), the game also supports official adaptations of licensed tabletop games as paid downloadable content.
Gameplay
Multiplayer is the main focus of the game, as it does not currently include any form of "play against the computer". The game features a server browser and players can host their own servers from the main menu for free. The Host, or server admin, has many options not available to the connecting players. Including the ability to ban/kick other players, set a server password, and disable "table flipping". There are also tools he can use for dealing cards, creating "turns" for players, and minor physics adjustments (like gravity). The players themselves have the ability to edit an in-game notepad for keeping track of the game, and they can manipulate any part of the game environment with their mouse-pointer (except table flipping if disabled by the host).
An unlimited amount of game-modes can be added in by the players through a customization option. This allows players to upload a custom picture for the board, a custom set of card decks, and load in a variety of different piece types. Players can save these setups and share them with others, and many mod sites are already seeing an influx of several popular tabletop games being shared.
Physics
The physics engine allows players to manipulate every game piece individually, as well as sets of cards and pieces as well. The player can pick up the piece, rotate it vertically and horizontally, and place it wherever they desire. They may also throw pieces and drop them off the table, but they'll spawn back on top of the table after a few seconds.
There is a Semi-Lock option which temporarily disables physics so pieces don't get knocked over accidentally. This is a host option and is good for more serious game play.
An entire deck of cards may be picked up by clicking and holding for a few seconds. Players can also grab a single card from the top of the deck by grabbing it and sliding away in quick manner. Placing a card on your edge of the table will allow you to see the card, and it will appear facing down to everyone else. You may hold the Alt key to zoom in on the card and read its fine details.
To shuffle a deck of cards, players can pick up the entire deck and shake the mouse, which plays a shuffling noise and a shuffling animation over and over. Players can do a similar thing with dice, by picking it up and shaking the mouse, the dice will roll.
To pick up multiple objects, players can hold the first object with left click, then hover over each additional object and press right click.
Bundled and DLC Games
When players start a new lobby, they are given a blank table and a menu of options for choosing the game mode. While players can choose to remain with the blank table, they can also replace their current table, background, and set of objects with a "game" from one of four categories: Classic (including both Classic Games and Starter Tables/Showcases), DLC, Workshop, and Saved Games.
Unlike other digital representations of the below games, the game's sandbox "no-rules" system allows players to bypass the game's rules and restrictions. This allows crafty players to use/prototype their own rules.
Along with the bundled games below, Tabletop Simulator also includes the free-to-print deck-building card game CardBots: Build & Destroy as a bonus.
Classic Games
Most of the Classic Games section has a simple description of the game's rules in the Notebook.
Starter Tables and Showcases
- Cards - A starter table for simple card-based games. Includes one 52-card deck of standard playing cards.
- Custom - A starter table for prototyping custom games. Includes eight sets of pawns, a custom deck, a custom board, and two dice (1 metal and 1 plastic).
- Dice - A showcase of the game's roster of dice. One of every dice included in the game and a coin.
- Piecepack - A starter table for games utilizing the Piecepack Game System. Includes four sets of tiles (6 unique set-colored wooden squares, 6 unique wooden coins, and 1 set-colored wooden six-sided dice).
- Poker - A starter table for simple card-based gambling games. Includes one 52-card deck of standard playing cards and eight sets of poker chips (5 green, 5 red, 1 silver, and 1 gold).
- RPG - A simple showcase of the game's RPG Kit. Includes one of every miniature enemy, 24 floor tiles, 7 wall tiles, 7 corner tiles, 7 miniature chairs, 7 miniature tables, 7 miniature chests, and 7 miniature barrels.
- Sandbox - A simple showcase of the game's physics system. Includes three sets of six colored blocks (2 red squares, 2 blue rectangles, and 2 green rectangles) and a metal marble.
- Tools - A simple showcase of the game's tools. Includes one of every tool in the game.
Downloadable Packs
Each DLC game includes accurate game pieces, a themed background/table, and bonus content (such as a virtual replica of the original game's box).
Only the lobby host needs to own the DLC for the rest of the lobby to play it.
- Battle for Souls (1-4 players) - Released on January 29, 2016 for $4.99. Also includes the Promo Card Pack expansion.
- Blood Rage (2-4 players) - Released on September 7, 2019 for $7.99.
- Cavern Tavern (1-6 players) - Released on June 23, 2017 for $7.99. Also includes the Secret Chamber expansion.
- Cosmic Encounter (3-5 players) - Released on September 29, 2015 for $9.99. The Cosmic Incursion, Cosmic Conflicts, Cosmic Alliance, Cosmic Storm, and Cosmic Dominion expansions can be purchased separately for $2.99 each.
- Darkest Night (1-4 players) - Released on January 8, 2016 for $6.99. Also includes the With an Inner Light, On Shifting Winds, From the Abyss, In Tales of Old, and From Distant Lands expansions.
- Darkrock Ventures (1-5 players) - Released on October 25, 2016 for $5.99. Also includes Expansion Pack #1.
- Deck Quest (1+ players) - Released on April 3, 2019 for $7.99.
- Draco Magi (2 players) - Released on November 7, 2018 for $6.99. Also includes the Expansion.
- Dungeon Drop (1-4 players) - Released on April 23, 2020 for $3.99.
- Indonesia (2-5 players) - Released on April 14, 2017 for $6.99.
- Mistfall (1-4 players) - Released on December 14, 2015 for $7.99.
- Mr. Game! (4-8 players) - Released on May 6, 2016 for $4.99.
- RARRR!! (3-6 players) - Released on April 4, 2016 for $4.99.
- Scuttle! (1-5 players) - Released on February 17, 2017 for $4.99. Also includes the Curse of Black Jack and Scurvy expansions.
- Scythe (1-5 players) - Released on February 26, 2016 for $7.99. Also includes the Invaders from Afar expansion.
- Simurgh (2-5 players) - Released on June 21, 2016 for $6.99.
- Superfight (3-10 players) - Released on June 5, 2015 for $7.99. Also includes the Blue Deck, Purple Deck, Walking Dead Deck, Anime Deck, Challenge Deck, and Green Deck expansions. The Orange Deck and Red Deck expansions can be purchased separately for $1.99 each.
- Tiny Epic Kingdoms (1-5 players) - Released on April 4, 2016 for $6.99. Also includes the Heroes' Call expansion.
- Tiny Epic Quest (1-4 players) - Released on December 20, 2017 for $6.99. Also includes the Quest for the Golden Mushrooms expansion.
- Tortuga 1667 (2-9 players) - Released on February 28, 2019 for $6.99.
- Unearth (2-4 players) - Released on December 16, 2019 for $5.99.
- Viticulture (1-6 players) - Released on September 16, 2016 for $7.99. Also includes the Tuscany and Moor Visitors expansions.
- Warfighter: The Tactical Special Forces Card Game (1-6 players) - Released on March 3, 2017 for $14.99. Also includes the Reloading, Stealth, Support, Dice, Speedball, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, Eastern European Adversaries, and Footlocker expansions.
- Wingspan (1-5 players) - Released on February 23, 2020 for $7.99. Also includes the European Expansion.
- Zombicide (1-6 players) - Released on June 3, 2016 for $9.99.
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