If you have an existing list of games in a spreadsheet, whether you're migrating from another tool, joining Boardssey with a back catalog, or just want to bulk-add prototypes, you can import them via CSV.

What this page helps you do

Format a CSV that Boardssey can read.
Run an import.
Resolve common errors.

Before you start

Importing games counts toward your plan's game limit (5 on Adventurer, 20 on Pathfinder, unlimited on Oracle). If your CSV exceeds the limit, the import stops at the limit and tells you which rows weren't imported.
The import only handles basic fields, title, status, descriptions, player count, duration, age, mechanics, genre, MSRP. For richer data (components, media, rules), use the per-game UI after importing.

1. Get the template

In Games (the library), click Import → Download template. Boardssey gives you a CSV with the right columns and one example row.

The columns include:

name (required)
status, must match one of the development statuses (Idea, Designing, Playtesting, etc.).
short_description
long_description
unique_hooks
min_players / max_players
min_duration / max_duration (minutes)
min_age
genre, must match one of the predefined genres.
mechanics, comma-separated list of predefined mechanics.
complexity, Light / Medium / Heavy.
currency, three-letter code (USD, EUR, etc.).
msrp
bgg_link

Fill in your data row by row. Leave fields blank if you don't have them, only name is required.

2. Run the import

Save the file as CSV (UTF-8 encoded, most spreadsheet apps default to this).

In Games, click Import → Choose file and pick the CSV. Boardssey shows a preview: how many rows it found, and any rows with errors.

Review the preview. Click Import to confirm.

The import runs and shows a progress indicator. When done, you see how many games were created and any rows that failed.

3. Fix errors

Common error reasons:

Status doesn't match: check spelling and case. idea won't match; Idea will.
Genre / mechanics not in the predefined list: the values are case-sensitive and must match exactly. Use the dropdowns in the UI to see valid options before re-running.
Currency code wrong: must be three letters from the supported list (see Plans and pricing).
Numeric fields not numeric: min_players must be a number, not text.

Fix the errors in the spreadsheet, save again, and re-import. Boardssey treats this as a fresh import; it won't double-create games already imported (it matches by name + your team).

4. After import

The newly imported games appear in your library. Open each one to:

Add a cover image (Media tab).
Set up rules (Rules tab).
Add components (Components tab).
Add a BGG link if you have one.
Mark expansions and link them to base games.

Importing gets you the basics in bulk; the rest is per-game work.

Tips & common questions

Can I import covers / images via CSV? Not today, only metadata. Upload covers per game after import.

My existing tool exports a different format. Map your existing columns to Boardssey's column names manually in your spreadsheet, then import. There's no auto-mapping.

Will import overwrite existing games with the same name? No, duplicate-name imports create new entries. Match by name + slight variant if you need to reconcile. Use the Delete action to clean up.

The import stopped halfway. Likely you hit your plan's game limit. The import stops cleanly and tells you which rows imported. To continue, upgrade your plan or delete games to free up slots.

Can I undo an import? Not in one click. If an import goes badly, delete the games it created (use the library's filter to find them by recent creation date).