Why are Board Games so Expensive? (And How You Can Save Money on Them)

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If you go online right now and look up a classic board game like Monopoly, you’d see that a standard version does not cost that much. But then, if you look up some newer, more modern board games, you’ll see that it is not uncommon for these board games to cost two to three times as much as a classic board game.. Why are board games so expensive?

The value of a board game, just like anything else, depends on a lot of things. Understanding why a board game costs what it costs can help you appreciate a game more and choose better games. Keep reading to find out why board games are so expensive. Then, learn how you can save money on board games for you and your family.

Setting the Price of a Board Game

Many modern board games come with a lot of unique, individual parts and involve a lot of people to make them. That’s the short answer to the question, “Why are board games so expensive?” There’s more to it than that, though. The price of a board game often depends on how the unique pieces are made, how many components there are, how board games are designed and produced, and who publishes the game.

Parts of a Board Game

The first major cost of board games comes from the pieces in the game. Not all games are just a board and dice with some cards. Many of the most expensive board games on the market use miniatures as a core part of the game. 

Miniatures are small, customized pieces for board games and tabletop games. If a board game uses miniatures as part of the game, it’s likely that they’ll need more than just one or two. Each miniature goes through a custom design process, too. This takes a lot of materials and skilled workers. 

So why do board game publishers go through the effort? Because the demand for miniatures is high. Board gamers enjoy miniatures. Gamers feel they enhance the game, especially war games and RPGs with a high narrative element. Plus, people enjoy painting miniatures. 

Miniatures aren’t the only pieces that can cost a lot, though. Many modern board games contain unique, customized pieces of all kinds. These can include coins, maps, tiles, or even eggs!

It’s also worth noting that even if the cost of the components is not high itself, some board games need a good way to store lots of pieces. Replayability is very important in board games (which we’ll talk about more later), so if you lose too many pieces, this leads to one of two solutions. One, you won’t play the game much anymore, which means the publisher will likely lose you as a future customer. Or two, you’ll ask the publisher for new components, which will cost them more in the end. 

How Board Games are Made

The next major cost of a board game depends on how they are made. Most modern board games are developed by small publishers and indie design teams. The list below simplifies the process of publishing board games.

1. Create a board game.
2. Develop a nice prototype with professional art.
3. Contact a factory.
4. Launch your game on Kickstarter.
5. Manufacture your game.
6. Send games from the factory to the fulfillment center.
7. Fulfill your games.

While many hobbyists want a high-quality game, though, most published games only plan for a small publishing run. That means that publishers need to make the price on a game higher in order to not only pay every part of the production team but to turn a profit, too. A game that sells 2,000 copies versus 20,000 copies will have a very different profit margin if it only costs $15. 

Small vs. Big Board Game Publishers

This is a key part of why mass-market board games from companies like Hasbro cost less. They’re intended for a wider audience, require less teamwork to produce, and are sold by companies that have a greater manufacturing power.

Small publishers, on the other hand, have to hire out the work for most steps of the creation process. Then, the more you publish, the better “deal” you can get from manufacturers for publishing in “bulk.” But if you can’t sell a large production run, then it’s not ultimately cost effective. That means the price goes up for the consumer. 

The age of the publisher matters, too. More established board game publishers may have an easier time keeping costs down because they’ve established a profit stream from their earlier games. Ticket to Ride is a good example of this. Days of Wonder has been able to capitalize on their hit game by creating lots of expansions that cost slightly less due to less components. They also have created digital versions of their games that might turn a better profit because their material costs are different. 

Newer publishers, however, don’t have that benefit. That’s part of why so many board games available on Kickstarter are by newer publishers or designers. Kickstarter connects new publishers with their audience and get their project off the ground. This works by audience members essentially “pre-ordering” a game to help the publisher get it made and cover the startup costs. It’s not a fool-proof system. A project needs to be backed completely for it to work, and then they can have unanticipated problems along the way. But when it does work, a great new board game enters the world. 

Getting Your Board Games

Another reason why board games are so expensive is the shipping cost. Board games are heavy, and many shipments are by weight. Even if you buy a board game in a store, they still ship to the store. This is why you might think you find a good board game deal online just to realize that shipping brings the price back up to market price.

