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Just a couple of weeks after the Trump administration announced unprecedented tariffs on nearly all imported goods, the board game industry finds itself facing an unexpected challenge. An industry survey by Cardboard Edison indicates that nearly a quarter of board game publishers are considering halting production altogether. Most predict that games that do make it to market will come with higher price tags, and that their designs will be less complex. This paints a grim picture for what was once a thriving sector within the broader tabletop gaming community, a sector that has contributed significantly to the U.S. economy over the years.
Cardboard Edison, known for its game design awards, surveyed 62 publishers between April 9 and 11. The findings are concerning: around 90% of those surveyed expect board game prices to rise as a direct result of the tariffs, while approximately two-thirds foresee shorter print runs. Additionally, 62% of publishers plan to reduce the number of new games they add to their collections, cutting down on opportunities for independent game designers. Alarmingly, 23% of respondents indicated they might cease board game production completely.
The situation is compounded by the fact that publishers determined to continue producing board games are looking for ways to bypass distributors and retailers. With tariffs squeezing profit margins, the traditional model of selling through retail might soon be unfeasible. This means that the shelves of local independent game stores, once brimming with a variety of board games, may start to look sparse in the near future.
