Tabletop Scotland Returns For Big Year

Written by George Chrysostomou

What Is Tabletop Scotland? 

Founded in 2018, where over 1000 people attended, Tabletop Scotland has steadily grown year on year. Having over doubled that attendance figure by 2023, the event has gained notoriety in the tabletop world for its dedication and support of the hobby. The event is a yearly convention which is accessible to everyone, from beginners to veterans. It celebrates board gaming, card gaming and highlights RPGs in a wonderful representation of the industry. This year, the event was sponsored by huge names including: All Rolled Up, Ancient Robot Games, Asmodee, Coiledspring Games, Crossed Paths, Grumpy Gorilla, Mox in the Hole, The Pandemonium Institute, Disney Lorcana and UK Games Expo. 

What Happened At The Event? 

This year’s Tabletop Scotland seemed more ambitious than ever with a huge program full of exciting additions. The convention hall was packed full of exhibitors, each of which showcased their wares to excited onlookers. Brands like Hachette Boardgames Inc., YAY Games, Medusa Games, Blood Moon Games, Sleepy Sparrow Games and Fumble Folks made an impact on the showroom floor. 

Elsewhere, classic events like the Board Game Library and Bring & Buy, allowed fans to access new titles and share some products from their own homes. The Gateway Zone welcomed newcomers into its ranks, guiding players through introductory sessions of some tremendous, well-known titles and underrated gems. Meanwhile, a great deal of uplifting community work was done, with Alzheimer Scotland supported across the event. Meanwhile, attendees could visit the Playtest Zone to give feedback on developing titles, or join the first ever Game Jam where fans worked in teams or solo to design a game of their own within 48 hours. 

A wide variety of events like a Hive playthrough and Unmatched tournament completed the weekend, and there was no shortage of RPG sessions to join featuring titles from Dungeons & Dragons to Blade Runner. A healthy number of seminars and live shows completed the educational aspect of Tabletop Scotland, as Trivial Pursuit: Dungeons & Dragons, Tartan Tabletop and a lecture on Publishing Your Game, inspired interested parties. 

Are There Plans For 2025?

If all of that sounds like a lot of fun, then don’t worry, plans are already being put in place to return in 2025 with even more tabletop goodness. While the team rest and recuperate from another successful showing, there’s a lot of talk about returning to the same venue, after Tabletop Scotland made the jump to the Royal Highland Centre for the first time. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Tabletop Scotland then you can visit their official website to get the lowdown on what took place over the weekend and to gain insight into past events.