Board Gaming Accessories

Board gaming accessories have long been a source of entertainment, offering an exciting and strategic way to engage with friends and family.

In recent years, the world of board gaming has experienced a renaissance, with new games, more complex mechanics, and dedicated communities surrounding the hobby.

But as any avid board gamer knows, it’s not just about the game itself. The accessories that accompany board games can enhance the overall experience, bringing both functionality and style to your tabletop.

From premium components that improve the feel and quality of the game to organizational tools that keep everything in place, board gaming accessories can make a world of difference.

In this article, we’ll explore the many types of board game accessories available, their benefits, and why investing in the right accessories is essential for every serious board gamer.

1. Game Organizers

One of the most important categories of board game accessories is game organizers. These include inserts, trays, and boxes designed to help organize all the components of a game, such as cards, tokens, miniatures, and rulebooks. Organizers are especially helpful for games with a large number of pieces or complex setups.

Benefits of Game Organizers:

• Improved Setup and Clean-Up: Having all the components neatly organized means you spend less time setting up and cleaning up, allowing for more gameplay.
• Preservation of Game Components: Game organizers help protect delicate pieces such as cards and tokens from damage.
• Better Gameplay Experience: When everything is neatly arranged, it’s easier to access pieces during play, reducing interruptions and enhancing the flow of the game.

Popular examples of game organizers include the Broken Token and Folded Space organizers. Both brands offer custom-designed inserts for popular games like Gloomhaven, Pandemic Legacy, and Scythe, ensuring a perfect fit and a cleaner, more enjoyable gaming experience.

For DIY enthusiasts, you can even find downloadable templates and instructions to make your own organizers.

Websites like Thingiverse offer user-generated 3D models that can be printed on home 3D printers, allowing gamers to create unique storage solutions for their own collections.

2. Premium Game Pieces

While many board games come with standard pieces made of cardboard or plastic, there is a growing trend toward premium game components. These can range from custom dice and metal coins to high-quality miniatures and tokens.

Why Upgrade to Premium Pieces?

• Enhanced Aesthetics: Premium pieces often feature more detailed artwork, giving the game a visually stunning look that enhances immersion.
• Durability: Higher-quality components, such as metal coins or resin miniatures, are more durable and long-lasting compared to their cardboard counterparts.
• Tactile Enjoyment: There’s a distinct pleasure in holding high-quality components that feel substantial and satisfying to the touch. Games with premium pieces can feel more rewarding to play, as the weight and texture add to the overall sensory experience.

Examples of premium game pieces include metal coins (often used in games like Catan or Blood Rage), custom dice (available from brands like Q-Workshop), and miniature sets (such as those found in Zombicide or Descent: Journeys in the Dark).

These upgrades can make your gaming experience feel more immersive, and they’re often available through third-party sellers or Kickstarter campaigns.

3. Dice Towers and Dice Trays

Dice are an essential part of many board games, from Dungeons & Dragons to King of Tokyo, but rolling dice can sometimes create chaos on the table.

Dice can roll off the table, scatter around the board, or create noise that disrupts gameplay. This is where dice towers and dice trays come in.

Dice Towers:
A dice tower is a vertical structure that you drop your dice into, and they roll down the tower, usually landing in a tray. This ensures the dice stay within a designated area and adds a fun, theatrical element to dice-rolling.

Dice Trays:
A simpler alternative to dice towers, dice trays provide a contained area for rolling dice. Many trays are designed with a soft felt lining, which helps to reduce noise and prevent dice from bouncing too far.

Why Use Dice Towers and Trays?

• Reduced Mess: Dice towers help keep the dice contained in one area, preventing them from scattering and causing chaos.
• Enhanced Visual Appeal: The dramatic fall of dice through a dice tower can be visually satisfying and add an extra layer of fun to the gameplay.
• Reduced Noise: Felt-lined dice trays reduce the noise made by dice hitting the table, ensuring a quieter, more peaceful gaming environment.

Many dice towers and trays come in a variety of materials, from wood to acrylic to leather. You can find custom designs on Etsy or from dedicated accessory brands like Wyrmwood or Q-Workshop. These are not only functional but also add an elegant touch to your gaming setup.

