How much does a game on personal status cost vs a custom game?

On customised (logo + color): unit rate modeled according to editor, for 300 ex. On measure personnalized in depth (60-80% of the content rewritten): fixed envelope for rewriting, then unit surcharge to production. Complete Custom: initial significant investment for design, plus a unit cost of production. The economic tipping threshold is around 1,000 copies in favor of custom-made.

Can a game on individualized status really work on a topic specific to the company?

Hardly. The empirical rule on 33 projects: if the subject is specific to the company at more than 50% (internal procedures, specific commercial method, distinctive culture), the game on range loses 60% of its potential impact. Learners immediately identify the disconnection and detect. Better to invest in a reduced custom (300-500 ex) than in an inadequately adapted problem.

Can we turn a game on range into a custom game gradually?

Yes, and it's even a smart strategy. Step 1: on customised (logo + 20-30% of content) to test. Step 2: if valid, redesigning maps and adapting rules (60-80% of clean content). Step 3: if the use is sustainable and the deployment is large, customised in V2. This progression reduces the risk of initial investment while building a relevant final device.

Is the ROI better custom or on a stand-alone basis?

On business-specific and high-impact topics: custom, generating a ROI 2 to 3 times higher through a much higher memory and job transfer. On low-impact generic topics: the over-schedule has a higher ROI thanks to an initial investment 5-10 times less. The rule: tailoring investment to the real issue, neither over-investing nor under-investing.

Customized game vs on shelf: choose in B2B (2026)

Q: How long to produce a custom game vs a stand-alone game?

On customised (logo only): 3 to 10 days from the order form to delivery. On in-depth customised status: 4 to 8 weeks (card writing + production). Full custom: 10 to 16 weeks (design 6-8 sem, prototyping 2-3 sem, production 3-5 sem). For a tight calendar project (less than 6 weeks), the over-sample often remains the only viable option.

Many HRDs start a game project by asking themselves the wrong question: "what game to buy?" - while the real question is "made-to-measure or on shelf?". Arbitration conditions the budget (×3 between the two), the delay (×4), and especially the impact. Here is the operational decision grid on B2B projects accompanied since 2019, with the quantified thresholds and the real criteria of choice.

Operational Definition: What distinguishes the two options

THE game on shelf is a product designed for a wide market, sold in catalogue by publishers (generic security games, CSR, team cohesion, leadership). Possible but limited customization: addition of a customer logo, box color, sometimes some theme cards. Low input cost, very short delay.

THE custom game is a unique device designed to meet the needs of a specific company. Adapted mechanics, written content for the trade, graphic charter consistent with the brand, scenarios from the field. Significant initial cost, design time + production of several months.

In between there is the game on customized shelf in depth We start from an existing format (plate, escape game) and replace 60-80% of the content with custom-made. Economic hybrid that combines speed and relevance.

Criterion 1 - Specificity of the business subject

The first criterion is the specificity of the subject. Generic subject (basic security, general CSR, team cohesion, leadership): a shelf game can work, especially if the company starts on the subject. The learning curve is fast, the investment low.

Business specific subject (internal procedures, specific business method, distinctive business culture, ongoing strategic transformation): no shelf game can claim to cover these topics. Customised game becomes unavoidable. Trying to put a generic game on a specific subject generates a disastrous effect: learners immediately identify disconnection ("it's not like this happens in our home") and pick up.

Simple test: take 3 representative collaborators, make them play 20 minutes at a candidate shelf game on the subject. If they find it "interesting but not really suitable", it is that you have to switch to custom.

Criterion 2 - volume of deployment and economy of scale

The economic threshold for custom-made switch vs. shelf is located at 300 copies. At this volume, the custom shelf game retains a total cost more contained, the custom one mobilising a much higher initial investment that is spread over the series. On shelf remains 3 to 5 times more accessible to 300 ex.

À 1,000 copiesThe unit cost of the customised product is largely dampened on the series, while the customised product shelf keeps a stable unit rate. The customised product becomes competitive or even cheaper, while offering an infinitely higher product in relevance.

