In-Person vs. Virtual Tabletop Gaming – 12 Tips to Have the Best of Both Worlds
There are unique benefits to playing tabletop games in-person or virtually.
How can we make our gaming experiences the best possible regardless of how we play them together?
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Many of us have switched to gaming almost entirely online during the pandemic. I know for myself that I embraced my favorite video games, rolled virtual dice for D&D, and downloaded digital board games for the family game night. But is in-person gaming making a comeback, or has virtual tabletop gaming taken over as the new norm? While playing together online is a great experience, it’s different when we’re gathered together around the table. Today, many of us have the option to play both in-person and virtually. What have we learned from our digital adventures, and how can we make future gaming experiences better for ourselves and each other regardless of whether we’re playing in-person or virtually?
Is Gaming In-Person Better?
In-Person Gaming Connects Us
Whether it’s a game of Dungeon and Dragons or a classic board game, playing around a table together is a unique experience. And it has been part of human history for thousands of years.
Archeologists have found evidence of ancient board games in Turkey and Egypt, some of which date back to 5000 BC. The Romans used the same type of six-sided dice that we now use in everything from modern TTRPGs to classic board games. And the game that we currently know as Backgammon was previously known as the Royal Game of Ur and originated in ancient Mesopotamia. Those ancient people experienced some of the same benefits from tabletop gaming that we do today. (Check out more on the benefits of gaming in TTRPGS and Personal Development.)
One of the most significant benefits of gaming together is socialization. Sitting around a table is more than just playing a game together. It’s an event. Often, it’s where we break bread together, laugh, and feel connected to one another. And one of the top social benefits of tabletop gaming is the sense of inclusion and acceptance that players feel among one another.
While digital gaming does have a socialization aspect, many players do not feel that it is not of the same caliber. And scientific studies agree with this assessment. A Swedish 2021 report found that participants had a greater sense of connectedness and camaraderie in person than when playing virtually. Digital communications tend to be more centered around the gameplay with less small talk or generally generic friendly conversations that naturally occur in the person.
Take an example, taking a break during a gaming session. In-person players tend to talk to each other and socialize. Even when they are away from the table, many will continue their conversations. For example, someone walking away to get food or drink will likely continue to talk with the other players while doing so.
In contrast, when taking a break during a virtual game, players are much more likely to unplug and remove themselves entirely from the group unless they are actively playing. Someone leaving the computer to get food or stretch their legs may mute or leave their headset behind, solidly cutting off the players from the rest of the group for the duration. (Check out more on the importance of socialization for gamers in Real Life Party Members and Traveling Companions.)
“Money isn’t everything, but it is a tiebreaker in Power Grid.”
- Unknown
There are also much fewer side conversations when playing digitally versus in-person. From players on a team discussing their strategy to giving each other non-verbal cues, having a single channel for communication that is accessible to the whole group tends to limit side conversations between players.
Asmodee Digital, home of board game favorites like Catan and Ticket Ride, Philippe Doa noted, “You can’t really recreate the exact transposition of a physical board game to a digital platform; it’s not possible. You can’t replace the fact that you’re playing with friends or family around the table and all the social interactions that you can have.”
But the benefits of in-person extend beyond just the communication styles. A 2011 study of board game development studied the impact of “chore-like” aspects of gaming. These are tasks such as physically moving pieces, dice rolls, shuffling cards, and scorekeeping. The research suggested that these more mundane tasks are actually critical for player engagement and connection. And a 2020 Swedish paper comparing physical and digital tabletop games found that when playing the same game in-person versus digitally, there was typically a significantly higher player engagement in in-person gaming vs virtual.
Whether moving our pieces on a board or filling in a character sheet, the physical sensations can not be replicated in the game’s digital formats. Many of us hoping for a good roll will blow on our dice, rub them in our hands, or give them some other action to encourage them to provide us with success. Some of us refuse to let other players touch our “lucky dice” or have a variety of colors and styles to play with. While in virtual games, that sense of connection with the physical dice is lost.
Games like Warhammer 40K encourage players to create their own miniatures. And while there are digital formats available, the personal pride in using and showing off those figures that you have painstakingly painted during a game with friends is a unique experience only found in in-person gaming. (Check out how a personal story of how creating minis inspired confidence.)
Even the touch and feel of the game and materials themselves can be part of the experience. If you grew up with analog gaming, you might find that combination of paper and plastic when opening a new board game is nostalgic.
And many people talk about the physical sensation of holding your breath while tearing open a new deck of collector cards for their game of choice, hoping for a particularly rare find. While digital gaming tries to imitate these experiences, there is no virtual replacement for the physical sensation and touch of physical gaming.
But for all the positive aspects of in-person gaming, virtual has many advantages as well.
“Keep playing games. Make time to play games with your friends and family, because it's surprisingly heartbreaking to wipe a thin layer of dust off a game you love, before you put it back on the shelf because the real world is calling you.”
