Why Board Games Make Bad Gifts (And What You Should Get Instead)

I've never been a good gift giver, but I'm trying to be better. I never know what to get, what's appropriate and what isn't, how much to spend, whether to go handmade or just buy something. It's stressful, I hate it, and I empathize with anyone who struggles with gifts.

So when I—a board game hobbyist—get gifted a board game, I can't help but feel torn. On the one hand, I'm touched that the gift giver acknowledged my hobby and tried to get me something that's clearly to my interests. I'd never turn away such a gift and I'd do my best to enjoy that game. Truly, any gift that comes from the heart is a lovely gift.

But the truth is, I don't want to be gifted random board games. Most board gamers would say the same. So, if you're thinking of gifting a board game to that hobbyist in your life, please reconsider! Here are some reasons why and what you can get them instead.

The Ownership Trap

Every board game enthusiast has their own wishlist of games they want to acquire, and that wishlist is carefully curated based on all kinds of criteria. Just because board gaming is their hobby doesn't mean they enjoy all types of board games, nor do they want to own certain board games even if they enjoy them. A board game collection is actually a tricky thing to balance:

• Specific tastes. A heavy strategy board gamer might love Gloomhaven but scoff at Exploding Kittens while a family-style board gamer might love Ticket to Ride but feel overwhelmed by Lost Ruins of Arnak. There's no board game that's liked by all—not even the extremely popular ones—and that's why it's risky to gift a board game. In fact, if your recipient has already looked into the game you're gifting and decided it wasn't right for them, getting it as a gift can be a real punch to the gut.
• Limited shelf space. Most board games require a lot of storage space, and every board gamer has a finite amount of room they can dedicate to their board game collection. Every game in that collection needs to justify its existence, otherwise it's taking up space that could be filled by some other game that's more desirable. And if your recipient is already maxed out on what they can own, a gifted board game can be a burden.
• Game group dynamics. Board games have to be played in a group, which means a board game collection is often curated based on who they can be played with. Even if your recipient likes the idea of Ark Nova, they might never get to play it if they have no one who wants to play it with them. On the other hand, if someone in their regular game group already owns Ark Nova, there's no reason for them to double up on ownership.
• Duplicates. Your recipient might already own the game you're thinking of gifting. Or worse, they might've owned it previously and sold it or gave it away because they didn't like it. As a board gamer, it's disappointing to be gifted a duplicate because it adds no value and just takes up shelf space. (And no, "backup copies" aren't a thing... unless they're playing a specific game so often that it's wearing out. That's the only situation where a duplicate would be okay, and even then I'd double-check first.)

All this to say, most board gamers are fussy about their collections. They know what they want and what they don't want, and curating their collections is part of the fun in this hobby.

Unless you're absolutely 100% sure that your recipient wants the game you're about to gift them, you should get something else—otherwise, you're just shooting in the dark and almost guaranteed to miss.

The Value Trap

Board games aren't cheap, and they've gotten a lot more expensive here in the US due to the tariff situation. That's a two-punch double whammy for board gamers who receive games as gifts, and here's why:

• Gifts are likely to be on the cheaper side. Unless you're rich or in a very close relationship with your recipient, you're probably limiting your gift value to somewhere around $20. But most hobby board games are at least $30, with many in the $50+ range, so a lot of the truly exciting games aren't even in your consideration.
• One bigger game is better than lots of smaller games. If it's your recipient's birthday or a holiday like Christmas, they might end up getting a handful of $20 board games as gifts. But in this hobby, three $20 games aren't equal to a single $60 game. In fact, most hobbyists would prefer one highly coveted $60 game than a dozen unwanted $20 games.

The Kindness Trap

As I said before, any gift that comes from the heart is a lovely gift. It's something to appreciate, knowing that someone cared enough to spend their own money and time on you. I hope this article isn't coming off as overly negative or ungrateful. I'm just trying to point out the undue burden that can come from receiving a board game as a gift.

Between the Ownership Trap and Value Trap, any gifted board game is likely to be one that isn't a good fit for the recipient's collection. But most gamers understand that it's rude to look down on a gift and complain about it. A gift should be accepted graciously with a big smile—even if it's disappointing—through gritted teeth if necessary.

And that's often what happens with board games as gifts. Out of courtesy, the recipient "happily" accepts the game and adds it to their collection, but really they feel obligated to keep it even if it's unwanted and they feel pressured to play it even if they know they won't like it. It takes up valuable shelf space and collects dust, but they won't get rid of it because they'd feel guilty about it. They're stuck with it.

The Best Gifts for a Board Gamer

Okay, okay. Maybe you're convinced that gifting a board game isn't such a great idea. You still need a gift for the board gamer in your life, right? Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging! Instead of a board game, here are some ideas for gifts I'd absolutely love to receive:

Gift Cards

Anyone who says gift cards are "impersonal" or "tacky" is behind the times. Sure, a gift card is "generic" and "easy," but so what? In terms of value, it's easily the best type of gift to get because I get to decide what to spend it on, meaning I can extract the most value out of each dollar. Whether it's to Amazon, Etsy, or a specific board game retailer, it's all good. The key is that gift cards give me the control, and that's why gift cards are the best.

Board Gaming Accessories

If you're averse to gift cards, the next best thing is a board game accessory. These are less risky than actual board games because they're more versatile, plus a board gamer is less likely to buy accessories for themselves (they'd rather spend their money on more games), so these tend to be a lot more welcome in an existing collection.

Don't know what to get? Check out my other article on board game accessories that are actually keepers.

Wishlist Purchases

If you really want to buy someone a board game, the most courteous thing you can do is ask them for their wishlist. The recipient knows what they want and don't want. Sure, you lose out on the surprise factor of gifting an unknown game, but that's not what gift giving is about. That moment of surprise? It's fleeting. The board game you give? It's forever. Don't burden them with something they won't like. If you're going to gift a board game, it's best to pick one they definitely want.

Experiences

If you have cash to burn and you want to shower the recipient with something truly phenomenal, you might buy them tickets to a board game event (like GenCon, PAX Unplugged, or even the Dice Tower Cruise). You might also need to buy transportation, so this will be expensive... but as far as gifts go, nothing beats it.

Play Time

Who says you need to buy a gift? For many board gamers, the biggest struggle is finding time to play and people to play with. That's why I'm always over the moon when someone offers to play games with me! It's a generous gift that costs nothing but time. If you want something physical that you can still hand to them, consider making (or printing) custom coupons that can be redeemed for board game time.

Hope that helps. Let me know what gift(s) you end up deciding to get. If you're a board gamer, I'd also love to hear if you have any other gift ideas that you think are great for board gamers!