Custom Game Tiles
for Board Games & Tabletop Games
Game tiles are information-dense, board-adjacent components. Their flatness, thickness consistency, edge durability, and surface readability directly affect board alignment, setup speed, and long-term usability.
At Funway, tiles are manufactured as functional and structural gameplay components, engineered for long-term tabletop performance, not decorative prints. Material systems, tooling methods, and finishing processes are selected to ensure tiles remain flat, readable, and dimensionally stable throughout commercial production and repeated play.
Reliable tile manufacturing depends on material-appropriate tooling, controlled lamination and cooling and process-driven quality control—ensuring that modular layouts remain visually continuous and mechanically sound across your entire game world
We Provide All options for Custom Game Tiles
Tile Materials & Component Systems
Material selection determines tile rigidity, surface clarity, wear resistance, and production efficiency. We guide tile material choices based on gameplay interaction patterns, visual density, and cost structure.
Cardboard Tiles (The Standard Punch Board Tiles)
Best For: Map tiles, terrain tiles, modular boards, and information-heavy components. Cardboard tiles are the most common tile system in modern board games, offering strong cost efficiency and excellent print fidelity.
Engineering Focus: We manage lamination balance and grain direction to prevent warping and edge fraying during punch-out and long-term storage.
Material: High-density greyboard with C2S art paper.
Key Properties:
Flat, stable surface for board alignment
Lightweight for large tile counts
High-resolution printed detail
Manufacturing Notes:
Multi-layer lamination with grain alignment control
Steel rule die-cut tooling optimized for clean edges
Common thickness: 2.0 mm / 2.5 mm / 3.0 mm
Injection-Molded Plastic Tiles
Best For: Durable terrain tiles, high-frequency handling components, and 3D-adjacent systems. Plastic tiles are specified where impact resistance, moisture stability, or long-term durability is required.
Engineering Focus: Flatness control and uniform cooling are critical to prevent warpage in large-surface molded parts.
Material Options:
ABS: Structural rigidity and impact resistance
PS: Improved surface detail clarity
Key Properties:
High dimensional repeatability
Strong edge durability
Moisture-resistant surface
Manufacturing Notes:
Multi-cavity or single-cavity steel molds (size dependent)
Gate placement engineered to avoid visible flow marks
Suitable for medium to high production volumes
Tile Sizes, Thicknesses & Selection Considerations
Tile selection is driven by board integration, handling frequency, and storage method.. Thickness selection should be based on how frequently tokens areTile selection is driven by board integration, handling frequency, and storage method.
Common Thickness Options:
2.0 mm – Standard punch tiles for modular maps
2.5 mm – Improved rigidity for larger tiles
3.0 mm – Premium cardboard tiles or large-format components
Selection Considerations:
Thicker tiles improve flatness and durability but increase material cost and storage volume
Large tile footprints require tighter flatness control to ensure proper board alignment
Plastic tiles are typically specified by overall footprint size and structural thickness, rather than by standard punch thickness. reviewed for warpage risk during tooling.
Tile Shape Variants & Gameplay Applications
Tile geometry affects alignment accuracy, visual flow, and player interaction speed.
Square & Rectangular Tiles: Used for grids, modular boards, and area definition. Straight edges ensure clean alignment.
Hexagonal Tiles: Common in map-driven and territory-control games. Edge precision is critical to avoid cumulative misalignment.
Irregular or Organic Shapes: Used for terrain or thematic layouts. Shape feasibility is reviewed to ensure punch stability and edge durability.
Interlocking or Notched Tiles: Applied in fixed-layout systems. Requires tighter tooling tolerances and consistent thickness.
Color Application, Printing & Surface Finishing
Color and finishing choices affect player differentiation, wear resistance, and unit cost.
Color Methods
-Printed paper for cardboard tiles
-Pigment-compounded plastics for molded tiles
-Tinted or transparent acrylic materials
Marking & Graphics
Offset printing for high-detail cardboard artwork
Pad printing for plastic tiles
Surface Protection
Matte or gloss varnish for cardboard printed tiles
Scratch-resistant coatings for plastic and acrylic
Edge sealing to reduce long-term wear on punch tiles
Additional finishing steps improve durability but increase processing time and unit cost.
Can’t find what you want? Contact us!
We’re always happy to discuss new formats or unusual specifications. If you don’t see what you’re looking for above, get in touch. Our team will be glad to help.
Custom board games possess
At Funway, board game production is managed as an integrated manufacturing system, not a collection of independent components. From early-stage consultation through engineering review, sampling, and mass production, each project is supported by a dedicated manufacturing team that works closely with your specifications, files, and component decisions. This consultative approach ensures that design intent remains manufacturable as the project moves from custom board game prototype to mass production.
Rather than treating manufacturing as a handoff after design, we coordinate decisions across the board game supply chain—component definition, tooling release, sampling approval, and production sequencing—to reduce variance, prevent late-stage rework, and maintain consistency throughout production.
Tooling, Die-Cutting & Mold Selection
Tooling approach directly impacts upfront cost, unit price, and long-term repeatability.
Punch Board Tooling: Used for cardboard tiles
- Lower upfront tooling investment
- Ideal for high-count, flat components
- Fast setup and replacement
Injection Mold Tooling: Used for plastic or acrylic tiles
- Higher tooling cost
- Required for durability or 3D integration
- Lower unit cost at scale
Tooling selection is finalized during pre-production review based on volume, tile size, and durability requirements.
Prototyping & First-Article Inspection (FAI)
Pre-production samples are produced to validate:
Tile flatness and thickness consistency
Edge quality and punch behavior
Color accuracy and print alignment
Fit with boards, frames, and storage inserts
Approved FAI samples are retained as Golden Samples for ongoing production reference.
Mass Production & Quality Control
Tile quality is maintained through process control, not post-production correction.
In-process thickness and flatness checks
Visual inspection for edge defects and print offset
Assembly fit verification with boards and inserts
All applicable materials comply with EN71 and ASTM F963 standards.
Cost Drivers & MOQ Optimization
Tile unit cost is driven by several controllable variables.
Material System
Cardboard is the most cost-efficient option.
Plastic and acrylic increase material and tooling cost.
Tile Size & Thickness
Larger and thicker tiles require more material and tighter flatness control.
Printing & Finishing
Additional colors, coatings, or edge treatments add processing steps.
Order Volume
Higher volumes reduce unit cost through tooling amortization.
For smaller projects, shared punch layouts or standard tooling formats can reduce upfront cost while maintaining design flexibility.
FAQ
Contact
Launching a custom board game can be a complex and challenging process, involving dozens of decisions. We’re committed to making your board game design, printing, and manufacturing process as easy and convenient as possible. But if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
We’re happy to answer all your questions about custom board game printing and manufacturing and can provide you with a quote tailored to your requirements without any obligation. Feel free to contact us—we’re always here to help!
