I Work at a Board Game Café. Here’s What That Means.

Hey there! This website does contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through this page, Cats and Dice may earn a share of sales from the link. Learn more.

Board game cafés are popping up all over the country. All over the world, in fact. As people look for more connection with each other offline, it’s no surprise that board games – with their healthy mix of strategy, socializing, and nostalgia – are on the rise.

Board games make a great hobby for foodies, too. It’s easy to sip and munch as you roll dice and move pieces. People can gather with loved ones of all ages, enjoy some good food and drink, and play hundreds of games they may have never heard of. Plus, all of this comes with the guidance of knowledgable staff members.

I am one of those staff members.

Every day, I get lots of questions about what I do and what led me to this job. I hope to answer as many questions as I can for you now about what it’s like to work at a board game café. If I miss anything, please feel free to ask in the comments.

A Little About Board Game Cafés

First, each board game café is different. I work at Thirsty Dice, the first board game café in Philadelphia. Thirsty Dice is a restaurant with appetizers, meals (you have to try the mac and cheese!) and even brunch on the weekends. In addition to this, Thirsty Dice offers a nice selection of beers and mixed drinks. And to go with your meal, there are over 800+ board games.

Not all board game cafés are like this, though. Some are primarily coffee shops. Some have more games. Many have less. Some have staff dedicated to the games, while others have servers who can help you out.

At Thirsty Dice, we have staff specifically to help you find and learn new games. That’s what I do, and that’s what I’ll tell you a bit about now! Staff members at different board game cafés may have a different experience.

My Job at a Board Game Café

What’s your job title?

Officially, I’m called a Gametender. I have had people also call me the Game Specialist and, my personal favorite, Game Master. In fact, please feel free to call me the Game Master. It makes me feel all powerful.

What do you do?

In short, I’m sort of like a librarian with a bit more show. My fellow Gametenders and I have specialized knowledge of many of the games. This means we do a couple of things:

• Recommend games to you.
• Teach you how to play the games and answer any questions you may have.
• Help you find specific games you are looking for.

The games we’ll recommend are based on a couple of things. We’ll keep in mind how many players you have, what kinds of games you already enjoy, and what you’re in the mood for. If you have a time limit, want to hate your friends after you play, or just want a good laugh, we’ll consider that, too.

We also make sure the games remain organized and well-maintained. There’s a game return bin we constantly check for your finished games. Then, we’ll place them back on the shelf so other customers can find them easily. We also make sure each game has all the components and report back on it if it doesn’t.

Do you know all the games?

Sadly, no. Hundreds to thousands of new games come out each year, and Thirsty Dice gets a healthy selection of them. I do my best to learn at least two new games every shift, but it takes time to fully understand a game. Sometimes I read rulebooks and watch tutorial videos on my own. Still, I dream of one day catching up.

I do make sure that I learn the most popular games. Usually, if I don’t know a game, it’s because it’s not often requested. That doesn’t mean it’s not a great game! In fact, if you’re interested in it, I’m going to become interested in it, too. And if I don’t know a game, I’m more than happy to read through the rules with you. I read a lot of rulebooks. As a result, I can often find answers quickly.

What’s your favorite game?

One magical day, I will have a good answer to this! Board games are so varied, it’s hard for me to choose just one, or even a few. If someone asks me this while I’m on the clock, I’ll usually ask what they’re looking for in a game (number of players, playtime, etc.). Then, I’ll give my favorite game that meets those requirements.

With that said, I have made a (short) list of my current favorites. Make sure to check back, as I update it all the time. I’m also an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, for the curious.

Would you like to play with us?

You are my new favorite person for asking me this question, and I will love you forever. Unfortunately, though, this is still a job for me, and I cannot play with you right now. I hope you have a great time, though!

How I Got Here

In addition to questions I receive about what I do on a day-to-day basis, I get a lot of questions about how I came to this job. This makes all kinds of sense! After all, it’s not like there’s a clear career path out there for the board game industry.

How did you find this job?

Honestly, I looked for it. I had wrapped up a blogging contract for two other game websites (which focused on crosswords and word searches), and I wasn’t sure of my next steps. While I knew I wanted to continue to write for and about games, I didn’t quite know what that might look like. I had been a longtime board gamer myself, so I literally searched for board game jobs in Philadelphia. The timing couldn’t have been more fortuitous, as Thirsty Dice was hiring the same week I searched.

What’s your training like?

There are really two parts to this question. First, there’s my background before I came to Thirsty Dice. Then, there’s the on-the-job training I’ve received.

Before entering the board game industry, I worked as a performer. A lot of my coworkers currently work as performers, although I no longer do. I started a blog for that career track a few years back and found I really enjoyed blogging. My blogging eventually led me to games. This motivated me to seek out opportunities to immerse myself more fully in the industry, and here I am! (You can learn a bit more about me here.)

Once I got this job, we did have a few training sessions. In that training, we taught board games to each other and gave each other feedback on our process. We shared what was clear and what we liked about the presentation, and we gave notes on what was difficult to understand or what we could do without. While we only had a few formal sessions of this, we teach each other new games on a regular basis.

Is this job as fun as it looks?

Yeah, it really is! I don’t get to sit around playing games all day, and I do have to clean the bathrooms when closing, but other than that, it’s a pretty awesome job. You want to have a lot of fun while hanging out with your friends and family, and I get to help you with that. I believe board games are an amazing way to bring people together, and it’s my honor to be a part of that for you.

Come Say Hi!

If you haven’t been to a board game café yet, I highly recommend it. I’ve been to several aside from Thirsty Dice, and each one has been wonderful in its own unique way. If you need help finding one near you, feel free to leave a comment or send an email. Otherwise, if you’re near Philly, I hope you’ll stop by and say hello! I’d love to help you find your new favorite game.