Store board games horizontally or vertically? Convince Me! | TABLEscraps #56

Today's discussion introduces a new format: CONVINCE ME! In this episode, I turn to the live chat audience to ask whether I should continue storing the board games on my shelves horizontally (flat) or vertically (upright). Do you agree with the arguments that the audience members make?
How do you store your board game collection, and what made you decide to do it that way?
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[@richardsaunders9214]

Each game will tell you how it wants to be stored. Listen to your games

[@CriticalEatsJapan]

Ever consider a fair compromise: diagonal...? ;)

[@GameNightPicks]

...I'm gonna need more shelves.

[@peteshirey9816]

i usually watch your show vertically, but for the sake of science I tried watching your show horizontal and I fell asleep....horizontal is not good for staying awake. Maybe I should not have used a pillow, so I tried the experiment again without the pillow and got a neck cramp. I think I will go back to vertical for the sake of my neck. your show is hazerdous to my health.....

[@GameNightPicks]

I'll be sure to start the next episode with one of those "don't try this at home" disclaimers. Either that, or I could start randomly shouting "PETE! PETE, WAKE UP!" during the broadcast. See? Here at Pair Of Dice Paradise we're PETE! PETE, WAKE UP! all about solutions.

[@peteshirey9816]

I like the enthusiasm!!! I will be waiting for my next wake up call!

[@YTEEsenior]

Horizontal damages other game boxes when getting them out. Especially the bottom game. Vertical doesn’t damage other games.

[@tanner3015]

When you have everything for a certain game, the box can get incredibly heavy. Over time if the game position in the shelving isn't changed, it can crush boxes below it. This can also happen when the boxes are different sizes when there is a weight difference. I'd rather deal with messed up components than a damaged/destroyed box because of that one game that I didn't consistently move every few weeks. "Dish" a box could mean (in this example) that a smaller sized game sits atop a wider game, but the smaller game is heavier. It presses down on the bigger box and creates a "dish" or crater of sorts. It's just another example of something I've experienced storing horizontally in the past. I won't be going back.

[@enriquekenobi9467]

@@tanner3015 just place the heavier boxes in the bottom and the lighter one on top.

[@Walter.Kolczynski]

I currently use a mixture, due to both shelf dimensions and box contents. Some games that would become disorganized if held vertically (usually games with cards like Stockpile or Sheriff of Nottingham) have priority for horizontal, both on the shelves and in transport (I usually use a Board Game Garage bag, which can hold them horizontally, and a tote bag where they must be vertical).

[@chrisholmesphotography2456]

Pieces mixing and becoming a mess is really a non-issue if you have things bagged at the very least. Inserts are great, but obviously not ideal to have for every single game. Simply using cheap zip-loc bags to separate components is pretty easy. I personally have mine vertical. It looks nice, it's the way they are typically stored in the store, it's easy to pull boxes out, etc, etc. And no, they do not tip over when you remove one. Set any game on it's side and you will see it stands just fine on it's own. For some games, the lid likes to work it's way off, so those have a rubber band on them.

[@benjaminchernik7330]

i used to store horizontally and it caused more damage both from the weight of other games on top and from pulling the bottom game out causing all the ones above to drop...now i store vertically and have had minimal trouble with pieces moving around as i bag everything

[@dannys_78]

We used to do horizontal (due to the components falling out issue), but recently I've rearranged all my games to the vertical orientation, just because we bought more games (Azul, Sagrada, 13 Clues, and... probably more) and needed the space! Most games are going to be fine, as they've either got good inserts, baggies, or a custom insert I made myself, so the components aren't likely to be messed up. Vertical is neater, for sure, but there's benefits to either.

[@MultiZelda13]

6:07 when you love games but dont have enough friends to play them

[@PsychicLord]

Keep as you are........ horizontal is the better logical solution....... but improve your storage by investing in BoxThrone (The Modular Board Game Shelving System)!

