Board Games Market in Europe - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2018-2023

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

The growing popularity of strategy and war and educational games is primarily driving the growth of the Europe board games market. The lure of hands-on and heads-on skill and knowledge development for different age groups is attributing to the popularity of these table top games in the European region. The leading manufacturers are focusing on designing and creating an engaging and competitive environment that requires players to focus reinforce and apply to learn. The main advantages of playing these games help consumers to build on their communication and relationship skills. The economic development and increase consumer’s purchasing power are driving the demand for these products in the European region. Countries such as Germany and the UK are the largest consumers and highest revenue generators in the Europe board games market. Some are designed specifically for corporates will enhance the learning ability of professionals and helps to improve the working relationship with employees.

Some of the award-winning games available in the region include Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, and Pandemic. They are designed for this region focus on building resources and optimum management of resources, thus keeping all the players engaged until the end of the game. Development of such consumer specific games will help manufacturers gain larger shares in the region.

 The proliferation of the internet and social media channels are shaping the end-users’ purchasing behavior and boosting sales. Top retail giants such as Sainsbury’s, Target, Carrefour, Lowe's, Metro, Costco, Groupe Auchan, and Walmart account for over 68% of the total sales volume in the region. The market is also witnessing a shift to digital channels where consumers research about pricing and other related information of various games available. Online platforms are used extensively by end-users to compare prices and features. This shift in consumer behavior is encouraging marketers and retailers to adopt omnichannel retailing to facilitate seamless shopping experience in the region. The increasing penetration of wireless broadband internet, strong adoption of smartphones and tablets, and growth of social media users are some of the factors that will attribute to the growth of online retail channels.

EUROPE BOARD GAMES MARKET SEGMENTATION

This research report includes a detailed segmentation by product type, theme type, distributional channels, and geography.

INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE

Table top games to boost critical thinking among end-users in the Europe board games market

Tabletop segment dominated the majority of the shares in 2017, growing at a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period. The growing demand among grade-schoolers, teenagers, and adults for strategy-based tabletop games is propelling the growth of this segment. The rise in the number of social gatherings amongst the millennial end-user group and the popularity of the game night concept will contribute to the growing revenues in this segment. France, Germany, and the UK are the largest consumers of the segment.

INSIGHTS BY THEME TYPE

Fantasy-based TV shows are driving the demand for games during the forecast period

Fantasy-based segment occupied the second largest shares in 2017, growing at a CAGR of more than 4% during the forecast period. Fantasy is adventure-based games that incorporate a definite setting and players play as an individual. The growing popularity of TV series such as Game of Thrones is acting as a catalyst for rising traction and increasing revenues of this segment. The recent shift in game designs from tactical to strategically design types are helping companies to attract young adults and increase their Europe board games market share. The vendors are designing games that allow the players to finish the game in certain duration and enable their need to interact with fellow players in a meaningful way. Such game designs will help publishers generate higher revenues in the region during the forecast period.

INSIGHTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Price comparison ability through online platforms will increase sales in the Europe board games market during the forecast period

Online stores dominated a portion of the shares in 2017, growing at a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period. The exponential growth of online platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Argos, and John Lewis are leading to the growth of this segment. The increasing availability of a variety of products and instant price comparison are two of the major factors attributing to the rising popularity of this distribution channel. The leading vendors are promoting the concept and use of these games through social media and other digital platforms to increase their shares and gain a wide consumer base. The ease-of-accessibility and convenience afforded by such channels will increase the revenues generated through these channels of distribution in Europe during the forecast period.

INSIGHTS BY GEOGRAPHY

The popularity of family games in France to augment growth in the market during the forecast period

France occupied the largest shares in 2017, growing at a CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period. The growing demand for family, strategic cards and trading card games is attributing to the growth of this region. Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and Uno are the most popular games available in the region. The France market is growing at a moderate rate with tabletop and puzzles registering highest growth among all the segments including plush toys, artistic activities, construction toys, and preschools toys, among others. The average expenditure on toys in France is 60% higher than the European average. Such factors will help in the growth and development of the French and Europe board games market

KEY VENDOR ANALYSIS

The market is moderately concentrated and the top two players dominate the largest share. The top vendors are focusing on altering and refining their unique value proposition to sustain the intense competition in the region. The market is also very fragmented due to the presence of various regional and international companies. The entry of various international players in developing economies such as Poland and Russia will intensify the level of competition in the region. The players are using new business models and focusing on developing their franchises to gain a larger shares and attract new consumers. The shift towards digitization of games or developing supporting mobile applications to enhance customers’ experience will help transform the market over the next few years.

Major Vendors:

• Asmodée Éditions (Group)
• Hasbro
• Mattel
• Ravensburger

The Europe board games market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry analysis with revenue and forecast insights for the following segments:

 By Product Type

• Tabletop
• Card and Dice
• Collectible Card
• Miniature
• RPG

By Theme Type

• Strategy and War
• Educational
• Fantasy
• Sports
• Others

By Distribution Type

• Online
• Retail
• Specialty Store
• Mass Market Players
• Other Stores

By Geography

• Europe
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• UK
• Turkey
• Others