3D Printed Board Games: Custom Pieces, STL Files & Ideas

Do you like playing board games with your friends? Every single year, more and more complex board games appear on the market for enthusiasts to explore. It’s all laughs and fun until you start playing, and suddenly realize one piece is missing. This is a common problem: accidentally losing characters or tokens from the box, and the replacement can be quite expensive.

Thankfully, 3D printed custom board game pieces are available as a creative and cost-effective solution. Thanks to community-driven websites like Thingiverse, Printables, or MyMiniFactory, where you can download ready-to-print 3D models that have been tested by other makers. You can even find fully 3D printed board games on the market, with STL files included to create your own pieces.

Do you already have 3D printable games, and ready to bring them to life? Upload now!

Why Choose 3D Printed Board Games?

One of the biggest advantages of 3D printed board games is the possibility to create personalized characters, replace lost custom pieces, or even design and 3D print the entire game fully for yourself, aligning with your ideas.

For example, if you are familiar with the board game CATAN, you can now find custom-made, 3D printable pieces and tokens. Designed to upgrade and personalize your sessions with your friends, these models are also simplified enough to serve as easy replacements for lost ones.

(source: @forgecore)

This unique chessboard with mushroom pieces inspired by nature is also downloadable and ready to print. Once you are done playing, you can roll into the shape of a log. How creative, right? Now you can start to 3D print board games with JLC3DP!

To achieve the best results, you can 3D print board game pieces by using either FDM or SLA technology. PLA filament used with FDM is great due to its affordability and user-friendliness, while using resin results in highly detailed objects with a smooth surface. Both material and technology work well when it comes to 3D print board games, depending on the geometry, the need for durability, and the size of the objects.

Popular 3D Printable Games & Accessories

There are thousands of board games on the market, and sometimes it’s not easy to obtain extra accessories or replacement pieces for them. However, online 3D printing services are one of the best solutions for this problem.

Custom Boards & Card Holders

Custom 3D printable games, along with their accessories, such as card holders and unique boards, enhance gameplay by improving organization and accessibility. You can download ready-to-print inserts and other components for the box to create a clear setup.

If you ever thought about using a personalized board for one of the games you play with your friends, it's time to find yours.

Finger Slots & Piece Holders

To have a clean setup and peace of mind during the game without worrying about losing pieces, tokens, or cards, you can use a board game piece holder 3D printed from PLA filament, in any color you like.

If you play games like Crokinole, for instance, 3D printing finger slots can contribute a lot to your game. Find your favourite design, download the STL files on Thingiverse or Printables!

Dice, Tokens & Miniatures

Most strategic board games, such as Monopoly, Catan, or Carcassonne, feature multiple pieces, including tokens, miniatures, and dice. While replacing them can be costly, you can find free, downloadable STL files and order these 3D printed custom game pieces online as a cost-effective solution.

Another benefit of choosing 3D printing services is that you can customize tokens with new designs by the maker community. For instance, one Monopoly fan designed unique tokens, such as totems, dice, and money holders for the game, now widely shared on Printables and in the Reddit Maker subgroup.

Beyond Board Games – Gaming & Pop Culture

It’s the gamer’s dream to customize their accessories and get the best merchandise items you can on the market. If you were already planning to 3D print board game accessories, we have got some ideas for you to upgrade your gaming with personalized items:

Console accessories

On Thingiverse or Cult3D there are hundreds of unique, personalized 3D printable games and their accessories  - like consoles and controllers - designed by experienced fans. To 3D print game controllers that suit you better, you can just find your favourite design and download the ready-to-print STL file. You can even 3D print Nintendo Switch game holders to protect your console more effectively.

There are even gaming towers, like this one gaming tower with four controller mounts and two slots for 1st generation Nintendo Switch controllers. For this part, PLA filament was used, and you can find the details on the designer’s profile.