[@lazulin]

I store both horizontally & vertically, because I have many different storage areas. I would say about 50% of my games stored each way. I store horizontally in drawers, my coffee table, on my TV stand, in my top closet shelves, and on my foyer floating shelves. I do store vertically on the cube shelves. I think my preference is actually probably horizontal, because I hate my components becoming a mess, but I also worry about stacking too much weight. Also, it's a lot harder to remove horizontally stacked games, which is why I try not to stack more than 3. The biggest determinant of whether a game will be stored horizontally or not tends to be whether it's an unusual thickness and size. Also if the box opens easily when vertical. If it doesn't fit a standard cube or it's so thick that it eats up a ton of space stored vertically, then I won't be storing it that way. For me, it's all about efficiency - nothing drives me as crazy as empty space on a board game shelf or in a board game drawer. I have one drawer, for example, that has four horizontally stacked games and then a bunch of tiny games, all vertically tiled inside to occupy almost all the empty space.

[@nickvandam1214]

This one was fun. I have games positioned in both ways. Some of the older games simply won't fit vertically, and some like Lords of Waterdeep would be a mess if stored Vertically, but I prefer not to dig for the bottom game and like to look of horizontal. Unless you have your board pinned flat I don't think warping would be different between the orientations, are there additional thoughts on that? Thanks

[@rikhavok]

I store games mostly vertically because it’s easier to grab the games and then put them back but some games must be stored horizontally. I pack my game components in storage containers so they don’t get mixed up anyways. As far as boards warping. if you lay them either way, they should be at the very bottom of the box or they are more likely to warp anyways. I have never had a problem with boards warping.

[@headphonecatty]

I store horizontally but it's partly the components partly the nature of my current shelving where I have more vertical space for stacking than I do horizontal space for vertical book-style storage. Even if I got shelves where I could do either efficiently I'd just do horizontal because I'm so used to it.

[@nedfest]

When you go to your FLGS, what orientation are they in (mmmm)? Maybe duplicate their method? or not... I know super helpful

[@MrPeter13th]

I store my games vertically, without any issues, I have many Eurogames such like Caverna, Agricola, Terra Mystica, with lots of wooden pieces, I just use those plastic grid storage boxes. and I have zero board or cards warping. with the games stored vertically I don't need to remove any other game to pick the one I want to play. The only games that I store horizontally are the ones with very small boxes like Tiny epic series, and other fillers like Friday, The Grizzled, and such.

[@elink2k1]

I'm mostly horizontal but I try to make room for one vertical I don't get to the table but have not let go of to sit hidden behind the other boxes... putting them all on the edge of the shelf. I also find room to the right or left for smaller games and expansions to sit vertically. I feel these verticals have to be small bagged games and they have to be in tight enough not to get box creep... story boxes vertically creates creep which loosens the box enough that we'll made inserts will even dump components. I can combat some creep with large hair/head bands I buy at dollar general for cheap. These bands are better than rubber because they don't stick to the box or eventually turn into goo.

[@CaptainGamer347]

I sort my games both vertically and horizontally. Usually, the bigger games I sort horizontally, and the small ones vertically.

[@timd4524]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Growing up Avalon hill games laid either flat or stood as bookgames vertically. All Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers were the same size. Warping can occur when vertically stored. My issue now is that there are a myriad of different box sizes. If parts are secured in the box vertical can work. Basically it's a crap shoot. Good luck lol.

[@RTlnx]

I also have one vertical and one horizontal shelf. The Ticket to Ride-ish size boxes go vertical. The huge and the tiny will go horizontal. I prefer vertical since it's much easier to pull them out without the 'waterfall of games' effect.

[@refreshdaemon]

If I don't think the contents will get messed up inside, then I'll store the game vertically, but otherwise I'll store the game horizontally. And then some games just end up one way or the other based on shelf space limitations too. If I can squeeze a small box game in vertically next to a bunch of horizontally stacked games, I will do so because space limited in my room and I have to make the best of it.

[@therightside7462]

If games are small and light horizontally is fine. However, the larger and heavier games cause denting/caving in which devalues your games. Vertically is best for those. Also, easier to grab out when stored vertically. Keeping components in baggies keeps the components well when stored this way.

[@michaelgoshorn476]

Chaz, new discussion question. Whether you store horizontal or vertical, how do you organize your games? Alphabetical? By publisher? By designer? By most played/least played??

[@Mashpumpkin]

Mine are sorted by game type and then by theme. I have an entire section of my game room dedicated to dungeon crawlers.

