About Larger Print Runs

The transition from prototype to full production run is one of the most crucial stages in a game’s development. This is where the decision is made whether the game remains an interesting experiment or becomes a real product that can be sold in stores, at conventions, or through crowdfunding campaigns.

For complex board games, including a cardboard box, board, cards, tokens, player boards, and other components, the minimum viable production run from an economic standpoint is 500 copies. At this volume, it’s already possible to use offset printing technology, which ensures stable, repeatable quality and a significantly better unit cost compared to digital printing. This is also the first threshold at which you can realistically start thinking about commercializing the project and selling finished games.

It’s important to note, however, that even with a run of 500 copies, the production cost still represents a significant portion of the game’s final price. The choice of materials, number of components, box type, and finish are all hugely important here, which is why this stage requires conscious decisions and careful specification control. This isn’t yet mass production, but rather the first step towards the market.

For smaller print runs, around 100–300 sets, it’s possible to produce simple card games or less complex projects using digital printing technology. In such cases, single-piece paper boxes or two-piece (lid-and-base) cardboard boxes are typically used, and components are cut on flatbed plotters. This solution is often chosen for initial sales series, non-commercial games (e.g., training games, for companies or institutions), market tests, or direct distribution — at conventions, in an online store, or as part of short runs after a crowdfunding campaign.

A full production run is the stage where printing technology, game design, and production economics begin to align closely. The more complex the project, the sooner a larger print run becomes the only sensible choice. That’s why, at MB PRINT, we don’t treat full production runs as a separate process, but rather as a natural continuation of prototyping — offering advice, file verification, and assistance in selecting solutions that allow you to create a game truly ready for sale.

Before commissioning a larger production run, we always recommend ordering a prototype series.