#5; I am spoiled for bit bowls - my dad does woodturning, so I have a bunch of small wooden bowls that he made, and I love them! Not the best for tight storage, but worth it, for me 😊
Haha I love Naveen's peekaboo description of the dice towers! I also don't like the loudness of dice towers, but that made me think about having a felt-lined dice tower or something to make it quiet. So I googled it and there are a bunch on etsy!
I love all of your videos and I am really glad that Monique was so concerned about the loud noise of the coins (they weren't loud, don't worry) because a lot of conntent creators donť realize that loud noises like clapping might be very uncomfortable for some poeple. For that reason there is several people that I like in general, but can't usually watch their videos because of loud noises that they make. So thank you for that 🙂
I'm a huge fan of playmats (but I don't have too many), both as board alternates and for ccgs. I can understand the preference for not sleeving, but playmats elevate card handling as if you are playing at felted casino tables every time.
So glad you picked "a dog" as number one best gift idea for gamers. I don't know what I would do without having one to hold during some of my game nights! Also, they really are great at greeting everybody as they come over for game night.
Delightful list! 😊 I also love dice trays. Here at home we made one ourselves, by covering a photo frame with velvet. It works just fine. Merry Christmas for both of you and Dexter 😊🎄
My husband and I LOVE Unlock games. One thing you failed to mention is that they're able to be reset and passed on. We put the cards back in order and lend them out to friends. I've also regifted several, and I've also replayed one after a couple years and forgetting how to solve it. The Exit games have to be folded and cut up to play, so those aren't reusable. Suspects I can't speak to, because I haven't played it, but now I want to!
One accessory that I really enjoy that I use all the time is a board game bag. The boardgametables ones are padded too. I tripped up the stairs holding one and the bag tipped end over end down about 15 stairs and I was so worried. There was no damage at all. So protection plus it makes it easy to carry (and also limit how much you bring) Allplay's philosophy is make games that are quick and easy to learn/play, but that have some complexity or potential for replay-ability. Sail I haven't had the chance to play but it's a 2 player only trick taking game where the winner is the direction the ship moves and you have to avoid obstacles. The new trick taking games they released are cool too. I really enjoy Pies, which is trick taking plus combining fruit cards for recipes for points. And I agree about folded space. Those inserts are easier to put together and glue is definitely necessary. I have spirit island in 2 boxes with folded space and it even fits the new expansion Nature Incarnate. One thing you didn't mention that I think is a benefit of the folded space insert is that those inserts are much lighter than the wooden or other inserts. Also, in terms of visual appeal, Stonemaier Games partnered with them for their Tapestry insert and it has both art on the outside and the inside so you know where the components belong.
For #1, another advantage of smaller games is they will get played sooner and can maybe even be experienced while the holidays are still going on! I always pick something up from AllPlay when I go to a convention (which is currently only once a year) because I don't really feel like it is competing with the bigger games on my shelf for table time. It's easy to slot it in on an evening where a larger game just wouldn't get played. Something I'd add as a gamer, if you buy me a game (or an addon for a game) that YOU want to play with me that really takes a great gift and makes it priceless. Of course not everyone is at the same comfort level with how challenging games can be and you probably know your gamer friends well enough to know if there are games they won't touch (mine are Werewolf style games and raunchy adult games, for example) but once you've accounted for that I really treasure opening something on Christmas / birthday / favorite-gift-giving-holiday that represents shared excitement and promises a shared experience!
Bits bowls for sure! But I like the X-Trayz because they have lids. So I can put some bits in the bowl, cap it, and then use it as a fake insert piece (if there's room in the box).
I discovered Ryker sleeves and they are a game changer: textured, matte AND easy to shuffle. None have broken yet even for my most played and shuffled games like Ark Nova and Obsession. The riffle shuffle works well, Naveen!!!
