How to Get Started Playing Games on OCTGN

Updated

OCTGN (pronounced "ok-tuh-gon") is a free, open-source virtual tabletop with a built-in player lobby and chat system, designed for custom card and board games. To start playing, download the client from octgn.net, install it, register an account, log in, then join or host a game in the lobby and use chat to coordinate with other players. You'll also need the game definition ("game feed") for whichever title you want to play — OCTGN itself is the table, not the games.

What OCTGN Is and What You Need Before Starting

OCTGN lets you connect to other players around the world and play card and board games outside of a hobby shop. The site describes it as a virtual table top with an integrated player lobby and chat system that supports custom card and board games, and notes it is open source and frequently updated.

Before you begin, gather:

  • A Windows PC — the OCTGN client is a desktop application; the site's download page is the authoritative source for current system requirements.
  • The game you want to play — OCTGN hosts community-made game definitions. You'll install the definition for your chosen game after the client is running.
  • A headset or speakers and a microphone (optional but recommended) — many groups use voice chat alongside OCTGN's text chat.

Step 1: Download and Install the Client

  1. Go to octgn.net and open the Download page.
  2. Download the current installer (the site footer shows version 1.0.1.67 at the time of writing — always take the latest from the site rather than a mirror).
  3. Run the installer and follow the prompts. Accept the default install location unless you have a reason to change it.
  4. Launch OCTGN. On first run it may prompt you to install or update components; let it finish.

Expected result: the OCTGN main window opens and you can reach the login screen.

Common snag: if Windows SmartScreen or your antivirus flags the installer, verify you downloaded from octgn.net and allow the file — open-source installers are sometimes flagged heuristically.

Step 2: Register an Account and Log In

  1. From the OCTGN start screen, choose Register.
  2. Pick a username and password and complete the registration form.
  3. Return to the login screen, enter your credentials, and sign in.

Expected result: you land in the main interface with the player lobby visible.

Common snag: usernames are how other players find and recognize you in the lobby, so choose something you're happy to be known by in the community.

Step 3: Install the Game Definition You Want to Play

OCTGN doesn't ship with games built in — the community publishes game definitions that you add to the client.

  1. In the client, open the game manager / feed area (the exact label varies by client version; look for the section that lists available game definitions).
  2. Browse or search for your game and install its definition.
  3. Wait for the download and installation to complete, then confirm the game appears in your installed games list.

Expected result: your game shows up as playable when you create or join a table.

Common snag: if a game doesn't appear in the feed, check the game's community page — some definitions are distributed outside the default feed and must be added manually.

Step 4: Find or Host a Game in the Player Lobby

The lobby is where players meet. You have two options:

Approach What you do Best for
Join a game Browse the lobby's list of open games, pick one with space, and join the table First sessions, learning a game from experienced players
Host a game Create a new table, select the game definition, set the table name and any password, and wait for players to join Playing with friends, or when no open table matches your game

Expected result: you're seated at a table with the game board loaded and can see other players' names.

Common snag: empty lobby for your game? Host a table and leave it open — the site notes new players join every day, and open tables fill over time. Also check time zones; popular games have peak hours.

Step 5: Use Chat to Coordinate

OCTGN includes an integrated chat system. Use it to:

  • Greet players when you join a table and confirm the format or deck you're playing.
  • Ask rules questions during a game.
  • Agree on voice chat arrangements if your group uses one.

Expected result: you can communicate with everyone at your table without leaving the client.

Practical Tips for Your First Session

  • Start with a game you already know the rules to. OCTGN handles the table; you handle the rules. Learning both at once is harder than it needs to be.
  • Tell people it's your first game. The community is described as growing and active; most players will walk you through the client's controls.
  • Explore the interface before you play. Right-click menus and drag-and-drop are central to how OCTGN works — a few minutes of clicking around a solo table saves confusion later.
  • Check the site's Getting Started video. The homepage links a Getting Started Video, which is the fastest way to see the client in action before installing.

About Cost and Accounts

The site's navigation includes Subscribe and Donate links alongside Download, Register, and Log in, and the footer references Subscription Info. The available page information does not specify what a subscription includes or whether any features require one, so check the Subscription Info page on octgn.net directly if you want details before committing. Downloading the client and registering an account are presented as the standard path to playing.