Games like Reclaim the Tabletop

Are you tired of building theme park rides on fixed tracks when you could be cultivating living ecosystems? Have you felt the tension between the story you want to tell and the surprising, unscripted stories your players are trying to create? This book is a manifesto for a new kind of creator. It is a guide to becoming a System Architect—a designer who trades the rigid safety of the blueprint for … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Perfect Game.

Are you tired of building digital museums filled with lifeless statues when you could be cultivating wild, unpredictable gardens? Have you felt the creative limits of the pre-written script? This book is a manifesto for a new kind of creator. It is a guide to becoming a Gardener—a designer who trades the rigid safety of the architect's blueprint for the vibrant, emergent life of a living world. … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Sentient Engine.

It's Not a Bug. It's a Blueprint. Ever felt a game was designed to be intentionally frustrating? That its economy was engineered to create problems only a cash shop could solve? You were probably right. Those aren't accidents; they are the result of a coherent, data-driven, and often deeply cynical design philosophy. Manipulative Game Design is a codex of forbidden knowledge, a hands-on guide th… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Manipulative Game Design.

Games Are for Players, not Stock Holders The Urgent Case for Co-operative, Player-Governed Live Service Games "The system is working exactly as intended and must be dismantled." Live service games promise us ever-evolving worlds and vibrant communities. Yet, too often, this potential is tarnished by player frustration, developer burnout, and the creeping sens… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games Are for Players, not Stock Holders.

62%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story

77% User Score Based on 31 reviews

This version includes: Combat Arena Beta (available now), Early Access (TBD), Full game upon release (TBD), In-Game Title “Challenger”, Forebears’ Hoodie In-Game Cosmetic, and the Official Soundtrack. The Combat Arena is currently out in a Beta state. Purchasing access now will guarantee you access to Early Access and the full open-world game when they launch. Join us in an early version of Kindr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Kindred Fates: Combat Arena.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:optimization, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay

79% User Score Based on 922 reviews

Prep Less. Play Better. Exciting upgrades await you in one of the most popular virtual tabletops. Fantasy Grounds Unity has amazing new features to take your gaming on to new adventures. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Fantasy Grounds VTT.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, stability

92% User Score Based on 350 reviews

Critic Score 51%Based on 2 reviews

The ultimate top-down racing game is back! Ultimate Racing 2D 2 includes new cars, new tracks, track/car editor, time-trial mode, damage, multi-class racing and more. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ultimate Racing 2D 2.

54%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, graphics

54% User Score Based on 213 reviews

2023: A World Under Pressure! As 2023 begins, the war in the Ukraine is inflaming the planet. Other than the risk of military escalation in this conflict, the effects can also be geopolitical, first of all, with a clash of ideologies between the democratic model and the authoritarian model, and secondly, economic, with inflation remaining very high throughout the world, leading to a reduction of p… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Power & Revolution 2023 Edition.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:replayability, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

85% User Score Based on 46 reviews

Puzzle Strike is an online deckbuilding puzzle game from David Sirlin, lead designer of Puzzle Fighter HD Remix and creator of the Fantasy Strike universe. Improve your deck (of chips!) as the game unfolds and crush your opponents under a mountain of gems! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Puzzle Strike.

31%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:replayability, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, music

31% User Score Based on 61 reviews

GM Forge is a Standalone Virtual Tabletop with competitive features, making it a good affordable alternative. When you buy a copy of GM Forge, your friends join you through their web browser without purchasing a copy. It has all the competitive features in other virtual tabletops, as well as some impressive new innovative ideas built with the average GM in mind. GM Forge is essentially a sandbox … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to GM Forge - Virtual Tabletop.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

94% User Score Based on 161 reviews

Empire Deluxe: Combined Edition is the latest in the classic Empire Series of games, which has spanned almost five decades. Empire Deluxe is a game about taking cities. Starting with just one, the city enables a commander to produce units. These units in turn can directly attack or support the attack of more cities. Your imperialistic desires are not satisfied until you have taken every city on t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Empire Deluxe Combined Edition.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

95% User Score Based on 10,330 reviews

In Wingspan you are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wingspan.

65%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

65% User Score Based on 110 reviews

A-Train is back, and better than ever. The biggest and best city builder, transport simulation game returns with a host of new features. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to A-Train 9 V4.0: Japan Rail Simulator.

