Board Gaming Accessories: Which Ones Are Actually Worth It?

(Or: how I stopped worrying and started sleeving everything.) 

If you’ve been in the hobby for more than a few months, you’ve probably noticed something interesting.

You buy a board game.

Then another.

Then suddenly you’re buying things for your board games.

Card sleeves. Inserts. Metal coins. Neoprene playmats. Dice trays. Storage boxes. Component trays.

Before long, you’re accessorizing your games more than your own apartment.

The truth is, board gaming accessories have become an integral part of the hobby. Some genuinely improve gameplay, while others are luxurious “nice-to-haves.” As someone who’s spent years working in the industry – and storing more deluxe components at home than I’d like to admit – I thought it’d be fun to separate the essentials from the extravagances.

The Best Board Gaming Accessories

Card Sleeves: The First Upgrade Everyone Makes

If there is one accessory almost every experienced gamer eventually buys, it’s card sleeves.

Whether you’re shuffling hundreds of cards in a deck-builder or protecting a rare Kickstarter exclusive, sleeves extend the life of your games considerably.

They’re especially worthwhile for:

• deck-builders
• games you suspect that will receive an expansion (and you are interested)
• heavily shuffled card games
• expensive collector editions

Now, here’s where I usually lose people.

Whenever I sleeve a new game, I take a tiny pair of nail scissors and carefully round off every single sleeve corner. Yes, every one of them.

Does it technically make the sleeves a little more vulnerable? Probably. Does it make the cards noticeably more comfortable to hold and shuffle? Absolutely.

More importantly, I genuinely enjoy it. It’s oddly meditative, and it gives me a chance to spend time with every game before it even reaches the table. Maybe people think I’m a little obsessive – and they might be right – but I like having that physical connection with the games in my collection.

After all, this hobby isn’t just about playing games. Sometimes it’s also about taking care of them. Some people unwind with knitting. I trim sleeve corners. We all have our hobbies. 🙂

Inserts and Organizers

Nothing kills excitement quite like spending twenty minutes setting up a game.

Modern board game organizers solve exactly that problem.

Foamcore, laser-cut MDF, acrylic or plastic inserts help you:

• reduce setup time
• keep components organized
• speed up cleanup
• protect miniatures during transport

Some publishers include excellent inserts nowadays, while companies like Folded Space, GameTrayz or Laserox have built entire businesses around improving existing games.

And yes – opening a perfectly organized game box sparks unreasonable amounts of joy.

Metal Coins and Premium Components

Some accessories don’t make a game easier to play – they make it more enjoyable to experience.

Metal coins are probably the best example. They add weight, texture, and satisfying clinks that cardboard simply can’t replicate. Every payment feels a little more meaningful, and every resource exchange becomes just that bit more immersive.

The same goes for upgraded resources, acrylic tokens, or deluxe first-player markers. None of these are required to enjoy a game, but they can elevate the tactile experience in surprisingly meaningful ways.

It’s one of the reasons publishers – including us at Mindclash Games – continue to offer premium accessories alongside many of our titles. Whether it’s the Metal Resource Cubes and tokens for Anachrony or Voidfall, or other collector upgrades available in the Mindclash Games webshop, these additions are all about making an already great experience feel even more special.

Because sometimes, the sound of real metal coins hitting the table is worth every gram.

Dice Trays

Every gamer has watched a die bounce dramatically across the table…

…onto the floor…

…under the sofa.

A dice tray solves this elegantly.

It also protects wooden tables and keeps dice contained during crowded game nights.

Is it essential?

No.

Will your cat appreciate fewer runaway dice?

Probably.

Playmats

One accessory that has become increasingly popular over the last decade is the playmat.

Originally associated mostly with trading card games, neoprene mats have found their place in modern board gaming as well.

They provide:

• easier card pickup
• reduced table noise
• premium aesthetics
• protection for components

Many deluxe editions now even include custom playmats designed specifically for the game.

Storage Solutions

Eventually, every board gamer faces the same enemy:

Shelf space.

Whether you organize alphabetically, by designer, or according to a mysterious system only you understand, proper board game storage becomes increasingly important as your collection grows.

Popular solutions include:

• Kallax shelves
• storage boxes
• expansion organizers
• labelled containers for spare components

No accessory saves more arguments than finally knowing where that missing purple cube belongs.

Digital Accessories

Not all accessories are physical anymore.

Apps have quietly become one of the most useful additions to modern board gaming.

Many games now feature:

• score trackers
• campaign management
• automa opponents
• rules references
• soundtrack companions

At Mindclash Games, we even developed a companion app for Voidfall to reduce bookkeeping and let players focus on the decisions that matter.

The best digital accessories don’t replace the tabletop experience.

They simply make it smoother.

Future Trends in Board Gaming Accessories

Just like board games themselves, accessories continue to evolve.

We’re already seeing trends such as:

• sustainable inserts replacing plastic
• magnetic storage systems
• modular organizers
• premium acrylic components
• officially licensed accessory lines
• 3D printable inserts created by the community

Players increasingly expect accessories to improve convenience – not just look impressive.

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite things about this hobby is that every player customizes it differently.

Some people happily play straight out of the box.

Others won’t even punch the cardboard before ordering sleeves, inserts, and premium coins.

Neither approach is wrong.

The best board gaming accessories are the ones that make your gaming experience more enjoyable.

After all, whether you’re rolling dice into a leather tray or onto your dining table, the real goal is still the same:

Gather friends, tell stories, make questionable strategic decisions, and have a great time.