Not all that shines is gold, but can be very precious!

As we unearthed our prized print-and-play game of Lantern from the shelf and introduced it to our friend circle, it was met with both awe and frown- the former more than the latter! While most were enchanted with Lantern’s amazing game design and shiny, finished look, the rest frowned on the printed game being too ‘glossy’- aka, laminated! Lamination certainly brought a big environmental angle into the discussion, but sustainability is also compromised when the unlaminated games do not last long and need to be printed over and over again. Hence started an intense yet very fruitful discussion as to when and why the print-and-play games need lamination. And we thought of sharing the summary of that fruitful discussion with you!

Here’s when you should, and should not, laminate print-and-play games:

Short run versus Long run
The first factor is as straightforward as possible. Ask yourself, am I planning to shelve this game for a long time? Or am I going to try it once to give it a shot? If you are going through the ‘Litmus Test’ Phase of the game, where you are still unsure if you will like it, then it’s wise to not laminate it immediately. Laminate the PnP games only when you are certain that you want to shelve this game for a long time, which will not only be sustainable but also not compromise the game experience.

If you have enough experience playing PnP games, then the Litmus Test Phase for any game can also be conducted by watching gameplay videos or game review blogs to decide if it is your type. That’s what we do!

The type of game
Say you have decided to shelve the game for the long run. The next factor you have to address is the type of game we have in the equation. For example, we happily laminated the game Lantern because it is a roll-and-write game. It is a type of game that requires us to write or mark actions on the game print. Instead of using a pencil and rubber, we opted to print and laminate the game and went on to use a sign pen or marker on it. That way, the game print can always be wiped clean with a tissue or wet cloth, to have it fresh for the next round. So, when it comes to roll-and-write games, lamination is a go!

On the flip side, if the game is solely based on a deck of cards, then we recommend not to laminate the cards. We have played and reviewed games like All is Bomb and Galdor’s Grip, which are entirely based on a deck of cards that has prints on both sides. For both games we ended up trying three different modules:
– Both sides of the cards are printed on A4 paper, glued together, and then laminated
– Both sides of the cards are printed on cardstock paper, and then glued together
– Both sides of the cards are printed on cardstock paper, cut out, and then assembled inside card sleeves.

The first module was complicated and backfired big time. Not only was it difficult to assemble, but the finished product was not as pleasing. A big red flag on laminating thick paper! As for the second module, we liked it best since it added to the aesthetic appeal, but the cards may not serve in the long run. However, for the third module of using card sleeves, not only was it easy to cut and assemble, but it also had a nice finished look to the cards. Laminating can make a deck of cards too sturdy, which is not recommended.

So, in case of a deck of cards for a game, do not laminate. Opt for card sleeves, which are quite affordable!