[@michaelgoshorn476]

Mashpumpkin how do you categorize a game that has many mechanics? So For example Trajan? Would you classify as “Roman games” or “Mancala” or what? What are your categories?

[@igelkott255]

I generally toss out inserts and baggy everything, although I do occasionally create foam core inserts. Most games are stored vertically (and no they don't flop over like books) but a few are stored horizontally. Also I generally transport games in reusable shopping bags so they need to be vertical tolerant during transport. Entertaining show as always, and I liked that fireworks moment....

[@Snowboardgamer]

I literally had this exact conversation with someone on Instagram last week. I've been contemplating switching to vertical, but am holding steady at horizontal...for now. I'm still on the fence, but thinking maybe I may make the switch soon. For some of them. We'll see. Good stuff Chaz!

[@MaveriJediC]

Depends on the game, big box game ( KDM, Gloomhaven )= horizontal, Regular size box = vertical

[@poweroffly]

I store games vertical. This way I have easier access to games (no digging). Some games are heavy and they would dent other boxes. I have no issue with components mixing in boxes because my games are bagged (it's good for transporting too). ... and I think that it looks better.

[@MultiZelda13]

The "games filling in gaps like books" isnt even remotely an issue (which I really dislike about books) because they're just that sturdy. It IS more of issue with horizontally stacked games because you have to lift games to get them out and potentially lift them again if you get the large box that has to go back on the bottom of the stack or care about ordering. This in my experience has led to way more rough handling of boxes than I have since I went to vertical storage.

[@Nemspy]

My games don't flop over like books when I pull one out -- game sides tend to be broader and flatter than books.

[@leramar]

I'm all for horizontal simply because I don't want to deal with jumbled up pieces. Also I can't be bothered repacking all of my games into clip bags and whatnot. I always try and put heavier games under lighter ones to reduce stress on the boxes.

[@sirhamalot8651]

Original Axis & Allies: HUGE box, so it has to go on the bottom horizontally. Cheap cardboard...ANY game on top sinks into the over sized box cover. Store vertical? All the pieces go flying around in the box. Game designers should pay attention to this video. Games like Azul and Sagrada store very tightly in to their boxes and can be stored in any configuration. Companies that make oversized boxes so they look more impressive on the shelf instead of more practical considerations (like catering to their customers’ wants) should be tied up and made to listen to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” for 10 hours.

[@GameNightPicks]

That's a good point. And I agree. I'm happy to help reduce "Oversized Game Box Syndrome" any way possible. 👍

[@martinlarouche4418]

I store vertical. Components sometimes move, and yet, never got a damaged component in any game. You just need to not put the components inside in a way that heavy stuff stumbles upon the lighter stuff. Not a problem for the large majority of games. ... maybe Cthulhu Wars... Horizontal, you are just playing the squishing game. Putting the deluxe Small World box or the designer edition of Ogre on another box will just squish them under their mass. Vertical's much safer. Plus, vertical is a sign of hard work while horizontal is a sign of being asleep. My boxes don't want to sleep, they want to play.

[@amandamorao]

I store horizontally because of space. I already stored vertically and it's a lot easier to grab any game you want, the components in bags. I would store vertically for practicality and have a couple of shelves horizontally for games with flimsy player boards/components and Marvel Legendary.

[@Romey301]

HAH THIS WAS HILARUOUS😂 .... great way to start my day . Although I'm still team with vertical (if I had shelves that allowed me to, right now mine are just stacked from the ground up 😔)

[@danhdaniel5843]

If you have a collection like the Alea series, you would definitely want to shelve them vertically. It just looks too good you wouldn't care if the components are jumbled or whatever. But big box games such as El Grande big box, Dominion big box, Scythe, Lord of Waterdeep... must be stacked horizontally for sure, just don't stack them too high. So I would choose to be a duelist. Taking time to find out which games should be stored vertically or horizontally is a great hobby too.

[@mikejonesnoreally]

I guess Magic the Gathering really *does* find a way to suck in everyone. 0.0

[@djdottor]

I have all my games vertically. All the components in multiple zip-bags and all cards sleeved and put together with elastic rubber bands (even in the inserts). I only store small box games (more or less card games) horizontally because they take up less space.

