Extremely Valid Business Ideas for the Cool AF Tabletop RPGs Industry

Extremely Valid business ideas are backed by both quantitative (keyword search volume) and qualitative (Reddit conversations) analysis.

View all the ideas and all the research at extremelyvalid.ai/ideas

Hey friend,

Back in my day, the words “role playing game” were only whispered quickly between definitely girlfriend-having teen boys who were also definitely good at sports and skateboarding and looking hot.

Fast forward 30 years later and I’m getting word that tabletop role playing games are —*checks notes*— “cool as fuck” now?!?

And not just Silicon Valley programmer with disposable income cool.

We’re talking like mainstream, Netflix-show-about-it, celebrities-play-it cool.

As we increasingly drown in screens and Zoom calls, people are craving tactile, face-to-face experiences with actual humans. The kind where you roll physical dice, argue rules interpretations, and accidentally knock over someone's Mountain Dew.

This is the Digital Tabletop Worlds trend - where traditional nerds-only pastimes are getting turbo-boosted by exactly the right amount of digital technology and sold to mainstream audiences craving adventure with their friends.

Read on for five critical hit business ideas - from physical venue concepts to AI-powered innovation. There's something for indie creators, lifestyle entrepreneurs, and even VC-scale disruptors.

Roll for initiative!

Ideas

PlotPilot AI

Those legendary Dungeon Masters who can spin entire universes from their imagination? They're as rare as The Demogorgon itself.

PlotPilot AI is your AI storytelling companion that transforms random elements and basic ideas into cohesive, engaging narratives. Use it in "Pilot Mode" as a fully automated DM for solo or GM-less play, or switch to "Co-Pilot Mode" as an intelligent assistant for human GMs.

For the millions who want to play but can't find a DM (or don't have 20 hours/week for prep), PlotPilot is the bridge to endless adventure.

The Portal

Dave & Buster's for nerds. But actually cool.

The Portal revolutionizes tabletop gaming with hyper-immersive adventures in dedicated physical venues. Step into themed rooms where projection mapping brings battle maps to life, spatial audio creates atmosphere, and AR overlays enhance miniatures.

Yes, it's capital intensive. But in a world starved for meaningful social interaction, The Portal delivers experiences people will gladly pay premium for special occasions.

GM Connect

GM Connect is the two-sided marketplace bringing together players seeking Game Masters and vetted GMs offering their services. But it's more than just matchmaking - it's loaded with integrated digital tools that make running games less burdensome.

AI-assisted adventure prep, streamlined virtual tabletops, and easy onboarding for new players mean more people willing to take on the GM role. Players get consistent, high-quality gaming experiences, even without a dedicated GM in their friend group.

SagaForge

SagaForge bridges the gap between epic imaginations and the physical assets to support them. It offers:

Upgrade Kits - Premium 3D miniatures, hand-painted terrain, and custom tokens that make the stuff in your starter set look like it came from a dollar store clearance bin.

Creator Manufacturing - We turn indie game designers' fever dreams into actual physical products people can hold. From concept to "holy crap, I made a real game" boxed sets.

It's "Etsy meets manufacturing expertise" for the tabletop crowd—premium craftsmanship at scale. And yes, we can 3D print that ridiculously specific half-elf/half-orc bard with a lute your character absolutely needs.

WorldsCrafter

WorldsCrafter is essentially "Canva for XR worlds" - a no-code platform that lets average humans create and share immersive 3D environments without a computer science degree.

The magic? A vast library of 3D assets, drag-and-drop simplicity, basic interactivity logic, and seamless sharing. Whether you're building a virtual D&D tavern or a space station for your sci-fi campaign, WorldsCrafter makes it approachable.

This isn't just for tabletop gamers - it's for anyone who wants to build in virtual space but finds current tools overwhelming. The TAM expands well beyond gaming into education, social spaces, and creative expression.

Need to adventure further into any of these ideas?

Share it on X and tag me, I’ll help you think through next steps.

Love,

Riley