Are you planning to surprise your board-game lover friends for a special occasion?
Or do you perhaps want to butter up your DM before the fight against the Big Bad?
Find the top gifts for board game lovers. Here are some gift ideas that will wow any board game lover without breaking the bank!
What are the best gifts for a board game lover?
Snacks
Especially if your friend is hosting a family game night, they will definitely appreciate some fuel. However, we all know that isn’t so easy: a good snack can get messy and all over our favorite, pricy board game pieces. No one wants that, right?
Why not try your hands at making it a game night to remember by getting yourself a baking bundle and making some treats based on your favorite games?
You can find plenty of inspiration for that on IG or even on Pinterest, but hexagon cookies with Catan themed icing are always a crowd favorite and should be a great option to impress any board game enthusiast.
That being said, not all of us have the time to bake, right? (some of us don’t even have the kitchen space for it!) Why not grab some funky-looking chopsticks or some cool organizers to go with your offering of a bag of chips (or cheeseballs?)
Dice
If you’d like to gift something a bit more lasting – after all, snacks do tend to disappear a bit too quickly – try something that would be useful to any board game enthusiast! Dice.
Of course, as with everything, there is a small issue here: once someone starts collecting dice, they will be unlikely to stop, so be careful you don’t turn your board gamer into a dice hoarder.
To be fair, thought, that might be a good thing for you: because, with dice, you will never run out of things to give them!
Looking for something even more unique?
Try gifting a dice potion or a bath bomb filled with dice. You can bet that, even the person that has everything, doesn’t have that.
And no list of gifts for board game lovers would be complete without a dice tower. Not everyone has one and the right one can really enhance anyone’s experience playing board games.
Notebooks
Have you ever had to scamper to find a piece of paper to jot down important information about your board game collection? We all have a friend who never seems to get a notebook for themselves! Why not surprise them with one?
If you scour the internet, you will find many designs and even different materials, from fancy leather-bound books to ones made from recycled material.
Better yet, include a cool pen in your set so that your friend will never run out of those either!
Well, not for a while!
There is one caveat to this, however: buying a really cool notebook might make some of us concerned about ’ruining’ it by writing in it. (Trust me, I deal with this all the time!)
To prevent this, try leaving a sweet – or funny – personal message on the first page! That will surely work!
Board Games
By now, you must be wondering just why I haven’t mentioned the most important potential gift yet. After all, we are all board gamers, right? We all love receiving games for any occasion (or excuse…!)
Now – just between us – buying the best board games for your friend (or for your friend group) might be challenging. After all, many of us harbor sizable collections of the most popular board games! How can you make sure that your friend doesn’t already have a game you want to give them?
Well, while you can never be sure, there are a few ways to ensure that you get something that they don’t have (or haven’t preordered yet).
Why not buy a newer game like Wyrsmpan that provides a twist on the classic game Wingspan? Games like that are great options for board game enthusiasts that may already have a ton of games, but seeing one of their favorites from a different angle could be just the thing to spice up their next game night.
Expansions for games they already have can be another excellent way to breathe new life into their collection, and is something every board gamer would appreciate.
Another option is to upgrade their classic board games with collector’s editions. Why not grab one of these nostalgia tins for their favorite classic game.
Or… why not go for something fresh, like a detective game from one of the many brands your friends might not know yet? The pro of these games is that you have a huge variety to choose from on Amazon: some of my personal favorites can be seen HERE. However, they do only take one session (a few hours usually) to play. If you’re looking for replayability, you might not find what you’re looking for, but it might just shake up game night in a positive way.
Escape rooms from EXIT games are a great choice as well. They tend to take a few hours (or a few sessions), and while they are pretty linear, they are quite fun to play. They test a variety of skills, from logical thinking to cutting and folding, which makes them exciting for bigger teams, too. I find these games best to play with 2-3 friends, so everyone has something fun to do!
Another interesting gift could be the MINI version of something that you know your friend already loves. Azul’s mini version, for example, isn’t only adorable; it’s useful on the go, too. While your friend might have the normal set already, they might still appreciate something smaller that can fit in their backpack without too much fuss!
Themed Knickknacks
Of course, sometimes the occasion dictates a more toned-down gift, one that doesn’t SCREAM to the board gamer in us—it just whispers quietly! (At other times, your friend suffers from a lack of space and has no idea where to put bigger items anymore. That happens more often than you’d think!). Because, surprise, gifts for board game lovers don’t have to be board games.
Why not go for a small but meaningful gift that appeals to board game enthusiasts?
Another unique gift idea is a board game bucket list poster, where your friend can scratch off games as they play them.
Here are some examples that won’t take up too much space but will still be appreciated nonetheless.
Fun scented candles can be a great gift. For a personal twist, re-label them with the games they remind you of. Using inside jokes will definitely get you some extra points.
Another favorite of mine is teas based on games, movies, or other franchises. While they do not take up much space, they last for quite a while. Cute tea cups or teaspoons are also an option!
If space isn’t that much of an issue, a themed cookbook like Heroes’ Feast can also be fun. Not only are they useful, they can also encourage your friend(s) to make tasty treats for the next get-together!
Also Read: Go Dark Ages with These Ten Best Medieval Board Games
Conclusion
Hopefully, by now, you have a few ideas on what the best gifts for board game lovers are and the joy of playing board games. The beauty of having such a vast hobby, though, of course, is that we’ve barely scratched the surface! There is much more to buy – and new products arrive in the stories every day.
So… what would YOU gift your board gamer friend (or lover) next?
Tell us in the comments below.
FAQ
1. What types of gifts are best for board gamers?
Gifts that enhance the tabletop gaming experience or relate to their favorite games, such as board games, expansion packs, unique dice, or themed merchandise are great choices. Notebooks and cool pens can also be practical gifts for jotting down notes during gameplay.
2. How can I ensure that I don’t duplicate a gift?
If you’re unsure whether your friend already owns a particular game or item, consider speaking to them about their collection in casual conversation or consult their online wish list if available. Alternatively, purchasing a new release or something from a lesser-known brand can help avoid duplicates.
3. Are there any thoughtful yet small gifts for board gamers?
Absolutely! Scented candles, themed teas, or quirky game-related knickknacks make wonderful small gifts. Personal touches, such as custom labels or inside jokes on the items, can make these gifts even more special.
4. How can I make my gift stand out?
Adding a personal note or a heartfelt message can elevate your gift. You could also consider creating a themed gift bundle that includes a variety of related items, such as a game with matching snacks, expanding on the unique aspects of the gift to surprise your friend.