[@romanphoenix999]

Without a doubt, both. 90% are vertical. Some are horizontal because of component 'jumbling' (Medina, Qin, Splendor) or because they don't have a good vertical shape for my kallax (Concordia, Power Grid) or because small games can't be stacked vertically (Bonanza, Sushi Go, No Thanks, Coloretto).

[@florianstock376]

I usually prefer storing games horizontally, except games that were made to be stored vertically. Most of my games are so full of components/big boxes, that they cant be stored vertically (e.g. TI3, Ikusa, Gloomhaven or the biggest game box I have ever seen: OGRE Designer Edition. Abalone falls in this category too: it has a hexagonal box, so vertically does not really work). Also I found it much more comfortable (when you not stack more than 3 or 4 boxes above each other) to read the titles (at least you dont have the book problem - did you know that usually english and german books print the titles on their back in different directions (not consistently, so you can find both on both languages, but mainly), i.e. for my german books you have to tilt your head left and for english right). Back to topic: vertically I use just for games who are intended to stored vertically and use those to utilize my storage space optimal (examples for such games are e.g. games in a faux-book-box and my Jenga, which came in a cylinder box, that would roll horizontally).

[@whittaker007]

Storing games vertically seems more practical since you never have to dig out a game and don't risk damaging game boxes by stacking. It's easier to remove a game since there are no games on top making access more difficult, and when you return the game to the shelf you can see the gap where it was so you don't have to remember where it was supposed to go. Game component shifting is the only negative, but personally I find almost all game inserts that come with the games to be useless and put most of my game components in little bags, so precise organisation of bags in the box is usually not an issue and makes little difference horizontal or vertical. If I upgrade from bags to an actual insert then I look for inserts which hold components with lids, and in the rare example that a game has a useful insert (like Viticulture for example) then I pack out the box with foam, bubble wrap or punched boards from the game to ensure it has a snug fit and there is little chance of components falling out. Another thing which can help, though rarely needed, is that tape that sticks to itself with electrostatic force. It is wide and thin and can be used to keep a box lid closed without damaging the box or adding to the space it takes on the shelf. The other disadvantage of vertical storage is box height. It will look neater if you keep boxes of similar heights together, but that's more of an OCD thing than a real issue. And you can take advantage of a row of shorter vertical boxes and slip one or two boxes horizontally on top to maximise the space of the volume. There are also boxes that are totally impractical to store vertically because they are long and narrow, or just plain huge. These lie horizontally on top of the shelf, or sometimes in my case, on the floor next to the shelf :/

[@codeman99-dev]

I keep my games in (collapsible) ottoman's. This makes (the majority) of my collection very portable. It also makes my collection functional pieces of furniture. Sadly, there are many obvious problems. First, with a really large collect (more than say 75 games), it becomes increasingly hard to identify where a given game might be. My collection has not reached this point (yet!). Second, if the box cannot fit inside, it suddenly becomes a homeless citizen of your collection that you must tote around with special considerations. Thankfully, very few boxes exceed said size and even fewer of those I actually care about. Third, really small games just get shoved in vertically, and often poking into other citizens of the collections. Thus, on the rare occasion that I do shelve my games, medium & large games get horizontal treatment while the thorny small games get stored vertically.

[@Nemspy]

Horizontal upsets me. If a game seems like it will scatter everywhere I employ a lot of plastic ziplock baggies to keep them together. I never have to deal with scattered components. I usually do this anyway. Once you have everything organised and your nifty little starter packs for players (with all their starting pieces in one bag for each player) you won't go back. I've never experienced board warping. I'd worry more about my boxes plating in a bit because of having heavy games on top.

[@ItsJustJerFromJersey]

I like vertical, looks like a library. Scott Nicholson filled me with terror by saying you will destroy the boxes on the bottom of any pile. I like the smallworld solution they actually put in the rules....that being put the punched out boards under all the components to take up the empty space in the box. To be even more obsessive about it, little games like coup, werewolf etc...yeah those go horizontal on the top shelf.

