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A few years ago, a friend asked if I wanted to check out a board game café with him after work. I was expecting a simple round of Monopoly with a side of croissants and Americano, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
That evening, I was introduced to the very expansive, thrilling and surprisingly complex world of contemporary board games.
Monopoly is just the tip of the iceberg. From rowdy Jenga sessions to strategic scheming in Splendor, these games cater to both casual players and serious enthusiasts.
Board game cafés have been around for a while but they began growing again after the pandemic, creating third spaces for friends and family looking to connect meaningfully while unplugging from digital distractions.
“Jakartans are just tired of digital devices, and board games facilitate face-to-face interaction that’s designed to be fun,” says Christian Kelvin, store manager of Grouplay at Gandaria City, South Jakarta, and Mamasays at Neo Soho Mall, West Jakarta.
With around 200 board games to choose from and an affordable selection of tasty snacks, these cafés offer an experience that resonates with all ages. Knowledgeable staff members, dubbed “game masters”, can help you find a game suited to your mood and preferences.
Hassle-free and internet-free, board game cafés provide a casual yet tactile experience, blending friendly competition with pure, hands-on fun.
After all, playing games stimulates cognitive development and problem-solving skills while helping to recharge and reduce stress. A little play can go a long way.
Rated ‘E’ for everyone
From The Bunker in Gading Serpong, Tangerang, to Dots in Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta, there's a place where you can easily play board games in almost every district. Chances are there’s one near you, at least if you live in Greater Jakarta.
How did this happen? According to the blog Adventure Together, board game cafés arrived in 2004 from Seoul, South Korea, but this year has seen a surge of renewed enthusiasm.
“It has exited the realm of niche,” says Berliana Putri, marketing lead at Lugua Boardgame. “But it's still in that sweet spot of being a new, anti-mainstream activity that you can easily try for a day.”
Since opening its first location in 2019 at Grand Indonesia in downtown Jakarta, Lugua has seen a healthy growth of enthusiastic visitors. A second branch in South Jakarta followed in early 2023, and with demand continuing to grow, a third is on the way.
“Jakartans are just tired of digital devices, and board games facilitate face-to-face interaction that’s designed to be fun.” - Christian Kelvin
Kelvin has observed the same trend.
Founded in 2016, Grouplay started as a straightforward board game store before expanding into hospitality in January 2024 with the launch of Mamasays, a board game restaurant.
“We’ve collaborated with companies to organize gatherings where employees play board games and guide young friend groups in their play sessions. There's a board game experience for everyone,” he says.
According to Berliana, the visual appeal of board games has helped fuel their popularity on social media.
”There’s a lot of content of people playing board games and having fun on TikTok, so people end up wanting to try it out themselves,” she says.
Beyond playing in the role of a landlord or trying to find out who murdered Miss Scarlet, these cafés offer a space to meet new people, take a first date or catch up with longtime friends. Many also hold game nights and regular open tournaments, where players compete against each other in a rotating selection of games.
Good roll of dice
This growing scene is complemented by a thriving board game industry, thanks to a surge in local game developers.
According to Alfandy Aswad, board game designer and creator of YouTube channel What Happens At The Table, not only are more Indonesians getting into board games, but many are also now designing their own.
“There’s a strong community of passionate designers across the country,” he says.
“With national competitions like Gameathon by Tabletoys, now we have a platform to share ideas, learn how to make fun experiences and receive proper help in publishing our work.”
Gameathon, a community-driven tournament first held in 2021, has become an annual event showcasing Indonesia’s growing board game industry, offering local designers a pathway into the market.
Even the ministry in charge of the creative economy wanted to try its own hand in this sector and so launched the board game competition incubation program, Baparekraf Tabletop Jam.
Held in October, the 2024 Baparekraf Tabletop Jam gathered 40 game designers, illustrators and enthusiasts from across the country in Bogor, West Java.
Divided into 20 teams of two, the participants were tasked with designing an original board game with the theme “Sweet & Short” in just two days. Their creations were judged on gameplay, design, theme execution and final pitch.
“Even though only 40 designers got to compete, there were around 400 applicants to the inaugural Baparekraf Tabletop Jam,” Alfandy says.
“There’s real interest from a massive pool of talent, which means this industry is ripe with potential.”
More playtime, opportunities
Board game culture isn’t just growing in Jakarta; it’s a nationwide phenomenon.
Alfandy, who has insider knowledge of the creative industry, says many of his friends who work in illustration and motion graphic design have at least one board game in their studios.
“Our work is entirely digital, and we need an offline game so we don’t have to stare at more screens,” he explains.
“Board games are fun and refreshing. We can interact with something real in the real world while also getting inspiration from the illustrations, layout or mechanics.”
He launched his own game, Blackout Bar Brawl, late last year. To his surprise, orders came in from beyond Java, with people reaching out from regions as far away as Aceh and Papua.
With an ever-expanding selection of games, whether you're looking for a quick, casual session or a deep, strategy-heavy challenge, one thing is clear: Indonesia’s board game scene is flourishing.
And if you want to give some or all of them a try, the steady growth of new board game cafés around town will likely mean that there’s one conveniently located near you, staffed with a friendly game master who can recommend an engaging one.
With a healthy rise in consumer interest, steady growth of new board game cafés and local designers entering the market, and tangible support from the government, there has never been a better time to play.
And personally, I couldn’t be happier: It means even more board games to explore at a café near me.
So, what do you want to play next?
GAME MASTERS' PICKS
Here are the top five games recommended by game masters, ranked from the simplest to the most complex:
1. Cookie Box: 2-4 players, 15 minutes
A cute and simple board game that’s perfect for kids, where you play as a popular baker. Speed is of the essence here: The faster you can make your cookies, the more orders you can fill and win the game.
2. Splendor: 2-4 players, 30 minutes
A competitive card-based resource management game where you play as merchants in the Renaissance era. The goal is to obtain the greatest amount of gems and to get support from the aristocracy.
3. Camel Up: 2-8 players, 30 minutes
Perfect for larger groups, Camel Up is a frenzied dice-based board game that revolves around camel racing, with neat play pieces that stimulate your imagination.
4. Secret Hitler: 5-10 players, 45 minutes
If strategic deception is more up your alley, Secret Hitler is the game for you. The goal of this World War I-themed game is to uncover who holds the Hitler character card and to stop them from gaining power. Expect heated arguments and spicy betrayals in this one.
5. Blackout Bar Brawl: 3-8 players, 1 hour
Each player has a target to eliminate in this new local gem, a complex treat for enthusiasts looking for a new mechanic-heavy, card-based board game with exciting role-playing opportunities. Make sure you set aside enough time to experience the full breadth of fun.
