Line #6 Main/DigitalTabletopGameAdaptation


1	->''"Card games and board games were invented because someone wanted to imagine a big awesome fight between two scary dragons and cards were the best solution available at the time to visualize that. But now we actually have the technology to visualize an actual big awesome fight between two scary dragons and we're using it to depict the fucking cards."''
2	-->-- ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'', review of ''VideoGame/CardShark''
3
4	A digital adaptation of an existing tabletop game. While most fans of these games enjoy the feeling of playing them physically, there are still many reasons one might want to play them digitally. It allows you to play with friends you're unable to meet physically. It's a way to play a game your friends don't like. It's very convenient for competitive play, as you can play with people all over the world without needing to travel, and the platform can take care of things like rankings, leaderboards, and tournaments. If you like asynchronous play, digital is your only option. For games with cumbersome set-ups or rules, it can be very convenient to have the computer take care of all that. Finally, some digital options provide a cheap way to test out a game before buying it or can help you keep costs down if you want to play a lot of different games.
5
6	Some games are easier to implement into the digital world than others. A RollAndMove or AbstractStrategyGame requires little effort to code (A.I. notwithstanding) and is unlikely to have control problems. However, games that take advantage of their physical nature are much harder to emulate, especially {{Dexterity Game}}s.
7
8	Digital board game adaptations come in four flavours, though it's not uncommon for one game to use multiple of them.
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10	The '''board game website adaptation''' is an automated implementation of the game on a site like [[https://www.yucata.de yucata.de]] (fully free) or [[Website/BoardGameArena Board Game Arena]] (more games to choose from, though many of the popular ones require a paid subscription). This is a popular and affordable way to play board games. However, the framework of these sites tends not to work for other forms of tabletop games like like {{Collectible Card Game}}s and {{Tabletop RPG}}s.
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12	The '''dedicated application''' (sometimes '''dedicated website''') is an application dedicated entirely to the game. They tend to require a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, although expansions may be made available as DownloadableContent. They're typically the most polished option and may come with bonuses. Rarely, these appear in small bundles (especially if they're released on physical media). A free-to-play variation of this is the preferred approach for {{Collectible Card Game}}s, as they need a dedicated platform to handle their card economy, and tend to use a {{Freemium}} model to attract players and hope they end up buying cards.
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14	The '''sandbox mod''' is a GameMod for a board game sandbox like ''Tabletop Simulator'' or ''Tabletopia''. This approach has two major differences from the above: The first is that while a few games have paid official mods or mods with the ApprovalOfGod, many -- if not most -- are unofficial {{Fan Remake}}s. The second is that these (especially unofficial ones) tend to have less automation, which gives them a learning curve and makes them more cumbersome to play. For instance, if you want to play a card that says "Gain 5 HP", you'd have to select the card, move it to the discard pile, and then increase your HP by 5 manually.[[note]]Most other implementations would just let you click on the card to have the game give you 5 HP and put it in the discard pile for you.[[/note]] On the positive side, less automation gives you more freedom to play the game exactly the way you want, as you can remove a GameBreaker or play with your preferred house rules without having to outright modify the game.
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16	The '''mini-game adaptation''' is the simplest of the four and tends to have the least polish. Don't expect much more than a basic implementation of the game with a relatively simple AI and/or a local multiplayer mode. These typically appear in [[MinigameGame mini-game compilations]], or as a fun little distraction from a game's main campaign. They almost always use games in the public domain, as the publisher doesn't want to shell out licensing fees for something that was never meant to be a major draw. They also tend to choose games most people know already or can learn fairly quickly, like TabletopGame/{{chess}}, TabletopGame/{{checkers}}, TabletopGame/{{poker}}, Crazy Eights or ''Concentration''.[[note]]Though some of these take a lot of time to learn to play ''well''![[/note]]
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18	{{Sister Trope}}s include SimulationGame and SportsGame (specifically the type that aims to simulate the sport). See also MadMarbleMaze, which sometimes simulates the physical wooden game, and MemoryMatchMiniGame, which can amout to just a ''Concentration'' clone. Compare DigitalPinballTables and ThemedStockBoardGame. See also the RolePlayingGame genre, which often aims to emulate the TabletopRPG feel, and might be based on pen-and-paper [=RPGs=].
