New games incorporate digital elements, such as this one called Cheese Thief, a deductive game where players use logic and reasoning to identify the hidden culprit.
On a Saturday afternoon in Petaling Jaya, laughter and shouts of mock outrage ripple through a cafe as players accuse each other of stealing imaginary cheese.
At another table, a group debate whether to outbid a rival for a prized bottle of Bordeaux.
But these aren’t scenes from a quirky sitcom – it’s just another weekend for Malaysia’s tabletop game community.
Once associated with childhood staples like Monopoly, Snakes And Ladders, and Scrabble, tabletop games have come a long way, with newer, more challenging options.
For long-time players, the passion never faded, but for others, these games are an exciting discovery that have created a new community of enthusiastic fans.
So why are Malaysians gathering around tables again?
Part of this resurgence can be traced to shifting social habits.
While digital entertainment dominates, many young Malaysians are seeking spaces to connect in real life.
Tabletop games bring people from all walks of life together. Photo: The Star/Ming Teoh“These days, almost everything is digital and people tend to stick to themselves and their mobile devices. Board games play that important role of bringing people together,” says Chai JY, 28, a postgraduate student who got into the scene a couple of years ago through the Meetup app and subsequently joined the Ara Board Game Community.
For him, the joy lies more in connection than in victory.
“I don’t play for the sole intention of winning. But when I do, it’s an added bonus,” he says. “I like the social aspect of tabletop games – interaction, socialising and making new friends.”
Mugunthan Rajendiran, 27, a plant manager who only recently rediscovered the hobby at the Bored Games Cafe in Petaling Jaya, echoes Chai’s sentiment.
“As a child, I played the usual basic board games most people have heard of, but it was only several weeks ago that I started getting into it again. It’s a healthy way to socialise,” he says.
“With everything being predominantly online – virtual meetings and all – and more so after the pandemic, meeting people face-to-face is important. And playing board games encourages this.”
That social pull also resonates with graphic designer Samson Cheong, 31, who got into the hobby through KLSGR Board Games and Fun Social Activities Meetup Malaysia.
“After a movie outing with friends from the group, we went to Boards & Brews, a board game cafe in Subang Jaya, where I got hooked,” he enthuses.
Board games involve many elements, including cards.
For many players, the attraction of tabletop games lies in the intellectual challenge.
“To me, tabletop games are about self-improvement as well as having fun. Word games especially appeal to me because they help me learn new words and improve my vocabulary,” says Cheong, whose favourite games include Decrypto, where players must transmit information to teammates without opponents understanding, and Chameleon, a deception game where players use words to smoke out the ‘chameleon’.
Mugunthan adds that while he can be competitive at play, he prefers cooperation in games.
“I really enjoy games that keep my mind engaged.”
He recalls enjoying Cheese Thief, a social deduction game where players accuse each other of stealing cheese, while the thief colludes with an accomplice. There’s even a digital timer thrown in to spice things up.
“It’s a hybrid, using technology and face-to-face gameplay.”
“I also like this game called Wine Cellar where players have to collect bottles (in the form of cards) to create a cellar for their client. This keeps my mind strategising, calculating earnings through bidding, card placement and alignment,” he says.
The Ara Board Game Community meets every Saturday to play boardgames.
While Cheong highlights an educational angle, Nick Cheng, a millennial IT professional and host of the Ara Board Game Community, focuses on strategy and personal growth.
“My earliest board game memories weren’t glamorous – think dog-eared Monopoly money and missing tokens,” he says with a laugh.
Cheng’s passion dates back more than a decade ago when Meeples European Board Game Cafe in Subang Jaya first introduced Malaysians to Euro-style games like Catan, Carcassonne and Pandemic.
“Suddenly, board games weren’t just games – they were strategic, social and genuinely engaging experiences,” he recalls.
“Board gaming is one of my favourite ways to relax while keeping my mind sharp. It helps me de-stress, encourages teamwork and planning, and naturally connects me with friends. For introverts like me, sitting around a table makes meeting new people feel effortless. It’s stimulating, social and a safe space to practise patience, empathy and sportsmanship.”
