As I consider my options regarding the latest Everdell Kickstarter, I was thinking about brand extension. I am so glad they are offering the big box goodies without the big box.
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In order to make more money and create more interest in a game, Board game publishers typically extend the brand in several ways.
Expansions
The most obvious way it through expansions. Adding an expansion can freshen up a game and extend the amount of time it will take for the game to become boring or “solved”. It could be more of the same. It could mitigate an issue with the original game. Like how the Wingspan: European Expansion attempted to mitigate the spam egg strategy. Sometimes they add additional players.
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In am in two minds about the extra player expansions. I can see with an expensive game like Agricola why they made the second edition just four player and took out lots are cards. It must have reduced the production cost of the base game considerably.
It’s interesting how they tried to appeal to the collector by producing collectible player colour sets. I would have gone for these had the miniatures been different in each set.
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Some players will never need fifth or sixth player. For me a fifth player is always useful although not a deal breaker.
Solo, dual, team and cooperative play
Publishers also offer new ways of playing the game. Two player versions like 7 Wonders Duel and Caverna: Cave vs Cave. Presumably this is to bring the game to a new audience. Some even have children’s or junior editions. I must admit there is a small part of me that would like to collect Mammoth tusks.
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Solo is always attractive to me. I have never bought a solo expansion until Everdell: Mistwood. Although I am considered getting Cat Lady: Box of Treats.
A few games have travel editions. Like Hive Pocket. I love travel editions but not many games do them. There’s a neat little travel edition Catan but it does look a bit fiddly to be honest. Then of course there are giant versions like Container: 10th Anniversary Jumbo Edition!.
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Other games in the same universe
We’re seen this with Frosthaven. Sometimes there are items or characters that cross over. This tends to work for more thematic games. I can see Everdell going this way.
Some publishers offer card or dice versions of popular base games like The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game or Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers. The dice in this look gorgeous. I must admit I am tempted and the gameplay looks good as well.
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My favourite game that does this is Carcassonne: Wheel of Fortune which is a new standalone game or can be combined with the base game. Obviously there are several spin off versions of Carcassonne including Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers and Carcassonne: The City.
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I’ve been playing a lot of Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers and I think as a base game only is on par or even better than Carcassonne.
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Promos
Promos are often given out when you buy the game at a convention to help generate interest in the game. Promos can become quite rare so sometimes change hands for inflated prices. Carcassonne has a new promotional tile each year.
They are definitely trying to appeal to the completionists and fans of the game. There’s even a little demo version of Carcassonne that was given out to showcase the new art.
With Wingspan: Swift-Start Promo Pack we saw a promo aimed at encouraging play by newbies and to aid in teaching.
New Art
Really popular games will have multiple versions, often incorporating minor gameplay changes and art.
Accessories
We now see Starling Games (I) going after the etsy Everdell upgrade market with their storage containers and card stands. Stonemaier Games also recently did this with the Wingspan eggs. We also see complete rule books, art books, card dispensers and even pin badges.
Metal coins is a big area and some games like offer upgrade kits like the miniatures for New York 1901 or Tokaido. There are the Brass: Iron Clays available separately. I love official upgrade packs for games although it’s not something you often see.
![]()
Upgraded storage and inserts are increasing becoming an option with several games offering large empty storage boxes like Museum and Petrichor.
Anniversary and Collectors editions
To appeal to the fans of a game, often publishers will release anniversary editions, like Ticket to Ride: 10th Anniversary I am definitely interested in the new Carcassonne: 20th Anniversary Edition. I think there’s a feeling that if you are a big fan of a game you have to own everything as well as best edition. I certainly felt like this with the Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition. But actually you don’t. Retail is always better value.
![]()
/pic6010050.png)
In order to make more money and create more interest in a game, Board game publishers typically extend the brand in several ways.
Expansions
The most obvious way it through expansions. Adding an expansion can freshen up a game and extend the amount of time it will take for the game to become boring or “solved”. It could be more of the same. It could mitigate an issue with the original game. Like how the Wingspan: European Expansion attempted to mitigate the spam egg strategy. Sometimes they add additional players.
/pic3071408.jpg)
In am in two minds about the extra player expansions. I can see with an expensive game like Agricola why they made the second edition just four player and took out lots are cards. It must have reduced the production cost of the base game considerably.
It’s interesting how they tried to appeal to the collector by producing collectible player colour sets. I would have gone for these had the miniatures been different in each set.
/pic3311876.jpg)
Some players will never need fifth or sixth player. For me a fifth player is always useful although not a deal breaker.
Solo, dual, team and cooperative play
Publishers also offer new ways of playing the game. Two player versions like 7 Wonders Duel and Caverna: Cave vs Cave. Presumably this is to bring the game to a new audience. Some even have children’s or junior editions. I must admit there is a small part of me that would like to collect Mammoth tusks.
/pic3095296.jpg)
Solo is always attractive to me. I have never bought a solo expansion until Everdell: Mistwood. Although I am considered getting Cat Lady: Box of Treats.
A few games have travel editions. Like Hive Pocket. I love travel editions but not many games do them. There’s a neat little travel edition Catan but it does look a bit fiddly to be honest. Then of course there are giant versions like Container: 10th Anniversary Jumbo Edition!.
/pic6067326.jpg)
Other games in the same universe
We’re seen this with Frosthaven. Sometimes there are items or characters that cross over. This tends to work for more thematic games. I can see Everdell going this way.
Some publishers offer card or dice versions of popular base games like The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game or Rajas of the Ganges: The Dice Charmers. The dice in this look gorgeous. I must admit I am tempted and the gameplay looks good as well.
/pic6044725.jpg)
My favourite game that does this is Carcassonne: Wheel of Fortune which is a new standalone game or can be combined with the base game. Obviously there are several spin off versions of Carcassonne including Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers and Carcassonne: The City.
/pic2041883.jpg)
I’ve been playing a lot of Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers and I think as a base game only is on par or even better than Carcassonne.
/pic1757445.jpg)
Promos
Promos are often given out when you buy the game at a convention to help generate interest in the game. Promos can become quite rare so sometimes change hands for inflated prices. Carcassonne has a new promotional tile each year.
They are definitely trying to appeal to the completionists and fans of the game. There’s even a little demo version of Carcassonne that was given out to showcase the new art.
With Wingspan: Swift-Start Promo Pack we saw a promo aimed at encouraging play by newbies and to aid in teaching.
New Art
Really popular games will have multiple versions, often incorporating minor gameplay changes and art.
Accessories
We now see Starling Games (I) going after the etsy Everdell upgrade market with their storage containers and card stands. Stonemaier Games also recently did this with the Wingspan eggs. We also see complete rule books, art books, card dispensers and even pin badges.
Metal coins is a big area and some games like offer upgrade kits like the miniatures for New York 1901 or Tokaido. There are the Brass: Iron Clays available separately. I love official upgrade packs for games although it’s not something you often see.
/pic6037704.jpg)
Upgraded storage and inserts are increasing becoming an option with several games offering large empty storage boxes like Museum and Petrichor.
Anniversary and Collectors editions
To appeal to the fans of a game, often publishers will release anniversary editions, like Ticket to Ride: 10th Anniversary I am definitely interested in the new Carcassonne: 20th Anniversary Edition. I think there’s a feeling that if you are a big fan of a game you have to own everything as well as best edition. I certainly felt like this with the Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition. But actually you don’t. Retail is always better value.
/pic3047790.jpg)