Spell Sanctum Join the beta

The beta · Mac and Windows

Get the beta.

Free, like everything else. Only the host installs Spell Sanctum. Your players just open the link in their browser.

What your computer needs

Not much.

The host

  • A Mac, or a PC with Windows 10 or 11, that stays on while you play. Spell Sanctum keeps it from falling asleep.
  • An internet connection for the public link. The table travels over your upload, so a wired connection or strong Wi-Fi helps. With none, Local Mode hosts on your Wi-Fi instead, and friends on it can still play.
  • Nothing else installed first. Spell Sanctum is one download with everything it needs inside, and it installs like any other app.
  • About a gigabyte of free space for the app and its card-image cache.

Everyone else

  • A computer with a modern browser, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
  • A phone, if you like: it can hold your hand.
  • Nothing to install, and no account.

Setup, step by step

A few minutes, once.

After the first time, starting a game is just opening the app.

  1. Download the beta.

    Pick Mac or Windows at the bottom of this page. On a Mac it's a .dmg: open it and drag Spell Sanctum into Applications. On Windows it's an installer: double-click it and it installs in a few seconds, no administrator needed, with Spell Sanctum on your Start menu and desktop.

  2. Open Spell Sanctum.

    On a Mac, open it from Applications or Launchpad. On Windows, the installer opens it for you the first time; after that it's on your Start menu. If your computer warns you about an unknown app, here's what to click.

    Then give it a little time. Its window shows each step while your table starts and its link comes online, about 30 to 40 seconds on both Mac and Windows.

    Screenshot coming soon

  3. Your table opens, link copied.

    After that wait, the window turns into your table and its link is already on your clipboard. Leave the Spell Sanctum window open the whole time you play: closing it ends the game for everyone, so it asks first while anyone is sitting at the table. The Table menu copies the link again any time.

    Screenshot coming soon

  4. Send the link. Answer the door.

    Paste the link to your pod. When a friend knocks, click Let in. That's it: shuffle up.

    Screenshot coming soon

  5. New version? It tells you.

    When a newer Spell Sanctum is out, the app says so as it starts, with a link back here. On a Mac, drag the new one into Applications over the old one. On Windows, run the new installer. Your saved tables and decks carry over.

If your computer warns you

“Unknown app” warnings.

Spell Sanctum isn't code-signed yet, so the first time you open it, your computer may stop and ask. Code-signing is the first thing supporters are funding, and anyone can chip in on Ko-fi. Once it's signed, Macs will open it normally and Windows will show who made it, though Windows may still ask until more people have installed it. Until then, here is exactly what to click. You do it once for each new version.

On a Mac

If it says “Spell Sanctum” Not Opened, or that Apple can't check it for malicious software:

  1. Click Done (or OK).
  2. Open System Settings, then Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down to Security. Next to the note about Spell Sanctum, click Open Anyway.
  4. Type your Mac's password, then click Open Anyway once more.

On macOS 14 or earlier you can instead Control-click Spell Sanctum in Applications, choose Open, then click Open.

Your Mac may also ask to use the microphone (the first time you join voice) and to find devices on your local network (for tables on your Wi-Fi), or whether “Spell Sanctum” may accept incoming connections. Click Allow.

On Windows

If your browser says the file isn't commonly downloaded, choose Keep. In Edge that's the … menu, then Keep, then Show more and Keep anyway.

If a blue box says Windows protected your PC when you open the installer:

  1. Click More info.
  2. Click Run anyway.

If it says Open File – Security Warning, click Run.

If Windows Defender Firewall asks about Spell Sanctum, tick Private networks and click Allow access. That lets phones on your Wi-Fi reach the table.

Wondering whether hosting is safe? Here's how it works.

Download

Ready? Pick your computer.

The beta download will be right here: free, with no sign-up and no email.

Only the host installs. One person in your pod runs Spell Sanctum on their computer. The players never download anything: they open the link, type a name and knock.

Give it 30 to 40 seconds. Starting takes a moment on both Mac and Windows while your table and its link come online. The window turns into your table when it's ready.