This Touchscreen Table Lets You Summon Board Games With a Tap

This touchscreen coffee table is an indoor escape to a world of digital board games.

Love board games? You probably have a whole stack of 'em filling up a bookshelf or cabinet. If you’re running out of valuable storage space, then the Infinity Game Table is the solution. It's a giant touchscreen tablet with legs that up to six people can sit around, and it packs nearly 40 digital versions of board games, including Monopoly, Scrabble, and Battleship. 

It has become a fast favorite in our household, particularly with my 9-year-old daughter, but there’s something here for the whole family. Beyond the board game selection, there are jigsaws, Sudoku puzzles, word searches, and even a coloring app. Visual prompts make it easier to follow games along, and sound effects plus haptic feedback add immersion. You even get a mix of single and multiplayer options. 

Unfortunately, consolidation comes with a steep price. The 24-inch version of the Infinity Game Table costs $650, and the 32-inch model is a startling $850. That includes a library of classic board games that will eventually number around 50 as more titles are added, but some forthcoming games such as Ticket to Ride will cost extra (around $10 or less per game). 

Expensive as it is, it's proved to be a tremendous way to pass the time with my family indoors, which is especially handy as we head into another wave of lockdowns from a still-raging pandemic. 

An Interactive Coffee Table

The Infinity Game Table, or IGT, is the brainchild of Arcade1Up, a retro gaming company that has sold more than 2 million arcade machines since its inception in 2018. But retro consoles and cabinets are all about recreating a sense of nostalgia with a system from the pastâ€"the IGT is completely new. It took two years to develop after a successful Kickstarter campaign that pulled in more than $1 million.

A giant tablet on legs may be the easiest way to describe the IGTâ€"it runs a modified version of the Android operating system, after allâ€"but that would be selling it short. The makers see this as a new platform. Board games are developed for the IGT and, in some cases, redesigned specifically for it. That does mean existing digital versions of games are not supported, but Arcade1Up is inviting game developers to the table. New titles roll out regularly, and some of the best family board games, including Pandemic, are already on the release schedule.

Assembly is easy with two U-shaped leg sections that slot into the touchscreen tabletop. The 24-inch model I tested is quite heavy, so you may want to enlist help when putting it together. The whole thing is about the height of a coffee table and looks instantly at home in a game room, perhaps less so in your living room. Removing the legs is a bit finicky, but it's nice to have the option when you want to hide it away (or sit it atop another table or on the floor to play). You do need to plug your new coffee table in, which limits the places you can place it. At least there are clips on one of the legs to keep the cord tidy. 

The touchscreen is sharp and bright with a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution. It feels responsive and accurate, though we did encounter some minor lag and an occasional wayward touch. It has 16 GB of storage with a MicroSD card slot for expansion. There are also a couple of USB ports the company included to keep its options open; it may add support for controllers or other devices down the line.

It's well built, and better yet, the IGT is impact- and water-resistant, so it’s safe to set drinks on the large bezel area around the touchscreen. Once plugged in and set up, you bring it to life by tapping the top. Sadly, finger smudges quickly mar the look, so it requires regular cleaning with a microfiber cloth.

The Infinity Game Table comes with an expanding list of around 40 games. 

Photograph: Arcade1Up

When I tested it, I counted 35 games and activities available for download out of the box, but Hungry Hippos joined the lineup since the table arrived, and the Game of Life is next in line. We have enjoyed group games of Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Sorry, Guess Who, Battleship, and Checkers, and my daughter has completed countless jigsaws.

Some of the titles let you play against a computer, and there are solo options like Solitaire and Sudoku, but local multiplayer is the main attraction. And yes, you can play with others online, but you have to add friends to play. Arcade1Up's chief technology officer, Davin Sufer, says the company may explore a matchmaking service in the future, but for now, you need to know someone else with the table. As there's no camera or microphone (a good thing for privacy), you'll want to run a video call on your phone with your fellow IGT friends for the best experience.

Digital Touch

Your first knock against the IGT might be about the fact that it's … well, yet another screen in an age when we're all spending more time than ever in front of them. Also, part of the fun of board games is the physicality of handling cards and pieces, and you're completely losing out on that here. There's no getting around it.

Still, there are a surprising number of benefits when playing digitally, especially with kids. There’s no lengthy setup for games and no danger of dice rolls knocking pieces over. You don’t have to fumble for cards or remember which end of the box to draw from. It’s always clear whose turn it is because the table prompts you, plus it teaches you how to play unfamiliar games and alleviates doubt about the rules. You can even turn the table off to take a break, and it will save your place.

Photograph: Arcade1Up

Playing Monopoly, for example, you can see which properties players have bought. It’s always clear what everyone owes, and there’s no opportunity to skip rent or cheat, which means fewer family arguments (I hope). The IGT also supports house rules for some games, so if you normally collect fines to pay out when someone lands on Free Parking, or ban people from collecting rent when they’re in Jail, you can toggle those rules on.

Most games are close to the traditional versions, but some were significantly altered to work on the IGT. My family actually found Operation more fun than the original; you trace a path through a maze with your finger to remove organs instead of using tweezers. The table's haptic feedback, timer, and sound effects add to the tension. 

Not all games work as well. With Battleship, you have to agree to look away when the other player puts their ships out. Arcade1Up provides flimsy paper blockers to use for games like this, but they feel like an afterthought. The company says it's looking into a way to link your smartphone, so with Scrabble, for example, you might have your tiles on your phone screen, but there's no roadmap for when it could be implemented, if ever.

One minor quibble I have to mention is the annoying music that accompanies every game. The short loops of chirpy tunes will quickly drive you crazy, but thankfully you can turn them off. These frustrations point to a device still in its infancy, but the good news is, it's clear Arcade1Up is listening to feedback.

Game Night

Expensive as it is, the Infinity Game Table is undoubtedly fun for the whole family. We've already spent hours gaming as a group, and if you start playing on your own, it tends to attract people. 

When it works, it really works. The IGT blows the physical versions of Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit away, but it's undeniably a mixed bag. Whether the appeal will wear off with the novelty is hard to say, but if Arcade1Up continues to refine the experience and add more titles, I can see the IGT becoming a regular fixture for family game night.

It's easy to recommend for families with young kids, but adult board game enthusiasts should probably wait for the library to expand and find out how more complex titles work before considering an investment this size.

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