Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

The digitization of tabletop games raises important questions about how different formats shape player experience. While prior research has focused mainly on traditional board games, less is known about how more complex, roguelike-inspired designs translate across physical and digital environments. This study compares player experiences of the same procedurally oriented tabletop game in analogue and digital formats. Using an inductive content analysis of questionnaire data and researcher observations from 17 participants, the study identifies clear modality-specific differences. The analogue version fostered stronger social presence, tactile engagement, and recognition of thematic and cultural elements, whereas the digital version preserved core mechanics but introduced interaction friction that shifted attention toward pacing and strategic decision-making. Both formats were positively received and showed high replay value. The findings highlight the need to treat analogue-to-digital adaptation as a redesign process shaped by medium affordances, offering practical insights for cross-format game development.

Keywords
Analogue and digital games; Roguelike-inspired tabletop games; Board game digitization; Cross-format game design