I think bit boxes/token holders make a great gift. If you have a sizeable collection of games, you're likely to have quite a few games that could benefit from having these to store its tokens. The ones I specifically like are Geekbox token holders- they come in different sizes (regular, slim, double). They're square/rectangular which makes them more likely to store nicely in a game box; you just pull them out and put them on the table, making for a quicker setup. Board game-themed coasters would make for a good gift, for those who like to host game nights but don't have fancy gaming tables with cupholders. Beam Geeks has some cute cork meeple coasters. A game night notebook or scorepad would also make for a cute gift. If you have a little extra to spend on a gamer who plays on a regular ol' table, a table-sized board game mat might make a nice gift. I have a 3' x 4' one which fits every game I've played so far. It does make picking cards up easier, and it also covers the leaf seams in our extendable table. If you want to splurge, you could get a larger mat (make sure it fits on the table!).
Shocking to hear that Monique doesn't like the clink clack of dice! The whole point of dice is the satisfying sounds of them rolling to show a number! But still, love you guys! Great gift ideas! I'll need to try out BG Shield at one point.
If you buy Sea Salt and Paper, please buy the Bombyx version. Pandasaurus has huge issues with the card quality at least in the first print. Monique and Naveen seem to have the Bombyx version as well so good for them.
I have a question about Kickstarter/Crowdfund games you cover. I backed Mycelia a few weeks ago but just realized if I had done so directly from your Kickstarter Mycelia video from a few months ago you might've gotten an affiliate bonus. Does that work the same way as regular links? And if so, exactly how do we do it so that you get credit/compensated? You were the first place I even heard about Mycelia and moving forward I'd like to support channels that give great demos and reviews for games I want to support (btw, curious there was ANOTHER game called Mycelia released in 2023!). And I just wanted to know if affiliate links work the same way for items that are in crowdfund status as they do for ones in retail/online purchases. Thanks! Happy holidays and thanks for all the great content.
I have the Maracaibo coins but I use them for Pirates of Maracaibo, I also got some custom dice made for it, one that looks like gold, one that looks like pearl and one that looks like emerald 😊
I love small box card games XD Excellent to fit into my pocket and play them when we wait for our order in restaurants! I also struggled to organize Scout when I first bought it :D But after I got to take a look at the organizer, I realized that there is a little bit of space after the cards are set inside and when you tug in all the dollar chips except two, everything fits perfectly XD
Thanks for sharing those ideas, all great! \I also suggest standing game bags, which are so much better than those that can only lay on their sides - I'm thinking of you, Isle of Cats. Stadium-style card trays are a real asset to card-driven games like Wingspan. Lastly, deluxe components for your favorite games can really upgrade the playing experience. Etsy is a great source for all of these. Happy Holidays!!
Definitely recommend Allplay's full table mats. I used to buy large rolls of neoprene for the same purpose, but the allplay neoprene is a way better finish and waaaaaaay thicker and higher quality than anything I ever bought. Just a great thing that increases the joy of playing you entire game collection.
A 3D printer is the best board gaming accessory. I've printed organizers for most of my games and blinged out the pieces for many others. No food or drinks at the table.
A laminator makes a great gift for a gamer! They are fairly inexpensive and are great for player aids and for making roll and write sheets reusable with dry erase markers.
I have only tried a few different sleeves, but I've been very satisfied with Gamegenic's Matte Prime sleeves. And, yes, they shuffle well. Though, as with most sleeves, you need to mash shuffle rather than riffle/bridge shuffle.
I've started getting inserts for a lot of my games. It's made Caverna and Hallertau so much easier to set-up. My latest acquisition is a plastic insert for Hamonies that cost more than the original game but, so what. That's why I make money.
Are there no fully detachable containers? been looking a long time, having a lid on one side of the container makes so I need to take them out into a tray
I can't say I play any one game enough that I'd need sleeves. Maybe if theses were like collectors items, but they aren't so more trouble than it's worth to me.
You guys missed card holders! Great for games like Underwater Cities or Great Western Trail. Also just get one general playmat for your table. It makes every game better. Metal coins are overrated. Just get one set that covers most Euro games, the Viticulture metal coins cover a bunch of games. Might have mentioned some poker chips too.
SO excited! I have been looking to try the Avatar co-op game with fire lord Ozai. I may have to re-subscribe to Netflix just so I can rewatch it whenever 😎my partner and I also recently looked up if that Ponshu (?) game is a real game haha
What are your favorite gift ideas for board gamers? Happy Holidays!
