Let’s be honest—Concordia is a fantastic game, but it’s not exactly a visual masterpiece. The board is a bit muted, and the wooden meeples, while functional, don’t exactly pop. So, what’s a board gamer to do? Add stickers, of course! Because everything is better with stickers, right? Enter the Meeple Upgrade Pack, designed to bring some extra flair to your Concordia components.
Now, this isn’t going to be your typical review. There’s no need for a rules breakdown, and a “how-to-sticker” guide would be overkill. It’s as simple as peeling and sticking—no strategy guide needed! But there’s still plenty to talk about when it comes to whether these stickers are worth your time and money. So, let’s dive in.
What’s in the Pack?
The meeple upgrade sticker pack includes enough stickers to cover the base game as well as the Venus and Salsa expansions. You’ll get stickers for both sides of each meeple, including all the different resource types. It’s a complete package, ensuring your game has a uniform look no matter which version you’re playing.
Sticker Application – A Time-Consuming Affair
Now, let’s talk about actually getting these stickers onto your meeples. Are they easy to apply? Well… not exactly.
I decided to time myself, and just for the base game alone, it took me nearly four hours. Yep, four hours of peeling, aligning, and pressing down tiny stickers. And that’s without even owning the expansions that come with extra meeples! If you do have those, expect to spend even more time stickering.
One thing I noticed right away is that having a few extra stickers as spares would have been really helpful. Mistakes happen, and having a backup or two would give some peace of mind. That said, these stickers weren’t nearly as fragile as the ones I bought for Obsession, which did include extras. So, while they’re not overly delicate, you’ll still want to be careful during the application process.
The Looks – A Mixed Bag of sizing?
So, once all the stickers were applied, how did they look? Overall, I’d say they add a nice touch of color and detail to the meeples. The game certainly has more visual appeal now, and the upgraded pieces stand out more on the board. That’s a definite plus.
However, I did run into some sizing issues. Many of the stickers seemed just a little off. The stickers for the meeples and ships felt slightly too large—just a millimeter or two, but enough to be noticeable. Meanwhile, some of the resource stickers were either a bit too small or not quite the right shape. The wheat resource, in particular, stood out as being a bit frustrating to line up correctly.
That said, I have to add a bit of a disclaimer here. After closely examining my copy of Concordia (something I had never really done before), I realized that my meeples are actually slightly different sizes! The houses, for example, have subtle dimensional differences. That might explain why some stickers didn’t fit perfectly—it could be a variation in production rather than a flaw in the stickers themselves. If your copy of Concordia has more uniform pieces, you might have a better experience.
The Verdict – A Nice Touch, But Not Essential
At the end of the day, what really matters is whether these stickers enhance the game experience. And I’d say, for the most part, they do. The added detail and color are great, and they make the board feel more alive. Are they necessary? Absolutely not. But do they add a little something extra? Definitely.
Now, I usually give one of three ratings:
- Buy or Play
- Wait for Sale, Play if You Like Game XYZ
- Avoid
For this sticker pack, that rating system doesn’t quite fit. Instead, let’s talk about value first.
The stickers cost £13, with an additional £12 for shipping, bringing the total to £25. That’s a fair chunk of money for a cosmetic upgrade. And while I do think they add a nice visual touch, the sizing inconsistencies hold them back. On one hand, I love how they enhance the game. On the other hand, having to deal with slightly off-sized pieces—especially that wheat—gets a little annoying.
But hey, we’re talking about first-world problems here, right?
If you’re a huge Concordia fan and already own everything else, then sure, a sticker upgrade might be a fun next step. But if you’re on the fence, I’d say these stickers are just “okay.” If I had to score them, I’d give them a 5 or 6 out of 10. They’re not a must-have, but if you can grab them on sale, they’re a decent little upgrade. For now, they get a “wait for sale” recommendation from me.
