A typical man cave or game room has game tables ready and waiting for players to come around. With an available game table, you have a place for your family and friends to enjoy and socialize. Deciding to buy one shouldn’t be hard. Consider the five kinds of game tables to place in your home, and one of them may be right for you:
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1. Pool table
Billiards is a classic man cave game that has stood the test of time. Many hours of fun can be spent here, as it’s a significant investment. If you want to master billiards, then your money will be well spent. Before choosing one from your game room, you’ll want to measure the space and determine if you have enough room. Pool tables are between 7 feet and 9 feet long, and you’ll also need another 6 feet between the edge of the table and the wall to allow for movement and cue stroking. Check out the best pool tables here.
2. Combination game table
If you want a game table that will be a people pleaser, choose a combination game table. A combination or multi-game tables will help people with varying interests and skill levels to enjoy altogether. Some multigame tables have removable tabletop surfaces that lift off to another game. Other game tables offer ten or more game choices. Consider the ages of the people who’ll spend time on your game room and choose a multi-game table that will keep people entertained. Look for the best multi-game tables to choose from.
3. Foosball table
If you’re a soccer fan, you can still play after dark when it’s cold outside with a foosball table. With a foosball table, you can play one-on-one or per teams. It also comes in many different sizes and will be fit in most recreation rooms. Again, you still need to measure the space to make sure you have enough moving room before you choose one. Read the guide to find the best foosball table here.
4. Poker table
It’s not required to get a poker table so you can play poker at home, but it does enhance the game experience. Having a table with a felt top allows playing cards to slide and easily picked up quickly. Many poker tables also have handy cup holders to keep drinks from spilling and to prevent your cards from getting ruined by condensation. Poker tables come in different sizes, and you can also use this for playing other card games. If this is your favorite past time, then a poker table is an excellent addition to your game room.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Poker Table:
1. Occasional or regular use
If you intend to host a poker game once in a blue moon, you can quickly get away with a table topper or a simple folding table that can be tucked in the corner of the house. But if you want to play games daily or several times a week, getting a professional table will be worth it.
2. Number of players
A typical poker game can host up to 10 players at once. The fewer people at play, the better the game becomes. If you want to accommodate up to 10 players without hassle, get a large table that can accommodate them all. A nice set of a poker table with four chairs or seating for at least 6 to 8 players is a must. If you need seating for eight players and you want comfy chairs for everyone, you may want to consider a large table at least 54” in diameter. Better yet, get a 60” round table to make it easy to put additional chairs without players knocking knees. If you want to play Texas hold’em poker, then you need to choose a dedicated, long oval table.
3. Quality
Poker tables are not air hockey nor pool tables, yet you still need a quality table. If you invest in a professional-quality table, you are likely to save cash in the long run, rather than going for a cheap quality table that may end up wearing out easily.
Best Poker Tables:
1. Rush Creek Creations 8-Player Octagon Poker Table
Rocking a classic pine look, this octagon poker table by Rush Creek Creations will remind you of the good old days. It can accommodate eight people with drink and snack holders. It comes in an attractive and rustic look that can add style to any game room or man cave. All components are constructed from solid pine, making it sturdy. It’s treated with polyurethane and a skip-peel finish to make it scratch-resistant. If you’re inclined towards the classic look, you can’t go wrong with this one.
2. Hathaway Kingston 3-in-1 Poker Table with 4 Chairs
If you want a poker table that’s made of state-of-the-art material and makes your game room look super classy, the Hathaway Kingston 3-in-1 Poker Table is an excellent choice. This table is made of North American hardwood. It comes with matching four chairs made of birch hardwood with cushions, gas tilt, and a swivel mechanism. Really, the chairs can pass as an excellent office chair. This is a handsome table that works as a dining table, but if you remove the table cover, it becomes a game table perfect for poker, blackjack, and other games. Flip the table over again, and you’ll be switching to the bumper pool. You and your guests will absolutely love this table!
3. IDS Poker Knight #70 Poker Table
A group of 10 people playing poker requires a table large enough to accommodate them. The IDS Poker Knight #70 Poker Table is an oval-shaped, space-saving table that has a strong build. It comes with a contemporary look with a touch of style. As it can seat up to 10 players at once, each one also gets its own inbuilt stainless steel cup holder.
5. Air hockey table
For both kids and adults, air hockey is a great game. It’s perfect for kids and adults alike. It’s easy to learn, and the more you play, the better you become. Traditionally, this game is played one-on-one, but you can play tournament style in teams to get the whole family involved.
Air hockey tables come in different sizes and types, as you can find standalone tables, tabletop air hockey, multi-game tables, and kid’s tables. Multi-game air hockey tables can convert to foosball, ping pong or billiards table.
Factors to Consider when Choosing an Air Hockey Table:
1. Size
If you have played air hockey in an arcade, then you are familiar with the size of regular standalone tables. This size is the best type of air hockey table you can buy for everyone’s enjoyment. But since it needs ample space in the house, it isn’t possible for most people. Full-size air hockey tables range from seven to eight feet. Kids’ air hockey tables range from four to six feet. Tabletop air hockey tables are almost 40 inches long. So, if you live in a small apartment or if you have little space available, you may want to get a tabletop air hockey. The rule of thumb is to allow a few feet of extra space at each end of the table so players can freely move around.
2. Scoring methods
There are two different types of scoring methods for air hockey tables: electronic and manual slider. The cheaper air hockey tables tend to have sliding scorers like an abacus, while high-end air hockey tables come with electronic scoreboards, like those you find in arcades.
3. Leg levelers
Leg levelers make sure that your table is completely level to the ground, even if it’s on an uneven surface. You may think that your game room floor is level, but what if it’s not? Leg levelers can help ensure that every air hockey game is fairly played on a level surface.
4. Large puck or small puck
If you’re interested in professional-quality air hockey gaming that the pros use, then go for a large puck. These are generally more expensive, but they are designed for heavy-duty play and better airflow. The small pick air hockey tables tend to be cheaper and have weaker airflow. It’s more commonly used in the home for kids’ air hockey table and for occasional gaming.
5. Fan or blower
The fan or blower suspends the puck on the table and helps them move a little bit without you touching it. Unfortunately, not all tables have this feature. For the best gameplay, get a game table with a blower of a fan.
Best Air Hockey Tables:
1. Brunswick 7ft Air Hockey Table
If you want to recreate the feel of an arcade at a lower price, then get the Brunswick 7ft Air Hockey Table. It’s one of the best value air hockey tables you can find. It comes with a sleek and contemporary design, constant and strong UL blower, a sturdy pedestal base, and dual abacus scorers. This table comes with two paddles and four pucks.
2. Triumph Lumen-X Lazer 6’ Interactive Air Hockey Table
The Lumen-X Lazer 6’ Interactive Air Hockey by Triumph is stylish and fun, and it can carry you all through the night and day. It features in-rail LED lights with cascading effects and in-game music that will drag you straight to your childhood. The ultra-bright strikers and light-up pucks elevate the gaming experience. The dual-motor blowers help with the continuous airflow for accelerated gameplay. It also comes with an electronic scoreboard.
3. Gold Standard Games Home Pro Elite Air Hockey Table
If you want what the pros use, the Gold Standard Games Home Pro Elite Air Hockey Table is for you. This product carries the endorsement of 10-time USAA World Champions Tim Weissman and Danny Hynes, as well as designer of Gold Standard’s table games Mark Robbins. The solid composite plastic legs provide sturdy support and an even playing surface. This is more expensive than many air hockey tables, but it’s an excellent table to play on.