I like to give dice sets to my fellow RPG players 🙂
Small box games are great for a stocking stuffer.
A video from you two! :)
Specifically, a great rules video!
I gave dice trays as gifts As a stocking stuffer, sleeves are good
Number 7 - those robots on the dice bag are Cybermen from Doctor Who. It works generically though too!
Oh my goodness! That's so funny, I had no idea! That's good to know haha thank you
#5; I am spoiled for bit bowls - my dad does woodturning, so I have a bunch of small wooden bowls that he made, and I love them! Not the best for tight storage, but worth it, for me 😊
Haha I love Naveen's peekaboo description of the dice towers! I also don't like the loudness of dice towers, but that made me think about having a felt-lined dice tower or something to make it quiet. So I googled it and there are a bunch on etsy!
I have a dice tower that I lined the inside with thin crafting foam. It works great and it's cheap and easy to do.
For similar bit bowls look for acrylic ice cream bowls. That's what we use.
I just bought For Sale, and I'm really glad you guys like it! I often find you're bang-on with your comments/reviews. Thanks for posting!
I love all of your videos and I am really glad that Monique was so concerned about the loud noise of the coins (they weren't loud, don't worry) because a lot of conntent creators donť realize that loud noises like clapping might be very uncomfortable for some poeple. For that reason there is several people that I like in general, but can't usually watch their videos because of loud noises that they make. So thank you for that 🙂
I'm a huge fan of playmats (but I don't have too many), both as board alternates and for ccgs. I can understand the preference for not sleeving, but playmats elevate card handling as if you are playing at felted casino tables every time.
I've used those same dollar store bowls for years! They're great.
So glad you picked "a dog" as number one best gift idea for gamers. I don't know what I would do without having one to hold during some of my game nights! Also, they really are great at greeting everybody as they come over for game night.
To me it’s poker chips! Love subbing them in for a wide variety of games and usually more thematic than metal coins. Plus they are easier to stack!
Delightful list! 😊 I also love dice trays. Here at home we made one ourselves, by covering a photo frame with velvet. It works just fine. Merry Christmas for both of you and Dexter 😊🎄
Amazing ideas! I never thought about bit bowls and metal coins :)
My husband and I LOVE Unlock games. One thing you failed to mention is that they're able to be reset and passed on. We put the cards back in order and lend them out to friends. I've also regifted several, and I've also replayed one after a couple years and forgetting how to solve it. The Exit games have to be folded and cut up to play, so those aren't reusable. Suspects I can't speak to, because I haven't played it, but now I want to!
That's a great point! Unlock is super regiftable. We do the same, we always pay ours forward. Glad to hear you both enjoy them too! Happy Holidays!
Fun list. I love playmats and your card game list is fun. I’d add component holders, eg game genic token silo. Good stuff. 😁
Will definitely have to check my local Dollar Tree for bit bowls. Must keep everything organized! 😅
One accessory that I really enjoy that I use all the time is a board game bag. The boardgametables ones are padded too. I tripped up the stairs holding one and the bag tipped end over end down about 15 stairs and I was so worried. There was no damage at all. So protection plus it makes it easy to carry (and also limit how much you bring)
Allplay's philosophy is make games that are quick and easy to learn/play, but that have some complexity or potential for replay-ability. Sail I haven't had the chance to play but it's a 2 player only trick taking game where the winner is the direction the ship moves and you have to avoid obstacles. The new trick taking games they released are cool too. I really enjoy Pies, which is trick taking plus combining fruit cards for recipes for points.
And I agree about folded space. Those inserts are easier to put together and glue is definitely necessary. I have spirit island in 2 boxes with folded space and it even fits the new expansion Nature Incarnate. One thing you didn't mention that I think is a benefit of the folded space insert is that those inserts are much lighter than the wooden or other inserts. Also, in terms of visual appeal, Stonemaier Games partnered with them for their Tapestry insert and it has both art on the outside and the inside so you know where the components belong.
For #1, another advantage of smaller games is they will get played sooner and can maybe even be experienced while the holidays are still going on! I always pick something up from AllPlay when I go to a convention (which is currently only once a year) because I don't really feel like it is competing with the bigger games on my shelf for table time. It's easy to slot it in on an evening where a larger game just wouldn't get played.
