Board Game Deals: Where to Find Cheap Games and Build Your Dream Collection

We have all been there. You are scrolling through a list of the hottest new releases, eyeing that deluxe edition with the hand-painted miniatures, only to see the price tag and feel your wallet whimper in fear. Building a respectable board game collection is a passion that rivals the cost of many other hobbies, but paying full retail price every time is a rookie mistake. If you want to expand your library without emptying your bank account, you need to master the hunt for board game deals. It is not just about saving money; it is about the thrill of the chase and finding hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.

The Online Giants: Big Box Retailers and Marketplaces

The most obvious place to look is online, but simply clicking “buy” on the first result is rarely the best strategy. The internet is a vast ocean of inventory, and prices fluctuate wildly based on algorithms, inventory levels, and time of year.

Amazon: The Algorithm Game

Amazon is often the default for many gamers, and for good reason. Their shipping is fast, and their return policy is generally lenient—a crucial factor when dealing with dented corners or missing components. However, their prices change hourly. A game might be $50 in the morning and $35 by the afternoon.

To exploit this, you need patience. Do not buy a game the moment you decide you want it (unless it is a rare print run that is about to sell out). Add it to your cart and wait. Use price tracking tools or browser extensions that alert you when the price drops. Often, Amazon will match or beat other major retailers during big sale events, but the real magic happens in the “Used – Like New” section. Many buyers return games simply because the shrink wrap was removed, meaning you can snag a brand-new copy for 20-30% off.

The “Buy 2, Get 1” Phenomenon

Big box stores that sell toys and electronics often rely on a predictable sales cycle. While their standard prices are usually higher than specialized hobby stores, they occasionally run a promotion that is the gold standard of board game deals: the “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” sale.

When this sale hits, the strategy changes completely. This is the time to buy the expensive, heavy boxes that you have been eyeing. Instead of buying three $20 games, buy three $60 games. The discount applies to the total value, so maximizing the price of the individual units maximizes your savings. This is also the perfect time to pick up those excellent gateway games with high player count support that usually take up too much of your budget.

The Second-Hand Market: A Treasure Hunter’s Paradise

If you are willing to put in a little extra effort, the second-hand market is where the true savings live. Buying used is the single most effective way to acquire high-quality games for pennies on the dollar. However, it requires a discerning eye and a willingness to inspect components.

Facebook Marketplace and Local Groups

Facebook is surprisingly potent for board game acquisitions. Look for local hobby groups or “Board Game Buy/Sell/Trade” groups in your area. The advantage here is twofold: you save on shipping, and you can inspect the game before you hand over the cash.

When meeting a seller, don't be afraid to be thorough. Open the box. Check the rulebook for crumbs or water damage. Count the meeples. Often, sellers are just parents clearing out a closet and have no idea the value of what they are selling. You might find a vintage copy of a classic title or a modern strategy game for a fraction of the MSRP. Plus, buying locally supports the community ecosystem, keeping the hobby alive in your town.

Remember: A missing rulebook can almost always be found online as a PDF, but a missing custom die or a specific deck of cards can render a game unplayable. Always check for essential components before negotiating.

BoardGameGeek (BGG) Market

BoardGameGeek is the world's largest board game website, and their “GeekMarket” is a bustling hub of transactions. Unlike eBay, BGG is populated almost exclusively by hobbyists. This means the listings are generally more accurate regarding the condition and the contents of the box.

You can often find “Math Trades” here, which are complex but fascinating events where participants trade games with one another in a chain. It is a great way to offload games that no longer fit your taste or have low replay value and acquire something you actually want without spending cash.

eBay and Thrifting

eBay requires a bit more caution due to shipping costs, but “Lot Auctions” can be a goldmine. Sellers often bundle games together to get rid of them quickly. You might buy a lot of five games just to get the one you want, and then trade or sell the others.

Thrifting is the ultimate gamble. It is rare to find a hot European strategy game at a Goodwill, but it happens. More commonly, you will find mass-market family games. However, even these can be valuable. Parts from thrifted games can be harvested for storage solutions or prototyping your own game designs. Never underestimate the utility of a bag of generic wooden cubes or a spare deck of standard cards found in a bargain bin.

Crowdfunding: The “Early Bird” Trap

Kickstarter and GameFound are not typically places to find “cheap” games, but they offer a different kind of value. Backing a game is a preorder, not a purchase of a finished product. However, the “pledge levels” during a campaign are almost always lower than the eventual retail price.