19	----
20	!!Examples
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Board Games]]
24	* ''TabletopGame/SevenWonders'' and its two-player spin-off ''7 Wonders Duel'' both have Board Game Arena implementations, as well as paid, dedicated apps for Android and iOS devices.
25	* ''TabletopGame/{{Azul}}'' and the Master Chocolatier variant are available on Board Game Arena.
26	* ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'' had a CD-game adaptation where you could play the game against a friend, or just click around and visit the various locations to talk to the characters and play minigames. For example, visiting Frostine will let you make your own ice cream, and visiting Grandma Nut will let you interact with her garden.
27	* ''TabletopGame/{{Carcassonne}}'' has several digital adaptations including for PC by Deep Silver, iOS devices by The Coding Monkeys, the Platform/XBox360 by Sierra Studios, and the Platform/NintendoSwitch by Asmodee Digital.
28	* TabletopGame/{{Chess}} has numerous digital implementations, both in dedicated games and as a mini-game. The preferred platforms for digital chess are [[https://www.chess.com/ Chess.com]] and its open-source competitor [[https://lichess.org/ Lichess]].
29	* ''TabletopGame/Chess2'' was originally a [[VariantChess chess variant]] played with a normal chess set and the ''Chess 2'' cards to explain the new rules and new armies. A video game version was later released for the Platform/{{Ouya}}, followed by a Platform/{{Steam}} version.
30	* ''TabletopGame/{{Clue}}'' has had several official dedicated adaptations over the years, including an MS-DOS version of ''Clue: Master Detective''. A current version is available on Steam and mobile app stores. DownloadableContent is available that reskins the game into other settings such as WildWest or Franchise/SherlockHolmes, but with no actual change in gameplay.
31	* ''TabletopGame/{{Dominion}}'' was originally available on Board Game Arena, but it was replaced with a [[https://www.dominion.games/ dedicated website]] and a dedicated application. Both are free-to-play -- you have free access to the base game and limited access to the expansions, but you have to pay for accessing the expansions as you please.
32	* ''TabletopGame/{{Everdell}}'' has a dedicated app.
33	* ''TabletopGame/ForgottenWaters'' is a ZigZagged case, as the board game can ''only'' be played with the companion app (which can be downloaded for offline play). The rolls made in the game are plugged into the app and results are narrated aloud, describing how players succeed, fail, and proceed to new locations.
34	* ''TabletopGame/{{Gloomhaven}}'' received a full PC game adaptation, which it was well suited for as it has many elements that are about as close to a TurnBasedStrategy video game as a tabletop game could get.
35	* ''TabletopGame/{{Jaipur}}'' can be played on Board Game Arena. It also has a paid, dedicated app for iOS and Android that features a campaign mode.
36	* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' has had many video game adaptations over the years. Among the consoles the game has been released for include the Platform/SegaMasterSystem, Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem, Platform/GameBoy, Platform/GameBoyColor, Platform/GameBoyAdvance, Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem, Platform/SegaGenesis, Platform/Nintendo64, Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/XboxOne, and Platform/NintendoSwitch.
37	* ''TabletopGame/{{Mysterium}}'' has dedicated Steam and mobile versions available, with a limited single-player campaign.
38	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pandemic}}'' had a Steam and mobile release, but it was delisted in 2022 because the studio felt that "we no longer feel the current quality and reliability of the game is on par with what Pandemic deserves on digital platforms". On the bright side, a ''Pandemic'' adaptation was added to Board Game Arena in 2021.
39	* ''TabletopGame/ResArcana'' can be played on Board Game Arena.
40	* ''{{TabletopGame/Root}}'' has digital editions for PC, iOS, Android and Platform/NintendoSwitch.
