Top 5 Print and Play Board Games

Print and play is a weird thing. We see it a lot with Kickstarter "previews" so you can try a game before diving in, or same for regular-release games. But how good are they? What do YOU need to make it good? And can they really replace the actual game itself? Let me know your thoughts!

Print and play has been around for quite a while, between publishers simply wanting to get a product out to potential customers to acting as a preview to dedicated gamers trying to revive an old favorite. Is it legally allowed? ...... ehhhhhh...... HEY LOOK OVER THERE IT'S ANOTHER GLOOMHAVEN EXPANSION!!!!

*ahem*. So, for this particular list, I wanted to go with relatively popular/well-known games that have well-done print and play versions, rather than games that are strictly released as print and play. To you all, I ask this - is it worth it? Generally, you need decent quality paper, printing, etc., to make something that's worthwhile to actually play, and when does it cost more to try and print something than just buy the thing as it was intended? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments!

"Actual" Game List

[josebordon]

I'm from Argentina, and board games are very high price imported products here. I made many games pnp at 25% of the cost of the original game (settlers of catan, secret Hitler, pandemic, and more). Is cheaper printing 3D pieces and buy custom wood pieces for the board than buying the game. I print in a store using "sticker paper" (i don't know how i say that type of paper in English, it's like a white background sticker) and paste in wood. Very cheap and acceptable quality

[jeremyslather]

PnP is sometimes the only option because each official print costs 60% of a basic income salary. Shipping costs are really high to some countries. The game costs 50 dollars, shipping 100 dollars sometimes. I printed Root from the official files and I am ok with it to be honest. I made the meeples with a CNC cutter. The whole thing costed me like 40 dollars. So, yeah "why didn't you buy the original game then?", well, it is out of stock in the whole country, and it has been for at least 6 months maybe more, so yeah.

[conedx]

top 5 print and play games video summarized "why the heck would you print this game when you can just buy it?!". maybe should have picked different games.

[YouraffectionateuncleWormwood]

The Duke works well as amprint and play though ive never been spoiled with the real wood pieces.

I drew up the pieces in inkscape and printed them quarter size and laminated them.

Publisher has larger ones available on BGG..

I was afraid it would be awkward with the tiny flat pieces but didnt have a problem. Printing on the cheaper paper worked better actually because I could cut the laminate a lot closer to the card

[jfridy]

I had the French Edition of Dune. Over the years I replaced every part of the original game with nicer fan made materials. Cards that had their uses on them, plastic troops, metal coins, finally a roll out mat. When I made my own leaders, the only question was if I wanted to use art from fans, the Lynch movie, the Miniseries, or the Video Games. Some of the fan art on BGG ended up being used as the art in the new edition, so that's how good it was.

[NahlaSid]

I just discovered yesterday that ROOT has a pnp version and couldn't believe it.. I found your video while searching is it a legit version :)

And i agree with you and the other commenters, I have to be 100% sure that the publisher endorses the pnp before using it. As to why would I go to the pnp rout instead of buying the real commercial product? It is simply because where I live it is very hard to find board games, and shipping them from abroad would be very expensive .
Citadels is actually a game that I printed and i Love it. Thankfully the pnp has the new artwork which i prefferre to the old one. So that is a bonus ;)

[andersrehnstrom]

Chronicle of crime is a great game and I can believe that it works fine as a pnp. You should absolutely try it. I don’t have any problems with pnp but if I like a game I will buy it after I have try it. The pnp can never give the same feeling as a “real” game. One problems with pnp game from America is that you insist to use letter format on paper and that makes it impossible to print dubbel sided since the pictures don’t match and letter format doesent sells outside of America.

[ShortsOnYT]

Imagine life full of every kind od board game...

What else does anyone need

[cmlogan]

Print and play games shine best for distributing playtest copies of a work in progress game (or a self published game) to more people. On the rare occasion I've played them, I find quality components in the actual game more desirable. Somewhat related topic: I wonder what your thoughts are on app versions of games?

[urielalbertosanchezm]

I love print and play getting too much fun building it!

[Revenantx]

For print and play I am ok with it under 2 instances. #1 Publisher endorsed: this one is cut and dry, in most cases this is a cheaper version for both you and the Developer and since it is legit go to town with it. In general I prefer to just get the professionally produced stuff as it is more often of higher quality. The second instance I am ok with it is when there is no way to buy the game (or components) directly from the manufacturer. If a thing is out of print and has ballooned to insane costs on the secondary market then you are not taking money away from the people making the game just scalpers. In both instances I would prefer to get the actual game (or components) but needs must.

[kosterix]

I did a ton of print and play. They are indestructible (you can always reprint as long as you document), and they’re unsellable (nobody trusts your skill).

If the retail is cheap why bother.

[Boombastic.]

What websites can you recommend to search for free pnp games/files?

[silverjoker]

Roll n write boardgames work best as print and plays no point paying that much for sheets of paper, pencils and some dice when you might not even like the game

[dutyfreeadventures]

Sorry man but I think it's really lazy to review print and play games for games that you haven't printed and played. The Hassel or ease of setup is part of the process and should be part of the review.

[khalilmechergui]

I like print and play because y can access to the game whereever y are
I think all the game need to be print and play to test it before y buy it

[dancingpotplant]

I found this video pretty disappointing to be honest.

It's far from the top 5 pnp games, only 5 pnp games of titles you can buy in physical format.

The pnp world is VAST indeed with some amazingly talented designers and artists out there but I feel this video gives a negative perception of pnp games.

It feels a bit like having A List of the Top 3 Ice Creams but then only referencing the 3 in neapolitan ice cream.