It’s no secret: tabletop gaming can be an expensive hobby. Costs can quickly add up between rulebooks, miniatures, terrain, and the occasional Kickstarter splurge. Compare the Market Australia seems to have taken note and recently published a blog post about insuring tabletop games. While it’s undoubtedly a bit of marketing savvy, the survey data they’ve presented offers some interesting insights into tabletop gaming.
Big spenders down under
One of the most surprising stats from the survey is the difference in spending habits between Australian and American gamers. A whopping 16% of Australian gamers have spent more than $10,000 on their hobby, compared to just 9% of American gamers.
This begs the question: Why are Aussies dropping so much coin on their collections? Could it be the higher cost of importing games? Or a deeper cultural investment in the hobby? Will trade wars change this as the cost of games made in China changes?
TTRPGs on the rise
The survey gets into the popularity of roleplaying games across different countries. In Canada, nearly a third (31.9%) of respondents play or collect TTRPGs or wargames, with the USA close behind at 29.3%. Australia, however, lags a bit, with only 15.7% of adults participating in the hobby. This suggests that while Australians may spend more on their collections, a smaller percentage of the population actively engages in TTRPGs.
Generational differences
As with many hobbies, age plays a significant role in tabletop gaming trends. Gen Z appears to be leading the charge in the US and Canada, with 60% of Americans and 50.4% of Canadians in that age group playing or collecting tabletop minis. Down Under, however, it’s the millennials who are most involved, with 24.5% participating in the hobby. This could indicate a resurgence of interest in tabletop gaming among younger generations or perhaps a difference in how the hobby has evolved in different countries.
Top tabletop games
The survey also provides a snapshot of the most popular tabletop games across the three countries. Here’s a rundown of the top ten:
- Dungeons & Dragons – 32.01%
- Kings of War – 15.42%
- Star Wars X-Wing – 14.27%
- BattleTech – 12.47%
- Cyberpunk – 12.08%
- Star Wars Edge of the Empire/ Star Wars Shatterpoint – 11.83%
- Legions Imperialis/ Warhammer 40,000 – 11.18%
- Marvel Crisis Protocol – 10.41%
- Black Powder – 10.03%
- Call of Cthulhu – 9.90%
It’s interesting to see the mix of classic TTRPGs like D&D and Call of Cthulhu alongside wargames like Warhammer 40,000 and Star Wars X-Wing. The presence of newer games like Marvel Crisis Protocol suggests the hobby continues evolving and attracting new players.
Oddly, Kings of War outranked Warhammer 40K, and I wonder why the latter was lumped with Legions Imperialis.
The cost of the hobby
The survey confirms what many gamers already know: tabletop gaming can be expensive. While most gamers reported spending between $100 and $499 (in their local currency), a significant portion of Australians (twice that of Canadians and Americans) have shelled out over $1,000 on their collections. This reinforces the earlier point about Australians being particularly heavy spenders.
Insuring your collection
Compare the Market’s interest in tabletop gaming stems from these collections being quite valuable. According to Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager of General Insurance, many gamers are unaware of how standard contents insurance policies cover their collections. Most policies cover “unspecified general contents,” which includes games and miniatures, up to a certain limit. However, rare or out-of-print items may be considered collector’s items and require separate coverage.
The company also delved into specifics, asking Taylor about coverage for paints and glues, the difference between assembled and unassembled miniatures, and how 3D-printed items are covered. It’s a smart move by Compare the Market, tapping into a niche market with specific insurance needs, even if it flirts too close to creating fear and worry for my tastes.