Wil Wheaton
Reasons to Stick with Virtual Gaming
Virtual Gaming Brings Us Together
One of the enormous benefits of virtual gaming is connecting people who would not otherwise be able to meet in person. Whether due to health concerns or physical distance, online gaming brings people together in a way that in-person gaming can’t.
This connectivity has helped grow the tabletop gaming industry as people can find other players to game with literally across the globe. Live in a small town with no one else interested in playing in D&D; find a group online. Work the night shift and have difficulty meeting with local friends when you’re free; find others to play with online, perhaps in another time zone.
Another option available on some digital tabletop games is the drop-in and play feature. Play is no longer restricted to a minimum number of players as one can be matched with others online or play solo against bots. And anyone could play regardless of the time of day or location. From scheduled online game nights to drop-in play on digital board games, the world of tabletop gaming is now widely available with 24/7 access, thanks to virtual gaming.
But not only do digital games make it easier to connect with others, but they can also be played with a laptop or, in many cases, even a mobile phone, making them accessible almost anywhere. Even for friends that are local to one another, virtual gaming eliminates the need for a meeting space.
“The essence of a role-playing game is that it is a group, cooperative experience.”
Gary Gygax
Beyond space restrictions, it also can make them more accessible. For example, wheelchair access may not be readily available in the physical meeting space, but everyone can join from the comfort of their own areas online. However, virtual gaming still has some accessibility issues that need to be addressed, as do many analog games in general, such as issues of accessibility for the visually impaired. (Read more on D&D and Disabilities - My Quest for Trust in the Dark)
Digital versions may also be less expensive than their physical format, making it easier to people to get into the genre. Take the popular board game Ticket to Ride as an example, the digital format is $9.99 on Steam, and each expansion is $3.99. But the physical game is $50, with expansions costing an additional charge of between $20 to $40 each.
However, on the downside, each player must own a digital copy of the game to play when playing online. And for other games such as Dungeons and Dragons, there may be little to no cost difference between the cost of digital versus physical books. Add in online subscriptions, and there is a potential that some virtual experiences can potentially be more expensive than playing the same game in person.
While costs may vary, another benefit to digital games is their immediate availability. A group can decide to play something new and only wait for the download to finish before beginning. As a physical product, tabletop games may be challenging to find. While services like Amazon may make finding games much easier now than in the past, titles can still go out of print or be out of stock and unavailable.
However, while more and more gaming companies are releasing popular titles in digital formats, there are still many games that are only available in analog formats. Additionally, some games may only have the basic game available online, and expansions are only available in the physical formats. However, this will likely become less of an issue in the future. The gaming industry is expecting to continue the trend of digitizing their analog games over the next several years, so the gap in availability will narrow in the future.
Over the past few years, the trend, in general, has been an increase in people buying games digitally over physical formats. And while the pandemic certainly has added to this growth, it was already the trend before 2019. Gamers have been gradually moving away from physical copies for several years. The popular platform Roll20 for TTRPGs came out in 2012. And board game manufacturers have been releasing digital versions over the last decade, such as the online version of Ticket to Ride in 2012, Catan in 2017, and Love Letter in 2018. This trend to go digital even extends into video games, where fewer players opt to own a physical copy of video games and instead purchase only the digital downloadable copy.
For tabletop games, the digital copy not only takes up less physical space but is more likely to be complete. As anyone who has played a board game with random tokens due to losing the original ones can attest, physical games can lose pieces or even break, making gameplay difficult to impossible. Digital games never lose pieces, get damaged from someone spilling a drink on them, or fall apart with wear.
“The perfect family board game is one that can be played each time with fewer pieces.”
- Robert Breault
However, digital formats do have a risk of becoming unplayable with time. There is a possibility of their software needing updates or future compatibility issues. While a physical tabletop game that has been well-maintained could potentially last for decades, digital formats may have a longevity of no more than five to ten years.
Another surprising benefit of virtual gaming is that they may be easier to play. A 2020 report found that usability and playability are higher in digital versus analog tabletop gaming formats. This may be due to the built-in features such as tutorials, scorekeeping, and guidance on what are the next steps or opinions available during a player’s turn. These features can make it easier to learn a new game and prevent rule-breaking by players. Additionally, the set-up and clean-up between rounds are typically much faster.
These programmed features also speed up gameplay. The same 2020 study on physical versus digital tabletop games found that the game duration was significantly lower in digital formats. The game time was shortened by 25% to 50%, depending on the title. In some cases, players could digitally complete three full rounds in the same time it took to complete one when playing in person. However, these same features are the “chore” like tasks previously studied. While they may speed up game time and make for a more effortless learning experience, a portion of player engagement and connectivity is lost in their automation.
Playing tabletop games virtually lets us get in more playtime, connect with more people, and potentially lets us play with more flexibility of scheduling and availability. It truly gives us more out of our gaming experience. But we do lose the same sense of connectedness and inclusion that only the in-person gaming experience can provide.
“It may have once been true that computer games encouraged us to interact more with machines than with each other. But if you still think of gamers as loners, then you’re not playing games.”