À 3,000+ copies, the customised one becomes much more economical at unit cost. It is also the level where the impact counts the most (wide deployment = strong internal visibility, the image projected by a generic game vs a custom game is not the same).

Criterion 3 - expected level of impact

The third criterion is the expected level of impact on the ground. Three levels to distinguish. Level 1 - light awareness. Objective: to awaken consciousness on a subject, without expected behavioural change. Example: annual safety reminder, GDPR awareness. On shelf adapted.

Level 2 - operational learning. Objective: to acquire relevant skills or knowledge. Example: mastery of a procedure, commercial method, manipulation of a tool. To measure if the content is specific to the company, on custom shelf if the content is partially transferable.

Level 3 - cultural or strategic transformation. Objective: to change the corporate culture, to accompany a major transformation, to mobilize around a video calln. Example: CSR transformation, managerial recasting, merger of companies. To be tailored mandatory - no game on shelf can carry this symbolic burden.

Of the 33 documented B2B projects, 28 are in level 2-3 (measured to be justified), 5 are in level 1 (where the shelf could have been enough but the customer has preferred brand consistency).

Smart hybrids and decision matrix

Synthesis in decision matrix. Quadrant 1 - generic subject + low volume + light impact : Custom shelf game is enough (client logo + box color). Investment content, 3-10 days. Quadrant 2 - generic topic + large volume + operational impact : customized shelf in depth (60-80% of the content rewritten). Intermediate budget, 4-8 weeks.

Quadrant 3 - clean topic + operational impact or transformation : on a full-scale basis. Quadrant 4 - clean topic + transformation impact + very large volume (5,000+ ex) : Customised with high economy of scale, unit cost falls sharply. Large total investment but ROI excellent.

Good practice 2026: start on custom shelf to test internal appetite (300-500 ex, budget content) then switch to full custom once the value has been proven (wide deployment) This increase avoids the risk of a major customised one that does not find its audience. AFNOR (games and toys standards). Continuing training framework: Ministry of Labor (professional training).

Sources: AFNOR (games and toys standards) · Ministry of Labor (professional training).

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Questions frequent

How much does a custom shelf game cost vs a custom game?

On custom shelf (logo + color): moderate unit rate depending on publisher, for 300 ex. On custom shelf in depth (60-80% of the rewritten content): fixed envelope for rewriting, then unit extra cost to production. To be tailored: significant initial investment for design, plus a unit cost of production. The economic tipping threshold is around 1,000 copies in favour of custom-made.

How long to produce a custom game vs a shelf game?

On custom shelf (logo only): 3 to 10 days from order form to delivery. On customized shelf in depth: 4 to 8 weeks (rewriting cards + production). Full custom: 10 to 16 weeks (design 6-8 sem, prototyping 2-3 sem, production 3-5 sem). For a tight calendar project (less than 6 weeks), the over shelf is often the only viable option.

Can a custom shelf game really work on a specific subject of the company?

Hardly. The empirical rule on 33 projects: if the subject is specific to the company at more than 50% (internal procedures, specific business method, distinctive culture), the shelf game loses 60% of its impact potential. Learners immediately identify disconnection and drop. Better invest in a small custom (300-500 ex) than in an inadequate shelf.

Can we transform a shelf game into a custom game?

Step 1: Custom shelf (logo + 20-30% of content) to test Step 2: If validated, recast cards and adjust rules (60-80% of content). Step 3: If use is sustainable and wide deployment, bespoke in V2 mode. This increase reduces the risk of initial investment while building a relevant final device.

Is ROI better for custom or on shelf?

On business-specific and high impact topics: the custom-made ROI generates 2 to 3 times higher thanks to significantly higher memorization and business transfer. On generic subjects with low impact: the shelf has a superior ROI thanks to an initial investment 5-10 times less. The rule: adapt the investment to the real stake, neither over-invest nor under-invest.