Components
Board game components: We love them! One of the great pleasures of playing board games is the tactile joy we feel when we interact with a game’s components. Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind plastic miniature, cards with a great finish, wooden tokens we love to handle, or just a box that looks great on the shelf, a board game’s components should add to the pleasure of the gaming experience. And here at Panda, we’re dedicated to making some of the best board game components in the world. Read on to learn more about some of the components we can make for you. Don’t see a component here? Just ask us about it. If we don’t make it already, we probably can. And we like a challenge!
Packaging
A great box makes your game stand out on a shelf, and a great tray makes setup and storage easier for players. The best way to start building your packaging components is with the Panda Template Generator found here.
TWO PIECE BOX
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and the first impression of your game is often the box. Every box at Panda is custom-made and we offer a variety of thicknesses and finishes to make your box look and feel great. You’ll want a box that’s large enough to contain all of the components without being too big. Pro tip: Make sure your box is at least 15mm larger in each dimension than your largest component so players can easily remove each piece. Your Panda Project Manager will work with you to determine the best box size for your game.
MAGNETIC BOX
A magnetic box can make a great crowdfunding stretch goal or simply create a premium experience for the right game. We love that satisfying snap! Contact us for a template that matches your project.
TUCKBOX
Does your game only consist of cards and a paper sheet? The best container may be a light, one-piece tuckbox. And tuckboxes make great internal storage for larger games that stress organization and look fantastic. Start with a template from the Panda Template Generator or work with your Panda Project Manager to create a tuckbox that meets your needs
CARDBOARD TRAYS
Hey, they might not look like much, but a good cardboard tray helps keep your components organized inside the box and protects your contents during shipping. And who says a tray has to be dull? We can print your tray in full-color, too. Ask for a template that will make your insert something special.
Plastic Trays
Looking for a deluxe storage experience? Vacuum-formed plastic trays look great while keeping pieces organized for play and storage. Custom component containers make game setup and storage fast and simple. They can also be a bank or resource reserve during the game, keeping everything in place and easy to retrieve. Let our experts help you craft a one-of-a-kind internal organizer.
Printed Components
Many of a game’s most important components – cards, boards, rulebooks and more – are printed on some kind of paper stock. With Panda’s expertise in printing and our cutting-edge presses, we’ll make all your paper components look the best they possibly can. Here’s a sample of what we can make for you and some tips to ensure that your pieces are printed correctly.
Booklets
Your rulebook is a critical part of your game. You’ve spent months and even years getting those rules just right, so make sure you spend time getting your rulebook presentation just right. Most rulebooks are saddle-stitched (center-stapled) and feature multiple pages in groups of four with no greater than 64 pages. Our optional, high-quality spiral bindings made of thick, flexible plastic allow your booklet to lay flat on the table while keepingthe pages safely attached. For books above 64 pages, Panda recommends perfect bound or softcover binding. Got something even bigger or extra special? Hardcover binding is an excellent option for RPG and art books.
Paper Sheets
Ah, the humble sheet of paper. Versatile and inexpensive, single paper sheets in a variety of thicknesses, finishes, colors, and dimensions can be colorfully printed and folded to your specifications to use as rule sheets, player aids, catalog flyers or whatever else you might dream up.
Cards
Panda’s card offerings begin with our high-quality “standard” bluecore cardstock and go from there. We offer over 20 different stock sizes, three cardstock core options, and a variety of finishes to make your cards look and feel special. Let Panda turn an otherwise standard component into a highlight of your game.
Gameboards
A game board is the centerpiece of most tabletop experiences. Make sure yours is a thing of beauty! Panda offers multiple folding options and thicknesses and our standard boards with reinforced folds and wrapped edges will look fantastic on your table and hold up to years of game nights. And don’t neglect the back! Printing a custom back for your game board adds minimal cost and adds that extra touch gamers appreciate. Planning on a giant game board? We can do that, but please note that the maximum size for individual game boards at Panda is currently 700mm x 1000mm.
Cardboard Mats
Cardboard mats may sound boring, but they are versatile: they can be player boards, special play areas, token storage, scoring boards, or any number of purposes. These boards do not fold, and they do not have wrapped edges. Dual-layer mats are two layers of punchboard glued together. By punching out areas on the top layer, the mat can hold cubes, discs, meeples, or other components in a specific spot on the mat and gives your game a premium feel. Making a cardboard mat square or rectangular is very cost-efficient, while unique shapes and dual-layer mats will need a die-cut mold, which increases costs.
Punchboards
Tokens! Tiles! Trackers and dials! All of these versatile board game components come from the humble punchboard. It seems simple: a piece of cardboard that is printed and die cut into a variety of shapes. But the possibilities are nearly endless! You can punch out everything from coin tokens to map tiles to cardboard standees to complex constructibles like a dice tower. Pro tip: plan your punchboards wisely and you may be able to save unneeded cardboard or die-cuts.
