Global Board Games Market Overview, 2024-29

Market Dynamic

Market Drivers • Growing Popularity of Social Interaction and Family Bonding: Board games are increasingly valued for promoting social interaction, family bonding, and offline entertainment in an age dominated by digital media. Families and friends are embracing board games as a means to disconnect from screens, encouraging face-to-face engagement and communication. This shift towards shared experiences is driving the demand for both traditional and modern board games across all age groups. As more consumers seek inclusive and multi-generational activities, the market for cooperative, strategy-based, and thematic board games continues to flourish. • Rise of Crowdfunding Platforms and Independent Designers: Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have democratized game development, allowing independent designers to fund their projects directly from consumers. This has led to a surge in innovative board games, bypassing traditional publishing hurdles. Crowdfunding enables niche, creative, and experimental designs to reach the market, expanding the variety available to consumers and attracting new enthusiasts to the board game hobby. Market Challenges • High Competition and Market Saturation: The board game industry has become highly competitive, with new titles constantly flooding the market. This saturation poses a challenge for game publishers, particularly smaller ones, as it becomes difficult to stand out in a sea of offerings. Established brands and franchises tend to dominate retail space and consumer attention, making it harder for lesser-known or independent games to gain traction. Retailers are also selective in stocking, leading to reduced visibility for newer or niche games. • Digital Distractions and Evolving Entertainment Preferences: Although board games offer a break from digital life, they still face competition from video games, streaming services, and mobile apps. Younger audiences, in particular, may prefer digital forms of entertainment that provide immediate engagement and gratification. As attention spans shift towards quick, on-demand entertainment, traditional board games face challenges in maintaining relevance, particularly in regions where digital devices dominate leisure time. Market Trends • Increased Interest in Cooperative and Narrative-Driven Games: There has been a growing trend towards cooperative board games, where players work together rather than compete. This shift caters to those looking for inclusive experiences that foster teamwork and collaboration. Narrative-driven board games with deep storylines and immersive themes are gaining traction. Games that offer replayability through evolving stories or campaign-based play, such as "Gloomhaven" or "Pandemic Legacy," are capturing the interest of more dedicated hobbyists who seek in-depth, long-term engagement. • Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Game Production: As environmental awareness rises, many consumers are prioritizing eco-friendly products, and the board game industry is responding. Companies are adopting sustainable practices such as using recycled materials, biodegradable components, and reducing plastic usage in game packaging. Some publishers are also exploring digital rulebooks to minimize paper waste. This trend reflects a broader shift towards sustainability across industries, appealing to environmentally conscious gamers and contributing to a brand's positive reputation.

Key Development

• December 2023: University Games, a California, U.S.-based toy and game company, acquired The Learning Journey International, an Arizona, U.S.-based children's educational products company. • November 2023: KESS, a Los Angeles, U.S.-based tabletop company, launched its new dice board game, Sonic Roll. According to the company, the new game is based on the popular video game Sonic the Hedgehog. • May 2023: Bambini Africa Edutainment Limited, a company focusing on promoting children’s development and promotion across Africa, announced the launch of five new tabletop games under the Bambini Games brand. • January 2023: CMON, a Singapore-based board game company, announced its partnership with Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG), a U.S.-based publisher of tabletop games. CMON declared that it was named AEG’s Master Distributor for Asia. The company will distribute and sell local board games in Asian countries. • January 2023: CMON collaborated with Spin Master, a Canada-based children's entertainment business, to launch the first retail-only release of the Marvel United tabletop game series ‘Marvel United: Spider-Geddon'. The game features spider family heroes and villains across the multiverse.