Your Residents will Thank You (Part 1): Why Every Condominium Needs Game Tables

In Singapore’s competitive condominium landscape, offering just a pool and gym is no longer enough. Today’s residents are looking for more than just a place to live — they want a lifestyle.

That’s why more forward-thinking Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) are turning underused spaces into high-impact amenities such as game rooms, to significantly boost resident satisfaction and community engagement.

In Part 1 of our condominium series, we'll explore the following:

How Condo game rooms help foster community and connection through play
Why Condo game rooms are a great financial investment
How to create a Condo game room

A. Fostering Community and Connection Through Play

Did you know that condominiums have an advantage in encouraging community building through game rooms?

While high-density HDBs lacks the common space to site games, landed-housing lacks the community to play. On the other hand, Condos can easily house shared game rooms for residents. And they foster community for various reasons such as being:

Social hubs
Ready event platforms
Inter-generational friendly

1. A Natural Social Hub

Re-ignite the ‘Kampong’ spirit within your Condos with darts throwing and foosball! Gaming is a leveller that helps break down social silos and creates a sense of belonging.

Because gamerooms naturally encourage organic interaction, residents who might not speak in elevators or during AGM meetings will find themselves laughing over a round of pool or darts. New residents can easily join in or observe, helping them feel welcome.

They also offer parents a chance to get their (and their neighbour's) kids out for some hands-on, community fun rather than individual electronic devices. Fraser Suites's tech-futuristic themed gameroom is perfect for kids (and their neighbours) to bond over racing and shooting arcade machines, for example!

2. Events, Tournaments, and Casual Socials

MCSTs can use game rooms to host mini tournaments, friendly matches, or themed nights, helping to animate the social calendar. Imagine a bustling culture of weekly game nights where neighbours become friends over play!

MCSTs can tie tournaments to coincide with festive seasons such as Christmas, Football finals or other festivals. Even without MCST's lead, residents can launch their own ground-up competitive sessions for themselves and guests. Not only will visitors from other Condos know how cool the condo is, the best part is that these events require minimal setup yet have high perceived value among residents.

3. Inclusive and Intergenerational

Unlike gyms (skewed toward adults) or playgrounds (targeted at young children), game rooms are truly inter-generational. Immediately accessible to all ages - whether its kids, working adults, or seniors - its lack of structured programming, simple and intuitive rules helps break down age silos.

They also require no prior training, tech or membership to enjoy unlike some sports facilities or tech-heavy amenities. And it’s not just age, but skill and gender-friendly. In fact, table games like table tennis and foosball are suitable for those with mild mobility challenges. With a thoughtful setup and the right choice of tables, you can ensure participation for all, not just the athletic or extroverted.

B. Investing In Residents’ Experience

Naturally, the social value conferred to residents is closely linked to investment from a financial sense. Often seen as “nice-to-haves,” game tables are strategic amenities that enhance a condo’s appeal and dollar value, whether yours is an established condo or a new development.

With minimal investment, game room installations offer years of recurring value, especially when compared to facilities with high maintenance overheads.

1. Driving Resident Satisfaction and Tenant Retention

When residents feel that their condo is more than just a place to sleep — that it actively supports leisure — they’re more likely to stay long term. In competitive markets like Singapore where tenant turnover can be costly, having more than just the usual gym or swimming pool helps set your Condo apart.

2. Enhancing Property Value and Buyer Appeal

Modern homebuyers - especially younger families - are looking at lifestyle offerings when comparing developments. A well-designed game room sends a message that the condo community is vibrant, resident-centric, and forward-thinking. It also appeals to foreign buyers and renters. If yours is an upcoming development, a game room can tip the scales in your favour during a property tour.

3. Reviving Underused Shared Spaces

Whether it's a forgotten meeting room or a small space, under-utilised areas are ideal candidates for a game room transformation. Having a simple foosball setup takes up relatively little room but delivers ongoing value, with little maintenance.

For example, Seaside Residences maximises its 3x3m space by lining the wall with a free standing Trondarts Darts Machine, while their Arena foosball table has minimal space requirement.

C. From Unused Corners to Resident Favourites: 4 Game Room Concepts That Work

Convinced that your Condo needs a game room? Here are some ideas to transform hidden, dormant spaces into a vibrant, resident-favourite corner!