41	* ''TabletopGame/{{Scythe}}'' has a dedicated official version on Steam and mobile, with the "Invaders from Afar" expansion available as DLC.
42	* ''TabletopGame/SmallWorld'' has a dedicated official version on Steam and mobile, with expansions available as DLC.
43	* ''TabletopGame/{{Stratego}}'' has had several video game adaptations over the years, beginning with one published by Creator/{{Accolade}} in 1990.
44	* ''TabletopGame/{{Talisman}}'' is available on most modern platforms, with its vast host of expansion sets available as DownloadableContent to the point where the full expansion bundle can cost over twenty times the base cost of the game.
45	* ''TabletopGame/TerraformingMars'' has a dedicated official version on Steam and mobile, with expansions available as DLC.
46	* ''TabletopGame/TicketToRide'' and the ''First Journey'' kid version both have dedicated official implementations on Steam as well as for iOS and Android, with many of the expansion maps available as DLC.
47	* ''TabletopGame/Werewolf1997'' can be played on the dedicated [[https://www.mafiascum.net/ MafiaScum forums]], as it's a SocialDeductionGame that revolves around discussions and simple actions that can be performed by post. Unlike most board game adaptations, [=MafiaScum=] requires human [[GameMaster moderators]] to take care of things like [=PMing=] people secret information.
48	* ''TabletopGame/{{Wingspan}}'' has a Board Game Arena implementation. It also has a dedicated app that includes polish like animating the bird pictures and letting you listen to their sounds. There's also an official release for the sandbox ''Tabletopia''.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Card Games]]
52	* ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' has a dedicated app on Steam, and mobile.
53	* ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' has a [[https://sentinelsdigital.com/buysotm dedicated application]] adaptation.
54	* ''TabletopGame/{{Uno}}'' has an app for iOS and Android. It also had a Facebook Games application.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Collectible Card Games]]
58	* The game ''Card Wars'' from the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode of the same name underwent a {{Defictionalization}} into a real-life card game, with there being two digital versions created (''Card Wars'' and ''Card Wars Kingdom''). However, the series has been sadly discontinued with both games being removed from the app store in 2020.
59	* ''TabletopGame/CardfightVanguard'' has had a few Japan-only simulators released for the Nintendo [=3DS=], but the most well known simulator is ''Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days'', a standalone app for the Nintendo Switch and PC based on the second reboot and the only game in the series released in English. It's mostly known for being absurdly pricey for a card game simulator, boasting a USD $70 price tag at launch compounded with USD $70 DownloadableContent for new cards.
60	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has the free-to-play ''Magic: The Gathering Arena'' implementation. There's also the older ''Magic: The Gathering Online'', which is ''not'' free-to-play, but has a redemption policy for collections of virtual cards.
61	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}}'' can be played online on ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Online''. Some physical products come with codes that can be redeemed for digital cards. This game was later succeeded by ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Live'', which follows much the same principle with a revised presentation.
62	* ''TabletopGame/WeissSchwarz'' has had exactly one video game adaptation, ''Weiss Schwarz Portable'' for the PSP.
63	* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'':
64	** The ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' Official Card Game/Trading Card Game has many, many, ''many'' simulators released over the years. Although several of the first few games were merely imaginings of what Creator/KazukiTakahashi's version of "Duel Monsters" would look like with a semblance of an actual ruleset, from the Game Boy Advance era onwards most subsequent releases were parallels of the real card game, with each new title bringing forth a new campaign, new characters, and most notably, new cards in addition to the previous ones. The last fully paid, standalone release of a simulator was ''VideoGame/YuGiOhLegacyOfTheDuelist: Link Evolution'', an UpdatedRerelease of ''Legacy of the Duelist'' with the Master Rules April 2020 Revision and every card up to "Structure Deck: Shaddoll Showdown". Since then, the release of paid simulators has been retired in favor of ''VideoGame/YuGiOhMasterDuel'', a free-to-play simulator that is the first ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' simulator game to have a consistently updated card pool, much like ''Magic the Gathering: Arena''.
