Board games have a storage problem. If you’ve ever looked at a shelf sagging under the weight of Gloomhaven or a dozen dusty copies of Monopoly, you get it. Pieces go missing. The dog eats a hotel. Setup takes longer than the actual gameplay. This is exactly where the Arcade1Up Infinity Game Board tries to step in. It’s essentially a giant, horizontal Android tablet with legs, designed to replace your entire closet of cardboard and plastic.
It's expensive. It’s heavy. And honestly? It’s kind of brilliant if you’re the right kind of person.
But it isn't for everyone. Most people see the price tag and immediately compare it to a high-end iPad or a gaming console. That’s a mistake. You aren't buying a tablet; you’re buying a dedicated piece of furniture that changes how your living room functions during a party. Arcade1Up didn't just shrink their original Infinity Game Table; they refined the experience into a more portable—well, "portable" is a strong word for something that still weighs about 20 pounds—version that fits on a standard coffee table.
What the Arcade1Up Infinity Game Board Really Does
At its core, the device is an 18.5-inch touchscreen encased in a ruggedized frame. It runs a proprietary interface that hosts a library of digital board games. You’ve got the heavy hitters from Hasbro like Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and Candy Land. But the real magic happens when you realize it has haptic feedback. When you roll digital dice, the board vibrates. It feels tactile. It feels... real-ish.
You don't need a deck of cards. You don't need to argue over who is the banker. The software handles the math, the rules, and the "oops, I forgot to move my piece" moments.
The Screen Quality and Touch Response
The 18.5-inch screen is a 1080p panel. In an era of 4K OLED smartphones, that might sound underwhelming on paper. However, sitting two feet away from it while playing Ticket to Ride, the pixel density is more than enough. Colors pop. The viewing angles are surprisingly wide, which is critical because four people are usually huddled around it from different directions.
Touch latency used to be a major complaint with early units of the larger table version. Arcade1Up seems to have smoothed that out here. It’s responsive. You can flick cards across the screen or zoom into a map without that annoying "ghosting" or lag that kills the vibe of a fast-paced game.
The build quality is substantial. It’s meant to be touched, leaned on, and probably spilled on (though I wouldn't recommend testing the water resistance too vigorously). It has a certain "chunkiness" that feels appropriate for something that might be used by kids who aren't exactly gentle with their toys.
The Library: Free vs. Paid
This is where the nuances of the Arcade1Up Infinity Game Board become clear. It comes out of the box with about 50 games. A lot of these are classics or indie titles you’ve likely never heard of. You’ll get Connect 4, Battleship, and Operation. These are great for nostalgia. They work perfectly.
But if you want the "premium" stuff? You're going to spend more money.
Most of the big-name modern board games—the ones people actually play at hobbyist game nights—are paid downloads in their app store. Think Pandemic or Terraforming Mars. The prices aren't outrageous, usually ranging from $4.99 to $9.99, but it’s an extra cost to factor in. It’s a bit like buying a Kindle; the hardware is just the gateway to the bookstore.
There are also some weirdly fun additions that aren't strictly board games. There’s a coloring book app. There are puzzles. There’s even a comic book reader. Honestly, reading a digital comic on an 18-inch screen laid flat on a table is a bizarrely enjoyable experience. It feels like reading a Sunday newspaper from 1995, but with better resolution.
The Hidden Benefit of Digital Rules
We've all been there. You're halfway through a game of Monopoly and someone claims you can't build a hotel on a mortgaged property. The rulebook is lost. The internet is slow. The mood is ruined.
The Arcade1Up Infinity Game Board enforces the rules. You literally cannot make an illegal move. For families with competitive kids (or even more competitive adults), this is a godsend. It eliminates the "house rules" arguments that lead to flipped tables. It also makes learning new games infinitely easier. The tutorials are interactive. Instead of reading a 20-page manual for Catan, the board just tells you what to do next.
Why Some People Hate It (and They Aren't Wrong)
Purists will always prefer physical cardboard. There is something about the "clack" of a real die on a wooden table that a haptic motor can't perfectly replicate.
