Essential Outlets For Tabletop Gaming Newbies

Great Game Sites!

​Updated May 23, 2023
​Welcome.  You've done it!  You have ventured into the greatest hobby in the world, tabletop gaming! So, the easy part is finished now the hard part starts, discovering what games are for you. Walk down the aisle of any game store and it is plain to see the options are endless! Are you into party games like What The Film?! or are games like Gloomhaven (that will take you 105 sessions to get through) more your style? 
 
Fret not; we are here to help ease your burden. There are a bunch of resources that are amazing and will make purchasing new games a breeze. Here are four sites you definitely need to check out.

Screenshot of thedicetower.com

The Dice Tower
Simply put, the Dice Tower is to board gaming, what Michael Jordan is to basketball. Headed up by Tom Vassel, these guys really know their stuff when it comes to gaming. Whether you are looking for a great review or a top 10 list, the Dice Tower does it all in a neat package. Vassel and crew's opinions are valued by many and should be your first stop on YouTube.

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Screenshot of Watch It Played!

​Watch It Played!
If there is one thing that makes me nauseous about buying a new game, it’s investing the time to learn the rules. Some of these rulebooks are like 36 pages long and yeah, "Ain't nobody got time for that." Here is where Watch It Played! comes in. Rodney Smith, the personality behind this awesome channel, is beyond inviting and a charm to watch. The purpose of this YouTube channel is to teach you how to play a certain game without even opening the rulebook. Smith's instructional videos are essential in your prep for game night. Thanks to Watch It Played! I am up and running a new game in no time.

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SU & SD is fun and hilarious.

​​Shut Up and Sit Down
If our hobby is supposed to be one thing, that one thing is fun. Cue Shut Up and Sit Down.  Simply put, these guys are hilarious. This review channel on YouTube, bridges the gap between information and comic relief. The channel is just plain fun. If you are looking to laugh while gathering info on whether or not you should buy a certain game, this channel is for you. 

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Thing of Board Game Geek like the IMDB of boardgames.

​​BoardGameGeek.com
Have you gone to a website to check out one thing... and the next thing you know you have lost three hours and are still on the same site? Well, enjoy BoardGameGeek.com, you will be losing hours on a daily basis. This website is the IMDb of board gaming. You can even find games before they are released, like Camping with Sasquatch.  With endless forum and community created discussion boards, you are sure to find every stat and bit of data you need. Along with great information, there is a gamers best friend, the Geek Market, where you can buy games on the cheap and even trade away games that aren't really for you. The best part about this website is that it is absolutely free!
 
We hope you found our essential media outlet list useful. Now you have work to do, get out there and play some games!

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