Trump’s Tariffs Reshape the Board Game Industry Landscape

Every Monday evening, Benjamin Ho and Johann Thiel gather at a Brooklyn brewery to enjoy board games together. Some nights, they immerse themselves in feudal Japan, competing for military dominance over a vast empire. Other times, they assume roles as Grand Prix drivers or World War I soldiers. Often, they unwind with a Batman-themed card game.

However, their gaming nights are now shadowed by real-world disruptions: tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

This year, both players have witnessed popular game publishers halt production in response to the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China, where the majority of board game and card components are manufactured.

The instability in trade policies poses a significant threat to the survival of independent U.S. board game publishers, most of which operate with fewer than ten employees.

“You don’t need a large operation to design new games, which keeps the industry vibrant,” said Ho, 36, who owns 90 games. “Tariffs represent a setback for people wanting to create and innovate, and I find that concerning. I hope this doesn’t stifle the growth of the hobby.”