Board Game-Related Gifts (That Aren’t Board Games) — 2017

Thinking Outside the (Board Game) Box

For great board games to give or gifts for Settlers of Catan fans, we've got you covered! If you're hesitant to buy a board game or want a more unique gift, we've put together a great list of ideas for you, whether it's for Christmas, a birthday or any special occasion.

First, the Obvious

If you're pressed for time or want to give the gift of choice, gift cards are always a safe bet. Many cities have board game cafes that offer gift cards, and giftees can use them to spend the day playing games and having a few drinks, or buy their next board game. 

Another idea for the gamer in your life is to challenge their brains with a different puzzle: escape rooms. We're huge escape room nerds and compiled our top 10 Edmonton Escape Room list of Edmonton companies and rooms to try. 

​Board Game Accessories & Upgrad​es

• This Game Haul carrying bag for going back and forth to games nights is awesome.
• Sleeve protectors for board games with cards are always awesome. These come in especially handy when you play the same game repeatedly, saving the cards from wear and tear (and spills, and sticky hands, and children...)
• If your giftee likes unique pieces, Meeple Source makes hundreds of custom meeples, tokens, game upgrade sets and even box organizers.  If you want to create your own unique order, you can choose from a huge variety of game pieces. (Side note: if you're in the YEG area, Mission Fun and Games in St. Albert carries different custom-painted and coloured meeples!)

• Grip mats are an awesome accessory for tile games and games with pieces that need to stay put. Pieces won't move on the mat but are easily lifted off with no damage.
• The Broken Token creates custom storage solutions including game boxes, game box organizers and inserts as well as different accessories like bags, box bands and card holders.
• Top Shelf Gamer has tons of accessories including token upgrades, box inserts, deck holders, card holders, mats, card sleeves, bags and more. They also have non-game gifts and what's more, you can search by game and type!
• If you don't want to spend a lot on game inserts, plastic bowls or storage containers with lids make cheap stocking stuffers but help organize games with a lot of pieces (ahem, Flash Point) while you're playing. 
• The people and animal custom meeples and player tokens from epicycledesigns on Etsy give board games a cute flair.
Jenefer Ham makes amazing glass game tokens and jewelry. We especially love the Pandemic set.

• If you know someone who loves Betrayal at House on the Hill, chances are you've heard complaints about the clips for character trait trackers. The app is fine, but these clips solve that problem easily while using game components. Your giftee will love and think of you every time they play!

Jewelry

There is no shortage of board game-themed jewelry for guys and girls alike, including:

• Stud earrings shaped like 20-sided dice, available in 12 colours.
• Metal tie clips with a 20-sided die
• Spiral-shaped earrings each filled with a 20-sided die
• Monopoly wrist cuff
• Scrabble tile cufflinks
• Meeple cufflinks
• Meeple & crystal necklace 
• Meeple pendant necklaces available in different colours and lengths

Clothing

• Know someone who's expecting or has a little gamer? This baby bandana/drool bib is a super cute idea, especially if there's an upcoming baby shower!
• If you're the one expecting, how about this pregnancy announcement baby onesie?

• "Board games destroy families" t-shirt comes in junior and adult sizes. (Nobody knows this better than parents of three-year-olds or moody teenagers.)
• This Monopoly bow tie is a classic for classy and retro-loving gamer.

• Cardboard Clothing makes and sells a lot of different t-shirts for different board games, like this Ticket to Ride tee.

• We like the cheeky "I play board games" t-shirt, among other cute designs, from TabletopThreads
• Settlers of Catan sheep hoodie for cold basement game nights
• Settlers of Catan zippered pouch
• This "I Have Meeple Skills" t-shirt made us chuckle out loud 🙂

Household Accents & Accessories

• If your giftee likes baking, this meeple cookie cutter is a must-have kitchen accessory.
• A meeple pillow will add a touch of whimsy and comfort to your game room.
• For wine drinkers, board game-themed wine charms are always useful!
• If your giftee has a games room or area, meeple decor will spruce it up!
• This board game words poster will spruce up the games room or any wall in the house.
• These meeple coasters are creative and so pretty. What's better, they protect your games from drink condensation.

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Glassware

• Conesters prevent cups and glasses from tipping over during rowdy games of Cash 'n Guns, and even have a cutout for coffee mug handles.
• Get your party rowdy with these etched shot glasses, or class it up a bit with the etched whiskey glasses.
• We like the etched Catan rocks glasses from Dances with Monsters, and the Player Select glasses look like they're excellent quality, too. 
• Board game addict coffee mug
• "I Beat You" coffee mug
• As every Pandemic player can attest to, this Pandemic coffee mug is sadly realistic.

Furniture & DIY

• This storage table has pull-out shelves you can store and play games on.
• Ikea furniture has amazing storage solutions that will clean up the games area, or you can build your own shelves.
• Quilts, blankets and throws that look like board games, or mimic the board setup for you to play on (Clue and Scrabble, for instance) are a wonderful multi-use gift that will be treasured for years.
• This Rubik's cube coffee table looks awesome and has great storage.

Just For Fun

• "Future Gamer" vinyl sticker for cars and snowboards and in French
• Meeple vinyl stickers for your laptop, phone, car or any other surface that needs some sprucing up.

• I Heart Meeples vinyl sticker 
• These cute Catan-themed Christmas cards are perfect for and from board game lovers.
• Meeple keychains in 3D and wood and stainless steel
• A meeple tote bag for carrying games
• Lastly, no Christmas is complete without a Meeple Christmas tree ornament

You Can't Say There Aren't Options!

We tried collecting a variety of gift ideas for your giftee (or yourself) for all budgets and for all occasions! Do you have a favourite gift we missed? Do you make board game-related gifts and want to be on this list? Drop a line or leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you. And, whatever you're celebrating, we hope you find a great gift that highlights or accents this amazing hobby.