whatNerd's Best Articles: Board Games & Tabletop RPGs

What could be better than gathering with friends around a table to play games? No, not video games. Tabletop games!

Whether it's board games, card or dice games, Dungeons & Dragons, or any number of other tabletop RPGs, there's something special about the tabletop gaming experience.

Here are our best articles that dive into these topics, whether it's to navigate social etiquette, make the most of your game nights, or even just help you find new games to enjoy.

Board Game Recommendations

Want to start your tabletop gaming collection but not sure where to begin? Or maybe you have a solid collection already but you aren't sure which additions are worth getting?

Here are our favorite board games that we've grown to love over the years. As the board gaming hobby continues to grow, we'll continue to have more games for you to check out!

By Board Game Genre

• The Best 4X Board Games
• The Best Anime Board Games
• The Best Complex & Heavy Board Games
• The Best Cooperative Board Games
• The Best Deckbuilding Board Games
• The Best Dice Board Games
• The Best Horror Board Games
• The Best Island Board Games
• The Best Murder Mystery Board Games
• The Best Paper-and-Pencil Board Games
• The Best Push-Your-Luck Board Games
• The Best Puzzle Board Games
• The Best Social Deduction Board Games
• The Best Strategy Board Games
• The Best Train Board Games
• The Best Travel Board Games

By Players & Groups

• The Best 2-Player (1v1) Board Games
• The Best 2-Player (Coop) Board Games for Couples
• The Best 3-Player Board Games
• The Best Party Board Games for Large Groups
• The Best Solo Board Games
• The Best Solo Card Games

By Other Factors

• The Best Board Games for Drinking
• The Best Board Games for People Who Hate Board Games
• The Best Board Games With Companion Apps
• The Best Cheap Budget Board Games
• The Best Disney Board Games
• The Best Games Like Catan
• The Best Games Like Cards Against Humanity
• The Best Games Like Betrayal at House on the Hill
• The Best Quick Filler Board Games
• The Best Starter Board Games
• The Most Beautiful Board Games

Board Game Culture

There's an entire subculture among board gamers that can be difficult to understand when you're new to it all. And even if you're a board gaming veteran, explaining the ropes and procedures to a newbie—even if they're your friend—can be hard. Fortunately, we've written all about tabletop etiquette, tabletop culture, and more.

Game Night Tips

• The 10 Deadly Sins of Board Gaming
• The 10 Types of Board Gamers
• The Best Board Game Review Sites and YouTube Channels
• The Best Clean Snacks for Board Games
• The Best Way to Explain Board Game Rules
• The Golden Rules of Board Game Etiquette
• The Most Common Board Game Terms, Explained
• The Most Popular Types of Board Games
• Why I Prefer Board Games Over Video Games

Game Night Accessories

• The Best Board Game Accessories
• The Best Board Game Bags and Backpacks
• Where to Buy Used Board Games Online

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is the quintessential nerdy activity, and for good reason! It's fun, it's social, it's imaginative and creative, it's quirky and collaborative, and there are no limits to the stories you can tell as a group. Dive into the hobby with these tips, tools, and thoughts.

D&D Culture

• How to Convince Your Friends to Play D&D
• The 10 Types of D&D Players
• What Is D&D Adventurers League?
• What Is "Theater of the Mind" in D&D?
• What to Know Before Your First D&D Session
• Why Playing Dungeons & Dragons Is Good for You

D&D Tools & Sites

• How to Find Online D&D Groups Using Discord
• The Best D&D Discord Bots
• The Best D&D Map Makers and Generators
• The Best Websites for Downloading Free D&D Adventures
• The Best Websites for D&D Players and DMs
• The Best YouTube Channels for Learning D&D

Tips for D&D Players

• D&D 5e Barbarian Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Bard Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Cleric Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Druid Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Fighter Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Monk Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Paladin Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Ranger Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Rogue Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Sorcerer Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Warlock Guide for Beginners
• D&D 5e Wizard Guide for Beginners
• How to Be a Good D&D Player That DMs Will Love
• How to Play an Evil Character in D&D (Without Losing Friends)
• Useful D&D 5e Spells You Shouldn't Overlook
• What D&D Class Should You Play? Explained

Tips for Dungeon Masters

• Crafting Better D&D Merchants and Shopkeepers
• How to Be a Good Dungeon Master: Tips and Advice
• The Best D&D House Rules
• The Best Low-Cost Alternatives for D&D Miniatures
• The Best Magic Items to Give Your Players
• The Key Traits of a Great DM for D&D
• The Most Interesting Homebrew D&D Classes
• Standard Array vs. Point Buy vs. Dice Rolls for Character Creation
• Unusual D&D 5e Creatures to Challenge Your Players

D&D Gear and Accessories

• Are Dice Rolling Trays Worth It?
• The Best Custom DM Screens
• The Best Sites to Buy D&D Dice

Other Tabletop RPGs

Not a fan of Dungeons & Dragons? Or maybe you just want to try playing another tabletop RPG system? While D&D 5e might be our favorite way to play, we understand that it isn't always the best solution for every tabletop RPG campaign. If you find it limiting or frustrating, check out these other awesome tabletop RPG systems.

• How to Play Warhammer 40K, Explained
• The Best Modern Tabletop RPGs
• The Best Sci-Fi Tabletop RPGs
• The Best Tabletop RPGs Without Game Masters

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