4. Card Sleeves

For card games, one of the most essential accessories is card sleeves. Card games like Magic: The Gathering, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, or Dominion involve heavy usage of cards, which can wear down over time. To preserve the longevity of your favorite games, card sleeves are a must.

Why Sleeve Your Cards?

• Protection from Wear: Sleeves protect your cards from bending, tearing, and getting dirty. This is particularly important for collectible card games (CCGs) and living card games (LCGs) that involve a lot of handling.
• Prevention of Marked Cards: Sleeves prevent cards from becoming marked over time, which could affect gameplay in competitive settings.
• Better Shuffle: Sleeved cards are easier to shuffle, which can improve the overall experience, particularly for games where cards are shuffled frequently.

Card sleeves are available in various sizes to fit different games and card types. Ultra Pro and Dragon Shield are two well-known brands that offer high-quality card sleeves in a variety of colors and designs.

5. Playmats and Table Covers

While many board games come with a standard game board, playmats and table covers are accessories that can dramatically improve the visual appeal and functionality of your gaming surface.

Benefits of Playmats and Table Covers:

• Aesthetic Appeal: Playmats add a beautiful, thematic backdrop to your game, making the table feel more immersive.
• Protection for the Game Board: A playmat can help protect your game board from damage, particularly if it’s made of delicate materials or prone to wear.
• Improved Gameplay: Playmats often provide a soft, smooth surface that makes handling components easier, whether you’re moving pieces or shuffling cards.

Some playmats are designed specifically for popular games like Settlers of Catan or Terraforming Mars, while others are custom-designed to feature unique artwork.

Companies like The Game Crafter and MeepleSource offer custom playmats, while larger stores like Amazon and CoolStuffInc offer pre-made designs.

6. Board Game Bags and Storage Solutions

For gamers who regularly attend conventions or host game nights, carrying and storing board games can be a challenge. Board game bags and storage solutions are designed to make transporting your games easier and more convenient.

Benefits of Board Game Bags and Storage:

• Convenience: Carrying multiple games to a friend’s house or a gaming convention is made much easier with specialized game bags and storage solutions.
• Protection: These bags offer protection from the elements, ensuring that your games stay safe from scratches, dirt, and water.
• Organization: Game bags often come with compartments and pockets, allowing you to keep all the components of a game together in one place.

Popular brands like Slicker and Game Caddy offer durable, well-organized bags designed for board gamers. Some bags are even padded to protect fragile games or miniatures.

7. Custom Tokens and Markers

In many strategy games, tokens, markers, and counters are used to track progress, resources, or other game metrics. For gamers who want to elevate their gameplay, custom tokens and markers can add flair and style to the experience.

Why Use Custom Tokens?

• Aesthetic Appeal: Custom tokens often come in themed designs that match the game’s aesthetics, such as medieval coins for a fantasy game or futuristic credits for a sci-fi title.
• Functionality: Custom markers are often more intuitive to use, making the game easier to understand and play.
• Durability: Premium tokens are often made from metal, wood, or acrylic, ensuring they last longer than cardboard punch-outs.

Custom tokens can be purchased from third-party sellers on platforms like Etsy, or gamers can make their own using 3D printing or laser-cut materials.

Conclusion

Investing in board gaming accessories can significantly enhance your gaming experience, providing both practical benefits and aesthetic improvements.

From game organizers that streamline setup to premium components that make the game feel more immersive, the right accessories can transform a standard game night into an unforgettable experience.

Whether you’re looking for a way to keep your games organized, elevate the feel of the components, or add some flair to your gaming setup, there’s no shortage of options to explore.

By choosing accessories that reflect your personal style and gaming needs, you can create a tailored board gaming environment that’s both functional and enjoyable.

For more information on specific products, check out these resources:

• Broken Token: Game Organizers and Inserts
• Q-Workshop: Premium Dice and Gaming Accessories
• Ultra Pro: Card Sleeves and Gaming Accessories
• The Game Crafter: Custom Playmats and Tokens

Whether you’re a casual gamer or a seasoned enthusiast, these accessories can make every game night that much more exciting. Happy gaming!