Quick answer
The plastic token upgrade is worth it if you play Arkham Asylum often or want tokens that survive repeated handling; the cardboard tokens already in the box are fine if you play occasionally and prefer to keep everything in one insert. The upgrade replaces the Freeze, Riddle, and VP tokens and adds a dedicated The Riddler bag, so it solves wear and sorting more than it changes rules.
What the plastic upgrade actually replaces
The DC Deck-Building Game: Arkham Asylum — Plastic Tokens & Bag is a direct swap for three cardboard token types from the base game: Freeze Tokens, Riddle Tokens, and VP Tokens. The set includes 6 Freeze Tokens, 8 Riddle Tokens, and 40 VP Tokens, plus a premium The Riddler bag. It does not add new token types or change how any of them work, so the comparison is about handling and storage, not rules.
DC Deck-Building Game: Arkham Asylum
That matters because the cardboard versions are the pieces most likely to show edge wear first. Freeze and Riddle tokens get passed around and flipped repeatedly, while VP tokens sit in visible piles and get counted every game. Replacing only those three types keeps the upgrade focused on the parts of the game your hands touch most.
Durability and feel at the table
Plastic tokens hold their shape and print better under repeated shuffling and stacking than cardboard, which can fray at the edges or delaminate over time. The trade-off is weight and noise: plastic tokens are heavier in the bag and click when they land, which some groups like and others find distracting during quiet turns. Cardboard tokens are lighter, quieter, and already matched to the rest of the components in the box.
If your group plays Arkham Asylum weekly, the plastic set reduces the small annoyance of worn token edges and makes VP counting faster because the tokens stack cleanly. If you play a few times a year, the cardboard tokens are unlikely to wear enough to justify the swap.
Storage and the bag question
The included The Riddler bag gives the plastic tokens a dedicated home, which is the part of this upgrade that changes setup more than the tokens themselves. Instead of sorting cardboard tokens back into the insert, you can keep the Freeze, Riddle, and VP tokens together and pull the bag out when the game hits the table. That is a real convenience if you also travel with your collection.
If you already use the DC Deck-Building Game: Travel Box (Kickstarter Exclusive The Joker Edition), the bag fits the same travel habit: pack the tokens with the cards rather than relying on the original insert. The Travel Box does not include game cards, so it is a storage solution, not a gameplay purchase, and the token bag is a natural companion to it.
How this fits with other DC Deck-Building Game pickups
Token upgrades are a finishing touch, not a starting point. If you are still deciding what to add next, a promo card like the DC Deck-Building Game: Gorilla Grodd Promo Card adds a playable card for a few dollars, while a full new title like DC Deck-Building Game: The Adventures of Supergirl & Lobo adds a standalone experience. Buy the token upgrade only after you know Arkham Asylum is a game you will keep playing.
DC Deck-Building Game: Gorilla Grodd Promo Card
For new players, the cardboard tokens that come with Arkham Asylum are enough to learn the game. The plastic set is for players who already know they like the game and want the table to feel better during repeat sessions.
Trade-offs to weigh before you upgrade
- Durability vs. original insert fit: Plastic tokens resist edge wear and delamination better than cardboard, but they are thicker and heavier, so they may not sit as neatly in the original Arkham Asylum insert. Choose plastic if wear is your main complaint; stay cardboard if the insert is your storage system.
- Handling vs. noise: Plastic tokens stack and count faster and feel more substantial, but they click and clack on the table where cardboard stays quiet. Play in a noisy room or with a group that likes tactile pieces? Plastic wins. Quiet, small-table play? Cardboard is less distracting.
- Dedicated bag vs. one more thing to carry: The Riddler bag keeps Freeze, Riddle, and VP tokens together and makes setup faster, but it is an extra item to remember alongside the box. If you already travel with a storage box, the bag fits that habit; if you play only at home, it is a minor convenience.
Product facts
- DC Deck-Building Game: Arkham Asylum — Plastic Tokens & Bag: Premium plastic tokens replace the cardboard Freeze, Riddle, and VP tokens from DC Deck-Building Game: Arkham Asylum, with 6 Freeze Tokens, 8 Riddle Tokens, 40 VP Tokens, and a premium The Riddler bag. You get a complete swap for the three token types that see the most handling, plus a dedicated bag for storage and travel.
- DC Deck-Building Game: Travel Box (Kickstarter Exclusive The Joker Edition): The Joker-themed portable storage box holds DC Deck-Building Game cards and expansions for travel or events, and does not include game cards. If you already carry your collection to game nights, the token bag and this travel box solve the same problem from two directions: keeping small pieces together.
Who should choose which
Best for
- Players who run Arkham Asylum regularly and are tired of worn cardboard token edges
- Groups that count VP tokens often and want faster, cleaner stacking
- Players who already travel with a DC Deck-Building Game storage box and want tokens in one bag
Not for
- New players who are still learning the game and have not decided how often they will play
- Players who prefer to keep every component in the original insert with no extra bag
- Anyone looking for new token types or rules changes, since this is a direct replacement
