Board games are an excellent way to bring friends and family together, but let’s be honest, guys, board games can be quite pricey sometimes. A really good alternative is the print-and-play (PnP) version of board games. It creates an accessible alternative that allows you to enjoy great gameplay without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy game night or want to try a new type of game (mechanism, universe) before committing to the retail version, PnP are a fantastic choice.

             Why are PnP more affordable than a regular retail version? Traditional board games can be pricey due to production, distribution, and packaging costs. In contrast, PnP games are available in the format of digital files, eliminating the need for costly materials, labour, and shipping. Many designers offer free or low-cost (from $5 CAD) downloads, making it easy to access a wide variety of games without breaking the bank.

Where to find them ?

• PnP arcade: THE source to find downloadable board games, they offer both free and paid options. They also have the whole Button Shy collection.

•  Kickstarter: Many crowdfunding campaigns will offer the PnP version of their games. Often those versions will arrive sooner than the physical version to backers. You can even find designers that do solely PnP games and sell them only on Kickstarter. These designers will often offer a bundle of their other games included in their latest campaign. Keep an eye out for those Kickstarter campaing. 

•  Publisher Website: Some developers will provide PnP versions of their game as demos or even full games.  You must do your research for those.

How to play PnP games?

• Digital play: Some games can be played on a tablet with the digital version. Mostly roll-and-write games. Opting for this option will make your game repayable indefinitely and will not cost you anything to print. Plus, points for the environment, as you won’t use any paper. A little problem you may have is if every player needs their personal sheet; now you will need a digital tablet for every player.

• You can decide to print your games. If you decide to go this way, you have two options:

  • • Printing at home: I recommend printing at home ONLY if you have a good-quality printer. Keep in mind that most PnP designers will provide you with a “low-ink” black and white version of their game if you decide to print at home.

    •  Professional Printing: You can decide to print the “original” version of the game, but you don’t want to empty the ink in your printer? Professional printing is the option for you. Many supply stores (Staples, Printful, Printify, …) offer printing services. With my personal experience, even if you have a good quality printer at home, the quality and colours of a professional printer are always going to be better. Plus, no wait, many of those supply stores offer a “same day” printing option.

How to optimize the print quality or your PnP?

If you decide to go towards printing your games, you will want to enhance the quality and longevity of your PnP games. Here are some tips for you:

• BEFORE ANYTHING : 

  • • • READ THE DESIGNER INSTRUCTION. Sometimes the PnP files will come with a set of instructions to print. Read them; they will help you prevent any mistake. They will even give you some tips like : you could replace the playing cards with a regular deck of cards, making you save the big bucks. 

      • Read the rules, or at least the setup of the game. This will help you determine how much of each component you need to print. Does each player need a board? Is it a common board, and does everyone play on the same board? Do you print everything on both sides of the paper, or do you need some element to be on a single sheet?

• What tools should you get if you want to print your game and create high-quality print and play?

  • • • Good laminator: Personally, I love the Amazon Basics model.

      • A good quality paper trimmer: You will want to make sure you have a sharp blade every time you use it. This will prevent uneven cut. 

      • For a little extra: Corner rounders: They will give your card a professional look and reduce wear and tear.

• Plan for a nice rule book: When printing in a supply store, they will offer to bind your document. I always send the rule as a separate file and pay the extra ($3–5 CAD) for the coil binding and the transparent cover. This will make you feel like you have a professionly made rule book and increase your enjoyement while learning the game. This will also help you avoid the use of the old and boring stapler. 

•  Use high-quality paper: Thicker paper like cardstock (65 lbs). This type of paper will make all the difference and make your game more durable. Cardstock will make your board more “realistic” or similar in feeling to a retail version. Cardstock is also amazing to create playing cards. You can print on both sides of the paper, and they will give you thick playing cards.

• Laminating: I highly recommend laminating your PnP games. For a roll-and-write game, you will be able to use them as a whiteboard by using dry-erase markers. This will create good replay ability for your game without you having to print new player sheets every game. You can also laminate many components of your game, like tokens.

• Card Sleeves: If you buy a game that includes cards, I recommend you should use card sleeves to extend the lifespan of these cards. If you print them on thick paper and sleves them, they will feel like real cards, I promise you.

• Storage: Do not forget, think of how you will store your game once printed. We love to use transparent pockets (bought at Dollorama), it makes it easy to indentifies the game we have. We also use a file organizer for game that have less components (only rule book and player sheets)

• Components to play the games: You will need more than just game and it's components to play those print and play. 

  • • • Many PnP are Roll and Write type of game, make sure you have some dice. 

      • If you go the laminating route, Do not forget to buy Dry-erase marker. 

      • You should even invest in some wooden cubes. They can be used as players token or even resources. 

      • Keep in mind that those dice, pens and cubes will be use in mutilple games, try to take them in many differents colors to accomodate multiple games. 

A print-and-play board game provides you with a cost-effective and customizable way to enjoy tabletop gaming. So many options are available online. You will have no trouble finding a game that suits your interest and budget. By optimizing your printing skills and following my many tips, you can create games with high-quality components that make you feel like you have the store-board versions.

If the print and plays game interest you, keep an aye out for our new article coming up any time with many recommendations. 

References: 

BGG. (n.d.) Print & Play. Board Games Geek. Retrieved March 2025, from: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1120/print-and-play

Button Shy. (n.d.) Button Shy. Retrieved March 2025, from: https://buttonshygames.com/

PNP Arcade. (n.d.) Print and play arcade. Retrieved March 2025, from: https://www.pnparcade.com/