With smart planning, repurpose empty lounges, overlooked meeting rooms into spaces that boost resident satisfaction and offer strong ROI in terms of usage, retention, and property value.

1. Outdoor Fun Zone or Rooftop Play Deck

Turn Condo patios, gardens, or rooftop/sky terraces into a hybrid chill zone. In semi-sheltered or open-air recreational area, you could feature weatherproof game tables so that residents can play rain or shine.

Best For: Condos with unused patio space, rooftops, or poolside pavilions.

How to achieve it: Identify open spaces or pavilions that seem they could do with added dynamism. Add to them durable, weather-resistant game tables and you've got yourself a fun zone that allows for all-weather play, all year round.

A popular idea is the 'pool table by poolside' concept - besides creating pure holiday vibes, it allows residents to transit from to another easily. One great example is High Park Residences, which superbly did with the waterproof Mood pool table, outdoor X-1 foosball and air hockey table (see below).

Add non-slip flooring for safety, mist fans for comfort (Singapore’s hot!), and table covers and anti-theft mechanisms and you’re ready to go!

2. Compact Chill Corner

The bad news - in space-scare Singapore, most condo rooms may be fully utilised and its hard to find a dedicated game room. The good news? Gaming areas don’t require much space.

By maximising odd-shaped or small leftover areas like hallway ends or corners near lifts, along with choosing ‘smart’ games, MCSTs can create cosy corners for residences without committing much physical real estate.

Best for: Condos with compact developments or space constraints.

How to achieve it: There are many game room space-saving methods ,but here are some tips specific to condos. Add in a roll-down screen and standing bar for digital games or movie nights!

One simple way is to choose games that don't take up much space to begin with. Consider stylish, space-saving convertible game tables that blend into modern decor, like our dining pool table collection.
Multi-game tables combine pool with games like air hockey and table tennis so residents have a variety of options.

3. Forgotten to Favorite: Extreme Gameroom Makeover

Be it limited visibility, or redundancy caused by other more-popular amenities, MCSTs often find themselves managing unused rooms. Avoid missed chances to elevate the condo’s lifestyle offerings to residents - transform large unused spaces like reading lounges or vacant meeting rooms left over from layout constraints into cosy spaces.

Best For: Mid-size clubhouses with underused large spaces or rooms.

How to achieve it: Here’s where such spaces can take on a new life with just the right leisure features.

Gallop Gables apartment's a good example where a wide large area was turned into a cosy game spot. With a pool table and neon-lit jukebox complemented the colourful pink wall, residents can bonding over music and games.

4. An Intergenerational Game-Changing Upgrade

What specifically does it take to create an social space designed to be inter-generational and to be inclusive? Bonding becomes much more meaningful by catering to the needs of seniors, the young and the less mobile residents. We’re talking about ergonomics and safety, where choice of game and features matter.

Best For: Family-focused or mixed demographic condos with seniors and young families.

How to achieve it: Considering diverse player demographics and comfort level is key. For example, less bulky foosball tables. Safety: We’re also talking about safety, where table tennis tables with rounded corners are chosen.

Known for its safety features, a table tennis table like the Cornilleau 300 comes with safety rubber corners, while pool tables have an equivalent in rounded corners. For Soccer Tables, consider a Telescopic foosball table with non-protruding rods intended to be safer for kids.

Conclusion: A Modern Must-Have for Forward-Thinking Condos

As Singapore’s residential landscape evolves, MCSTs that invest in resident-centric amenities will set their developments apart. A game room is a cost-effective, socially powerful tool that fosters community and enhances long-term property appeal, both of which your residents will thank you for! We’ve shown how:

Increases Property Value: Established condo or a new developments with a well-designed, active game space positions the development as lifestyle-forward and more appealing to buyers.
Tangible Resident Satisfaction: Game tables offer instant, low-barrier fun that makes them accessible and widely used across age groups.
Various ways to build a game area: Whether it's complementing outdoor areas, transforming underused large spaces, maximising compact ones or thematic design, the possibilities are endless. Hopefully with the real-life examples of Singapore residences - you can imagine the best combination for your condo needs!