In 2012, Geek & Sundry launched a tabletop game show starring Wil Wheaton that no one could have imagined would become as popular as it did. Created by Wheaton and Felicia Day, Tabletop was broadcasted on Day's Geek & Sundry YouTube channel and explored a wide variety of unique and interesting tabletop games. As host, Wheaton would explain game mechanics before diving into actual gameplay with celebrity guests and friends in the spirit of camaraderie and competition.
Tabletop was so popular that it, in 2013, it launched a yearly event that carries on to this day. Created by game designer Boyan Radakovich, International Tabletop Day encourages fans of tabletop gaming to gather and play.
The first International Tabletop Day was held on March 13, 2013, and the event was hosted by Wheaton and Day. It streamed live on the Geek & Sundry YouTube channel in two segments, and featured an extended wrap-up session that was later uploaded to the channel. Thousands of fans gathered to watch the stream of non-stop gameplay, which not only boosted the channel's popularity, but game sales as well. They played games like Takenoko, Ticket to Ride and Star Trek Catan.
It sparked events in over 60 countries, and by the time the second annual event rolled around in 2014, that number grew to more than 80 countries. The event allowed players to set aside their troubles for a little while as they gathered with friends and family to indulge in a little competitive gameplay. Local brick and mortar game stores got involved, hosting events that drew in players to celebrate, forge new friendships and continue the effort to make tabletop gaming an unforgettable way for people from all walks of life to pass the time.
Since its inception, International Tabletop Day has generally taken place in early to mid-spring, falling in March or April -- the perfect time to encourage people to slough off the winter blues and get out of the house again. Unfortunately, the last major celebration of the event on Geek & Sundry took place in June 2019, as the following year saw unexpected challenges and setbacks on account of COVID-19's social distancing guidelines.
While some gamers, particularly those playing tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, were able to take their games online in the midst of the pandemic thanks to online gaming sites like Roll20, other tabletop games were harder to play. Families were still able to gather and pass time in quarantine with their favorite board games, but there wasn't a good way for others to play non-RPG games online
Geek & Sundry as an original content producer hasn't exactly been operational for a couple of years, so the enthusiastic creators of the show that spawned its own international celebration aren't involved in the same capacity they once were. However, even in the face of a global pandemic, gamers still hold tight to the spirit and purpose International Tabletop Day was founded on. Without a central organization to declare International Tabletop Day, gamers have taken it upon themselves to keep the tabletop spirit alive and thriving.
Dates for International Tabletop Day have become a little confused over the last two years, but there are online groups still encouraging players to reignite the tradition. While the world isn't out of the woods just yet in regards to COVID-19, many are planning in-person events with safety protocols in place at local game stores on May 29. With so many new tabletop games discovered during the pandemic, the opportunity to finally share them with others while making new friends just as in previous years could be what keeps International Tabletop Day going for years to come.