You may have seen advertisements for “box subscription” mailing services. It could be for clothes, comics, or even mysterious adventures! More than likely visitors to this site will have seen advertisements or unboxing videos for Loot Crate somewhere in their travels. As that service became more popular, creeping its way into all of my favorite nerdy haunts, I found myself looking at the various trinkets that came in the box each month wondering if it was actually worth the cost. Likewise, I’d seen a service that offers larger board games each month, but again, the cost was steep for what was essentially a blind game purchase. However, if you’re looking for an option to get your hands on some small, unique, and fun games you can literally keep in your pocket – our friends at Button Shy Games came up with an alternative.
In full disclosure, we were sent the Button Shy Board Game of the Month ‘box’ for May. They’ve been working on getting the logistics right for the service. Now that they’re looking to expand the club’s membership, I was happy to take a look at what they were offering to help you answer the “is it worth it?” question yourself.
My short answer? At a max of $20 a month for multiple pocket games, I’ll tell you that there is more than likely a subscription level worth the cost to you.
That out of the way, let me take a minute to explain what you can expect to receive each month at each of the levels and breakdown what I got in my box. Then I’ll let you know what I’m calling the good, the meh, and the useful about the service.
A breakdown of each level from the BGotM site
According to the Board Game of the Month page at Button Shy, there are a number of levels you can subscribe to.
- $1 a month gets you access to a print-and-play version of some of their games, a membership card, and exclusive podcast episodes
- $5 a month gets the previous level’s items, a postcard game where the entire game rule set fits on one postcard sized bit of cardboard and a brief newsletter
- $10 a month gets the previous items and promo cards for other Button Shy wallet games and/or a complete micro-game
- $20 a month gets all of the above, a t-shirt (after 3 months at this level), and a free Button Shy wallet game each month
Each level ALSO has a level-specific discount on Button Shy’s library of wallet games from $1 off to a full free game. If you have never visited Button Shy Games’ site before, the average cost for their wallet games is $10, so even without a discount they aren’t too much of a drain on the wallet.
So what did I get in my package? Based on what I got, I believe I received what you could expect in the $20 option. I got two promo cards for Button Shy Games – Movie Plotz and Wild Catz. Sadly, of the Button Shy games I currently own, neither of them are among them (though I do have a fondness for the Willy Wonka inspired Loompa Cat card I got).
I got a micro-game called Poco Pinata – a game that features only a handful of cards that has players take on one of two roles. One player closes their eyes and spins like it was there turn with the bat at a kids’ birthday party. Then they try to smack their token (they suggest coins) on one of the pinata cards on the table. Other players get a chance to move a card while the active player’s eyes are closed to try and stop them from hitting it and getting the candy. It’s a fun little game that is light for all audiences and it’s always fun to see people spinning around like fools and shouting.
The postcard game I got was called Scrumdiddlyumptious, which was also related to the Willy Wonka as per their ‘cult movie’ theme. The most interesting thing about this game, and a MAJOR selling point for folks playing with kids (and adults with a sweet tooth), is that you actually play with real candy. Players grab handfuls of candy with different types (different colors, different brands, etc), and hide their stash from the other players. They then take turns using powers described on the card trying to get another player to eat pieces from their stash. The last person with candy still in their stash wins. But is losing really so terrible when it means you get to eat all that candy?
I also received a wallet game. Because I got my package as a promotional item, I got Pod-X, a game designed by Daniel Solis where players are survivors on a space ship that’s going down and there is only one escape pod left. Who will be the one to find the last pod and escape with their life? I was surprised that this was the game I got, because it’s part of a kickstarter that will be going live in early July and is currently not available for purchase. I can’t promise you that this will be an option for the average Board Game of the Month subscriber, but I can say that there are a number of games that I either have picked up or are on my wish list.
But what do I think of this service? Is it worth it?
As I alluded to at the start, I don’t really have anything bad to say about the service. It’s not excessively expensive, and it gives a number of interesting items each month. However, I can’t just make a blanket statement that it’s worth your investment.
The Good:
The fact that there are a number of different subscription levels makes this service hard to argue against. $20 a month for a few small titles might seem a bit too hefty for what you are looking for, but even $5 a month gets you print and play titles and a postcard game that will more than likely fill spots for light filler games to play between larger titles or when you have a short time to kill with some friends. In my opinion, the $10 a month option is the best value, but if you can afford the full $20 – three games at that price is a good deal. While I can’t say EVERY game you get will be a winner, I can definitely say that I’m happy with everything that came in mine, and the designers they have on board are incredibly talented.
The Wild Catz and Movie Plotz cards are actually based in the same movies as the post card games, so if you participate for the whole year, you’d have an entire expansion for both games as part of the package.
The availability of the discount on future game purchases as well mean that if you ARE looking for a specific wallet game from their collection, it can be be a hefty discount on what is already a cheap game.
The Meh:
Nothing is perfect, and this is no exception. There are some things that you have to consider when deciding whether or not to sign up for this. You don’t know exactly what you’ll be getting. To be clear, the BGotM page on Button Shy’s patreon page gives a bit of a heads up about what you can expect and a past package broken down by subscription level, but you don’t know EXACTLY what you’re getting. As an example – I don’t own either of the games that I now have promos for. If you are looking for specific gaming experiences, you’d probably be better off just buying individual title(s) for that money.
ADDENDUM: After posting this, Jason Tagmire informed me that the $20 level DOES get to select the free game they receive, though the other games are unknown quantities.
Also, you do get what you pay for. If you are looking for heavier, meaty games that you can really sink your teeth in, these aren’t it. They are, after all, designed to fit in your pocket. Some titles might be weightier than others, but you’ll most likely just be getting quick hit with the micro and postcard games, and maybe a 30+ minute experience with the wallet games.
The Useful:
Whether we admit it or not – we just buy what we like. Even if it isn’t our intention, people will usually fall into a rut when it comes to their purchasing habits. The randomness of the subscription that could be a hindrance for some may actually be a selling point if you are looking to ensure a variety of play styles and experiences. We work with a lot of churches and leaders who are only just now starting to think about building a game library to get people together. At the $10 or $20 a month option, it won’t take long and you can double your options for play styles. As a former youth leader myself, I know that the ability to have a game that provides some crazy fun in a short time that can fit in your pocket can be an incredibly useful tool. This subscription can put a game in every pocket that you can bring out in an instant.
I hope I’ve given you some information that will help you figure out if this sort of thing is good for you or not. There is definitely a lot of potential here to start up or build on your game collection.