Deluxe Upgrade Kits Explained: What's Worth Adding?
By IV Studio — Shop Tend, Moonrakers, Veiled Fate, and Mythic | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: 제품 리뷰
Deluxe upgrade kits and editions are not the same thing. Learn which components you actually notice during play, and which upgrades you can safely skip.
Quick answer
A deluxe upgrade kit is worth buying when it replaces a piece you physically handle every turn, and skippable when it only changes how the box looks on a shelf. Metal first player tokens and ship tokens pass that test because they get picked up constantly, while cosmetic extras rarely do. If your copy already includes the upgraded component, buying the standalone kit just duplicates it.
What counts as a deluxe upgrade kit?
A deluxe upgrade kit is a set of replacement components sold separately from a game you already own. It usually swaps plastic for metal, cardboard for acrylic, or plain cubes for custom shapes, while leaving the rules untouched. That last part matters: an upgrade kit changes how the game feels in your hands, not how it plays.
Deluxe edition vs upgrade kit: how to tell which one you are buying
A deluxe edition bundles the upgraded components into a single retail box, so you buy the game and the nicer parts together. An upgrade kit assumes you already own the standard game and only sells you the replacement pieces.
The practical difference shows up in cost and duplication. If you already own the base game, an upgrade kit is usually the cheaper path. If you are buying the game for the first time and a deluxe edition exists, compare the two totals before adding a separate kit, because some editions already contain the upgraded parts you were about to order.
Which upgrades do you actually notice during play?
Components you touch every turn give the strongest return: the token that marks the active player, the pieces that move around the board, and anything that gets passed between players. Components you look at once during setup, such as a nicer insert or a printed score track, are felt far less.
Weight is part of that. Metal pieces sit differently in the hand and slide differently on a table than plastic ones, which is the main reason players reach for these kits in the first place.
When should you skip the upgrade?
Skip it when the component is already upgraded in the version you own, when the piece stays in the box for most of the game, or when the base game sees the table only once or twice a year. Upgrades reward repetition; a game that rarely gets played rarely justifies the extra spend.
Deluxe upgrade FAQ
- Are deluxe upgrades worth it?
- They are worth it when the upgraded piece is handled on most turns and the game hits the table regularly. They are not worth it when the piece mostly sits in the box. Judge the upgrade by how often you touch the component, not by how it photographs.
- What is the difference between a deluxe edition and an upgrade kit?
- A deluxe edition includes the upgraded components in the retail box. An upgrade kit is sold separately and assumes you already own the standard game. Compare the two totals before ordering both.
- Do I need an upgrade kit if I already own a deluxe or metal edition?
- Usually no. Some editions already ship with the upgraded parts, so a standalone kit would duplicate them. Check your edition before buying the kit.
- Can one upgrade kit cover a base game and its expansion?
- Sometimes. Where the expansion reuses the same tokens as the base game, a single replacement set is enough. Count the components being replaced, not the boxes you own.
- Do upgrade kits change the rules?
- No. They replace physical components and leave gameplay untouched. Buy for feel and durability, not for new mechanics.
Examples from the catalog
- Veiled Fate Metal First Player Token: A metal upgrade for the plastic first player token included in the Veiled Fate base game, and already included in the Veiled Fate: Metal Edition. Check which edition you own first. If you have the Metal Edition, this kit duplicates a piece you already have.
- Moonrakers Metal Ship Tokens: Replicas of the five plastic ship tokens included with each copy of Moonrakers, made of metal for a heavier token feel. One set replaces the plastic tokens in either the base game or the Nomad expansion. You only need one set even if you own the expansion, since the same five tokens are being replaced.
- Brink Deluxe: Brink Deluxe adds plastic storage and player trays and upgrades the plastic cubes to custom shapes. This is a deluxe edition rather than an upgrade kit, so the upgraded components come inside the box instead of as a separate purchase.
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