Multiplayer Cozy Home Building - Build and decorate a cozy fantasy home together. Place furniture, discover new decor, and expand your shared hearth as you design rooms side-by-side with friends in a relaxing co-op building experience. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hearth Bound.

This game is currently on Kickstarter for Zine Quest 4! Go check it out now to get your discounted digital or physical copy! In Action Figure Rescue Squad, you and up to six players take the roles of living toys! The kid who owns you doesn't know of your sentience but loves you all the same. Playtime with your kid is the best part of your existence because you get to do your favorite thing in the… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Action Figure Rescue Squad.

Join Our Discord About the GameSunday night again. Same list. Same quiet dread. Same promise that Monday is the start of something new. By Wednesday, the tabs are left open. The plan is paused. The books are still stacked exactly where you left them. The loop continues. ​ Prolific Mindset is where the loop breaks. ​Step into a cozy, first-person life simulation built around the parts of li… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Prolific Mindset.

It's Not an Accident. It's an Architecture. Ever felt a beloved hobby slowly transform into a system of obligation and financial pressure? You're not alone. The frustration you feel in a game isn't a flaw; it's often a meticulously engineered feature. This book is a codex of forbidden knowledge, a guide to the hidden architecture of digital manipulation designed not as an attack on games, but as … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dark Patterns in Game Design.

Tome also comes in print!Order the physical book for Tome from DriveThruRPG and get 50% off the digital copy. Just choose the option for "PDF + Softcover, Standard Color Book" on Tome's page on DriveThruRPG. Get the Physical Book on DriveThruRPG! Tome, created for both Game Masters and Players is a new creative journaling experience built for the talented, dedicated folks who run and play in table… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tome for Players | 2022 Edition.

[This free copy is a demo unit; For the full gamebook you can buy and download it from this same project page.While you can play Scopicity in as little as 1-2 hours, the longer you stay with Scopicity the more the world will expand while you journey across the world. Great for players of all ages. Discover new places and experience new content with every draw of your card. Don't forget to check ou… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Scopicity: Solo Journal World Building RPG.

Tome also comes in print!Order the physical book for Tome from DriveThruRPG and get 50% off the digital copy. Just choose the option for "PDF + Softcover, Standard Color Book" on Tome's page on DriveThruRPG. Get the Physical Book on DriveThruRPG! Tome, created for both Game Masters and Players is a new creative journaling experience built for the talented, dedicated folks who run and play in table… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tome for Game Masters | 2022 Edition.

HAUNT HAUNT is a solo journaling game aiming to provide an impactful journey for the player. In HAUNT, the player takes on the role of a trapped ghost who aches to connect with the living. The ghost knows that their attempts to connect with the living may result in an exorcism, but they also know that failing to make a connection will cause them to wither away, unable to move on. HAUNT is built on… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to HAUNT.

71%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, stability

71% User Score Based on 182 reviews

Do you miss running your finger along the spines of all your game boxes, deciding what you might be in the mood to play? Do you long for instruction manuals, inlays, and that intoxicating plasticky smell when you crack open a new box and bury your nose inside. Ahhh. BOXROOM is a shrine to all of that; a little space to call your own, and a way to explore and interact with your game library in a mo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to BOXROOM.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

76% User Score Based on 106 reviews

BUY THE FULL GAME About the GameThis is the free first chapter of Masterplan Tycoon, a minimalist resource management sim. It will guide you through the initial missions, teaching you to identify resources, build, and set up production lines. The whole world is connected, and in Masterplan Tycoon, you take control of these connections, turning the world into a perfectly functioning production li… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Masterplan Tycoon: Foundations.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, replayability

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics

70% User Score Based on 472 reviews

Academagia, the greatest of the ancient schools for wizards. Build the legend of your mage with thousands of options, emergent storytelling and endless replayability. The definitive version of the magical life simulator is at last on Steam! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Academagia: The Making of Mages.

91%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, monetization

91% User Score Based on 5,624 reviews

TaleSpire is a beautiful way to play pen and paper RPGs online. Bring your stories to life and embark upon campaigns together with your friends, regardless of where you are in the world. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to TaleSpire.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability

96% User Score Based on 2,153 reviews

Build your own model railway tracks and scenery or explore pre-made layouts, including 1000s of player-made layouts on the Steam Workshop! Play in virtual reality and on PC! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rolling Line.