Something I'd add as a gamer, if you buy me a game (or an addon for a game) that YOU want to play with me that really takes a great gift and makes it priceless. Of course not everyone is at the same comfort level with how challenging games can be and you probably know your gamer friends well enough to know if there are games they won't touch (mine are Werewolf style games and raunchy adult games, for example) but once you've accounted for that I really treasure opening something on Christmas / birthday / favorite-gift-giving-holiday that represents shared excitement and promises a shared experience!
I love that they tried the water repellent on Risk LOL
Bits bowls for sure! But I like the X-Trayz because they have lids. So I can put some bits in the bowl, cap it, and then use it as a fake insert piece (if there's room in the box).
I discovered Ryker sleeves and they are a game changer: textured, matte AND easy to shuffle. None have broken yet even for my most played and shuffled games like Ark Nova and Obsession. The riffle shuffle works well, Naveen!!!
I think bit boxes/token holders make a great gift. If you have a sizeable collection of games, you're likely to have quite a few games that could benefit from having these to store its tokens. The ones I specifically like are Geekbox token holders- they come in different sizes (regular, slim, double). They're square/rectangular which makes them more likely to store nicely in a game box; you just pull them out and put them on the table, making for a quicker setup.
Board game-themed coasters would make for a good gift, for those who like to host game nights but don't have fancy gaming tables with cupholders. Beam Geeks has some cute cork meeple coasters.
A game night notebook or scorepad would also make for a cute gift.
If you have a little extra to spend on a gamer who plays on a regular ol' table, a table-sized board game mat might make a nice gift. I have a 3' x 4' one which fits every game I've played so far. It does make picking cards up easier, and it also covers the leaf seams in our extendable table. If you want to splurge, you could get a larger mat (make sure it fits on the table!).
Shocking to hear that Monique doesn't like the clink clack of dice! The whole point of dice is the satisfying sounds of them rolling to show a number!
But still, love you guys! Great gift ideas! I'll need to try out BG Shield at one point.
Thanks for this video. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
I was waiting till the end for Hanamikoji 😂 I know you guys love it!
Aww, I want to spend a lazy Sunday drinking coffee and building inserts with Naveen..!
I bought my husband that red colored coffee dice tray at GenCon, I loved their dice trays!
If you buy Sea Salt and Paper, please buy the Bombyx version. Pandasaurus has huge issues with the card quality at least in the first print. Monique and Naveen seem to have the Bombyx version as well so good for them.
Playmats "don't fit in a stocking"? Sounds like you need a bigger stocking! 🎅
great recommendations! where did you end up purchasing that coffee themed dice tray? I couldn't find it on Etsy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing and be happy!
Thank you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I have a question about Kickstarter/Crowdfund games you cover. I backed Mycelia a few weeks ago but just realized if I had done so directly from your Kickstarter Mycelia video from a few months ago you might've gotten an affiliate bonus. Does that work the same way as regular links? And if so, exactly how do we do it so that you get credit/compensated? You were the first place I even heard about Mycelia and moving forward I'd like to support channels that give great demos and reviews for games I want to support (btw, curious there was ANOTHER game called Mycelia released in 2023!). And I just wanted to know if affiliate links work the same way for items that are in crowdfund status as they do for ones in retail/online purchases. Thanks! Happy holidays and thanks for all the great content.
Lol! I love that you tested the repelant on a Risk game board! Best to test it out with board that isn't very valuable. That gave me a good laugh.
I have the Maracaibo coins but I use them for Pirates of Maracaibo, I also got some custom dice made for it, one that looks like gold, one that looks like pearl and one that looks like emerald 😊
I had no idea that there was an insert for Scout. I just ordered it along with an insert for Maquis. Merry Christmas to me! lol
Ooooh Dr. Who dice bag! Love it!
Some Folded Spaced are colored like the new one for Tapestry + 3 ext. Big general playmat is cool to have, to hold player board and cards steady.
I love small box card games . you guys should have a video of top 10 card only games!
I love small box card games XD Excellent to fit into my pocket and play them when we wait for our order in restaurants!
