Ok so I've looked into this and you have a few options depending on texture and game.
My number one pick is rubberized pad with polyester top. These are the standard for magic the gathering playmats for a good reason, they're vibrant, they're non slip, they have a nice weight, and they don't crease easily so you always have a smooth play area.
Option two, light stretch upholstery style faux leather. This has all of the same properties as option one, but you don't have to adhere two materials to make it yourself. One possible con is that it has it's own color, this looks great if you want that bespoke game board with wooden pieces and bone dice look, but I wouldn't use it for anything that looks good vibrant.
Option three, duck cloth. It's a study, tight weave canvas used for outdoor bags and hunting gear. It's light weight, holds up to abuse, doesn't hold creases for long, and comes in any color. This would be my go to if I needed large cloth I can drop anywhere and don't need to worry about the condition. It's nearly waterproof on its own and machine washable.
Lastly, sail canvas or real leather. These are alternatives to the faux leather and duck cloth, they offer similar options to their respective option but leather requires occasional maintenance that faux doesn't and isn't cheap. Sail canvas can be thicker or thinner than duck cloth but it doesn't have the some tight weave and isn't as abusable. It's a good option if duck cloth isn't to your liking and if you want that clearly fabric aesthetic.
Lastly, I advise an edge stitch for fabrics to prevent fraying and if you're feeling fancy, stitching the lines and boarders of the applied boardgame design adds a really nice textural element.