Tabletop Simulator: Complete Guide

A practical guide to Tabletop Simulator (TTS): controls, hosting and joining games, finding good Workshop mods, running a game night smoothly, building your own games (custom decks, boards, scripting), and what the 2026 "Tabletop Simulator 2.0" updates change.

Researched September 2026 — current as of Update v14.2 (March 1, 2026: new Steam Networking, Unity 6.3 LTS) on the Tabletop Simulator 2.0 roadmap. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

1. TTS is a physics sandbox, not a rules engine. Most games don't enforce rules. Players move pieces by hand, like at a real table, so someone needs to know the rules.
2. Learn five controls first: Left-click to pick up, F to flip, Q/E to rotate, Alt to zoom in on an object, and Right-click for the context menu.
3. The Workshop is the real library. The base game has 15 classics (Chess, Poker, Jigsaw Puzzles, Dominoes, Mahjong and more), and the Steam Workshop has thousands of community games.
4. Only the host needs the DLC. Everyone at the table can play official DLC games if the host owns them.
5. Up to 10 players can sit at a table.
6. Subscribe to mods ahead of time. Big Workshop mods download many assets, so load them once before game night.
7. Hands are private. Cards dropped into your hand zone are only visible to you.
8. Hosts control permissions. Promote trusted players, and use blindfolds, hidden zones and locked objects to keep games fair.

Controls Cheat Sheet (Defaults)

Camera

Objects

Most bindings can be changed in Settings > Controls. Shuffle, lock and other object actions are all in the right-click context menu if you forget the key.

Hosting and Joining

• Create > Multiplayer to host. Choose Server Name, password and max players. Choose Singleplayer to set up or practice alone. Hotseat lets several people share one PC.
• Join through the server browser or a friend's invite on Steam.
• Networking (v14.2): TTS now fully uses Steam's modern networking APIs. Connections go through Steam relays (no direct IP exposure) and all traffic is encrypted. Hosting and joining should be more reliable than before 2026.
• Loading a game: Games menu > Classic, DLC, Workshop or Save & Load.
• Seat colors: each player picks a color seat, which sets their hand zone and permissions. Change color from the top-left player list.

Host tools

Finding Good Workshop Mods

1. Sort by Most Popular or Top Rated (all time) in the Steam Workshop for TTS.
2. Look for mods with recent updates and working asset links. Comments mentioning "missing images" or "broken links" are warning signs.
3. Prefer scripted versions for complex games. They automate setup, scoring and shuffling.
4. Subscribe, then load the mod once before your group arrives, so assets download and cache.
5. Check whether the publisher sells an official DLC version. Official DLCs have high-quality assets and only the host needs to own them.

Legal note: many Workshop mods of commercial board games are fan-made. Buy the physical game or official DLC if you enjoy it. Publishers do request takedowns.

Running a Smooth Game Night

• Have the host load the table first, then invite players.
• Agree on house rules before starting, like who shuffles and whether take-backs are allowed.
• Use the notebook (built-in) for rules text, scores or house rules everyone can read.
• Save regularly during long games (Save & Load > Save), especially in big campaigns.
• Voice chat: use Discord or TTS's own communication options, and set push-to-talk.
• Lock boards and trays so nobody knocks the table over by accident.
• Flip the table only if everyone agrees.

The RPG Kit and Tools

TTS includes an RPG Kit with tilesets, furniture and animated figurines you can set up and fight with, which is great for dungeon crawls and D&D-style sessions. The Game Master role (the host or a promoted player) controls the table.

Built-in tools (toolbar on the left):

Making Your Own Games

TTS is a strong prototyping tool.

Custom content types

Workflow

1. Host images in the Cloud Manager (Steam Cloud through TTS) or on a reliable web host. Broken links are the top reason Workshop games "lose" their art.
2. Create the objects with Objects > Components > Custom.
3. Use Snap Points, Hand Zones and Lock to make the table easy to play on.
4. Add Lua scripting for automation (setup buttons, scoring, card dealing). The official API docs are at api.tabletopsimulator.com.
5. Save the game, then upload to the Workshop from the Save & Load menu, or share it privately with friends.

What TTS 2.0 Means for You

The Tabletop Simulator 2.0 roadmap (announced January 1, 2026) is a set of free updates to the existing game, not a sequel:

• UI/UX overhaul (the centerpiece), making it easier for new players to learn.
• Better creator tools.
• Performance and visual improvements (a modern rendering pipeline).
• Multiplayer reliability: v14.1 (January 8, 2026) rewrote the network stack for security, and v14.2 (March 1, 2026) finished the move to the new Steam Networking APIs.
• VR rework and Steam Deck/Steam hardware compatibility.
• Engine: now on Unity 6.3.10 LTS. macOS 12 or higher is required since v14.2.

Community contest: Berserk's "Set The Scene" contest (announced September 18, 2026) offers a $10,000 prize pool shared by 10 winners for in-game scenes to use as main menu backgrounds, promo material and a trailer. See the contest page for rules and eligibility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Loading a big mod with the whole group waiting. Pre-load it so assets cache.
• Not locking boards. Physics will send them flying.
• Dealing cards onto the table instead of into hands. Use the number keys on a deck, or drag cards into your hand zone.
• Hosting custom art on flaky image hosts. Use the Cloud Manager or a stable host.
• Giving everyone full permissions in public lobbies. Trolls can flip tables and delete objects.
• Assuming the mod enforces rules. It usually doesn't. Know the rules.
• Ignoring old mods' broken assets. If pieces show up blank, the asset links are probably dead. Look for a newer version of the mod.

Advanced Tips

• Type a number over a deck to deal that many cards to yourself. It's the fastest way to draw.
• Alt-hover everything. Zooming in on a card or board is how you read small print.
• Use saved States for multi-step setups (for example, "state 2 = scenario B") on a single object.
• Scripting: start with simple button scripts (onLoad, createButton, then a click function) before automating whole games.
• Performance: very large mods with many physics objects can lag. Lock static pieces and delete unused components.
• Public Beta: Berserk tests big updates on the public_beta branch (Steam > Properties > Betas). Opt in to try features early, and switch back to "None" anytime.
• Feedback: report bugs at the official feedback board with your OS, GPU and logs.

FAQ

Do all my friends need to own the DLC? No. Only the host needs to own a DLC for everyone at the table to play it.

How many players can join a table? Up to 10.

Is Tabletop Simulator 2.0 a new game I have to buy? No. It's a series of free updates to the TTS you already own.

Why are pieces or cards blank in a Workshop mod? The mod's images are hosted on dead links. Find an updated version of the mod or report it to the creator.

Can I play solo? Yes, in Singleplayer. It's great for learning rules or solo-mode board games. Hotseat lets people share one PC.

Does TTS work on Mac? Yes, but since v14.2 it needs macOS 12 or newer.

How do I draw several cards at once? Hover over the deck and type the number on the number row.

Sources

• Tabletop Simulator on Steam (store and announcements)
• TTS Knowledge Base (official)
• TTS Knowledge Base — Basic Controls
• TTS Knowledge Base — Advanced Controls
• TTS Lua API documentation
• Update v14.2 and TTS 2.0 roadmap announcements (Steam news)