[@nitsguy]

After using both horizontal and vertical stacking, I definitely prefer vertical if only because it's easier to take on and off the shelf. If I have five games stacked horizontally and want to play the middle game, it's harder to to take out than if all five were vertical. And putting it back, what am I going to do, just place the middle game on top?? Ludicrous! They're in a specific order so I have to lift the top two games in order to put it back. If vertical, it's just whoosh and it's back in place! I also find it's less hard on the boxes themselves as others have mentioned. Sure, sometimes the contents are jumbled, which can be annoying, but if I'm going to play the game anyways then those pieces are already coming out so it doesn't bother me too much.

[@garcipat]

Put small boxes vertically is usually bad because of the space efficency and danger o popping out when removing the game next to is (collect cards from athe ground)

[@GameNightPicks]

Good point. I find that small boxes usually benefit from a rubber band wrapped around them too - even if they're stored horizontally. I think many gamers have spent quite a few hours picking cards up off the ground. :)

[@EHngelic]

The jumbled mess of the components is the only con against vertical. I store all my games vertically and to get around the components issue I make foam core inserts for all my games. Problem solved 😁

[@mikejonesnoreally]

@ 3:47 I think Kabuki is talking about using the weight of the games to *fix* warped boards. I do that. If you have some temporary warp to a new game board, (Zombicide: BP and Galaxy "Defenders" I'm lookin' at *you.)* stacking can fix it. Personally, I just use whatever method takes up the least volume. If I had lots of space though I would alternate just to hear the screams on game night. Can't resist messin' with the "clergy." :3 Although, I can solve this problem for ya' Chaz..... *Forever.* Just imagine what would happen right now if you aligned all of your games vertically, simultaneously? Hear that noise inside your skull? Heh. You're welcome! :D

[@GameNightPicks]

Noooo, my skull! And I was planning on using that later, too. 💀

[@ignitedxblaze]

depends, cannot store gloomhaven or my descent mountain vertically

[@mikejonesnoreally]

No, no. A vertical mountain of descent would just be silly. To say nothing of oxymoronic. :3

[@Nemspy]

The real question is this: how do you store Gloomhaven?

[@GameNightPicks]

Gloomhaven is so massive, I'm pretty sure people just store their game room around *it*.

[@Nemspy]

My copy is in the cupboard of shame -- this is where I put things that should have been played by now, but which haven't made it to the table. When you're part of the way through Pandemic Legacy S2, Charterstone, have barely scratched The 7th Continent, it's a bit hard to tear into Gloomhaven.

[@andrewsmoke1780]

I don't think that putting games vertically is right, many components especially in the games where placement inside is not too tight with be a mess ...some even be easily opened and make a mess in the room as well ... this is not a question is it giving more space on the shell but a question what will become of game components(like figure or cards that can be easily fold and etc) if you turn them upside down every time you put them on the shell :)

[@draehal]

As for board warping.... Hmm. Any vinyl record collector know that it is a big giant "no no" to store your records horizontally. Why? Because gravity warps! You will slowly warp your records if you store them horizontally because they have thin and thick areas. Gravity has more of an ability to bend the thin areas thus warping the record. If you store your record vertically, the thin areas are effectively removed since the gravity vector pulls on them the same as the thick areas. (This is one of the reasons why you never see a serious collector store their records horizontally.) While board game boards are rarely, if ever, made of vinyl, I would THEORIZE that cardboard has the same tendency to warp for the same reason. Defects in the cardboard may cause a warp. Think about old board game box tops. The tops are almost always caved in even if nothing was ever placed on top of them. My 1984 copy of axis and allies that I bought new in 84 was always stored horizontally on a shelf by itself. All of the boards are warped and the box top is slightly caved in. So to keep your boards for warping, store them vertically.

[@TheEpinema]

Diagonally. Best of both worlds.

[@ZarlokTV]

Very interesting topic! :_)_)))

[@BigBoii1369]

Maybe you should just turn the boxes inside out lol

[@GameNightPicks]

Ha! NOW you're talkin'! Thanks for the comment. 🙂

[@BigBoii1369]

Pair Of Dice Paradise Anytime!

[@TheKloboucek]

Most boardgame side-arts are made for horizontal shelving, only a few have vertical names :/ #teamhorizontal

[@RPG_Bliss]

Vertical, no dents

[@joshfrench5858]

All these ppl talking about messing all the pieces in the box. Everything should be bagged up anyways. Problem solved

[@joshfrench5858]

Lol as if 1 min later it’s brought up