Board games in Nigeria are experiencing a quiet but powerful renaissance. What was once seen mainly as a family pastime or an imported hobby is now taking root in communities across the country. From casual hangouts to organized conventions, Nigerian players are discovering that tabletop games aren’t just about winning or losing—they’re about storytelling, connection, and creativity.
Across the nation, groups are springing up to make games more visible, accessible, and impactful. These communities don’t just gather to play; they build networks, foster learning, and give Nigerian-made titles a platform to shine. To understand how this movement is unfolding, we’re spotlighting three communities that are shaping the future of gaming in Nigeria.
Community Spotlights
Founded in 2023 by Tobenna Nwosu, Nzuko Games (formerly Bushman Games) has quickly become a heartbeat of the tabletop scene in Enugu. The name Nzuko—which means congress, gathering, or coming together in Igbo—captures the essence of what the community stands for: bringing people, games, and networks together.
What began as small game hangouts in bars and restaurants has grown into a thriving community with weekly Thursday game nights at Foodopolis and a monthly meet-up at The Ranch in Roban Hotel. The group attracts mostly young adults, though its members range from 19 to 62, proving that games truly cut across generations.
Nzuko Games isn’t just about fun; it’s about impact. The community has partnered with organizations like Yes2Literacyand Tomorrow Leaders Today to introduce underserved children to tabletop games as tools for learning, teamwork, and critical thinking. In 2023, they made history by hosting the first-ever South-East Board Game Convention, gathering over 100 players, designers, and enthusiasts under one roof — a milestone moment for Nigerian tabletop culture outside the country’s major cities.
Beyond their regular meetups, members add flavor to the community with trivia and puzzle challenges where winners take home small cash or airtime prizes. Looking ahead, Nzuko Games is dreaming big: from launching monthly tournaments to expanding the South-East Board Game Convention into an international event, and eventually establishing a dedicated board game café in Enugu.
In the immediate future, Tobenna is focused on consistency and energy — expanding weekly game nights, launching monthly tournaments, and building a rhythm of competitive yet welcoming events that keep members excited. But his long-term vision stretches much further: transforming the South-East Board Game Convention into an international showcase and establishing a dedicated board game café and community hub in Enugu. These ambitions aren’t just about games; they’re about creating a sustainable ecosystem where Nigerian designers can shine, young people can learn through play, and global visitors can experience the vibrancy of Nigerian tabletop culture firsthand.
In Jos, Plateau State, R2 Playhub is redefining what it means to gather around games. Founded by Arthur Molokwu in 2025, the community grew out of years of casual game-themed hangouts that Arthur had been hosting with friends. What started as small get-togethers has blossomed into a structured hub where tabletop and group games are the main attraction — not just for fun, but for relaxation, connection, and creativity.
The spark came in 2023, when Arthur was introduced by his friend Joshua Yakubu to NIBCARD, Nigeria’s first board game café. Experiencing that space revealed the potential of tabletop games as tools for joy and learning. Inspired, Arthur set out to create something similar in Jos — a place where stress melts away, friendships take root, and laughter is always close at hand.
Today, R2 Playhub hosts weekly game nights every Friday and Sunday at its location in Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State, drawing a diverse mix of students, young professionals, creatives, and families. The Playhub also curates experiences for birthdays, conferences, bridal showers, picnics, and even festivals, bringing games into spaces where people least expect them. One of their most memorable traditions is combining outdoor adventures with play: recently, members hiked up a Plateau mountain before sitting down to an impromptu game session at the summit.
But R2 Playhub’s mission is bigger than entertainment. The community is exploring ways to use tabletop games in schools and community centers, where they can support education, teamwork, and problem-solving in ways that feel fun and natural. In the short term, they’re focused on growing their library of games from around the world and building stronger partnerships with local institutions. Long term, Arthur envisions R2 Playhub as Nigeria’s leading tabletop gaming hub — a cultural space where education meets creativity, wellness meets entertainment, and communities grow stronger through play.
Their proudest achievement so far? Building a consistent, growing community from scratch and showing that tabletop gaming culture can thrive in Jos. In a short time, they’ve introduced hundreds of people to modern board games, making R2 Playhub synonymous with joy, bonding, and discovery.
NIBCARD Games
When people talk about Nigerian tabletop gaming, NIBCARD Games often comes up as a foundational pillar. Formally registered in 2016—but with roots in earlier experiments—the company, whose name stands for Nigerian Board Card, Roleplay and Dice, is led by Kenechukwu Cornelius “KC” Ogbuagu and has become one of the most influential forces in the country’s gaming industry.
From the beginning, NIBCARD’s mission has gone beyond simply publishing games. It was built to foster a sustainable tabletop culture in Nigeria by creating titles rooted in local stories, traditions, and challenges. Their catalog includes games on migration, conflict resolution, sustainable development, and even home-building, proving that board games can be more than entertainment—they can be tools for reflection and social impact.
In Abuja, NIBCARD also established the first tabletop games café in Nigeria, a warm and welcoming space in Gwarimpa that serves both as a retail hub and as a meeting place for enthusiasts. The café has become a community anchor, where designers, casual players, and curious newcomers gather to learn, play, and share experiences. Beyond the café, KC has also founded ABCon (African Boardgame Convention), an annual gathering that has become the flagship event for board gaming on the continent, drawing creators and fans from across Africa and beyond.
NIBCARD’s influence extends far beyond its own walls. Many of the emerging communities in Nigeria—such as Nzuko Games in Enugu and R2 Playhub in Jos—can trace part of their inspiration back to KC and his team, whether through mentorship, collaboration, or exposure to the café and its events. In this sense, NIBCARD serves as both an incubator and a bridge, ensuring that tabletop culture in Nigeria continues to grow not in isolation but as part of a shared, interconnected movement.
A Growing Movement
Taken together, these communities illustrate the diversity and energy of Nigeria’s gaming scene. Whether it’s Nzuko Games building networks in the South-East, R2 Playhub creating safe and joyful spaces in Jos, or NIBCARD Games driving national and international recognition, each group is adding a vital piece to the puzzle. What unites them is a belief in the power of play—not only as entertainment but as a tool for education, connection, and cultural expression.
As Nigeria’s tabletop movement continues to grow, one thing is clear: the dice have been rolled, and the country is well on its way to becoming a powerhouse in global board gaming culture.
Written by: Hilda Alagada