I also struggled to organize Scout when I first bought it :D But after I got to take a look at the organizer, I realized that there is a little bit of space after the cards are set inside and when you tug in all the dollar chips except two, everything fits perfectly XD
Us too! Small box card games are some of our all time favorites. Haha, that Scout box feels like it was just a half-size too small lol
Thanks for sharing those ideas, all great! \I also suggest standing game bags, which are so much better than those that can only lay on their sides - I'm thinking of you, Isle of Cats.
Stadium-style card trays are a real asset to card-driven games like Wingspan.
Lastly, deluxe components for your favorite games can really upgrade the playing experience.
Etsy is a great source for all of these.
Happy Holidays!!
Definitely recommend Allplay's full table mats. I used to buy large rolls of neoprene for the same purpose, but the allplay neoprene is a way better finish and waaaaaaay thicker and higher quality than anything I ever bought. Just a great thing that increases the joy of playing you entire game collection.
A 3D printer is the best board gaming accessory. I've printed organizers for most of my games and blinged out the pieces for many others. No food or drinks at the table.
merry x-mas! wish you a bigger success in the new year.
Bit too late for that this year, but I want to mention that there are Advent Calendars in the Exit series. Got one this year and it's pretty nice!
A laminator makes a great gift for a gamer! They are fairly inexpensive and are great for player aids and for making roll and write sheets reusable with dry erase markers.
I have only tried a few different sleeves, but I've been very satisfied with Gamegenic's Matte Prime sleeves. And, yes, they shuffle well. Though, as with most sleeves, you need to mash shuffle rather than riffle/bridge shuffle.
Happy holidays Monique and Navine. 😊
I've started getting inserts for a lot of my games. It's made Caverna and Hallertau so much easier to set-up. My latest acquisition is a plastic insert for Hamonies that cost more than the original game but, so what. That's why I make money.
"The Game" is the most played game in our group as well.
Are there no fully detachable containers? been looking a long time, having a lid on one side of the container makes so I need to take them out into a tray
Never heard of the BG shields! what a cool product 🤩
a few other small stocking stuffer games that are great - Love Letter, Coup, and The Fugitive (by Fowers games, makers of Burgle Bros)
I can't say I play any one game enough that I'd need sleeves. Maybe if theses were like collectors items, but they aren't so more trouble than it's worth to me.
Love the shirt, Naveen!
Thanks for another great video!
For a second, I thought you were going to recommend gifting Dexter for Christmas.
You guys missed card holders! Great for games like Underwater Cities or Great Western Trail.
Also just get one general playmat for your table. It makes every game better. Metal coins are overrated. Just get one set that covers most Euro games, the Viticulture metal coins cover a bunch of games.
Might have mentioned some poker chips too.
I love Monique blouse with gaming true rights :-) Merry Christmas to Both and Greetings from Poland :-)
Re: Upgraded components - I would LOVE some wooden clairvoyance tokens for Mysterium, but apparently nobody makes them. 😢 I've looked.
Meeple House makes some great silent dice towers
Ahhh that's neat! Thanks for letting us know!
Thumbs up for Dexter!
The point tokens in Scout are really unnecessary. I threw them out on day 1 and have never missed them. Everything fits beautifully without them.
Tiny Epic series
Hello! Awesome video!
Hello! Thank you!!
I really thought when asked how much the dollar store bowls cost that it was gonna be not a dollar, so disappointed:)
Great ideas! Thank you for all your content!
Thank you!!
Such a beautiful couple
But what is your sweatshirt!?
Dice cups are so much better than those two.
Avatar the Last Airbender dice?!
Yesssss! The Op makes them! Are you looking forward to the live-action?!
SO excited! I have been looking to try the Avatar co-op game with fire lord Ozai. I may have to re-subscribe to Netflix just so I can rewatch it whenever 😎my partner and I also recently looked up if that Ponshu (?) game is a real game haha
you used th eRisk board, lol just in case it gets ruined, it doesn't matter
LOVE YOU GUYS STUFF THOSE STOCKINGS WITH STUFF 🧦🧦🧦🧦🧦🧦
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I also do not upgrade my bits. But I have been wanting to get a miniature boba tea to use for Ark Nova 🧋