If you are looking for deals in the crowdfunding sphere, look for the “Late Pledge” period. Sometimes, a project will overfund and allow people to jump in after the campaign closes. The price is usually slightly higher than the original backers but lower than retail. Just be warned: setup time and table space requirements are often underestimated in crowdfunding videos. Always check the rulebook if it is available to make sure the game fits your lifestyle before committing your money.

Optimizing Your Collection Strategy

Finding deals is only half the battle. Knowing *what* to buy ensures that those deals are actually worth it. It is easy to get blinded by a 70% discount tag and end up with a game that you will never play.

Analyzing Mechanics and Player Count

Before buying a game on sale, analyze its mechanics. Do you enjoy deck building? Worker placement? Social deduction? If a game uses a mechanism you dislike, it is not a deal at any price; it is shelf clutter.

Consider your regular gaming group. If you usually play with two people, buying a 4-6 player negotiation game—even at 80% off—is a waste of money. Conversely, if you host large parties, snapping up party games or high player count filler games during a sale is a smart move. These games often suffer from “played out” fatigue, so getting them cheap ensures you got your money's worth before the replay value diminishes.

Storage Solutions and Shelf Space

One hidden cost of buying games in bulk is storage solutions. When you find a massive deal on a bunch of big-box games, you might run out of shelf space quickly. Before you click “buy” on that oversized coffin box, consider where it will live.

Furthermore, many collectors look into aftermarket inserts to organize their games. If you buy a game used that is missing its original insert, or if the insert is terrible (which is common), you might need to budget for a wooden organizer or a set of plastic tackle boxes to keep the components sorted. These accessories can add up, so factor that into the “total cost” of a bargain game.

Table Space Requirements

The real estate on your dining table is precious. Some modern games require massive amounts of table space, often expanding with playmats and sideboards. If you have a small table, buying a sprawling empire-building game for $30 is only a deal if you actually have room to set it up. Otherwise, it will sit in the closet, gathering dust. Always check the “footprint” of the game before purchasing.

Timing Your Purchases

Timing is everything in the hunt for board game deals. The industry operates on a predictable schedule.

• Post-Holiday Slump: After the winter holidays, retailers are overstocked with inventory that didn't sell. January and February are excellent months to find discounts on family games and gift items.
• Summer Sales: Convention season often triggers online sales. Many online retailers run promos to compete with the excitement of conventions like Gen Con or Origins.
• Black Friday/Cyber Monday: The obvious heavy hitters. While deep discounts on new releases are rare, this is the time to buy accessory bundles, playmats, and older back-catalog titles.

Conclusion

Building a board game collection is a marathon, not a sprint. By leveraging online price matching, diving into the second-hand market, and being strategic about crowdfunding and timing, you can amass a library of incredible games without breaking the bank. The best board game deals are the ones that give you hundreds of hours of entertainment. Happy hunting, and may your dubs be plentiful and your punches be minimal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are used board games worth the risk?

Yes, absolutely. As long as you verify the component count before buying, used games are often the best value. You can find games that have been played once or twice for half the price of new. Just be wary of games with heavy smells (cigarette smoke or mold), as these are difficult to remove and can ruin the experience.

How do I know if a game is actually a good deal?

Use a site like BoardGameGeek to check the historical low prices. If a game is listed for $40 but the historical low is $25, you might want to wait. However, consider the shipping costs. A $30 game with free shipping is a better deal than a $25 game with $10 shipping.

What should I do if a bought game is missing pieces?

Most publishers have parts replacement policies. You can usually email them with the name of the game and the missing part, and they will mail it to you, sometimes for free and sometimes for a small fee. Alternatively, you can use generic gaming bits from other storage solutions or spare parts bins as substitutes.

Do “Kickstarter exclusives” hold their value?

Generally, yes. Games with exclusive content or promos that are not available in retail often retain their value longer. However, if you are buying solely for investment, be careful—the market is fickle. Buy because you want to play the mechanics, not because you hope to flip it for a profit later.

How can I save money on shipping when buying online?

The best way is to bundle orders. If you are buying from an online retailer, try to hit their free shipping threshold. If you are buying from a second-hand market like BGG, try to find multiple games from the same seller to combine shipping. It is often worth paying a bit more for the games if it saves you $15 in shipping fees.