61%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

61% User Score Based on 1,045 reviews

Tabletopia is the only free-to-play sandbox virtual table with 100% licensed board games and ready setups. Already 300 games and counting! Play how you want with whom you want: guests don't need accounts to play. Or make your own games, no programming skills required. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tabletopia.

77%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, stability

77% User Score Based on 1,628 reviews

Fantasy Grounds is a hybrid application which allows you to play and create your own RPG games. It facilitates this play and provides some optional add-on Adventure modules which can be loaded and played with very little preparation. Each game will require a GameMaster (GM) and one or more players. Games may be played in a session as short as a few hours or continued with multiple sessions over a … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Fantasy Grounds.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

94% User Score Based on 3,220 reviews

A turn based strategy game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dominions 5.

57%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, graphics

57% User Score Based on 68 reviews

Azusa Online is an open world roleplay driven game, focused in developing the world and story of your character while interacting with other players. Compete in tournaments around the world to earn rights to wear the legendary Olympian armors and help defy gods; Athena, Hades, Zeus and Poseidon. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Azusa RP Online.

A WORLD OF CREATIVITY AND CLEAN In a world of endless possibilities, Where creativity and cleanliness meet, Escape into a realm of bliss, Where dreams and desires greet. BUILD AND CLEAN WITH JOYOUS GLEE With tools in hand, you'll scrub and sweep, Restoring nature to its vibrant keep. Build homes from scratch, a wondrous sight, Experience the joy of creation, day and night. GAMES AND SU… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to My Home My World: Clean ASMR.

Breed and train monsters of all elements and rarities! Build your fighting force and face the ultimate challenge: Battles against other Monster Masters! Discover the universe of Monster Legends and the story of its inhabitants. Start by building a city for your monsters, fill it with habitats, and breed new species! Then, collect monsters and choose your strategy in action-packed battles. UNIQU… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Monster Legends - Battle Game.

*“Racketeering activity is defined as specified criminal acts, including murder, arson, distribution of controlled substances, and intimidation and retaliation against witnesses.”* - Federal Bureau of Investigation Racketeering is an open-world criminal sandbox where you start with nothing and build an underground empire by hand, alone or with friends. Grow weed, harvest crops, process raw … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Racketeering.

Unleash Your Boundless AI Tabletop RPG Adventure This fully open, AI-powered sandbox tabletop RPG abandons rigid scripts and linear storylines. Dive into immersive custom adventures instantly with a vast library of ready-made world templates, including fantasy dungeons, eldritch horror, cyberpunk megacities, medieval warfare, interstellar exploration and more. Fully Customizable Creation System … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Companions' Chronicles.

Welcome everyone! About the Project: Rusty Hammer is a casual idle clicker game where players take over a blacksmith shop and invest their hard-earned gold to improve and grow it into a thriving business. Can you turn it into the finest blacksmith’s in the Kingdom of Dobroja? Story of the Game: Like any idle clicker, the story is limited. However, as this game takes place in the universe of Ri… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rusty Hammer.

As the best coloring app in 2019, Color Master is developed by coloring professionals and fans together. It is not only an addictive digital coloring book, but also a GIFT of Healthy and Artistic Life Style! It provides the most relaxing and simplest way to release your stresses, increase your creativity in painting! Most of the pictures in Color Master are totally FREE, you can enjoy all tools … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Color Master - Color by Number.

A 60 pg. Neurodiverse, Meditative, Hive-Mind-Inducing, Journaling Game (Singleplayer + Multiplayer Expansion) Visit this link to order physical copies! To keep prices low, I only profit 50 cents off of each physical copy sold. If you see the book listed elsewhere, such as overpriced copies on amazon, I do not control their listings and make the same profit. So, if you'd like to support the work fu… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Goblin Thought.

58%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

58% User Score Based on 252 reviews

Subway Builder is a hyperrealistic transit simulation game built using live data from US, UK, Irish, and French cities. Real-World Passenger Simulation Millions of commuters are generated from Census and Redistricter data and simulated using the same pathfinding algorithms you use on your phone. Your job is to design a route network that gets the most people to their destination as fast as pos… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Subway Builder.