Cheng – whose favourite games include Sheriff of Nottingham, Night of the Ninja, and Ready Set Bet – hosts weekly sessions where regulars and newcomers gather around tables stacked with local and international titles.
“Watching shy first-timers open up and bond within minutes is one of the most rewarding parts of hosting,” he says.
“For many, our session is a weekly time to relax, play and connect. The mix of players – people from all walks of life – reflects Malaysia’s diversity. The spirit of muhibbah (goodwill) is central; everyone is welcome, as long as you bring good vibes.”
Lopez says for some, the passion for tabletop games never fizzled out.
While Gen Zs and millennials often emphasise the social and strategic sides of tabletop games, long-time players like freelancer Victor Lopez, 50, say the games offer a form of escape and stress relief.
Lopez’s journey began in the 1990s with Magic: The Gathering, a collectible card game for two people that can also be played in a group.
“Board games aren't just a mental challenge, they're also a reset button,” he says. “You’re immersed in a whole new world – whether it’s building trade routes in Catan, or negotiating in Brass: Birmingham. It melts away stress while keeping your mind engaged.”
Lopez disagrees that tabletop games are currently experiencing a revival.
“It never really died,” he says. “It has always been around but previously, it was just niche. There’s always new blood getting in on the scene, even as older players step back because of life commitments. That’s what keeps the community growing and alive.”
The definition of board game itself has evolved, stretching beyond static boards to include modular boards – comprising multiple smaller, connectable pieces, most commonly tiles or cards, which can be arranged in various configurations to form the playing area – and even hybrid digital elements.
“The term ‘board game’ is like a broader scope or category,” explains Lopez, who is also the founder and host of BCM Board Game Community.
“Within the community, there are card games, tile-based games, social deduction games – sometimes the cards or tiles function as the board. With modular boards, every playthrough feels different. It’s no longer just rolling dice and moving tokens around a fixed track.”
While the games can be expensive – with some high-end titles costing hundreds or thousands of ringgit, for enthusiasts, it’s worth it, he says.
“They’re not just games, they’re collectibles, some with intricate designs and miniatures, offering beautiful, tactile experiences.”
While Malaysia’s tabletop game scene may seem small, it’s expanding. Board game cafes offer curated libraries and host regular sessions. Annual conventions attract larger crowds, while WhatsApp and Facebook groups keep communities buzzing with new players, Victor adds.
Some of the board games played by the Ara Board Game Community during one of their Saturday sessions.
Malaysian-designed titles are also gaining traction, with games like The Malaysian Dream, Kaki Lima, Nasi Lemak, and Drama Pukul Tujuh/Lapan bringing local culture to the tabletop and earning a place alongside international titles.
“At our sessions, we also highlight Malaysian-made games, giving players a chance to discover more about our local culture,” says Cheng.
For him, the real value of tabletop gaming is how it offers mental and social balance.
“While online games are often played remotely without face-to-face interaction, tabletop games played in person foster tolerance and positive social skills – all in a playful, low-pressure setting,” he concludes.
All on board
New games incorporate digital elements, such as this one called Cheese Thief, a deductive game where players use logic and reasoning to identify the hidden culprit.
Lopez says for some, the passion for tabletop games never fizzled out.
Tabletop games bring people from all walks of life together. Photo: The Star/Ming Teoh
In the Five Tribes board game, players move and manipulate the five tribes in an attempt to gain control of the fictional Sultanate of Naqala.
Board games involve many elements, including cards.
Trishaw Frenzy is a Malaysian board game that takes players around George Town, Penang, as trishaw riders bringing passengers on their journeys.
Our tables reflect Malaysia’s diversity — people, backgrounds, and laughter — and that spirit of muhibbah is central: everyone is welcome, as long as you bring good vibes, says Ara Board Game Community host Cheng (in orange).
The face-to-face interaction in boardgames is irreplaceable.
Boardgames foster patience, empathy, and positive social skills in a playful, low-pressure setting.
Board game session in progress. Photo: The Star/Ming Teoh
The Ara Board Game Community meets every Saturday to play boardgames.
Playing boardgames melts away stress, encourages teamwork and planning, and naturally connects me with friends, says Cheng (in orange).
Some of the board games played by the Ara Board Game Community during one of their Saturday sessions.
