I remember the day I realized I could not remember whether I owned a copy of Tokaido. That moment sent me down a rabbit hole, and now I run a collection of more than 180 games with plays logged since 2019. If you want to learn how to catalog and track a growing board game collection without losing your mind, I will walk you through the exact system I use, plus the alternatives I tested before settling on it.
This guide covers the free BoardGameGeek platform, mobile apps like BGStats, physical shelving like the IKEA KALLAX, small box storage hacks, and a spreadsheet method for power users. By the end, you will have a clear plan to start tracking tonight.
Table of Contents
Start With BoardGameGeek as Your Collection Database
BoardGameGeek (BGG) is the gold standard for cataloging a board game collection. The community calls it the “geek database” because almost every modern board game has a page there with player count, play time, weight (complexity), and user ratings.
Here is the quick setup I recommend to anyone starting from zero:
Create a free account at boardgamegeek.com.
Click your username, then “Collection” in the dropdown menu.
Hit the blue “Add to Collection” button on the collection page.
Search for a game title, set ownership status to “Owned,” and save.
Add a few extra details like “Wishlist,” “Previously Owned,” or “For Trade” as you fill in more games.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds per game once you get going. My first 50 games took an evening while I watched TV. After that, I added new purchases within a day of unboxing them.
Logging Plays and Ratings on BGG
Once your collection is in place, BGG lets you log every play session. I log plays by clicking the game page, hitting “Log Play,” and entering the date, player count, and scores. Over time, this builds a play history that shows your group’s actual patterns, not just the games you own.
You can also rate each game on a 1 to 10 scale. I find that my BGG ratings are far more useful than memory because I can filter my collection by rating when I need to pick something for game night.
Use Mobile Apps Like BGStats for On-the-Go Play Tracking
BGStats is the mobile app that the r/boardgames community calls the “gold standard” for play tracking. It runs on iOS and Android and syncs directly with your BoardGameGeek account.
I switched to BGStats after about six months of manually logging plays on the BGG website. The mobile interface is faster during a game night, and the statistics dashboards are gorgeous. Here is what you get:
Player win rates and head-to-head matchups.
Plays per month and plays per game charts.
H-index challenges that reward variety in your play group.
Barcode scanning for adding new games quickly.
The paid version is a one-time purchase and well worth it if you track plays regularly. BGStats also stores everything locally and syncs to BGG in the background, so you never lose data.
If BGStats feels like overkill, Board Game Collection by Crammers also works for basic inventory tracking. It is simpler, but it lacks the deep statistics and BGG sync that power users love.
Organize Your Shelves With the IKEA KALLAX System
A digital catalog is half the battle. You also need to store the physical games in a way that matches your tracking system. The IKEA KALLAX shelf is what every board game collector I know ends up buying.
The 2×4 KALLAX holds about 32 standard-size boxes with the shelves oriented horizontally. The 4×4 holds around 64 games. I started with a single 2×4 in 2019 and now run three 4×4 units in my living room.
Tips I learned the hard way:
Store boxes vertically, like books on a shelf, not stacked flat.
Leave one cube empty per unit for a small box or expansion overflow.
Use the optional KALLAX inserts (drawers or doors) for a cleaner look.
Keep heaviest games on the bottom row to prevent shelf sag.
The vertical orientation is critical. Stacked boxes crush the lids, and you end up with games that no longer close properly after a season of self-inflicted damage.
Solve the Small Box Storage Problem With Photo Boxes
Small box games break the KALLAX system. Games like Love Letter, Coup, or Codenames Duet sit in cubes like lost socks. The trick is photo storage boxes from Michaels or similar craft stores.
These clear plastic boxes measure roughly 13 by 13 inches and hold small box games standing upright. I keep all my small boxes in two photo boxes stacked on top of my KALLAX unit. Each box has a small label listing the titles inside so I can find them fast.
Another option is a dedicated card game organizer like the Broken Token insert system. These are wood or plastic trays custom-fit for specific games. They are pricier but they turn a box of loose cards into a tidy drawer that takes seconds to set up.
Manage Expansions Alongside Base Games
Expansions are the silent killers of board game organization. I used to lose hours searching for the right expansion box. Here is the rule I follow now.
Store every expansion for a specific game inside the base game box. If the expansion does not fit, store the entire game plus its expansion in one KALLAX cube and rotate as a unit. I never separate expansions from their base game unless they physically cannot share a box.
For digital tracking, BGG has an “Expansion” filter in your collection view. I tag every expansion with a note in the comments field linking back to the base game. That way, when I filter by “Owned,” I see exactly what I have ready to play.
Power-User Method: Build a Spreadsheet Catalog
Once you outgrow BGG’s built-in filters, you can build a spreadsheet in Google Sheets or Excel for custom statistics. This is what I do for collection valuation and purchase history.
Set up columns for:
Game title and BGG ID (the number in the URL of each BGG page).
Purchase date and price paid.
Current resale value (check BoardGameGeek Marketplace or eBay sold listings).
Number of plays to date (pulled from BGStats export).
Cost per play (price divided by plays).
This setup lets me see which games earn their shelf space. A $60 game with 20 plays costs $3 per play. A $30 game with 2 plays costs $15 per play. That single number changed how I buy games.
If formulas feel intimidating, the BoardGame Oracle subreddit regularly shares free templates you can copy and customize. Search for “BG spreadsheet template” and you will find several community-built options.
Track Wishlists, Loans, and Collection Value
The last piece of a complete tracking system is the stuff outside your shelves. I keep three sub-categories on BGG.
Wishlist for games I plan to buy. I separate this into “High Priority” and “Someday.”
For Trade for games I am willing to swap with other collectors.
Previously Owned for games I sold or gave away.
For loans, I keep a simple note in my phone with the game title, who borrowed it, and the date. A paper index card inside the box also works. The point is to never lend a game without a system, or you will lose track.
For collection value, the BoardGameGeek Marketplace shows recent sale prices. I check mine once a year around tax time for insurance purposes.
FAQs
What is the app that keeps track of board game collection?
BGStats is the most popular mobile app for tracking a board game collection and play history. It runs on iOS and Android, costs a one-time fee for the full version, and syncs directly with your free BoardGameGeek account.
How do you organize a board game collection?
Most collectors use IKEA KALLAX shelves with boxes stored vertically, plus clear photo storage boxes for small box games. The vertical orientation prevents lid damage, and one empty cube per shelf handles overflow.
What is the best app to keep track of game collection?
BoardGameGeek works best for cataloging and rating, BGStats works best for play tracking, and a custom Google Sheet works best for valuation and cost-per-play statistics. Most serious collectors combine BGG and BGStats together.
How do I track board games I lend out?
Keep a simple log in your phone or a paper index card inside each box. Record the game title, the person who borrowed it, and the date. Never lend without writing it down, or you will lose track within a year.
Final Thoughts on Building a System That Sticks
The best board game tracking system is the one you actually use. Start with a free BoardGameGeek account tonight and add five games to see how it feels. If you want deeper play statistics, layer in BGStats within a week. If you want total control, build a spreadsheet and let it pull data from BGG exports.
Pair your digital catalog with KALLAX shelves and photo boxes for small games, and you will finally know what you own, what you have played, and what you still want to buy. After five years of refining my own system, I can tell you the time investment pays off the first time you spend 30 seconds finding the perfect game for a Tuesday night with two friends who only have an hour to spare.