93%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, graphics

93% User Score Based on 888 reviews

Doodle Empires is an alternate history sandbox game all about drawing your own nations with your own histories and stories in a variety of maps. Watch your world take shape and evolve over time, and decide which nations will rise and which nations will fall.  How to play:1. Create your first nation by selecting a border color and typing up a name 2. Draw the borders of your new nation onto the m… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Doodle Empires.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

95% User Score Based on 2,957 reviews

Ever felt uninspired, technically challenged or just bored when creating your game maps? Dungeon Alchemist is AI-powered Fantasy Game Mapmaking Software that enables you to make high-quality content fast! Simply pick a theme, start drawing, and Dungeon Alchemist creates high-quality maps you can print, share, or use in your favourite Virtual Tabletop Application. It uses an AI algorithm to place w… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dungeon Alchemist.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

96% User Score Based on 1,432 reviews

The town of Critter Cove used to attract visitors from all over the world. Now it’s mostly known for dirty streets and trash-strewn beaches. Can you help us turn things around?Critter Cove is a combination life sim and town builder game with a beautiful, handcrafted open world to explore. Attract Tourists to Your Island Spend your doubloons to upgrade buildings and explore the world to discover ne… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Critter Cove.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, music

87% User Score Based on 1,785 reviews

SOVL is a tabletop fantasy wargame. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to SOVL: Fantasy Warfare.

67%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

67% User Score Based on 182 reviews

What wonders await those brave enough to follow the alchemical path of magic? FaeVerse Alchemy is a puzzle game where you combine like elements to form greater elements in an effort to create the most powerful elements of all and get the highest score possible. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to FaeVerse Alchemy.

68%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, music

68% User Score Based on 359 reviews

RPG World – THE Action RPG Maker! Unleash your imagination with RPG World and create, share and play amazing 3D games with our growing community. Claim glory and treasure as you conquer magical worlds, alone or as a team. No coding required! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to RPG World - Action RPG Maker.

93%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, replayability

93% User Score Based on 347 reviews

Geneforge is an Indie fantasy role-playing game, the first game in the five-part Geneforge Saga. It features an enormous world, the ability to create your own army of lethal, totally obedient creatures, and a cunning enemy AI with foes who can go on patrols, stalk you, and run for help. Geneforge has a huge and open storyline. You have the freedom to choose your own path and decide how the stor… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Geneforge.

46%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, optimization

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, graphics

46% User Score Based on 548 reviews

In Power & Revolution, become a Head of State of one or several countries of your choice and extend your influence on the world, or play as a legal or illegal opposition leader and get ready for the conquest to power! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Power & Revolution.

62%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

58% User Score Based on 247 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Bring your game ideas and feedback to life with the Planetoid Pioneers Contributor Edition! With its powerful engine and integrated tools, join us in evolving the concept of Early Access. Don’t just tell us what you would like to see in this 2D physics-based action exploration game - SHOW us! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Planetoid Pioneers.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:atmosphere, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

90% User Score Based on 323 reviews

The Library of Ouroboros. You awaken here with no memory of how you've arrived - though faint memories of searches, of the Library's name, stick in your memory like scraps of torn paper. The reek of dust, of old wood, and of something... more difficult to place hang in the air. Is that a distant ringing you hear, or merely your imagination? And why do you feel so strange? So hot? Like a pair of e… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to A Place, Forbidden.

38%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

43% User Score Based on 40 reviews

Build cities and monuments while you're the size of a giant, then shrink yourself to walk inside your creations in Chunks, an indie simulator. Weave elaborate and hair-raising rideable roller-coasters around your world, or tear them apart with a bomb cannon. Share your constructions on the workshop and download custom tools, skins and game modes for endless experiences in an infinite world. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Chunks.

43%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, atmosphere

43% User Score Based on 848 reviews

New kind of adventure is a 3D adventure game with RPG elements. Mary hides in a wardrobe after her parents had a fight. She falls asleep. When Mary awakes, she discovers that she is in a beautiful, magical world with giant strawberries and magical druids! With her new friend Aquarius, Mary must find a way back to the real world! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to New kind of adventure.