WHAT’S HOT?

Join us as we take a look at some of the new games that are getting people talking. What’s being viewed and reviewed, and is it right up your street or something you’re crossing the road to avoid?

UPCOMING INDIE RPGS

After a very stop-and-start pattern to the weather,

TURNING IT UP TO 11

We’re 11 years old when UK Games Expo, the birthplace of Tabletop Gaming magazine, opens its doors to the public in 2026. We asked five Editors to reveal their highlights over 115 issues and counting

FROM The Vaults

With a history spanning 11 years, we crack open past issues of Tabletop Gaming magazine to rediscover the games, creators and conversations that shaped the hobby

SRI LANKA

So, we’ve made it to number 80, the

SAMLL ARMIES, BIG WORLDS

Salute 53 invaded ExCeL London and a curious newcomer stepped into its rich tapestry of miniature battles, intricate craftsmanship and welcoming community

GAME ADJACENT

In honour of Salute 53, we go mini mad with our merch this month!

CODENAMES

Codenames is the quintessential clue-giving, word-guessing game. Players

DORF ROMANTIK

DORFROMANTIK – THE BOARD GAME is the cooperative

BOMBASTIC

A classic that can still blow your face off!

IMPOSTER! THE AFTER- DINNER MYSTERY GAME

Just stick to dessert

INDIE RPG INTERVIEW: JAY DRAGON

Who doesn’t want to be able to do

(UNKNOWN)

Senior Art Director Anna Stosik and Senior Game Designer Levi Dodd share the childhood memories that influenced their take on Pixar’s arrival in Disney Lorcana

INTO THE WILDS (UNKNOWN)

Pixar joins the party!

DEEPHOLD: A REAL BAG OF HOLDING

£69 Sadly, you can’t always game in your

POKÉMON X NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

ies, add-ons and other game-related gear £3-£150 The

BALDUR’S GATE III ASTARION FIGURE

£64.99 Get ready to sip wine and steal

BLEGH & DRAGONS CAP

£25 It’s worth keeping an eye on the

HEM & HEX ATTIRE

AM £30-£53 New geeky retailer Hem & Hex

TABLETONE SOUNDS

£6.70 A MONTH TTRPG music app developer TableTone

DICE & NEEDLES

A passion for community drives the coming together of tabletop gaming and professional body piercing

UNBOXED: LABYRINTH

Max Kobbert, Labyrinth ’s creator, discusses clever kids and canny collabs as the game celebrates its 40th anniversary!

IS THE TRADING IN TRADING CARDS DEAD?

I’ll swap you for a Charizard, and a large sum of money

FAKE IT TILL YOU BREAK IT

The proliferation of counterfeit trading cards could cost you big money. Charlie Pettit asks what can be done to guard against this illegal practice?

CAPTAIN FLIP: ISLA BOMBA

Explosive additions! Boom! Flipping time! I was honestly

CRYPTIC KILLERS CASE FILE: MURDER OF A MILLIONAIRE

A bloody good time Cryptic Killers’ immersive mystery

THE MYSTERY AGENCY: THE ROBBER’S GRAVE

A graveyard. A Heist. A legend buried in

STOMP STOMP CHOMP

The bear necessities Not every game needs to

TAKE CAT Catnapping in the harshest sense

We're not afraid to admit it, we love

UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY: THIRST FOR JUSTICE

Law and turn order You’ll find a well-established

WARHAMMER 40,000 ROLEPLAY: DAY OF ASCENSION CARD GAME

In the grim darkness of the far future,

ANGEL'S SHARE

Raise a glass A ngel’s share might be

AQUARIA

Just keep swimming Looking at the box

ASPENS

A tussle over turf A spens is a

BUTTCHESS +1

Butt no

TATSU POCKET

Is that a dragon in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?

KOI

Koi-nd of brilliant

PONDSCAPE

Hop to the top

SKY TEAM

Come fly with me

ON THE CARDS

B-E-A-Utiful Words

AZUKI TRADING CARD GAME: ALPHA DECKS

Alpha and mega

CATAN: ON THE ROAD

Big Trades. Small box

PIÑATAS

A smashing trick-taker with a push your luck twist

RATTLESNAKE

Rootin’, tootin’, card shootin’ fun

RIFTBOUND: UNLEASHED

Riot Games’ Riftbound , a trading card game

LANDS OF GALZYR

In my youth, I liked nothing more than

BOLT ACTION: ARMIES OF ITALY

The thing about wargames based on history is

THE LAST SPELL: THE BOARD GAME

When tasked with adapting a turn-based tactical battle

TIMELINES

Exploring the history of classic wargaming company Warlord Games

tabletop Glossary

Welcome adventurers, to the tabletop – where deck building has nothing to do with the patio, and worker placement isn’t part of a recruitment agency. If the terminology used to describe the games we know and love can feel like trying to learn a new language, let our glossary demystify, and have you speaking tabletop in no time at all

3 MORE AREA MAJORITY GAMES

MARABUNTA A vastly underrated two-player game by the

CIRCA 20TH CENTURY - EPAMINONDAS. 1975

Bob Abbott, whom I had the pleasure of