(source:@forgecore)

Cosplay/pop culture items

From masks to accessories like bracelets or belts, you can wear customized cosplay items to impersonate your favorite character in person. There are many beloved series, like the Squid Game, and now you can easily 3D print Squid Game masks to wear at Cosplay meetups. We recommend using PLA filament with FDM technology for this one, as it results in a durable and wearable piece, in a cost-effective way.

Want to 3D print board game accessories for yourself? Upload your STL and let us print it for you!👇

How to Start 3D Printing Game Pieces

If you already have a desktop FDM 3D printer at home, you probably know that PLA filament is the most affordable and accessible material when it comes to 3D printing on your own. Let us explore some technical alternatives for 3D printing board game accessories.

3D Printing Game Pieces Beginner-friendly guide

1. FDM technology vs. SLA (Resin 3D printing)

While FDM printers are much more common among hobbyists and makers, they are great for prototyping, but they can’t produce the same precision and surface detail as resin printers.

Choosing the right technology also depends on the size of the object you will 3D print. Especially when it comes to custom board game accessories, like miniatures, it’s crucial to have precise details and a smooth finish. It is definitely worth considering investing a bit more into your figures and having a highly detailed result. FDM technology is great for simple shapes, like a dice or a rounded token, but for an object with complex geometry and fine details, we would recommend SLA technology for you.

2. Best materials

When you choose FDM technology, the best alternatives in terms of 3D printing materials will be PLA, ABS, and PETG filaments. Find technical details and differences below:

3. File resources

One of the great benefits of community-driven platforms, like Thingiverse, Cult3D, and Printables, is that even if you don’t have the right expertise in 3D modelling, you will find reliable STL files tested by other makers that you can bring to life.  Community feedback and shared print settings are invaluable for engineers and hobbyists alike. You can browse through hundreds of ready-to-print STL files on these websites and find the right one for you.

In case you don’t own your own desktop 3D printer at home, you can always outsource it and use online 3D printing services.

Best Practices for Designing Custom Game Pieces

Tips

Choosing the right technology and material is essential when it comes to 3D printing your design. With board game accessories, like miniatures, it’s crucial to have precise details and a smooth finish. SLA printing will result you precise, but fragile pieces, while FDM printing can provide durable, but a bit less accurate models.

When you are debating these two technologies, consider the geometry, shape, and size of the object you are planning to 3D print, and also the purpose of the item, to have the best possible outcome and compatibility. If children will be playing with the 3D printed board games, special care should be given to rounded edges and non-toxic materials.

Aesthetic choices

With the diverse market of filaments, you can choose from many different colours and textures that match your design. Depending on the purpose of the object you are about to 3D print, you can have a unique texture. For example, when choosing wooden filaments, it will create a natural but rustic look on your final object. As the market of filaments grows,  the variety of colours has expanded, too. The best approach is to match the characteristics of your 3D models with the right materials before starting your print.  

Where to Download or Order Custom Game Pieces

As mentioned before, you can find free STL files on platforms like Thingiverse and Printables. If you are willing to contribute, the options expand; sites like Etsy sellers or MyMiniFactory provide trusted STL files for a small fee. The best practice is to always check community feedback on files, whether they were successfully printed, and the recommended 3D printing technology and material.  If you want to get some extra tips and inspiration for a new project, we also recommend Reddit’s r/3Dprinting and other maker subgroups as great sources for troubleshooting and inspiration.

In case you don't own your own 3D printer at home, professional online 3D printing services are the way to go. Even if you have an FDM printer at home, it can be beneficial to outsource models from time to time - especially for parts requiring fine details, where SLA printing is a better choice. JLC3DP offers multiple technologies and a variety of materials, including eleven different types of resins and PLA in five different colours, which is worth having a look at.

Conclusion

While playing with your friends is already a special event, as a board game fan, you can now enjoy the benefits of customization with 3D printing. When you 3D print board games and accessories, like unique tokens and personalized miniatures as a replacement or just for the fun of creativity, you choose an affordable and sustainable solution for your project, backed by a growing community of makers and engineers worldwide.

Ready to level up your board game? Try custom 3D printed pieces today!