Black Friday falls on November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving on November 26, and Cyber Monday follows on November 30. Before you buy a board game around those dates, compare the player count, play time, publisher age rating, edition and language, whether the box is a base game or an expansion, and its sealed condition.
Timing a board game gift around Black Friday
If a board game is a gift for a set date, work back from that date and from the delivery estimate on the listing.
What to compare in a board game
A board game’s fit depends on the people at the table, so before you buy, decide who will play it and for how long. The figures below come from publisher pages and the Spiel des Jahres page, and they apply to the editions those pages describe.
| Spec | What it tells you | Published figures |
|---|---|---|
| Player count | Whether the game works for your group | 2 (Sky Team); 2 to 5 (Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne); 3 to 4 (CATAN base game) |
| Play time | How long one session runs | About 20 minutes (Sky Team); 30 to 45 (Carcassonne); 30 to 60 (Ticket to Ride); 60 to 90 (CATAN) |
| Publisher age rating | The youngest age the maker suggests | 7+ (Carcassonne); 8+ (Ticket to Ride); 10+ (CATAN); 12+ from the publisher against 10 on the Spiel des Jahres page (Sky Team) |
| Base game or expansion | Whether the box plays on its own | Stonemaier Games labels Wingspan: European Expansion “Expansion (requires base game)” |
| Edition and language | What is in the box and which language the rules use | Z-Man’s Carcassonne edition includes The River and The Abbot |
| Sealed condition | Whether the box should be unopened | Check the listing title, condition line and photos |
Treat these as a starting point and read the box in the listing photos, since a different edition can carry different numbers.
Sealed board games on eBay
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Buying the base game before an expansion
A board game expansion usually adds to a game you already own, so buy the base game first. Stonemaier Games labels Wingspan: European Expansion “Expansion (requires base game)”, and its FAQ says, “All expansions require at least some components from the core game.” CATAN works the same way for bigger groups: its base game seats 3 to 4, and CATAN GmbH says to add an expansion to play with 5 or 6.
For a gift, find out which games the person already has. An expansion usually cannot be played without its base game, and a box may already hold what you plan to add: Z-Man says its Carcassonne edition includes two expansions. Match the game’s name and, where you can, the edition of the copy they own.
Board game expansions on eBay
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How to pick a board game by who is playing
Start a board game choice with who will play, not with what is popular. Each of these guides goes further than the comparison table on this page.
Families. Ticket to Ride is rated 8+ and Carcassonne 7+ by their publishers. Compare those ages with your youngest player, then read the best family board games.
Two players. Sky Team plays with exactly two people, so it will not stretch to a guest. The best two-player board games covers other options.
Strategy fans. Strategy games vary in length, so check the box. Stonemaier’s store page gives Wingspan 40 to 70 minutes in one place and 40 to 90 in another, for 1 to 5 players. Strategy board games covers what to try after CATAN.
Strategy board games on eBay
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How to judge a board game listing
Start a board game listing check with the box photos, which show the publisher’s logo and the edition.
Look for the publisher’s logo. Stonemaier Games lists a missing trademarked logo on the box front as a possible sign of a counterfeit, along with blurry printing. Compare the listing photos with the publisher’s own images. Stonemaier advises buying from publishers, local retailers and reputable websites rather than secondary marketplaces, especially for hard-to-find games or offers that seem too good to be true. If you buy on a marketplace, run these checks. How to spot a counterfeit board game walks through the counterfeit checks.
Read what sealed means here. A sealed box suggests an unopened game, but it does not prove the copy is genuine. If the listing does not say sealed or shows no photo of the actual box, ask the seller.
Confirm the edition and language. Check the title and box photos for the edition and the language of the rules. An award badge does not settle the language: the Spiel des Jahres FAQ says a game’s rules and other game texts must be in German, and a German copy has German rules and card text. The Spiel des Jahres guide explains those awards.
Read the terms, then keep them. The FTC advises checking delivery dates and refund policies before you buy online, and keeping your order number, return policy, shipping costs and warranty details.
Finding a board game gift
A board game gift is easier to choose once you know the person’s group size and the games they own. The board game gift finder sorts games by players, age and play time, and board game gifts is the place to start for most people. For someone who already owns a full shelf, try gifts for board game lovers.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black Friday in 2026?
Black Friday falls on Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving on November 26. Cyber Monday follows on November 30, 2026.
Do board game expansions work without the base game?
Usually not, since an expansion adds to a game you already own. Stonemaier Games labels Wingspan: European Expansion "Expansion (requires base game)". Check the listing for the exact box.
Does a sealed board game mean it is genuine?
Not on its own. A sealed box suggests the game has not been opened, which says nothing about who made it. Stonemaier Games lists a missing publisher logo on the box front, blurry printing and glossy, poor-quality boards among the possible signs of a counterfeit.
What does the age on a board game box mean?
It is the youngest age the publisher suggests for the game. Sources can differ: the Spiel des Jahres page for Sky Team gives 10 and notes a publisher rating of 12 and up.
Sources
- Happy holidays! Shopping tips from the FTCFederal Trade Commission
- Game Counterfeits and What We Can Do About ThemStonemaier Games
- Ticket to RideDays of Wonder
- CarcassonneZ-Man Games
- CATANCATAN GmbH
- WingspanStonemaier Games
- Sky TeamSpiel des Jahres e.V.
- Wingspan: European ExpansionStonemaier Games
- Spiel des Jahres FAQ: Frequently asked questionsSpiel des Jahres e.V.
Part of our guide to Board Game Gifts 2026: The Best Games to Give, by Who's Playing.
Board Game Gifts · Section 05, Buying advice · Updated October 31, 2026
