Board Game Cafe Singapore
Do you love board games?
And if you are, you’ll be pleased to note that Singapore boasts some of the very best board game cafes in the world.
These cafés offer a place to spend a few hours with friends, a venue to learn something new, or a chance to try something new altogether.
And so, here’s a list of our top picks for the best board game cafes in Singapore for 2024, along with a brief synopsis of each place. So do mind the dust and put on your thinking cap!
Best Board Game Cafe Singapore
1) Play Nation
| Key services: | It has expanded to four branches, two in the Orchard area and one in Tampines—east siders take note; and most recently, the newest one in the Philippines. |
| Address: | 58 Prinsep St, Singapore 188686 |
| Website: | https://playnation.com.sg/ |
| Phone: | +65 6336 9578 |
| Operating hours: | Monday 12–11PM Tuesday 12–11PM Wednesday 12–11PM Thursday 12–11PM Friday 12PM–3AM Saturday 12PM–3AM Sunday 12–11PM |
Play Nation is a board and console games saloon, cash-only, intimate and friendly, and open until 11 pm.
It’s since grown to four outlets, two in Orchard and one in Tampines — east siders, note — and most recently the newest, abroad in the Philippines.
All the stores are themed, but all equally inviting – with brightly coloured beanbags, a choice cut of Insta-ready café food (pancakes, eggs benedict, open bagels) and a range of drinks, aimed at the requisite buzzy side tidal to the actual gaming.
Key Differentiators
- It has expanded to four branches, two in the Orchard area and one in Tampines—east siders take note; and most recently, the newest one in the Philippines.
2) Games@PI
| Key services: | Together with the staff, you can browse and learn more about the scene. The retail area is out front, while the back area is dedicated to casual plays and tournaments alike. |
| Address: | 220 Orchard Road #03-01 Midpoint Orchard, Singapore 238852 |
| Website: | https://www.pi.com.sg/ |
| Phone: | +65 6734 3858 |
| Email: | N/A |
| Operating hours: | Monday 12–4PM, 5–9PM Tuesday 12–4PM, 5–9PM Wednesday 12–4PM, 5–9PM Thursday 12–4PM, 5–9PM Friday 12–4PM, 5–9PM Saturday 12–9PM Sunday 12–9PM |
In the middle of Singapore and a stone’s throw from Orchard Road, this hidden games mecca demonstrates that glitzy malls and boutiques are not all that lures tourists to the famed shopping street.
At Games@PI, it’s Industrial fluorescent office lighting and racks and racks of games for sale or rent.
With the rest of the staff, you can inspect the scene and read about its details, or go to the front counter for more information. A retail area is located in the front of house, while the back area serves as the space for casual plays and tournaments alike.
Try a few, and if you like them, you can buy the games here too. Regulars know Games@PI is also one of the most up-to-date game shops in the town.
Key Differentiators
- Together with the staff, you can browse and learn more about the scene. The retail area is out front, while the back area is dedicated to casual plays and tournaments alike.
Client Testimonial
Very good board game shop in Singapore. The staff is nice and helpful. They reserved the last arkham horror expansion. A lot of new and classic board games.
Ricar Trikar
3) Battle Bunker
| Key services: | The fact that they even make their own games (that you can back on Kickstarter) shows how passionate the folks here are. They got two outlets—one at Bugis+ and one at West Coast Plaza—so pick one that’s nearer to you and your homies and head on over. |
| Address: | BUGIS+, 201 Victoria St, #03-16/17, Singapore 188067 |
| Website: | https://battlebunker.com.sg/ |
| Phone: | +65 6509 4011 |
| Email: | N/A |
| Operating hours: | Monday 12–9PM Tuesday 12–9PM Wednesday 12–9PM Thursday 12–9PM Friday 12–9PM Saturday 12–9PM Sunday 12–9PM |
This is one of the better communities in Singapore, and this counts a lot with board games and tabletop gaming where half the fun with the hobby is the people you play with. We also get a lot of quality-of-life benefits, like lockers where you can store your games (so you don’t have to pack them up every time you play), a painting area with plenty of light to get our miniatures done right, and also the luxury of bottled water you can buy, and other drinks. It’s so obvious that they love games, in fact, that they even make their own, which you can help fund on Kickstarter. If you’re local, then pick a spot—the one at Bugis+ or the one at West Coast Plaza—and go, bros.
Key Differentiators
- The fact that they even make their own games (that you can back on Kickstarter) shows how passionate the folks here are. They got two outlets—one at Bugis+ and one at West Coast Plaza—so pick one that’s nearer to you and your homies and head on over.