65	** ''VideoGame/YuGiOhDuelLinks'' is an inversion; the main format, Speed Duel, is technically a part of the OCG/TCG but is adapted from the Duel Terminal arcade machine, which created the Speed Duel format. The success of Duel Links would inspire Konami of America to print a real counterpart of ''Speed Duel'' with updated rules inspired by ''Duel Links''.
66	** ''TabletopGame/YuGiOhRushDuel'' has the Platform/NintendoSwitch games ''VideoGame/YuGiOhRushDuelDawnOfTheBattleRoyale'' (for ''Anime/YuGiOhSevens'') and ''Dawn of the Battle Royale!! Let's Go! GO RUSH!!'' (for ''Anime/YuGiOhGoRush''), which fulfill the status of paid simulators for ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' in lieu of the paid OCG/TCG simulators. Also, ''Duel Links'' now qualifies as one for ''Rush Duel'' as of its September 2023 update, although it is not a 1-to-1 conversion of physical ''Rush Duel'' since it tweaks the rules to function slightly closer to Speed Duel.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Tabletop [=RPGs=]]]
70	* ''TabletopGame/StarWarsD20'' forms the core of the ruleset of ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and its sequel ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords The Sith Lords]]''. The game setting itself is descended primarily from the ''ComicBook/TalesOfTheJedi'' comic book series, with the odd CallForward to the film series and the rest of ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends''.
71	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
72	** The ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' and ''VideoGame/IcewindDale'' series are both set in the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting and use [[TabletopGame/AdvancedDungeonsAndDragons2ndEdition 2nd Edition]]. ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' uses the same ruleset but is set in, well, ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}''--specifically, [[WretchedHive Sigil]].
73	** ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'', also a ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' adaptation, uses a slightly modified form of [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition 3rd Edition]] as its rules engine. The sequel ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' uses 3.5 Edition.
74	** ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'', a DistantSequel to the Creator/BioWare games by Creator/LarianStudios, uses [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition 5th Edition]].
75	* Creator/OwlcatGames has developed a series of isometric [=RPGs=] adapted from tabletop [=RPGs=].
76	** ''VideoGame/PathfinderKingmaker'' and ''VideoGame/PathfinderWrathOfTheRighteous'' are both [=CRPGs=] adapted from ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' adventure paths and use mostly accurate reproductions of ''Pathfinder'' 1st Edition for their rules (bar the odd BalanceBuff or {{nerf}} and the fact they slimmed down the skill list immensely), even featuring fully turn-based gameplay instead of RealTimeWithPause as was the case in all previous d20-based [=CRPGs=].
77	** Owlcat's third game adapts ''TabletopGame/RogueTrader'', a tabletop RPG SpinOff of the ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' franchise, into ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000RogueTrader''.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Video Games]]
81	[[AC:Dedicated Applications]]
82	* ''VideoGame/BattleChess'', a '90s series of computer chess games featuring animated chess pieces brutally murdering each other in the event of capture.
83	* ''VideoGame/{{Chessmaster}}'', a digitized version of Chess where you can play against [=CPUs=] or other people using various versions of the game.
84	* ''VideoGame/LEGOChess'' is a Toys/{{LEGO}}-themed chess game that features a story mode with a [[TheWestern Western]] and a {{Pirate}} story with matching chess sets. Capturing pieces during Story Mode plays some cartoony shorts to play to show exactly how these pieces take each other.
85	* ''VideoGame/PlayMagnus'' is a TabletopGame/{{chess}} app with the gimmick that the AI opponents represent Magnus Carlsen and other top players at various ages.
86
87	[[AC:Games Featuring Mini-Game Adaptations]]
88	* ''VideoGame/OneHundredAndTwoDalmatiansPuppiesToTheRescue'' has a TabletopGame/{{checkers}} mini-game and a mini-game that simulates a real-life MadMarbleMaze game.
