Is It Okay To Remove The Board Game Box Insert?

Ever looked at a board game insert (the usually black plastic mold or cardboard dividers that hold all the components) and wondered if you really needed it? That’s a question I’m going to answer for you today. So, is it okay to remove the board game box insert?

Yes, it’s okay to remove the board game box insert. You don’t have to remove it, but removing it will give you more room in the box to put additional components from expansions or accessories such as component boxes. Also, removing it gives you more room to organize the components in the base game. Removing it does mean you’ll have to find a way to organize everything on your own though.

What Is A Board Game Box Insert?

Every board game comes with an insert. These are the (usually black) plastic molds that sit inside the box or the cardboard dividers which separate everything. They have spaces for cards, tokens, miniatures, unique components, game boards, and more.

The only games that won’t come with inserts are the games so small that they only need the packaging to store them. These are micro games, games like Gladius, or card games such as The Game. As an aside, I am not a fan of these ways of storing games because I never feel like the components are protected well, and the packaging feels cheap (because it is), but I do recognize that this helps the environment and saves on resources.

Why Board Game Box Inserts Are Necessary

There are a couple of reasons board game box inserts are necessary. One is they help organize the game, and the other is that they safely store the components of a game.

Board Game Box Inserts Organize The Game

Organization isn’t just about knowing where your components are, it’s also about quickly being able to set up and tear down the game. A long, confusing setup can suck the life out of a room of people who are excited and eager to start playing a game. That’s the last thing you want to have to happen, so board game box inserts can help prevent this.

Board Game Box Inserts Safely Store Components

It’s rare to have a component that’s so sturdy it doesn’t need some kind of protection. After all, most board game components are made out of plastic or cardboard, which leaves them vulnerable to damage if they’re not stored properly.

Board game box inserts are an easy way to do this. They’re designed for every component to go in a specific spot in the insert while keeping all of them stored in such a way that they won’t get damaged.

Why It Is Okay To Remove A Board Game Box Insert

Firstly, board game box inserts are recyclable, so removing them isn’t going to hurt the environment. Secondly, sometimes you just need the room. This could be due to several reasons.

The first reason is that you have expansions for the game and want to save space on your shelf. Storing expansions in the base game box is a great way to do this, but usually only possible if you remove the insert to make room.

The second reason is that the insert isn’t that good. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes an insert is poorly made or not thought through well enough. In that case, it’s easier to remove the insert and store the game in a way that makes more sense for you and your components.

The last reason is that you just don’t like the insert. This could be because it doesn’t look that good, keeps getting in the way in some way, or for another reason. Sometimes the insert just has to go, and that’s okay.

Alternatives To Board Game Box Inserts

Let’s say you get rid of the board game box insert, but still want an organized way to store your components. Makes sense, and there are plenty of ways to do this. Let’s take a look at them.

Rubber Bands And Plastic Bags

I’m only putting rubber bands on this list because they are an option, but they’re my least favorite option. I’ve had more than one rubber band break, and I’ve had rubber bands stick to cards too. They are an option, but not a great one.

Plastic bags aren’t great for the environment, but they are a much better option than rubber bands. They can store miniatures, cards, tokens, and more. Plus, it’s easy to write on them with a sharpie so you know which bags to put which components in when it’s time to pack everything up.

Hugo’s Amazing Tape

Ever heard of Hugo’s Amazing Tape? It’s a great option for holding components like cards together. That’s because Hugo’s Amazing Tape only sticks to itself and nothing else. You do have to make sure it’s tight because it can easily loosen, but it’s still a better option than rubber bands.

Little Storage Containers

There are tons of these types of containers for board gamers. They are great at holding all kinds of components. I highly recommend them not just because they can store components, but because it’s easy to take them out of the box and set them on the table to keep holding those components while you play too.

Custom Inserts

There are a lot of sites that provide custom insert options for board games. A lot. These are nice, good-looking options to replace a board game insert with, but they will add to the total cost of the game, so I only recommend these if you know you’re going to hold onto a game for a long time, the game is going to get played a lot, and you’re looking for a great way to store and set up the game.

If you’re interested, here are some options

1. Wayfarer Creations
2. Gaming Trunk
3. Top Shelf Gamer
4. Laserox
5. Etsy
6. Amazon
7. The Broken Token
8. Folded Space
9. Insert Here
10. E-Raptor
11. Meeple Realty

Did You Know?

(Each time you refresh the page you will get a new “Did You Know” fact!)

Did you know Clue has been published in a lot of other countries? Because of this, there was a strong need to translate the game into other languages. For example, Cantonese, French, German, and Italian.

Pretty cool, huh? Clue is an interesting game because it sits between what we would call a language-dependent game and a language-independent game.

Not sure what I’m talking about? Take a look at this article about board games being published in other languages!

Conclusion: Is It Okay To Remove The Board Game Box Insert?

So, there you have it. When it comes to if it is okay to remove the board game box insert, the answer is yes. Just makes sure you have an alternative way to safely organize the components in place.

So, what do you think about board game box inserts? Should they be removed or not? Let me know what you think and why in the comments below!

And, as always, keep on gaming, fellow board gamers.