What to Buy With a Game Store Gift Card

The best thing to buy with a game store gift card is the game your shelf is missing, not the one with the loudest box. Before you spend it, look at what you already own and ask what kind of night you cannot have yet: a game for two, a game for eight, a game for when nobody wants to compete. Fill that gap first, and the card turns into new nights instead of one more box on the pile.

The quick answer: spend a game store gift card in this order. First, a new game that fills a real gap in your shelf by player count or kind. Second, an expansion for a game your group has played so much it feels predictable. Third, an accessory that makes a favorite easier to play. Try anything new before you buy it if you can.

Why not just buy the newest game?

Because the newest game is a guess, and your shelf has already told you what it needs. A new release competes with everything you own. If you already have three heavy strategy games for four players, a fourth one mostly takes turns with the other three. A two-player game, or a party game for a crowd, opens up nights you could not have before.

Game stores make the shiny new box easy to find. That is fine. Look at it, and then use the framework below before you hand over the card.

How do you find the gap in your shelf?

Start with a quick audit. Pull out every game you own, or list them on your phone, and note three things for each: player count, play time, and kind (strategy, party, co-op, card game, and so on). Then look for these common gaps.

If you play with the same group every week, do this together. Our guide to auditing your group’s game shelf walks through pooling everyone’s games into one list, finding the missing lanes, and avoiding duplicates. A gift card is a perfect excuse to run it.

Not sure what fills the gap? The Card Catalogue helps you find games by how they feel to play, not only by what is on the box. Rate games you have played, build your Play Profile, and look for games that match. It is free and keeps your data on your own device.

When should you spend it on an expansion?

An expansion is the right buy when you have seen the edges of a game you love. That means your group has played it enough that it feels predictable, and someone has said out loud, “I wish there were more of this.” Before that point, an expansion solves a problem you do not have. After it, an expansion is one of the best buys in the hobby, because the game has already proven it gets played.

Expansions come in a few kinds: more players, more content, new mechanics, and fixes. Match the kind to your problem. If your group grew from four people to six, a player-count expansion helps right away. If the game just feels stale, more content is the fix. Our full guide to whether board game expansions are worth it covers each kind and the traps to avoid.

If you play in a regular group, think about who should own the expansion. It belongs with whoever owns the base game, so the full game lives in one box. That idea comes from our piece on gifting as library strategy: a gift card spent on an expansion for the group’s favorite game benefits everyone at the table, not just the person holding the card.

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What accessories are worth gift card money?

Accessories are a smart use of a small balance, especially the leftover $10 after you buy a game. The ones that get used every week:

• Card sleeves for a card-heavy game you play often, so the cards stay crisp.
• A box insert for a favorite game with a slow setup. Inserts hold each component in its own tray, which can cut setup time a lot.
• A playmat to protect your table and make cards easier to pick up.
• Dice if anyone in your house plays tabletop RPGs. A basic Chessex seven-die set is $3.49 at Miniature Market at the time of writing, so a few dollars of leftover balance covers one.

Our board game accessories gift guide has specific picks and prices for each. The test is simple: buy accessories only for games that already hit the table. Sleeves for a game you have played once are money spent on hope.

Can you try a game before you buy it?

Often, yes, and with a gift card you should. A gift card is money already set aside for games, so there is no rush. Take a week to try a few things first.

• Ask the store. Many game stores keep demo copies or a library of open games, and many host open game nights where someone will teach you. Ask the staff what they would play with your group.
• Visit a board game cafe. For the price of a table fee, you can try several games in one evening. Call ahead to see which games they have.
• Play online. Many board games have digital versions you can try in a browser for free.

Our piece on play before you pay explains why trying first is the best habit in the hobby. A game you already love is a much better buy than one you hope to love.

What should you not buy with a game store gift card?

• A duplicate of a game a friend owns. If your group already has a copy, spend the card on something nobody has.
• A huge game you will play once a year. It takes up a whole shelf and rarely leaves it.
• An expansion for a game you have not played much. Play the base game more first.
• A sealed collectible you plan to keep sealed. That is a fine hobby, but it is not a game night.
• Something you picked only because it was on sale. A discount on the wrong game is still the wrong game.

How do you get the most from a game store gift card?

A few practical tips:

• Check the details. Ask whether the card works online as well as in the store, and whether it has a balance you can check.
• Shop on an event day. Some stores run sales or special events in the new year. Ask when the next one is.
• Ask for a recommendation. Tell the staff what you own and what you are missing. That is the most useful conversation you can have in a game store, and it costs nothing.
• Spend it locally. A gift card from your local game store already supports a shop that hosts players in your town. Our guide to Small Business Saturday at your local game store explains why those stores matter.

A gift card is a vote for more nights

A gift card is one of the few gifts that asks you to think about what you want. Use that. Look at the nights you wish you could have, with two people, with ten, with the friend who does not like to lose, and buy the game that makes one of them happen. The box is just the start. The game is the reason. The people are the point.

FAQ

What is the best thing to buy with a board game gift card?

A game that fills a gap in your shelf, such as a two-player game, a party game for big groups, or a co-op. If your shelf has no gaps, an expansion for a favorite you have played many times.

Should I buy an expansion or a new game with a gift card?

Buy the expansion only if your group has played the base game enough that it feels predictable. Otherwise, a new game that fills a gap gives you more new nights.

Can I use a game store gift card on accessories?

Usually, yes. Sleeves, inserts, playmats, and dice are good uses for a small leftover balance, as long as they are for games you already play often.

How do I know what my game collection is missing?

List your games with player count, play time, and kind, then look for the nights you cannot cover. The Card Catalogue also helps you find games by how they feel to play.

More for your shelf

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