Ever wondered why your go-to party game isn’t stamped with “Made in the USA”? Buckle in for a wild ride through the complex world of board game manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Maze

Cards Against Humanity, the game that’s made awkward family gatherings slightly more bearable, has a dirty little secret: it’s not produced on American soil. Why? Because the US manufacturing landscape for board games is about as navigable as a drunk person’s attempt to play Twister.

The Cost of Domestic Production

Game companies like Steve Jackson Games have tried to bring production stateside, but the infrastructure is basically non-existent. Custom dice, specialized cutting, unique game components? Good luck finding that in America. When Cards Against Humanity attempted US manufacturing, they discovered a nightmare scenario: production costs doubled, timelines tripled, and a whopping 20% of games were unsellable due to quality issues.

The Global Connection

Beyond economics, there’s a human element. Cards Against Humanity has worked with the same Chinese factory since 2010, growing together from a small operation to a major player. They’ve built a relationship of trust and mutual respect - something that goes beyond simple manufacturing.

The takeaway? Sometimes, global manufacturing isn’t just about cutting costs - it’s about expertise, relationships, and the complex realities of producing the games we love. And if you’re feeling rebellious, you can always download their files and print the game yourself - just be prepared for some seriously inappropriate content.