Justin Bell – Allplay – Board Game Playmat – Medium Black (3’ x 5’)
When the Allplay mat arrived at my home, I had a game night scheduled the next day, so the mat was thrown into the fray immediately. Between plays of games like Age of Rail: South Africa, the mat looks great on the table and I never imagined that a straight black color scheme would work so well. (The downside of that came later, when my chip crumbs began to spread across my sloppy area of the playmat and revealed my deepest secrets.)
The mat comes in a very handsome carrying case, with a strap that can be used to sling the case over my shoulder when I’m moving it from place to place. A note about the case: the opening is a little tight, so rolling up a new mat tight enough to get back inside the case proved to be a challenge the first couple times I tried to put it away. The upside of this? The Allplay mat laid completely flat even on its first use after sitting on my table even for about an hour. So, the marketing promise that the mat would lie flat came true in my usage.
I think this mat will be best used when I go out to play games at other locations, because the size (three feet by five feet) is a little small for my Game Topper table (with a play area of three feet by six feet). That just means it will be perfect as an edge-to-edge cover of a table at some of the cafes I hit in the Chicagoland area. The “no-slip” padding also makes it great for use at a cafe. The color choices on the Allplay website are robust and the prices are roughly market rate for a neoprene mat, about $80.
Andrew Holmes – Playmats.EU – Blue Nebula universal board game mat (120cm x 80cm)
I’ve never owned a playmat or a gametable with a mat built in, but I’ve played on enough to know what I like. And, for me, the universal board game mat from Playmats.EU ticks almost all boxes.
Playmats.EU do a range of these universal mats in this size and they’re €46 (roughly £40 or $54), so not in the deluxe extra-thick range like Justin’s Allplay one above but they seem great value for money. I’ve played card, board, dexterity and miniature games on it and all have felt improved with the mat compared to my normal wooden table which is uncompromisingly firm. I was worried about the dexterity game and whether the softer surface might make the game wobblier but it didn’t seem to, it’s just my own unsteady hands!
The mat itself is made of 2mm thick natural rubber, with a polyester playing surface. As I said above, not super thick like the 5mm Allplay one, but it has felt enough whilst playing. The upside of the thickness is that it rolls out easily and lies flat on the table instantly from the first moment. There’s normally a tiny lift at one end but with a quick flex of the mat in the other direction it lies flat no problems. At no point when playing has it rippled or ruched up and generally it just fades into background, quietly elevating the playing experience.
The downside of the thickness, and the main complaint I have, is that it’s a bit of a pain to roll back up. It becomes very floppy and getting it back into a telescopic poster tube (sadly it didn’t come with a storage solution, but I wasn’t expecting one) is a little awkward. My only other minor comment is that the edges are blunt (they’re laser cut apparently). There’s been no wear or fraying and I can’t see any sign of any even beginning so I’ve no complaints (and it helps with lying flat) but it’s something to be aware of if you’d prefer your edges stitched.
I chose the ‘Blue Nebula’ pattern, in part because just getting a single colour seemed too sensible. But then I worried it would be too busy for many games and not in keeping with them, but I’ve found it to be the opposite. Sure, I’ve played a space-themed game on the mat but I’ve also played games with other themes (including fantasy and a building site) and the graphics of the mat help the games to pop from the table. Feels cheesy to say but it’s like the game is being played in this dedicated slice of space between the players.
All-in-all I’m very happy with the mat. It’s practical, light, enhances the playing experience and a good size, all at a relatively decent price.
Andy Matthews – Big Viking Mats – Custom Cut Neoprene Gaming Mat (5’ x 3’)
When we approached Big Viking about being part of this roundup, there was no hesitation; just straight to the details. After some back and forth emails for some clarifications, they decided they had everything they needed and got to work. Big Viking’s “big” selling point is that they custom cut mats to fit your table. This is nice because it means my mat goes all the way to the edges of my gaming table. I opted for a navy blue mat, but they also offer black, forest green, and burgundy.
After a few weeks it arrived and I excitedly opened it. The first thing I noticed was that the mat was thick (almost ¼” or 6.5mm) and cushiony. It shipped on a long sturdy cardboard tube with a carrying strap stuffed down the middle. Upon unrolling it, I noticed there was some waviness, but after leaving it flat on the table overnight it relaxed.
