Playtest Zone & Game Jam
Playtest Zone
We will have tables available for designers to book slots to playtest their games over the Saturday and Sunday.
Playtest slots can either be 90 minutes or 3 hours, and are booked on a first come, first served basis.
Sign up? Booking is done via the button below.
Playtest designers need to buy a ticket to the convention as normal, and we ask for a donation to our charity partner.
Details on that will be published once we have confirmed who our charity partner is for 2026.
Why playtest games?
As a designer...
Getting feedback on your game as you iterate on the design is very important, moreso when it’s from complete strangers at a convention like Tabletop Scotland. Players will notice things about your game that you and your regular gaming group may never notice.
As a player...
Testing out games before they are published gives you the opportunity to understand more about what goes into making a game, plus it is a lot of fun!
To join in, head to the playtest zone and sign up for any of the slots with spaces!
Game Jam
What is a Game Jam? A Game Jam is an organised event which allows a group of people to work as a team, or individually, to create a game within a specified time limit. Industry veterans will be on hand to guide designers away from overly complex designs and systems to enable teams to have a viable game by the end of the event. We will have printers, dice, and other game components to hand, there should be all the tools the team needs to complete the game. That said, if you have old board game or card game components or a big pile of dice lying around at home unloved, please bring them!
Game Jammer Rights? You – both individual and team – retain all rights to any game or system you create at Tabletop Scotland.
48 Hours? Whilst the Game Jam is timed, you don’t need to spend all of your convention in the area, but please use your time wisely! For your game to be included in the judging you will need to be available at the start of the Game Jam on the Friday, and at the end of the Game Jam on the Sunday for the Judges to play your game!
How is it judged? Mentors will consider all the games being developed and spend time with all the teams to appraise them on several factors, such as theme, concept, teamwork, innovative design, artwork, and playable product.
Theme? Each year we choose a theme which is announced at the start of the convention. Judging will include use of the theme.
Sign up? This is done via an event. Once that is published we will add a button here for you to use.
Playtest Schedule will be published here when available.
TBC
TBC