Cardboard Screens
Sometimes we need to hide our goods from our opponents. The perfect situation for a cardboard screen! Remember, properly angling the edges beyond the fold can make your screen stand up better. Screens also require an uploaded dieline file that identifies trim and fold lines. If you need help creating a template, contact us.
Paper Pads
A paper pad may serve as a simple scorepad at game’s end or it could be the centerpiece of your revolutionary new roll and write game. Either way, a well-designed paper pad can enhance your players’ experience and serve as a reminder of that special game. Paper pads can come in a variety of sizes, be printed on one or both sides, and come in full color or black and white. Don’t forget the pencil!
Stickers
Need stickers to apply to other components in your game? Or is your art so beautiful that it deserves its own sticker? Panda has stickers! Sticker sheets can have cardstock backing and come in any size, including standard card sizes. Sticker sheets are “kiss-cut,” meaning we cut through the sticker part of the sheet that contains the artwork, while keeping the backing paper intact. It takes a delicate touch! Panda can also apply a sticker to the exterior of your game, which comes in handy if you have a special crowdfunded version or feature you want to call out.
Classic Components
The components you can put into a game are nearly endless. Many are unique, but sometimes a more common “classic” component is what you need. Below are some of these classic game components that Panda can make for you. If you still don’t see what you are looking for, be sure to contact your ProjectManager and ask about it.
Wooden Components
Wooden pieces come in all shapes and sizes (including cubes, cylinders, hexagons, pawns, meeples, houses, sticks, discs, and custom designs) and add a timeless quality to a game. Panda’s wooden components are made from high-quality birch, a durable and dependable wood. Don’t forget to add the color! Wood pieces can be painted in any color you specify and silkscreen or heat transfer printing can make your components even more special. Concerned about environmental impact? Read about our environmental commitment here.
Dice
Do you love dice? We do! There’s nothing like the tension and excitement of rolling dice in a game and custom dice make it even more special. Bring us your polyhedral vision and let us make it a reality! Panda can make dice of nearly any size, shape, or color you can imagine. Customize them even further with unique engraving and printing to make a one-of-a-kind set of dice for your game only. Your players will love how they look, feel, and roll!
Standard Components
We may call them “standard” components, but they are anything but! You’ve probably seen some of these components in other games, but adding them to your design may be just what you need to make it complete. These components include stones, gems, diamonds, plastic stands, rivets, dials, cubes, discs, poker chips, sand timers, marbles, dry-erase pens, containers, snap bases, and many more. Ask your Panda Project Manager about all the possibilities.
Plastic Bags
Honestly, there’s not much we can say to make plastic storage bags sexy! But providing the right number and size of high quality zip bags costs only a few pennies each and goes a long way towards customer satisfaction. A bag for everything makes setup and cleanup a breeze. Don’t forget a pre-punched hole to minimize storage space!
Cloth Bags
Cloth bags are a premium way to keep pieces organized or hidden and drawing objects out of a bag can add a special moment to your game. Panda can make cloth bags in the size and color you specify and we can make your bag look extra special by adding embroidery, silkscreening, or full-color printing to the exterior. We also provide multiple fabric options and different types of drawstrings.
Rubber Playmats
Rubber – or neoprene – playmats (think mouse pad material) can add a deluxe feel to your game by leveling up your play and player areas. Just roll out your playmat and let the games begin! Playmats can be printed with full color on one or both sides to highlight your game’s beautiful art. Other options include unique shapes and double-stitching for a premium look and feel.
Custom Shapes
Take your game up a notch with components in unique and special shapes. Custom component shapes are a beautiful way to help your game stand out, but they do increase complexity, cost, and the length of time to produce a game. We’ll need detailed information about your custom piece to get things started and you can expect severalrounds of review and approval as our quality control process ensures that your components are created correctly and to your specifications. You’ll love the results!
Custom Plastics
There’s nothing like a table filled with beautiful custom plastic miniatures to make a game stand out from the crowd. Custom plastics can range from a single first player token, to a few individual player pieces, or to a table full of invading armies. Panda can make just about any shape you can imagine and in a multitude of colors and sizes. You can even go all out and have them hand-painted or color-washed in advance for your players! Custom plastics add complexity, cost, and development time to produce but their impact on your game is second-to-none.
Metal Components
Let’s be honest – you love the feel of a stack of custom metal coins in your hand or moving a metal miniature around the gameboard. Metal components have heft that other materials lack and add a high-quality, premium feel to a game. Enhance the effect by adding color to your miniature with paint or electroplating. You can even add an ink wash or rust effect to give your pieces the used look of a family heirloom.
Polyresin Components
Does your game need custom bits, but with a heft and texture that’s different from standard plastic? Resin may be the answer. Resin pieces are created with a silicone mold, making them much easier to manufacture than plastic miniatures. Resin is a more brittle material, though, so custom bits must have a strong structural integrity. We think you’ll agree that custom resin components add a special look and feel to any game.