- Jane McGonigal
12 Ways to Have the Best of Both Worlds
There are unique advantages to both in-person and virtual tabletop gaming. How can we find ways to incorporate the best of each into our future games?
Ways to Make In-Person Gaming Better
Set a regular schedule.
For example, game night is every 2nd Sunday at 3 pm. When everyone knows what to expect and can plan well into the future, there is a better chance of availability and turnout. Often, with regularly scheduled games, cancelations aren’t rescheduled. And gaming just resumes at the next regularly planned time. Regularly scheduled games can help reduce anxiety and make the process much easier for everyone.
Have a backup game ready
There are times when the whole group cannot meet. Don’t cancel if only three of the five people can meet; instead, play something different. A backup game could be a tabletop game that needs only a few players or even a one-shot D&D campaign that can be played for the day instead. Whenever possible, try to work around those who can’t attend instead of canceling the event. It will help drive engagement and keep players interested in coming back for more. (Having a backup plan can work well for virtual games nights too!)
Make sure games are ready to play
Before game night, check any games to ensure they are intact and ready to play. Are there any missing pieces or cards? Was it previously put away in a rush, and do cards need to be sorted before the next set-up? Any advance organization and inspection before game night can help to speed up the experience and eliminate frustration from issues with the games during game time.
Share materials.
One of the difficulties of in-person gaming is the need for physical copies. The option of what to play and use is limited to what is physically present. Encourage everyone to bring their own books and materials to game night and be open to sharing with others. For example, if you have one, bring that extra copy of the Player’s Handbook to game night so that someone else to use it. With everyone working together, the experience will be more accessible to everyone. And no one person needs to pay for and be responsible for 100% of the gaming materials.
Bring Other Games
Invite everyone to bring other games to play. With the ease of just picking a game and downloading it, digital gaming provides many fast options. Having additional games on hand can keep some spontaneity in in-person gaming activities.
Have a Practice Round
Run a tutorial for new games. Many virtual games offer a tutorial, but it is not so common in person. Usually, the rules are covered, and then the game starts. Or sometimes, the rules are even explained during the initial playthrough. Instead, try running a tutorial first. Do a sample battle scene or have everyone take a few rounds of turns to get comfortable with the flow and process. Don’t keep score or have the tutorial play otherwise impact the players. Then stop, reset and start the full game. It can help people feel more comfortable learning the game or refamiliarize themselves with the rules.
Ways to Make Virtual Gaming Better
Take game breaks together.
Planning on pizza and snacks, schedule it together as part of the game night. Enjoy the pizza and beer together on camera and audio. Take the time to make it a social experience instead of just a gaming one and find ways to connect as people and not just as players.
Make it more tangible.
Incorporate physical elements in the digital gaming experience. If it’s a TTRPG, have a player’s handbook on hand to look up spells, perhaps try rolling physical dice on camera. For a board game, keep score by hand. Or even try setting up a physical game on one person’s desk that is in charge of moving the pieces and playing remotely instead of using the digitalized version. Connecting the experience to the more physical realm and sensations will help drive player engagement.
Save money
Look for gaming sales and bundles. Many multiplayer games have bundles where you can buy multiple copies at once and gift to friends. Each person can buy something for the group to share. There are also some digital versions where only the host players need to own the expansions packs. Digital games usually can’t be shared as physical ones can. Look for ways to let new players try out games with little cost investment to encourage them to play.
Increase ways to talk to each other
Set up multiple communication channels between players. Most online games may be limited to a chat or single voice channel. Set up a private channel for team members or a chat for just socialization in addition to the one for gameplay. Include video whenever possible to drive those inclusion and engagement aspects.
Be present
Respect each other when gaming together online. It’s easy to be distracted by email or phones or other activities that may be happening in the physical world while we’re connected online. But those other players give their time and attention to wanting to play. When a player is watching videoes or writing emails instead of participating in the action, it makes for a poorer experience for all. A good rule of thumb is that if that action would be considered rude in person, it is equally distracting and disrespectful to do when virtually playing together.
Meet up in person
This may be difficult depending on the circumstances. But whenever possible, try to plan a meeting with your gaming group at least once in person. It may be easier if there is a shared destination like a large convention or event that many were already planning on attending. But even if only once in a lifetime, that single shared in-person connection will carry through to all of your future virtual gaming sessions together.
“Life is more fun if you play games.”
- Roald Dahl
What’s better, playing tabletop games in-person or virtually? Both are unique experiences that can not be fully replicated in the other. But with a bit of tweaking, it can be the best experience no matter how you decide to play. And that’s the real goal of tabletop gaming, to have a great time and have fun.
Author:
Laurie Trueblood is a writer and life coach that enjoys fantasy, science, psychology, and everything nerdy. As the founder of Adventures to Authenticity, her mission is to help others level up and become the best versions of themselves.
Read more on tabletop gaming: Check out the Why We Like Fear and Tips for a Great RPG Horror Campaign Experience and TTRPGS and Personal Development
