Publishers and designers: Thanks for your interest in working with Tabletop Bellhop. This page explains how we handle review copies, coverage, paid previews, sponsorships, giveaways, and other partnership opportunities.
Tabletop Bellhop has been around since 2018. In that time we’ve recorded over three hundred episodes of The Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast. We’ve also published hundreds of reviews and gaming advice articles here on this website.
What We Do Online
We record our episodes live on Twitch. The edited audio becomes our podcast, and the video is published on YouTube as both full episodes and standalone reviews.
Whenever we play a game, we talk about it in Bellhop’s Tabletop, the “what we’ve been playing” segment of our weekly podcast.
We also may choose to do a detailed deep dive review of a game. We only review a game once we’ve played it multiple times, ideally with different people and at different player counts. Reviews are released on our podcast and may be followed up with a written review on our website.
When we review a game that has been sent to us by a designer or publisher we clearly disclose this.
In our reviews, we discuss who made the game, what the components look and feel like, an overview of how to play, our thoughts on the game, and who we think would enjoy it.
We never take payment for a review and we do not guarantee a positive review. However, even when we don’t enjoy a game, we focus on the various game elements and on who we think would enjoy it.
What We Do in the Local Communisty
We partner with a local brewery to host monthly public game nights that attract 70–100 attendees eager to try and learn new games. We curate game night menus, bring a large game library, and spotlight review copies and featured titles by teaching them to interested players and helping get them to the table.
We also host other smaller gaming events around the city throughout the year, and provide a games library for the board gaming area of our local convention.
What Happens When You Send Us a Game
When you send us a game it:
- will be included in Bellhop’s Tabletop, our regular “what we’ve been playing” segment, which appears on our podcast, Twitch livestream, and YouTube videos (click here for an example).
- will be mentioned organically on our social media accounts as we open, read the rules, and learn the game.
- may be spotlighted during one of our public play events.
- may receive a detailed review in a dedicated podcast segment, which is also released on YouTube (click here to see an example).
- may receive a full written review (click here for samples of our written reviews).
- may be featured in a formal or informal unboxing video.
- may be featured in one of our game recommendation episodes or articles (click here for an example podcast, or here for an example article).
What We Ask In Return
We require a complete copy of the game to do with as we wish, including potentially gifting or selling the game, using it as a giveaway prize, or putting it in a charity auction.
If we agree to review a prototype or Kickstarter game, we expect to receive a completed production copy with all stretch goals as thanks for our help with your successfully funded project.
When asked to ship a prototype game on to another reviewer, we expect to be reimbursed.
While the majority of our audience is in the US we are located in Canada. To work with us you have to be willing to ship to Canada. If we are asked to pay duty we will forward that cost on to the person or company who sent the parcel.
We ask that you share links to our reviews and other coverage on your social platforms and, when appropriate, from your website or Kickstarter page.
We require a minimum of 6 to 10 weeks lead time, and we cannot guarantee publication by a certain date.
We only review games with completed rules and preferably near-finished components. If you are looking for feedback on your prototype game or assistance with editing your rulebook that is a paid service we offer.
If you are looking to promote your crowdfunding project and want specific material produced within a specific timeline, that is not a review. Crowdfunding previews are a paid service we offer.
Please reach out to deanna@tabletopbellhop.com to request a rate sheet if you’re interested in advertising or any of our other paid services.
Who We've Worked With
Publishers we’ve worked with in the past include:
- Academy Games
- Allplay
- Arcane Wonders
- Atlas Games
- B5 Productions
- Bezier Games
- Bicycle Cards
- Black Oak Games
- Board & Dice
- Breaking Games
- Brexwerx Games
- Brian Shoemaker, Independent Designer
- Burnt Island Games
- Capstone Games
- Catalyst Games Labs
- Cobblestone Games
- Cubicle 7
- Czech Games Edition
- Crazzybox
- Daily Magic Games
- Dan Ackerman, Independent Designer
- Deep Water
- Drawlab
- Eagle-Gryphon Games
- Envy Born Games
- Escape Mail
- Escape Welt
- Everything Epic Games
- Exploding Kittens
- Fireside Games
- Floodgate Games
- Folded Space
- Free League Publishing
- Friendly Skeleton
- Gale Force Nine
- Gap Closer Games
- Genius Games
- Good Games Publishing
- Grand Gamers Guild
- Grandpa Beck’s Games
- Greater Than Games
- Grumpy Spider Games
- Green Ronin Publishing
- HABA
- Half-Monster Games
- Hidden Games Industries
- Hit ‘Em With A Shoe Games
- House Fish Balloon
- IELLO
- Innocent Traveler Games
- Inside the Box
- Inside Up Games
- Island of Bees
- Jabuka Games Inc.
- James M. Spahn, Independent Designer
- Japanime Games
- Jason Anarchy Games
- Jeff Lai, Independent Designer
- Kosmos
- Kids Table Board Gaming (KTBG)
- Last Night Games
- Lucky Duck Games
- Max Gautier, Independent Designer
- Mercury Games
- Meridae Games
- Mindclash Games
- Mysterious Package Company
- Nanolocity Games
- The Op Games
- Organic Aromas
- Outset Media
- Paizo
- Pandasaurus Games
- Paverson Games
- Pegasus Spiele
- Play to Z
- Puzzling Pursuits
- QPlay
- Queen Games
- Quiver Time
- Ravensburger
- Rebel Studio
- Renegade Game Studios
- Restoration Games
- Reversal Games
- Rock Manor Games
- Runaway Parade Games
- SFR Inc.
- Skybound Tabletop
- Smirk & Dagger
- Snowbright Studio
- Solar Flare Games
- Spin Master Games
- Steamforged Games
- Stonemaier Games
- Stronghold Games
- Sunrise Tornado
- Tasty Minstrel Games
- Thing 12 Games
- Third Eye Games
- Th3rd World Studios
- Thomas Novosel, Independent Designer
- Thunderworks Games
- Tracy Alan, Independent Designer
- Tyto Games
- Ulisses Spiele
- Unidragon
- UP Games
- Wallace Designs
- Wise Wizard Games
- Wonderment Games
- Zenteeko
What We've Covered
Our website includes 120+ tabletop gaming advice articles, 300+ written reviews, and a searchable index of 470+ games we’ve reviewed, unboxed, or covered across the podcast, website, and YouTube.
CLICK HERE to browse through our gaming advice articles.
CLICK HERE for a searchable index of the games we’ve reviewed (includes written reviews, podcast reviews, video reviews and unboxings).
If you’re a publisher or designer that wants to work with us, reach out to deanna@tabletopbellhop.com to request a copy of our press kit with current website and podcast stats.
