Best Tabletop Simulator Games

Although playing a physical board game with friends is awesome, sometimes it’s more convenient to play online. There are literally thousands of tabletop simulator (TTS) mods to be found online these days.

Steam’s Tabletop Simulator allows anyone to create a TTS and there’s a great community of modders that are always adding to the collection. But with so many games to choose from, which ones should you play?

Read on to check out the best Tabletop Simulator games out there right now.

???? Our Top Picks for Best Tabletop Simulator Games

In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.

10/04/2023 05:05 am GMT

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Gloomhaven

Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 60-120 minutes
Ages: 14+

Since its release, Gloomhaven has been wowing gaming enthusiasts around the world. And with good reason. It’s a sprawling legacy-style epic that includes over 70 campaigns to play through. Its gritty, immersive world provides an incredible amount of gaming. 

What We Liked

The world creation in Gloomhaven is exceptional. Over several months you will develop your character, defeat opponents and discover all that Gloomhaven has to offer. There’s a ton of depth in the game and you’ll keep finding new things and discovering new places as you explore its sprawling world. 

What Could Be Better

Setting up a game of Gloomhaven is an event in itself. First, you’ve got to find a willing crew who will commit. Then you’ve got to find an appropriate location. After that, you’ve got to set up the game which takes quite a long time. Finally, you’ve got to pack it all up again, which isn’t exactly easy. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Gloomhaven TTS Mod] The entirety of Gloomhaven has been faithfully recreated in digital form. It also includes the Forgotten Circles expansion, as well as all the unlockable items from the physical game. It does a lot of the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. It’s fully scripted so it automates and manages stats for you.

Nemesis

Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 90-180 minutes
Ages: 12+

In the depths of space, there’s nowhere to run. In Nemesis, players are trapped onboard a ship that needs fixing. But there’s something terrifying onboard the ship and nobody is safe. It’s a semi-cooperative game where players need to work together but also can’t trust anyone else. 

What We Liked

Nemesis does a great job of creating a tense, terrifying, and claustrophobic atmosphere. The artwork and gameplay work really well together to create an awesome sci-fi horror experience. Each character has strengths and weaknesses but anyone can die at any moment. 

What Could Be Better

One of the potentially frustrating things about Nemesis is player elimination. When you die, that’s it. You’re out. If this happens early in the game you’re stuck watching everyone else as they play through the remaining hour. The fact you can die does add to the tense atmosphere, but it sucks when it happens to you. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Nemesis TTS Mod] The mod is a perfect rendition of the board game. If you love the board game then there will be no surprises on the mod and you’ll be able to jump in and play straight away. A lot of effort has been put in and it definitely shows. 

Twilight Imperium

Players: 3-6 
Playing Time: 240-480 minutes
Ages: 14+

The emperor has died. A new power will arise and dominate the galaxy. In Twilight Imperium, players take charge of a faction and compete for galactic control. Beat your rivals and sit on the throne of Mecatol Rex through a combination of diplomacy, trade, and conquest.

What We Liked

Twilight Imperium is a complex strategy game that also feels nicely balanced. No one strategy seems to be superior to all others. The cards also don’t feel overpowered or underpowered so there are plenty of ways to approach the game. And with so many things to consider on each turn, it’ll keep everyone fully engaged from start to finish.  

What Could Be Better

It’s a long game. Like, really long. 8 hours long. It’s totally worth it if you’re ready for the commitment. But it’s definitely something to bear in mind when thinking about whether to play it or not. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Twilight Imperium TTS Mod] The Twilight Imperium mod is the 4th edition of the board game. Given the game’s popularity, it’s no surprise that the TTS is really well-made and faithful to the board game. Because it’s such a long game, though, it’s a risk playing with random players online. 

Betrayal at House on the Hill

Players: 3-6
Playing Time: 60 minutes
Ages: 12+

Betrayal at House on the Hill is a horror-themed board game that takes place in a haunted house. Stuck inside, players will work together and explore the mansion. The tension and suspense grow throughout the game as one of the players will betray the party and try to make sure no one leaves the house alive. 

What We Liked

Betrayal at House on the Hill is an excellent social game. There’s tons of interaction and players need to work together to win the game. Players will embody their characters, so it’s a really funny game too. There’s also a traitor in the mix so it’s always fun trying to figure out who it is. 

What Could Be Better

The overall production is great but for some reason, the player stats are really hard to keep track of. The arrows that point at the stat on the board don’t fit properly. They can fly off the board easily and it’s always debatable what stat number they should be pointing at. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Betrayal TTS Mod] The TTS mod provides the full gaming experience of the board game while also including the Widow’s Walk expansion. It also takes care of the stats problem mentioned above. The TTS keeps track of everything for you. 

Eldritch Horror

Players: 1-8
Playing Time: 120-240 minutes
Ages: 14+

Eldritch Horror is a cooperative strategy set in Lovecraft’s creepy world. The players take on the role of investigators trying to save the entire world from a stirring evil that threatens humanity. You’ll need to work together to solve the mysteries of the occult and stop these ancient monsters before they destroy the earth. 

What We Liked

The theme is awesome and, especially if you’re into Lovecraft, it’s expertly executed. The storytelling and world creation really immerses you in the role of an investigator in a creepy world full of mysterious evil. It’s tense and engaging all the way through.

What Could Be Better

The rules are quite intimidating at first and the game itself is not easy. The first few times you play it can be an overwhelming experience where the game seems to be getting away from you. But once you’ve figured it out, it’s a lot of fun.

