This Touchscreen Table Lets You Summon Board Games With a Tap
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 past—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 IGT—it runs a modified version of the Android operating system, after all—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