It is a cliché straight out of an old Western movie. Two gunslingers square off, getting ready to duel and one says to the other, “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.” If we learn nothing else from silver screen cowboys, we should know by now that sometimes, there is only room for one. This was as true in the Old West as it is in modern basements today. Sometimes, there is only room for one of something.

When you are looking to deck out your basement, garage, shed, rec room, or Man Cave, one of the first thing you want to put in it is a gaming table. A gaming table makes a great visual centerpiece for the room and also will provide hours of entertainment for you and your family and friends. The problem becomes, how do you know what type of gaming table Is best? Which type of table is right for you?

Here we will look at the most popular styles of gaming tables for basements and other entertainment spaces and discuss which ones are best for you. While there is no definitive answer as to which type of table is best, by looking at the pros and cons, you should bet a better idea of exactly which gaming table is right for your basement.

Ping Pong Table 

A ping pong table is a great addition to any basement and can be a great table to feature in your entertainment room. Ping pong is a sport that is easy to learn and play and is very popular both at home and around the world. The best part about a ping pong table is that while we are calling it a “gaming table” like the other tables on this list, it really is more of a “sporting table”. That is because ping pong, or table tennis, is an actual sport that is even played in the Olympics. Playing ping pong is active, athletic, and physical which is something you don’t get in the other tables.

A ping pong table is also going to be one of the bigger tables on this list. This may be a pro or a con depending on your situation. If you have a large space you want to fill up, a ping pong table is perfect but if space is tight, you may want to look at one of the other options. To get an idea of the styles, sizes, and value of the ping pong tables on the market, check out Giftwits’ ranking and reviews of ping pong tables.  

The downsides of a ping pong table have to do with the number of players that can play. It really is only 2 or 4 players that can play at a time. Yes, if your ping pong table folds up, you may be able to play by yourself but it is not all that great. And, if you have lots of friends, some will spend time watching and waiting as you can’t play with more than 4 players. You can repurpose the ping pong table though for other games with more participants.

Pool Table 

A pool table is another show-stopping statement table you can put in your basement that people will love. Pool is a very cool and skilled game that takes minutes to learn but years to master. Of the tables on this list, a pool table will probably look the best in your basement too. And, while it is not as athletic an endeavor as ping pong, it does take an incredible amount of focus, balance, and hand-eye coordination to play. It is also a more social game than ping pong. You can play more casually over a few sodas or beers.

The cons of a pool table are that, similarly to a ping pong table, there is a cap on how many players can play – although you can play with a single player – and that a regulation or bar-size pool table takes up quite a bit of space. Also, a pool table will take the most care and maintenance to maintain. The felt surface is very delicate so it is not something that you want kids fooling around with. If you have youngsters who are tough on furniture and games, you may want to consider another table.

Foosball Table 

There are a lot of things to love about a foosball table, not the least of which is its compact size and space requirements. The table itself is smaller than a pool or ping pong table and players do not have to move around as much either. And, while some people do take the game very seriously, foosball is not a sport and is the least active game played on these tables. This can be a pro or a con depending on what you are looking for.

You do need a partner for this game but can ultimately play with up to 6 or 8 players depending on the size of your table. The downside of a foosball table is that the game itself is probably the least interesting of the bunch. It can get kind of repetitive so unless you are already a huge foosball lover, you may get bored with this table quickly.

Multi Game Table 

To get the best of all these worlds you can check out multi-game tables. These are convertible tables that can have smaller versions of ping pong, pool, foosball, and even air hockey. With this table, you can save space and they are good for people who just can’t decide. However, the paired down versions of these games are just not as good as the full-scale versions. Unless the table is just for kids, you can probably pass on this jack of all trades, master of none table.

Conclusion 

You really cannot go wrong putting any of these tables in your basement, rec room, or Man Cave. They will all be lots of fun and give you something to do while hanging out, watching TV, drinking, or just relaxing. Choose the one that works best for you and start playing now!