Client Testimonial
Went down to purchase the Exploding kittens expansions, Sarah who was working the counter at the time was both patient and knowledgeable about the game and the many questions i had about the available board games they had. Definitely worth a visit!
Quek Chin
4) King and the Pawn
| Key services: | All the cafe asks for is a “cover charge” of $8 per person (Tue-Thu) and $13 (Fri-Sun) for whoever’s playing. |
| Address: | 24 Purvis St, level 2, Singapore 188601 |
| Website: | https://www.kingandthepawn.com/ |
| Phone: | +65 6259 1913 |
| Email: | N/A |
| Operating hours: | Monday Closed Tuesday 5:30–11:30PM Wednesday 5:30–11:30PM Thursday 5:30–11:30PM Friday 5:30PM–1:30AM Saturday 11AM–1:30AM Sunday 11AM–10PM |
King and the Pawn is a 55-seater, homely place found on the second floor of another shophouse on Purvis Street. We have a go-to restaurant with a menu of stick-to-your-ribs grub, cocktails made from local liqueurs and craft beers, not to mention no time limit on how long you can stay: nothing in this world could be better. What the cafe requires is only a ‘cover charge’ of $8 for each person (Tue-Thu) and $13 (Fri-Sun) for whoever’s playing.
Surefire hits are Riff Raff, which is a fine test of motor skills in which you must perch tiny counters precariously atop a spinning ship; and Cards Against Muggles – a quite literally shameless Harry Potter rip-off of Cards Against Humanity (also available) – which will have Harry Potter fans and Harry Potter non-fans falling about the place. Also try the Tomato and Roasted Grape Bruschetta with a huge pot of feta cheese; and the Truffled Honey Croque Madame.
Key Differentiators
- All the cafe asks for is a “cover charge” of $8 per person (Tue-Thu) and $13 (Fri-Sun) for whoever’s playing.
Client Testimonial
An unique Cafe for Recreation in Weekend.
Location is strategic, walking distance from MRT.
Metrolite Andrew
5) Experience Point
| Key services: | They carry games like Limpeh Says, the local version of Cards Against Humanity, too. |
| Address: | 803 King George’s Ave, #02-190, Singapore 200803 |
| Website: | http://www.experience-point.com/ |
| Phone: | +65 9183 1725 |
| Email: | N/A |
| Operating hours: | Monday 6–11PM Tuesday 6–11PM Wednesday Closed Thursday 6–11PM Friday 6–11PM Saturday 12PM–12AM Sunday 12PM–12AM |
Experience Point, tucked away just a walk from the Lavender MRT in Little India, is a bare-bones, almost austerely focused but high-energy little cafe committed to tabletop games.
And also games. There are 200 or so games here, of reasonable diversity, from card games, to pen-and-paper roleplaying, and beyond. But whereas bars that deploy board games typically range lightly from Monopoly to Pictionary, Experience Point has picked itself almost clean of the classics, then flipped straight to the back of the dictionary to unearth murders among the abbey monks and competitive knitting.
But fret not, they will still personally handpick options suited to your tastes. They carry games like Limpeh Says, the local version of Cards Against Humanity, too.
Key Differentiators
- They carry games like Limpeh Says, the local version of Cards Against Humanity, too.
Other Considered Options
BG Monsters Cafe
Just head over to your most loved Board Game Store, BG Monsters Cafe which is right next to the Outram Park triple-line interchange station! Ideal for team-building, birthday and parties! Play in a warm and cozy indoor space or head out to the outdoor patio setup for Board Games or D&D Tabletop Games. Photography courtesy of Tabletop Ascension Attend their CNY Board Game, Dungeons and Dragons Epic, and Halloween Events and keep an eye out for more!
Mind Cafe
A fixture of the alternative/underground community for more than a decade. Longstanding monthly Mind Cafe for board game geeks and drop-in groups. It’s in Dhoby Ghaut, with 500 games to choose from, including old favourites like Snakes ̵
Settlers’ Cafe
Among the things that draws visitors to Settlers’ Cafe is its veritable line of more than 600 board game titles. The cafe has been open for more than 15 years, and is a much-loved halal-certified space. Low light, low sofas and the classic oak racks of shopworn games bring the atmosphere down.
ME Cafe & Games
ME Cafe & Games is 24hr multi-media games cafe with unlimited options of games, console/mahjong/boardgames at $6/pax/hr.
Board Game Cafe Singapore
You may be interested in board game cafes. These cafés are a fun environment to spend time with friends and family, as you can play any board game you want. If you are a board games enthusiast and are wondering, where can I play some board games in Singapore? Well, don’t worry we did research and have given the best board game cafes above.