Then there’s the power issue. The Infinity Game Board needs to be plugged in. While you can technically buy a dedicated battery pack for it, it doesn't come in the box. Without that battery, you’re tethered to a wall outlet. This limits its "portability." You aren't taking this on a camping trip unless you have a serious power station.
Another sticking point: The "App Store" ecosystem is closed. You can't just sideload Android apps or play Netflix on this thing easily. It is a board game machine, first and foremost. If you’re looking for a general-purpose giant tablet, this isn't it. Arcade1Up intentionally keeps the UI locked down to ensure the gaming experience is seamless, but for tech-savvy users, that restriction can feel a bit stifling.
Storage and Size
Even though it’s the "smaller" version, it’s still big. It’s roughly the size of a large serving tray. Finding a place to tuck it away when you aren't using it can be tricky. It doesn't fold. It doesn't bend. You either leave it on the coffee table as a centerpiece or you find a very specific shelf in a closet.
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Comparing the Board to the Table
If you're looking at the Arcade1Up Infinity Game Board, you’ve probably seen the original "Table" version with the legs. The Table is a 32-inch beast. It’s a piece of furniture.
The Board (the 18.5-inch version) is actually more practical for most homes.
- It’s significantly cheaper.
- It can be stored in a closet.
- You can take it to a friend's house in a backpack (a big backpack).
- It uses the same software and game library.
Unless you have a dedicated "game room" and a massive budget, the Board is almost always the smarter purchase. It provides the same social experience without requiring you to rearrange your entire living room layout.
Is It a Good Investment for Families?
Think about the cost of board games today. A modern, high-quality board game like Wingspan or Azul will set you back $40 to $60. If you buy ten of those, you’ve already spent what the Infinity Game Board costs.
For a family that has a "Friday Night Game Night" tradition, the value proposition is actually pretty strong. You get access to hundreds of games without the clutter. You get a device that cleans up with a single microfiber cloth instead of a vacuum cleaner to find stray tokens.
Also, the online play feature is surprisingly robust. If your cousin has a board in another state, you can play Scrabble together in real-time. It’s not quite the same as being in the room, but it’s a lot better than playing a mobile game on a tiny phone screen.
Practical Tips for New Owners
If you decide to pull the trigger, there are a few things you should do immediately to make the experience better.
First, get the battery pack. It’s an extra expense, but it transforms the device from a "tethered appliance" to a "portable board." Being able to pass the board around or move it from the dining table to the couch without the screen shutting off is a game-changer.
Second, invest in a good screen protector. Even though the glass is tough, you’re going to have people tapping, sliding, and maybe even dropping dice on it. A matte protector also helps reduce the glare from overhead lights, which can be an issue with a horizontal screen.
Third, check the "Deals" section in the store often. Arcade1Up frequently bundles games or puts classic titles on sale. You can build a massive library for a fraction of what the physical versions would cost.
The Long-Term Outlook
Arcade1Up has been pretty good about supporting their hardware. They’ve added a lot of titles since the initial launch. However, like any digital-first device, there is always the concern about "end of life." What happens in ten years if the servers go down?
With a physical copy of Clue, you own it forever. With the Infinity Game Board, you’re relying on Arcade1Up’s ecosystem. That’s the trade-off for the convenience of digital. It’s a risk most modern gamers are used to, but it’s worth noting for the collectors out there.
Honestly, the device feels like a bridge. It bridges the gap between the "iPad kids" who want instant gratification and the "Gen X parents" who want to recreate the board game nights of their youth. It’s a compromise that actually works.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are considering adding the Arcade1Up Infinity Game Board to your home, start by auditing your current collection. If you find yourself avoiding certain games because the setup is too complex or you’re missing pieces, that’s a clear sign this tech is for you.
Before buying, measure your most-used table. Ensure you have a flat surface that can accommodate the 18.5-inch footprint plus room for players to sit comfortably. If you plan on playing mostly "Premium" games like Ticket to Ride, check the Arcade1Up website first to see if those specific titles are currently available in their store, as the library does shift. Finally, look for "Open Box" deals at major retailers; because this is a niche luxury item, you can often find perfectly good units returned by people who simply didn't realize how big it was, saving you $50 to $100 on the sticker price.