How to Choose a Coffee Table Game That Doubles as Decor

Most board games belong in a closet. A box with bright graphics and a pile of loose cards does not add much to a living room. A good coffee table game is different: you can leave it out all week, and it looks like it was chosen on purpose.

Here is what to look for, using a tic tac toe board as the example.

1. It should look finished without the box

The first test is simple. Imagine the game with nothing around it, no packaging and no instructions. Does it still look like an object you would place on purpose? A clean grid and a handful of simple pieces pass that test easily. Games that need a lot of cards, tokens and a rulebook usually do not.

2. The setup should take seconds

A game that lives on the table has to be playable the moment someone sits down. Tic tac toe is the extreme case, since the rules are known by nearly everyone and there is nothing to deal. That means guests start playing without a long explanation, and you can reset the board in a moment.

3. Color should be adjustable

Decor lives in a room with existing colors, so flexibility matters. The Dynasty Details tic tac toe board lets you choose the board color and the piece color separately, which makes it easy to echo a pillow, a rug or a lamp.

4. Choose a size that suits your table

Scale is the detail people most often miss. This board comes in 7 inch and 9 inch square sizes, so there is a choice for a small side table and for a larger surface. A good guide is that the game should take up about a quarter to a third of the table, leaving space for other items and for drinks.

5. It should do two jobs

The best pieces do two jobs without compromising either. When nobody is playing, the board is a graphic accent in the center of the table. When guests arrive, it becomes the thing everyone reaches for. The board comes with a full set of pieces. If yours is new, remove the protective tape before the first use.

One practical tip that has nothing to do with the product: keep any game a hand's width or more away from the table edge. Elbows and drinks knock things over, and a game that sits slightly inward survives a busy evening much better.

Putting it together

Once you have chosen the game, style it like any other decor piece. Place it off center, pair it with a stack of books, and keep the pieces tidy at the start of the evening. For inspiration on layout, see our guide to styling a tic tac toe coffee table board. If you are planning a gathering around it, the article on elevated game night coffee table decor covers the rest of the table.

The test to run before buying any coffee table game is a short one. Would you leave it out when no one is over? Does it match the room? Can a guest start playing in under ten seconds? If the answer is yes three times, it has earned its spot on the table.

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