TL;DR
Essential accessories: good lighting (£15-30) and a card shuffler (£8) if you have arthritic hands. Worth it for heavy use: card sleeves (£8-15 per game). Premium but not necessary: metal coins, custom inserts. Skip entirely: novelty dice towers, "gamer" chairs marketed at tabletop players.
I've spent more money on board game accessories than I'd care to admit. Some purchases elevated every game night. Others gathered dust in a drawer before I gave them away.
After five years of experimentation, here's my honest assessment of what's worth your money—and what's just clever marketing.
The Accessory Spectrum
Before diving into specifics, understand the landscape:
| Category | Purpose | Price Range | Essential? | |----------|---------|-------------|------------| | Protection | Preserve components | £5-50 | Sometimes | | Organisation | Faster setup/cleanup | £10-100 | Rarely | | Upgrade | Better component feel | £15-150 | Never (but nice) | | Environment | Improved play experience | £10-500+ | Varies | | Novelty | Fun but unnecessary | £5-50 | No |
The honest truth: you can have a perfectly excellent gaming life without spending a penny on accessories. Everything else is enhancement, not necessity.
Card Sleeves: The Most Debated Accessory
The Case For
Card sleeves protect cards from oils, spills, and edge wear. They're particularly valuable for:
- Games with heavy shuffling (deck-builders)
- Games you play weekly or more
- Games with irreplaceable cards
- Games played with children or snacks
The Case Against
Sleeves add significant thickness to decks. A 100-card deck sleeved can be twice the height. This creates problems:
- Cards may not fit in original box inserts
- Shuffling becomes harder, not easier
- Per-card cost adds up across large games
- Premium sleeves cost more than budget games
My Verdict
Specific recommendation: Dragon Shield Matte (£10/100) for important games; Mayday Standard (£4/100) for budget protection.
Metal Coins: Satisfying but Expensive
The standard cardboard coins in most games feel... fine. Metal coins feel premium. The weight, the clink, the tactile feedback—it's genuinely satisfying.
When They're Worth It
- Games where money is central to gameplay
- Games you've played 50+ times and plan to keep forever
- When gifting an upgrade to someone else's beloved game
When They're Not
- Games you've played twice
- Games with functional (but boring) money
- When the money rarely changes hands
My Verdict
Specific recommendation: Top Shelf Gamer makes excellent game-specific sets. Generic sets from AliExpress are hit-or-miss.
I've bought metal coins for games I then stopped playing. The coins sit in a drawer, mocking my optimism. Buy accessories for games you've already played twenty times, not games you hope to.
Box Inserts and Organisers
The promise: custom foam or plastic inserts that organise components, speed setup, and protect during transport.
The reality: often more trouble than they're worth.
The Good
- Setup time: A well-designed insert can halve setup time
- Component protection: Especially for games with many small pieces
- Storage: Allows vertical storage without component chaos
The Bad
- Cost: Quality inserts often cost 50-100% of the game price
- Fit issues: Expansions may not fit; new sleeves may not fit
- Commitment: You're betting this game will be in your collection forever
My Verdict
Specific recommendation: Folded Space offers affordable foam inserts. Only buy for games where you've already experienced frustrating setup.
Card Holders and Stands
For players with limited hand dexterity, card holders aren't optional—they're essential. But for everyone else?
Worth Considering If
- You play games with large hands (7+ cards)
- You have any form of hand/wrist strain
- You play with children who struggle to hold cards
- You want to hide cards from peeking opponents
My Verdict
Dice Towers: Form Over Function
I own a dice tower. I never use it.
The theory: dice towers ensure "fair" rolls, contain dice, and add table presence.
The practice: rolling dice on a table is fine, actually.
When They Make Sense
- Accessibility needs (some players can't roll easily)
- Games requiring contained rolls (rolling repeatedly into a shared space)
- As a decorative piece if you have a dedicated game room
When They Don't
- Normal gaming in normal circumstances
- When table space is limited
- When you're already rolling into a dice tray
My Verdict
Table Upgrades: Where Real Value Lives
Here's where I'd actually spend money.
Better Lighting
Poor lighting causes eye strain, makes cards hard to read, and dulls component colours. Yet most dining rooms have a single overhead light designed for eating, not gaming.
Upgrade options:
- Adjustable desk lamps (£15-30): Position to eliminate shadows
- LED strip lighting (£20-40): Ambient light around table edges
- Overhead pendant with dimmer (£50-100): Professional solution
Playmats and Table Covers
A neoprene playmat transforms any dining table:
- Cards pick up easily (no sliding around)
- Components stay put
- Spills are contained (wipe clean)
- Noise is reduced (softer dice rolls)
Specific recommendation: Generic 120x60cm neoprene mats from Amazon/AliExpress (£25-35) are identical to branded versions.
Comfortable Seating
Gaming sessions can last 2-4 hours. Cheap dining chairs weren't designed for this.
Storage and Transport
If you take games to events or friends' houses:
Bag-Style Transport
Shelf Display
I've tried every storage solution. Kallax wins. It's not even close. Don't overthink this.
What Not to Buy
Having tested many accessories, here's my actively-avoid list:
| Product | Why to Skip | |---------|-------------| | Branded "gamer" furniture | Marketing markup, no functional benefit | | Novelty dice sets | You have dice. You don't need 50 sets. | | Phone holders for "digital companion apps" | Prop phone against the box | | Game-specific playmats | Generic mats work for all games | | Expensive token upgrades for new games | Wait until you've played 20+ times |
My Recommended Starter Kit
If I were building a game night accessory set from scratch:
- Neoprene playmat (£30) — Transforms any table
- Adjustable lamp (£20) — Better lighting immediately
- Card sleeves (£10-15) — For one beloved deck-builder
- Bag organisation (£5) — Zip-lock bags for small components
- Cushions (£20) — For uncomfortable chairs
Total: ~£85 — More impactful than any premium game purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I sleeve all my games?
No. Sleeve games you play frequently and love. Most games never need sleeves.
Are Kickstarter deluxe editions worth it?
Sometimes. The components are genuinely better. But you're paying for games you've never played. Safer to buy base games at retail and upgrade later.
What about custom tokens (resource cubes, meeples)?
Fun but unnecessary. The cardboard/wood in most games is fine. Upgrade only for games you've already committed to long-term.
Is there anything I should definitely avoid?
Yes: buying accessories for games you haven't played yet. Enthusiasm fades; accessories don't improve bad games.
What's the best single accessory I could buy?
Better lighting. It improves every game, every session, for every player. And you'll use it for non-gaming purposes too.
Accessories are seasoning, not the meal. A great game with cardboard components beats a mediocre game with metal coins.
Spend wisely. Play often.
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