Review: All on Board delivers an authentic VR board game simulator for enthusiasts on Meta Quest
All on Board offers a great board game simulation in VR. However, our review on Meta Quest 3 shows that getting started is not always easy.
Spanish developer The Game Kitchen is best known for creating the dark fantasy worlds of the Blasphemous series. With All on Board, the studio has ventured into virtual reality for the first time. While their attention to detail and passion shine through in this VR board game simulator for Meta Quest and PC-VR, getting started isn't always a breeze. But one thing is for sure: All on Board is a VR game made by board game fans for board game fans, and you can tell within seconds.
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All on Board: Review in a nutshell
The Game Kitchen's All on Board combines intuitive VR controls and detailed tabletop simulation with careful attention to authentic board gaming elements. If development continues as announced, the studio's project could establish itself as the leading VR board game platform through its focus on realistic gameplay mechanics and comprehensive feature set.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 points
- Tested on: Meta Quest 3
- Available on: Steam-compatible PC VR headsets, Meta Quest
All on Board is suitable for you if you...
- are looking for an authentic VR board game simulator
- want to play original licensed table-top hits in VR or mixed reality
- have no space, money or time for real board games
All on Board is less suitable for you if you...
- can't do without the haptic feel of real board games
- find it difficult to play board games without written instructions
What awaits you in All on Board
All on Board brings beloved tabletop games into virtual reality, offering an impressive launch lineup including Terraforming Mars, The Hunger, The Binding of Isaac, Istanbul, Escape the Dark Castle, Rallyman: GT, and classics like Go, Ludo, Chess, and Checkers. The Game Kitchen promises more titles as paid DLC in the coming months, with a nice touch — only the host needs to purchase the extra content for everyone to enjoy it.
The developers focused heavily on authenticity. You'll play these games exactly as you would at your living room table — grabbing pieces with VR controllers, rolling dice yourself, and yes, being responsible for following the rules just like in real life.
Learning the ropes could be smoother
This commitment to realism assumes everyone knows how to play. Each game includes a tutorial video through YouTube integration that opens in your VR space. You can position this window anywhere, but it's only visible to you — meaning everyone in your group needs to watch their own tutorial separately. A shared viewing experience would have made more sense here.
The game could also use some written instructions for quick reference during play. Even better would be guided tutorial rounds for each game to learn while playing. That said, the "Smart Glance" context menu deserves praise, offering helpful information and action options for every object on the board.
Stunning visuals meet smart controls
For serious board gamers and aspiring ones, All on Board already stands as the best VR board game simulator available. The attention to detail is remarkable — every board, piece, and card has been meticulously recreated. The only downside? Text on cards and board spaces can be hard to read from a distance, even with tweaked resolution settings through Quest Games Optimizer.
Double-clicking the joysticks takes you to your assigned seat. While you can't freely move around or manipulate the board like in Demeo, you can "pull" yourself through the VR space by reaching out, gripping the air, and pulling as if on an invisible rope.
Navigation works just like sitting at a real table. The control scheme takes some getting used to but proves thoughtful and intuitive. The trigger button handles picking up and placing pieces, while dice throwing mimics natural hand movements.
With Meta Quest 3, you can set up All on Board in mixed reality mode on your physical table. | Image: The Game KitchenA quick glance at your left wrist reveals a menu with all necessary session settings. Your playing cards appear via a wrist icon, letting you scroll through them with your dominant hand, discard them, or pass them to other players using the trigger. Some games also provide a freely-positionable tablet for displaying cards, figures, coins, or other game elements.
Each game comes with its own themed VR environment. Chess players enjoy an elegant apartment with ocean views, Istanbul brings Middle Eastern atmosphere, and The Binding of Isaac drops you into an appropriately gloomy cellar. Quest 3 users can even place the virtual board on their actual table using mixed reality mode, with height adjustment options.
Minor technical issues in multiplayer rounds
Although All on Board is a well-rounded experience overall, multiplayer testing with my colleague Tomislav revealed some issues: unresponsive menu cards, tutorial videos showed the wrong game, and black screens appeared occasionally when rotating in Istanbul.
The mixed reality board height adjustment button sometimes disappeared entirely, and sometimes we had to restart the game because one of us couldn't see some screens properly or couldn't operate some game elements. However, given The Game Kitchen's track record, these bugs will likely see quick fixes.
My verdict on All on Board
If The Game Kitchen delivers on their promised updates and refinements, All on Board will undoubtedly become the definitive VR board gaming experience. The launch lineup impresses with both modern hits like Terraforming Mars and classics like chess.
Cross-platform support between Meta Quest and SteamVR ensures a healthy player base, while save states eliminate the "just one more turn" problem of physical board games. Most importantly, All on Board maintains the authentic tabletop experience while adding digital conveniences and dropping the setup hassle.
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