If you enjoy board, card, and dice games, you are in luck! The Library has books, programs, and gaming recommendations for tabletop gamers of all ages – explore them all!
1. New York Times Crossword & Games
Did you know that your library card gives you free 24-hour access to the New York Times crossword puzzle and other games? You must first create a New York Times account if you don’t already have one.
- Visit The New York Times: Crossword & Games..
- Enter your library card barcode number and click “Get Code.”
- Click “Redeem” to submit your randomly generated access code.
- Since you need to have a New York Times online account to use the code, the next step prompts you to create an account (which is free) or to log in to your existing account.
- You now have access to The New York Times for 24 hours. After the 24 hours are up redeem another code for another 24-hours of access. Enjoy!
2. Gaming Programs
- Event: Play and Learn Dungeons & Dragons for Adults
- Date & Time: Saturday, April 27, 2:00pm
- Location: Spades Park Branch
- Description: Have popular podcasts like Dimension 20 or Critical Role, or games like Baldur’s Gate, made you curious about or interested in D&D, but you aren’t sure where to start? Then this is the program for you!
- Register Here
- Event: Chess Club at College Avenue
- Date & Time: Saturday, April 27, 2:00pm
- Location: College Avenue Branch
- Description: Join us on Saturday afternoons and match wits and skill with this Chess Club, meeting for 43 years at College Avenue Branch Library! All ages and skill levels are welcome. This group meets in the Fish Room.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Books ‘n Rooks Chess Club
- Date & Time: Monday, April 29, 5:30pm
- Location: Central Library
- Description: A free and open chess club for everyone, located in the beautiful Atrium at Central Library. Chess clocks and sets provided.
- No Registration Required.
3. e-Books & Streaming
Browse a wide selection of e-books, downloadable audiobooks, and e-magazines about gaming from OverDrive. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive before both app directions and browser directions are available as well as a video tutorial and Overdrive Support.
Need more help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.
4. Reading Recommendations from IndyPL Staff
Click on a featured booklist to get gaming recommendations or see all our staff gaming lists.
- Books & Movies for Table-Top Gaming Enthusiasts
- Chess-themed thrillers
- Deadly Games Movies & Books
- For Young Fans of Dungeons & Dragons
- Graphic Novels for Tabletop RPG Fans
- Hollywood Video Game Movies
- If You Liked The Godfather of Poker
- TV, Movies, and Anime for Tabletop RPG Fans
- Video Game Graphic Novels
- What to Read Next Based on Your Favorite Board Game
- Worlds of Final Fantasy
5. Six Game Night Favorites from IndyPL Staff
Hoot Owl Hoot!
Recommended ages: 4+
Do you love Candyland? Or…are you tired of playing Candyland?! While Candyland is a classic which is available to play, you may also enjoy this colorful game. All players on one team work together to help baby owls return to their nest before the sun comes up.
Dr. Eureka
Recommended ages: 6+
This fast-paced puzzle game has players racing to pour colorful balls back-and-forth between plastic test tubes to recreate specific patterns! If you can mix and match the contents of your test tubes the fastest, you can score points by winning cards!
Pentago
Recommended ages: 7+
Are you a master of tic-tac-toe? You are ready to level up to Pentago! In this two-player game, you compete to get five marbles in a row—with a twist! After placing a marble, you must rotate one quadrant of the game board ninety degrees. You can only win if you have five-in-a-row, after the twist!
Battle Sheep
Recommended ages: 7+
If you like a little strategy, a fun challenge can be had with Battle Sheep! In this game, you start with one stack of sheep in the pasture, and each turn you split a stack and slide some sheep to a new position. If you can spread your flock out across the pasture the most, you will be the winner!
Forbidden Island
Recommended ages: 8+
Work together to find clues, discover ancient treasures, and make it back to your team helicopter–all before the island sinks below the waves forever! With multiple ways to lose and only one way to win, it will take clever teamwork and a little luck to succeed at this mission!
Ascension
Recommended ages: 10+
In many card games, everyone shares the same deck of cards. In Ascension, each player has their own small deck. By playing your starting cards carefully, you can add powerful new cards to your deck that you shuffle in and play on later turns! This fun game has a light fantasy theme, but your real goal will quickly become to collect as many of the shiny red gems as possible!
These game recommendations were contributed by Christopher Brozo, a Youth Multimedia Learning Specialist in the Learning Curve at Central Library. He loves tabletop games of all kinds, especially strategy and cooperative games! He co-hosts Family Game Night at Central, a weekly program for kids, families, and friends. Do you have a favorite game? Be sure to tell the guy who is wearing a black Learning Curve lab coat and practicing yo-yo tricks.
Need help?
Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.