89	* The Platform/NintendoDS game ''50 Classic Games'', its sequel ''50 More Classic Games'' and its 3DS sequel ''50 Classic Games 3D'' feature classic games like TabletopGame/{{Domino}}, TabletopGame/{{chess}}, TabletopGame/{{Blackjack}} and TabletopGame/{{Mahjong}}.
90	* ''VideoGame/ClubhouseGames'' is a Platform/NintendoDS game featuring tabletop games from all over the world, such as including TabletopGame/{{chess}}, TabletopGame/{{shogi}} and TabletopGame/{{Backgammon}}. The Platform/NintendoSwitch follow-up ''Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics'' has a similar selection, and adds some games like TabletopGame/{{Hanafuda}} and TabletopGame/{{mancala}}.
91	* The LicensedGame based on ''[[Series/JulISkomakergata Jul i Skomakergata]]'' features a ''Ludo'' adaptation, though it can only accommodate two players (you against a friend or a computer-controlled Officer Klinke). It's a reference to the episode where the main character secretly meets his friend Klinke to play ''Ludo''. There's also a ''Concentration'' mini-game where you try to find matching pairs of shoes (the main character is a shoemaker).
92	* ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' has a MadMarbleMaze mini-game that starts off as a simulation of the real-life variation.
93	* ''Website/{{Neopets}}'': Amongst the many games to play were virtual versions of card and board games like ''Sakhmet TabletopGame/{{Solitaire}}'', ''Cellblock (TabletopGame/ConnectFour)'', and ''Puzzle Adventure'' (which is basically ''Reversi''). Sadly, many of them were taken down when Adobe Flash was removed.
94	* One of the licensed ''Literature/PettsonAndFindus'' games features a digital food-themed ''TabletopGame/{{Battleship}}'' clone that you can play against Pettson or a friend.
95	* The original licensed ''WesternAnimation/PinchcliffeGrandPrix'' game features a TabletopGame/{{chess}} mini-game with voice clips from Sheikh Ben Redic Fy-Fazan, who's seen playing the game in the movie. It also has TabletopGame/{{checkers}} and mahjong (solitaire).
96	* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' and [[VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2 its sequel]], being set in [[TwilightOfTheOldWest the waning days of the American Old West]], feature gambling minigames in the saloons of the towns the protagonists can visit. TabletopGame/{{Poker}} and TabletopGame/{{blackjack}} can be played in both games, while the former game includes liar's dice and the latter has dominoes.
97	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
98	** The DS UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' comes with a collection of minigames you can play by yourself or with friends, attained by catching rabbits found throughout the game. Luigi's mini-games are digital versions of card games like poker (Picture Poker) and roulette (Mushroom Roulette). Also, Yoshi's "Loves Me...?" mini-game is a variation on single-pile [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nim Nim]].
99	** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1'': The "Table" category of minigames features digital versions of card and board games like TabletopGame/{{blackjack}} (Luigi-Jack), Texas Hold-'em (Luigi's Thrilling Cards), and Reversi (Bob-Omb Reverse). Some of them were carried over from ''Super Mario 64 DS'', and some were new additions.
100	* The ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'' series has a few tabletop minigames, such as TabletopGame/{{shogi}} and TabletopGame/{{poker}}.
101
102	[[AC:Tabletop Simulation Sandboxes]]
103	* ''Tabletopia'' is a free-to-play sandbox virtual table that can be downloaded for free or just played on its website. The games are officially licensed adaptations. The website has a paid subscription required to access the Premium games, and the Steam release has some paid games.
104	* ''Tabletop Playground'' aims to be an improved version of ''Tabletop Simulator'' .
105	* The PC game ''Tabletop Simulator'' is a physics simulator designed for tabletop games. It comes with 15 well-known games like TabletopGame/{{chess}}, and you can download mods to get more. The company has partnered with publishers to release a few paid, official game adaptations. You can also implement your own game ideas if that's your thing. The physics engine lets you play like in real life, and even [[FlippingTheTable flip the table]].
106	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DigitalTabletopGameAdaptation