The Dice Tower

The Dice Tower is a board-game media organization founded by Tom Vasel in 2005. It began as a podcast and grew into a website, video channel, and network devoted to reviewing, teaching, and discussing modern tabletop games. Vasel had previously worked in the board-game retail business and became known for his energetic review style and detailed coverage of games. The organization is not a publisher of one specific game; its central work is independent media coverage of hobbyist board games, card games, and related tabletop releases. Through its programs, The Dice Tower helped make video board-game reviews a familiar format.

Its flagship output has been the long-running Dice Tower podcast, hosted for many years by Vasel and Eric Summerer. Summerer joined the operation as an announcer and producer, bringing a background in radio and voice work to the show's conversations. The network has also featured reviewers including Zee Garcia, Mike DiLorenzo, and former host Sam Healey. Episodes commonly combine reviews, top-ten lists, interviews, news, and explanations of rules or game mechanisms. The team has covered major releases from publishers such as Fantasy Flight Games, Stonemaier Games, Days of Wonder, and many independent designers and studios. Its archive therefore documents changing tastes.

The Dice Tower became especially prominent through YouTube, where its review videos use a recognizable tabletop presentation: games are shown close-up, components are explained, and Vasel or another reviewer gives a clear recommendation or criticism. The channel has published thousands of videos, including reviews of strategy games, family titles, party games, solo designs, and children's games. The organization also operates a website containing written reviews and ratings, while its podcast catalog includes specialized series such as The Dice Tower Awards and The Dice Tower Essentials. These recurring features let the staff identify recommended games and notable annual releases for audiences.

Beyond media, the brand has supported events that connect publishers, designers, and players. Dice Tower conventions have been held in Florida, including Dice Tower East in Orlando, and the organization has also organized the Dice Tower Cruise, a tabletop trip bringing gamers together at sea. Its annual awards are selected by the review team rather than by a public sales ranking, reflecting the staff's published opinions about gameplay, production, and replay value. The Dice Tower remains influential because it combines sustained coverage with accessible explanations, preserving a substantial record of modern board-game culture since 2005. Its reviews remain widely consulted.