Did you know that July 3rd is International Plastic Bag free Day? I certainly didn’t but it got me thinking. Eco-impact is now a must consider for many a board gamer, particularly as our hobby is a resource heavy option. And some publishers definitely deserve more gold stars than others. But the more we shine a spotlight on the good eggs, the greater the pressure on them to raise the lowest common d-eco-nominator when it comes to green packaging. So here are 5 games where plastic is not considered fantastic when transporting meeples and more!
Cards v Gravity
Big Potato are the big cheese on the green gamer front. I feel like they were any early adopter of plastic-free packaging when others were still triple wrapping their boxes with cellophane. So it seems only fair that they headline this list. I could have chosen one of many games, but we played this recently and had a blast. Essentially it does what it says on the box. You’re balancing cards on top of each other on top of a bottle (which is not included – even more eco-friendly point for that!). Granted the cards have a plastic coating to make them waterproof. A game connected to drinking liquids would be unwise without! But the publisher’s ongoing commitment to minimising environmental impacts is laudable, they’re a certified B Corp for human and environmental impact, and they’re gloriously green in our (orange!) book.
Rhino Hero Super Battle
HABA are renowned for their superior quality children and family games. As such, no eco friendly, plastic bashing gaming list would be complete without them! Utilising durable and sustainably sourced wood for the majority of their components, HABA have been taking a responsible production and design stance for over 80 years. Rhino Hero Super Battle is a brilliant dexterity game based on that old concept; a house of cards. Build up a card skyscraper using a combination of walls and floors. If you land on a level inhabited by one of your super pals, it’s time to do battle! Whoever rolls the highest number gets to stay whilst the other player has to go down. There’s also a bunch of cheeky monkeys causing havoc. As with all HABA titles, this is a game built to last and we look forward to playing it for years to come.
Flip n Fish
The FUN BY NATURE range from Helvetiq is all about eco-greatness. And co-op, competitive, and solo play are all catered for inside this small box.
With an unexpected and fun Tetris-y vibe, the aim of the game is to rescue as many sea animals as possible by the time the deck runs out. Action cards flip/move specific cards and, as soon as animals are rescued (by forming sets), the remaining animals in that column drop down. In true Tetris style, if another set is made, they can be removed too! At the end of each turn, a new animal is drawn and added to each column. But if any row ever reaches the boat on the 7th row, the game is lost. If the boat is avoided, scores are based on how many animals were rescued. Trash cards including those showing discarded plastic are thrown into the mix and block movements. So, just like in real life, they clog up the sea and compromise the ability to rescue the animals. As well as being spot on in terms of theme, the eco-friendly credentials of this series are commendable – the components have been made without plastic and using FSC certified components/biodegradable glue!
Quixo
A game that is completely plastic free is a common site amongst the Gigamic range that produces titles that appear to be part sculpture part game! Chunky, quality, and not a flimsy plastic token in sight, Quixo is noughts and crosses reimagined for those wanting to level up their strategic play. You still have to get your matching symbols in a row (5 in this case), but each turn you slide a cube (either blank or showing your symbol) from the outside edge back into a gap in the grid. Blank sides then get rotated to show X or O, and so, as you may expect, each turn changes the game space! Chunky, durable, and not a plastic part in sight!
Wingspan
Stonemaier is a company constantly striving to do better. Innovating ways to bring new and fun experiences to their existing and future fans for sure. But their strives to minimise the impact of their production techniques on the environment have caught our eye today. As Jamey readily admits, no mass production techniques are wholly sustainable. And when cheap plastic bits and bobs cost less than responsibly sourced materials, profit worries can overwhelm eco-concern. But, as that well-known supermarket chain says, every little helps. And in Wingspan, shiny plastic card trays have been replaced by sugar cane pulp. Decks are now bound by paper bands and eggies have become wooden (and in our opinion far better for it). It’s our hobby but it’s also our world, and overuse of plastic must go the way of the do-do!
