For me personally, when it comes to gaming, theme is very important. But so are components! Like adding background music that matches the theme, adding new components that help improve the game experience can go a long way to enhancing the theme. A good game can be made a little more entertaining with some exciting or interesting components.
There are many places online to find upgraded components for our tabletop games but an often overlooked source is Etsy. Etsy is a global ecommerce platform for artists and creative businesses. There are plenty of talented gamers working on Etsy to help us all improve our games. I've compiled a list of a few of my favourite board game upgrades:
Please note: some of these items may have limited stock and may be out of stock by time you are reading this. Such is the nature of Etsy.
Handmade Board Game Tokens from VelveyDearest
Half Log Wood Resource Tokens Handmade https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/291936653/small-half-log-wood-resource-tokens
Tusk/Ivory Resource Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/508791548/tuskivory-resource-tokens
Stone Resource Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/291937689/small-light-colored-stone-resource
Iron Ingot Resource Tokens Handmade https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/278432010/iron-ingot-resource-tokens-replacement
3D Printed Accessories from 3DGameGear
Terraforming Mars 3D Tiles (Set of 80) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/526650475/terraforming-mars-game-gear-3d-tiles-set
King of Tokyo 3D Monster Figures https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/533424459/king-of-tokyo-game-gear-monster-figures
Blood Rage Longboat Deck Holder https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/485372559/blood-rage-game-gear
Colt Express Loot Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/487378985/colt-express-loot-tokens
Settlers of Catan Fan Made Items from FanOfCatan
4 Player Custom Set for Settlers of Catan https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/533837410/4-player-set-starter-settlers-of-catan
Advanced Custom 4 Player Set for Settlers of Catan https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/533838078/4-player-set-advanced-settlers-of-catan
Handmade Board Game Tokens from epicycledesigns
Custom Cheese Wheel Tokens for Mice and Mystics (24 in a set) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/520200526/mice-and-mystics-custom-cheese-wheel
Pandemic Research Station Replacement Tokens (Set of 6)
Colt Express Player Token Set Handmade Polymer Clay (set of 7)
Custom Board Game Pieces from JusttheNerdyBits
Kingsburg Polymer Clay Resources https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/267695774/kingsburg-resources
Love Letter Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/224436998/love-letter-tokens
Board Game Component Upgrades from bghq
Turbolaser Turret for X-Wing Miniatures https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/513147467/xx-9-turbolaser-turret-for-x-wing
Hoth Shield Generator https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/518755859/dss-02-hoth-shield-generator-x-wings
Arkham Horror Gate Stands (pkg of 8) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/510116448/arkham-horror-gate-stands-pkg-of-8
Death Tokens (pkg 24) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/523917957/arcadia-quest-death-tokens-pkg-24
3D Printed Game Tokens from Piecesofgame
Castle Panic 3D Tower Pieces https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/234413488/3d-printed-castle-6-towers-6-walls-and-2
Guillotine Upgrade https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/271187730/guillotine-upgrade
Patchwork Buttons https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/271085319/patchwork-buttons
Custom Board Game Pieces from boardgamemodder
Plastic Airplane Board Game Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/245738982/plastic-airplane-board-game-piece
Plastic Cyclist Board Game Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/272738416/plastic-cyclist-board-game-piece
Wooden Arrows https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/473151402/wooden-arrows
Plastic Dubloon Coins https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/256652639/sets-of-plastic-dubloon-coins-board-game
Game Components from spielmaterial (on Etsy!)
Wooden Barrels https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/525640240/10x-barrel-small
Sticker Faces for Meeple and Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/525639704/stickerset-faces
Pandemic Player Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/539448271/twinples-pandemic
Acrylic Gaming Upgrades from BoardGamesFactory
Pandemic Virus Tokens https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/173181693/pandemic-board-game-virus-tokens
5 Damage Heart Token (set of 10) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/294414161/5-damage-token-heart-set-of-10
3D Printed Miniatures from ProjectMobius
Set of 12 High Rise Hotels https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/467366391/custom-3d-printed-monopoly-hotel-custom
Custom 3D Printed Scifi Game Tokens (Set of 8) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/475877702/custom-3d-printed-scifi-monopoly-game
Custom Chess Sets from WinkingBlindBats
Dracula vs Van Helsing Chess Set https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175933047/dracula-v-van-helsing-chess-set
Extra Large Fantasy Chess Set https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/166991161/very-large-fantasy-chess-set
Custom Board Game Pieces from aXePropMoney
Prop Euros Money (50 Pieces) https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/524297153/50-pieces-invalid-500-euros-bill
Invalid 100 Dollars Bills US American Money https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/494701294/10-pieces-invalid-100-dollars-bill
Tell Us What You Do
What kinds of things have you added to your games to upgrade or improve the gaming experience? Send your responses to Chris [at} GeekyGoodies.com
All photos belong to the individual Etsy Shop owners and were used with permission.