What you’ll do

You’ll join remote sessions as a vetted player, help us put prototypes through their paces, and share clear, honest feedback that designers can actually use.

• Join scheduled remote sessions (mostly on Tabletop Simulator / Tabletopia).
• Read the brief/rules ahead of time so you’re ready to play on-time.
• Play attentively and “think out loud” when something is confusing, clever, or clunky.
• Answer moderator questions and participate in short debrief discussions.
• Complete pre-session and post-session surveys or written reflections when requested.
• Respect NDAs and keep all prototypes, files, and discussions confidential.
• Show up with working tech: solid internet, a mic/headset, and a reasonably quiet space.

What you bring

• You enjoy modern board games and aren’t scared of learning new ones from a prototype rulebook.
• Comfortable speaking up in a small group and giving specific, respectful feedback.
• Reliable remote setup (PC or laptop that can run TTS/Tabletopia, Discord, etc.).
• Willingness to be recorded (audio/video/screenshare) for research and note-taking.
• Dependable: you commit to sessions you accept and communicate early if something changes.
• 18+ and comfortable signing NDAs and basic participation agreements.

Nice to have

• Prior playtesting experience (tabletop, RPG, digital, or UX research).
• Familiarity with Tabletop Simulator and/or Tabletopia.
• Experience teaching games or hosting regular game nights.
• Particular strengths or preferences (eurogames, co-ops, social deduction, etc.) you’re happy to note.
• Comfortable using tools like Discord, Google Docs, Airtable forms, or similar.

Compensation

• Paid, freelance-style role: you’ll be invited to studies that match your profile and availability.
• We currently pay around $25 USD per hour of live session time; exact rates vary by study length and structure.
• Surveys or prep work are scoped and compensated as part of each study.
• Participation is not guaranteed every week, but we’ll keep you in the loop for relevant projects.

How to apply

Submit the following via the application form:

• A short note (100–200 words) about your experience with board games and/or playtesting.
• A list of 5–10 games you’ve enjoyed recently, and why they clicked (or didn’t).
• Your time zone, typical availability windows, and how many sessions per month you’d like to take.
• A quick confirmation that you:
  • Can run TTS/Tabletopia on your machine,
  • Are comfortable being recorded, and
  • Are willing to sign NDAs.

If you don’t have formal playtest experience yet, that’s fine — focus on your game literacy, reliability, and how you show up in a group.