The board game industry, which depends significantly on Chinese manufacturing, is facing turmoil due to tariffs. This has caused significant distress within the tabletop sector, with immediate effects already visible. Cephalofair Games, for instance, has its Gloomhaven: Second Edition inventory effectively stranded overseas due to high tariff rates. In related news, Greater Than Games, owned by Flat River Group, announced layoffs and the suspension of all projects due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding global tariffs. Known for titles like Sentinels of the Multiverse, Spirit Island, and Tak, the company is feeling the strain of this economic instability.
A spokesperson for Greater Than Games stated that the company has reduced its workforce in response to the economic pressures of the international tariff crisis. However, the website will remain operational, offering available stock for order. Production will continue on an as-needed basis, with updates promised for customers who pre-ordered upcoming products or supported crowdfunding efforts.
On Thursday, former Greater Than Games creative director Darrell Louder announced on Facebook that his team had been disbanded, describing the closure of Greater Than Games by Flat River Group. Polygon has reached out to both Louder and Greater Than Games for further details, including the number of layoffs and the status of crowdfunded or pre-ordered projects.
While Greater Than Games is among the first notable companies to halt operations due to tariffs imposed during Trump’s administration, this concern resonates throughout the industry. In conversations with nearly 20 organizations in April, Polygon learned that many expect significant profit losses, potential abandonment of games in development, and job reductions due to these tariffs.
Isaac Childres, founder of Cephalofair Games, expressed to Polygon that these tariffs represent a dire threat to the US board game industry. He indicated that, under the current tariff rates, importing board games into the US is not economically viable, leading to a downturn in sales that could have more severe repercussions for retailers and distributors than COVID-19 did.