Many board gamers also view their games as a collection and want them kept in good condition. Hobbyists go to great lengths to keep games stored well. That means that most board game publishers try to take extra care with their shipping, even if it means increasing the cost. 

Vintage Board Games

If you’re wondering why board games are so expensive, you probably aren’t asking about vintage board games, but they’re worth noting. If a board game is out of print, it will cost a lot more than one still in production. This cost will go up even more if it’s considered a collector’s item in some way. The original print run of Dune, for example, would certainly cost more than the Dune remake. Why?

• It was a popular game.
• A new version has come out, making people nostalgic.
• The original came out more than 40 years ago.

Not all vintage board games will cost more. Unpopular games and games in bad condition will generally cost less, even next to nothing. 

Are Board Games Worth the Price?

Now that you have a better sense of why board games cost what they cost, you might be wondering if they’re worth the price. Whether a board game is valuable enough to you is up to you, but there are certainly outside influences to consider. 

First, the cost of a board game doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Board game publishers put the time, effort, and money into making board games because there is a demande for them. People want to play these games because they are fun, interesting, beautiful, and a great way to spend time with others. 

Second, reviews from trusted gamers can go a long way. Some board games come with expensive components and the designers and publishers alike took a great amount of time and care into making the game. But if the players decide that the game isn’t that fun, then it’s not worth it. If a game gives a lot of fun and joy, though, then cost doesn’t mean that much. 

Entertainment Costs

Think about it this way: how much money per hour are you willing to spend on entertainment? Many people will go see a movie at a movie theater that will cost $15 per person for a two-hour movie. That’s $7.50 per hour of entertainment. If you play a board game that costs $50 that plays for an hour 10 times, though, then that’s $5 per hour of entertainment. (And more often than not, the more expensive the game, the more playtime goes into a single playthrough.) Here are some other entertainment cost comparisons to think about.

ACTIVITY	COST	COST PER HOUR
Night at the movies	$15 per person for tickets only	$7.50
Bowling	$12 per person including shoes	$12
Escape room	$25 per person	$25
Live concert	$95 per person	$32
NFL game	$150	$50
Board games	$50 per game	$5 or less

Board games aren’t so expensive when you think of it like that. And that’s a conservative estimate. Really, there are lots of ways to get more for your dollar when it comes to board games.

What are Some of the Most Expensive Board Games?

I can’t say I recommend buying a board game just because it’s amazingly expensive. I also don’t think you should avoid a game just because of its cost, especially if it’s something you think you’d really like. But I’ll admit, I became a bit curious as to which board games were particularly expensive. So, I thought you might be wondering, too. 

So first, I’m not generally talking about novelty, intentionally expensive versions of classics. It is easier to see why board games like these are so expensive. 

Instead, what are some of the most expensive modern board games that players regularly buy? Here are a few and their average cost on Amazon. 

• On Mars averages $128
• Gloomhaven averages $115
• Twilight Imperium averages $115
• Root averages $100
• Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition) averages $85
• A Feast for Odin averages $82
• Star Wars: Imperial Assault averages $73
• Arcadia Quest averages $69
• Scythe averages $67

This list does not include expansions to any of these games (although most of them do have at least one expansion). It also does not include games like Magic: the Gathering or Dungeons and Dragons, which have cards, books, dice, and other components. While the cost for a single item may be less (or more), buying all the items you’d want to really get into these games can get quite expensive. 

How Can I Save Money on Board Games?

Now that you see board games aren’t as expensive as you once thought, it’s still worth noting that there are great ways to save on board games like:

• Sharing games with friends
• Using deal trackers
• Shopping at thrift stores
• Play at a board game café

Also remember that games have a long shelf life. I have board games from 20+ years ago that I still play today because I kept them in good condition. So board games, in a way, are like an investment into your entertainment. 

Finally, not all board games are so expensive! Many great modern board games do not cost a lot. Some great games cost $10 or less. Saving money on games is largely about mindset and deciding whether or not a board game is expensive to you. 

What are the most expensive board games you know? How do you find great deals on expensive board games? Share in the comments!