How the TTS Mod Works

[Eldritch Horror TTS Mod] The Eldritch Horror mod includes a lot of content. Here you’ll find the base game and all of its expansions. On top of that, there are a lot of fan expansions and fan content. It’s got really high ratings and is definitely worth checking out. 

Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game

Players: 3-6 
Playing Time: 120-180 minutes
Ages: 14+

The TV show may be over but you can still relive the epic story of BSG in this board game. Players take the role of one of the characters from the TV show and they must work together to ensure the survival of humanity. This is no small undertaking and it’s hampered by the fact that one or more players are actually Cylons plotting the destruction of the fleet. 

What We Liked

The tension really ratchets up in BSG. You don’t know who to trust but you need to work together. This makes for an incredibly anxiety-inducing experience. The Cylon will strike at some point and it could be anyone. This makes for some excellent player interaction throughout the game. 

What Could Be Better

BSG games can get pretty long. This is especially true if you all get stuck trying to complete a certain task that really bogs you down. One key example of this is trying to free multiple players from the brig. Until players are free, there’s not much you can do, but while they’re trapped it’s hard to get them out. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Battlestar TTS Mod] The BSG TTS mod includes the base game plus the Pegasus, Daybreak, and Exodus expansions. That’s a lot of BSG in one place. It’s a great alternative to buying the actual board game and all its expansions. 

Secret Hitler

Players: 5-10
Playing Time: 45 minutes
Ages: 13+

Welcome to Secret Hitler, a game set in 1930s Germany. Players are divided into two factions: The Liberals and the Fascists and one player is secretly designated as Hitler. The teams then compete to get their policies enacted and ultimately decide whether to elect or assassinate Hitler. 

What We Liked

There are loads to like about Secret Hitler. It’s really easy to understand so you can start playing immediately. It’s historically accurate and informative so you’ll learn a lot while playing. It also encourages a lot of fun player interaction as you try and figure out if you’ve been betrayed or not. 

What Could Be Better

Secret Hitler plays much better with larger groups. It’s a cool party game so the more the merrier. It might be tough to get 10 people together to play a board game but if you can it’s definitely worth it. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Secret Hitler TTS Mod] Secret Hitler isn’t an obvious choice for a TTS mod. It seems intuitive that a game all about lying to your friend’s faces would require face-to-face interaction. But it actually covers the rules really well and, if you’ve got a good video chat going on the interactions are almost as good as actually being in the room with everyone. 

Star Wars: Rebellion

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 180-240 minutes
Ages: 14+

Star Wars: Rebellion immerses you in a heroic conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. The winning conditions are different for each side so you’ll need to adjust your strategy depending on which faction you’re playing as. During the course of the game, you also get to see a lot of the main events from the original trilogy play out. 

What We Liked

If you’re a fan of Star Wars in general and the original trilogy in particular, this game is going to tick a lot of boxes. The game plays really well on its own merits, for sure. But there’s something really awesome about re-enacting the key moments from the movies in board game form. 

What Could Be Better

Star Wars: Rebellion isn’t an easy game to play or to learn. There are loads of fiddly rules and mechanics to get your head around. The rulebook doesn’t really help either. It’s pretty hard to decipher and it can be pretty unclear if you are following the rules to the letter. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Rebellion TTS Mod] The Star Wars: Rebellion TTS mod includes a ton of content. But it does have one pretty large drawback. At least one person needs to own the actual board game because the mod’s objective cards are blacked out. 

Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition

Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 150 minutes
Ages: 14+

In Mage Knight, players take the role of a powerful knight in the Atlantean Empire. It’s one of the best adventure games ever made. The options available to you seem almost limitless. It’s a sprawling fantasy epic that allows you to pursue a huge variety of missions and tasks. 

What We Liked

The amount of content included is phenomenal. It will keep you immersed and engaged for months on end. Every game has a unique feel so replayability is huge. The production levels are also fantastic which really helps the stories come to life as you play through them. 

What Could Be Better

The learning curve is pretty tough and can put a lot of people off. Plus it’s a long game, with each one lasting a few hours. This all makes Mage Knight seem inaccessible. Just don’t be daunted by this because, if you’re willing to make the commitment, it’s incredibly rewarding. 

How the TTS Mod Works

[Mage Knight TTS Mod] The Mage Knight TTS mod is really popular. It’s heavily scripted so it reduces the amount of setup required. It includes the base game also the Lost Legions and Shades of Tezla expansions. 

Catan

Players: 3-4
Playing Time: 60-120 minutes
Ages: 10+

Forever etched into the annals of board game history, Catan is still loved and played around the world. If you haven’t heard of it before, you need to give it a go. The basic premise is that you are a settler on the island of Catan and are trying to outcompete all the other settlers by building roads, settlements, and cities. 

What We Liked

With fairly simple mechanics, Catan offers an immersive gaming experience and just the right amount of strategy to attract gamers and non-gamers alike. It’s a brilliant gateway game that more experienced players can still come back and enjoy from time to time. 

What Could Be Better

Once you’ve got the taste for eurogames and want something that is heavier, Catan will fall by the wayside a little bit. You might return to it for nostalgic reasons or because a friend suggests it. But in reality, there are more complex games out there that will satisfy that itch. 

How the TTS Mod Works

Link: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=660395369

[Catan TTS Mod] The TTS mod is scripted so it automates setup for you and takes care of a lot of the background stuff for you. It’s a great rendition of a classic. But it only includes the base game and none of the expansions.

Wrap-Up

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best Tabletop Simulator games! Have you tried playing any of these fantastic board games online? Did we miss any of your favorites? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you.