Rapid growth of board games in the age of e-commerce

by Stef Calimlim (Content Editor)

Image from Getty

Board games are making a comeback. In this day and age of technology, the Internet and social media, who would have expected that these old-school games will be a mainstream entertainment hit? According to Technavio’s report, the global board games market is poised to reach $2.15 billion from 2020 to 2024, accelerating at a CAGR of seven percent.

The rapid growth of the board games market can be attributed to various factors, including technological advancements, the popularity of crowdsourcing campaigns and the growing popularity of e-commerce platforms. These factors have allowed both startups and big manufacturers to develop and offer new and innovative board games easier and at a more convenient way.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also driven the market growth, with families turning to board games amid lockdowns and pandemic stress. In DW’s article on the rapid growth of board games, the market is said to have registered a growth of 20 percent in 2020 alone. The report added that there was an uptick in interest among adults, with the global market worth around $15 billion, exceeding that of the toy market’s value as a whole. Furthermore, games that have an existing familiarity and history were said to have the highest market demand and the growth is being fueled by North America, Northern Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

While physical toy stores remained close during the various lockdown periods, shops and manufacturers have been using e-commerce platforms to their advantage. Consumers have turned into online outlets and this has proven to be beneficial to both manufacturers and retailers.

Hasbro, one of the leading toy companies in the world, also saw their sales increase immediately as the world went into lockdown. The company said that its sales grew by 20 percent in the third quarter of 2020, recording a higher figure than their sales in 2019. It added that board games offered unique benefits that other activities did not since board games are “inherently inclusive and foster authentic connections across generations missing”. Among their best-selling games include Monopoly, Jenga, Trouble, Connect 4, Sorry, The Game of Life and Operation.

The products in the gallery below have been selected by our Market Analyst for representing trends in board games in today’s market.

Pop-it board game

Company: Xiamen Micro Trade Co. Ltd

Made of silicone, this pop-it board game from Xiamen Micro, the BF1846-141, comes in various shapes, patterns and animal designs. The item, which comes with a die, helps reduce anxiety and relieve stress. An order of at least four pieces has a price of $2.69. Lead time is three to seven days.

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Magnetic fishing game

Company: Hape International (Ningbo) Ltd

Made of MDF, plastic and magnet, this 840103 fishing game from Hape is suitable for children three years old and above. It meets EN 71 and ASTM F 963 requirements. Package size is 22.3x5.8x6cm. The minimum order of 1,000 pieces is for delivery in seven to 45 days. Price is $4.60.

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Bingo game set

Company: Jiaxing EBM Import & Export Co. Ltd

From Jiaxing EBM, this MLD-T152-5049 bingo game set is made of percent MDF, aluminum and chromed metal, and uses nontoxic paint. The 500-piece minimum order has a price range of $6 to $10. Lead time is 25 to 30 days.

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Tetris board game

Company: Texprohomefashion Co. Ltd

This TPTG1124-2353 model from Texprohomefashion is a wooden tetris board game that comes in animal designs. Dimensions are 27x18x0.8cm. The supplier requires a minimum order of 200 pieces for delivery in 30 to 45 days. The prices range from $1.74 to $1.84.

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Backgammon and chess set

Company: Xiamen Natrual Packing Industrial Ltd

Suitable for travel use, this backgammon and chess set in one, the Bg-0011-7884, consists of marbled resin playing stones, 1.19in chips, dice, doubling cube and 3.2x2.9x1.5in dice cup. The main board uses imitation leather, felt, chromed hinges and locking clasps. It measures 17.25x7.75x2.75in when closed and 17.25x15.5x1.5in when open. A 200-carton minimum order is for delivery in 10 to 30 days. It is priced at $10 to $13.50.

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Foldable wooden mancala

Company: Wenzhou Times Arts & crafts Co. Ltd

Wenzhou Times’ W11A092 foldable mancala is made of solid wood and stones. It measures 18x10x4cm and has a gross weight of 15kg. Order quantity is 1,000 pieces. Prices range from $4.30 to $4.70 and the lead time is 20 to 30 days.

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