Unique gifts for board game lovers – The Gifts that Keep on Gaming

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?

You might be thinking that gamers like games, so that’s what you should buy for us. You might also intimidated by trying to pick out the perfect board game, or actually finding one that we don’t already have.

But don’t stress; I generally don’t recommend buying games for gamers (I do recommend buying them for everyone else and created a whole website to help you find the best ones). So, instead, check out our stress-free recommendations below that will be appreciated by any serious or budding board gamer, regardless of how long they’ve been in the hobby and what kind of games they enjoy.

What are the best gifts for a board game lover?

Dice Tower

Every serious gamer needs a dice tower. There’s something about that sound of the dice tinkling through and the confidence that they’ve been fiarly rolled when they get to the tray below.

If you are going to get someone a dice tower, you should get one that is beautiful and handcrafted – made of real hardwood. I, myself, received one of these a few years ago for Christmas and it remains one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.

Component Bowls

I LOVE component bowls and I can’t possibly get enough of them. They hold coins and bits and keep every organized on the table while you play.

There isn’t a gamer alive that could use a set of these, especially a pack of handcrafted wooden bowls I got from Etsy a few years back. They’ll look fantastic with any game, on any table.

Game Storage

If the person you are buying for is anything like me, their collection is bursting at the seems with tiny card and dice games. I am obsessed with small box games, but if you want to take them with you to game night or on a trip, it can be daunting to transport all those tiny boxes. Not to mention the amount of precious shelf space they take up.

Enter the Gamegenic Lair, which is probably my all time favorite thing that I own. Mine is absolutely packed with these games and I love it. When I’ve headed out, I can grab this box, which is essentially a miniature game collection. If I have it with me I know I’ve got any gaming situation covered.

This might just change someone’s life.

Game Bag

I’m not going to name names, but there are people out there who thing that it is reasonable to use some regular old bag or *gasp* a suitcase, to transport board games.

This is unacceptable behavior. If there’s a gamer in your life and you truly care about that person, get them a board game bag.

I know what you are thinking, ‘it’s just a bag, that’s shaped like a box.’ And you couldn’t be further from the truth. This thing is the exact dimensions of ticket to ride. It is padded. It has backpack straps and a shoulder strap. It is a statement piece and I never leave the house without mine (filled with games, of course).

This thing is the real deal and I’m tired of pretending that it isn’t essential kit.

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.

Wise gamers don’t let anyone eat Cheetos while they are holding your cards. Instead, make sure every gamer in your life has a set of these finger chopsticks so snacks don’t end up damaging their games.

Dice Cups

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 you may be hard pressed to get them the right dice to fill our their collection.

As a result we recommend instead getting the perfect dice accessory for any game room: a set of leather dice cups so they can let the good times roll.

Bath Bombs

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

But what about the elephant in the room – don’t gamers just want more board games?

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: The Best Board Game Accessories for Your Game Night Adventures

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