I’ve had this on my table now for about two months and it’s been a delight. The back of the mat is very non-slip, so much so that it can actually be a little difficult to just slide the mat even an inch or so. That’s good because it means it won’t accidentally get bumped around. I initially didn’t like the cushiony nature of the mat because I was expecting something more like mouse pad thickness. But after using it I realized that the thickness is better because when you rest your hands on the table it’s like laying on a pillow.
Because the mat is custom cut, the edges are very precise, with rounded corners. The surface material feels like the top of a mousepad, slightly rough and smooth at the same time. It’s nice because it helps prevent components and cards from moving around, but it makes it harder to brush crumbs or dust off the surface. So when it needs to be cleaned off, I just use a lint-roller.
So far, the only problem that I’ve had with the mat is that because of the nature of the material it keeps imprints for a long time: hours, and in some cases days. I put my game bag down one night and it turns out there was a small rock stuck to the bottom. After moving the bag I noticed a “dent” in the mat, which lasted almost two days. It finally went away, but I was a bit nervous about it.
The carrying strap is simple and easy to use. Roll the mat tightly around the tube, then slip the loops over each end of the mat. Throw it over your shoulder and you’re ready to go.
I never thought I’d own a game mat, but after using the Big Viking neoprene mat for a few months I can’t imagine going back to bare wood.
Bob Pazehoski, Jr. – Game Toppers – The Great Wall and the Steel Grey
I have never owned a gaming table. Our dining room table is rather large (42”x 84”) and has several grooves in the woodgrain of the top. The size accommodates nearly every game (including my every-expansion play of Everdell) and the grooves are a merciful touch for cards that just don’t want to lift from the table. Still, I was pretty excited at the prospect of a gaming mat that would make a workable table even more cozy for tabletop play.
Game Toppers was kind enough to send me two mats— one with a thematic design, and another in a basic color. They also sent two sizes so I could look for consistency in quality. The first is a 36”x 60” mat featuring a Vincent Dutrait design, titled “The Great Wall.”
The print is absolutely stunning. Game Toppers offers a number of these themed mats, and I have little doubt that they all feature the same high-resolution quality. Their mats are a 3.6mm thick neoprene construction with double-stitched edges. The mat itself is thick and the non-stick back is largely effective (if clean, of course). I took the liberty of spilling a bit of water to test clean-up, and it was a breeze. The water beaded instantly and stayed on the surface until I laid the towel down. I didn’t have the heart to test the stain-resistance with grape juice. Nonetheless, I am highly impressed with the quality here.
Regarding the themed mats, I will offer just one caution. Though the design centers are typically plain to accommodate the game components, an average-size game will likely spill over those boundaries, opening the possibility that game pieces are lost in the stunning artwork.
As a result, I love the themed mats for card games and small boxes. As the games increase in size and quantity of components, I prefer a more subdued or consistent design that won’t have me scratching my head, wondering whether my bits have been swallowed by the Chinese countryside.
The second mat is the Steel Grey option. This mat nearly covered my behemoth table at 38”x 84”. The design is a patterned grey with a 4” Game Toppers logo in two opposite corners. There is no dip in quality from one mat to the next. Everything about this product screams quality.
This base pattern is the sort that can service almost every game style (roll-and-writes, bring your own clipboards, I guess?) and gaming experience. As this mat has been more frequent on the table, I can offer one additional consideration if you find yourself in the market: ask how much of your table you’d like to realistically cover. With this beastly size and the mere two inch margins it leaves, drinks and snacks have no choice but to rest on the mat or stay away. I wanted to see what it would be like to nearly cover the whole, but the product has only made me realize why game tables have drink holders raised off the play surface. Though I’ve tested the water resistance, I also think about those glorious beverage beads soaking into game components. It puts me on edge. This is in no way an indictment of the mat, but rather a thoughtful consideration in choosing the size. Better a spill around the mat than on it.
I have been thoroughly impressed with Game Toppers overall. Each mat comes with a zipper tube for storage and transportation. The tube has a window that allows for easy identification of various designs should you find yourself with more than one option and the unquenchable desire to conveniently capture a particular mood on the run.
Finally, Game Toppers demand a premium price. The Dutrait design runs $89 at 36”x 60”, and the Steel Grey would cost $139. But I can say without hesitation that the quality is top notch. I love the construction, and the design options are fascinating. If I were buying, I would absolutely consider these as possibilities.
