Quick answer
The Burgle Bros 2 Playmat is worth adding if you want a third floor layout and printed room-placement lines, and it also works with the original Burgle Bros. If you only play on a large, stable table and rarely change floor layouts, a bare table is perfectly playable and costs nothing. The playmat is a setup and layout upgrade, not a rules upgrade.
Burgle Bros.
Playmat vs. bare table: what actually changes
A bare table works. You can play Burgle Bros 2 on any flat surface, and the game does not require a mat to function. The difference is in setup speed and consistency. The Burgle Bros 2 Playmat is a neoprene mat with lines for room placements, so rooms land in the same positions each game instead of being nudged into place by hand. That matters most when you are building a three-floor layout and want the floors to line up cleanly.
The trade-off is table footprint and storage. A mat takes up more table space than loose tiles, and it needs to be rolled or stored flat between sessions. If your table is already tight with four players, a bare table may actually fit better.
How it pairs with Burgle Bros Miniatures
The playmat and Burgle Bros Miniatures solve different problems. The mat fixes the board layout; the miniatures replace standees or tokens with 12 sculpted figures (9 burgle bros and 3 guards) and come with custom GameTrayz in a box styled as the Burgle Van. If you already use the mat, the miniatures are easier to place and move because they stand on their own and are less likely to slide when the table is bumped.
One honest limitation: the miniatures do not come painted, so if you want them to match the game's art, you will need to paint them yourself. The playmat has no such requirement and works out of the box.
Where RUN and Intrepid fit if you want a different game
Intrepid
If you are browsing Burgle Bros 2 accessories but actually want a new game, two other options in the store cover different ground. RUN is a quick hidden-movement game of cat-and-mouse where one player is the Runner using gadgets and limited movement tiles, and the other is the Dispatcher sending a helicopter and patrol cars. It is tense and fast, but it is not a Burgle Bros expansion and will not change your existing setup.
Intrepid is a cooperative, asymmetric game about surviving aboard the International Space Station, where players generate life-sustaining resources while disasters escalate. It is a heavier, longer experience than Burgle Bros 2, so it is a different purchase decision rather than an accessory.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Burgle Bros 2 Playmat: Adds a third floor layout and printed room-placement lines on neoprene, and works with Burgle Bros as well. Best if you want faster, more consistent setup and play on a table with room to spare.
- Bare table: No extra cost, no storage, and no footprint beyond the tiles themselves. Best if your table is small, you store games vertically, or you rarely rebuild floor layouts.
- Burgle Bros Miniatures: 12 unpainted miniatures (9 burgle bros, 3 guards) with GameTrayz in a Burgle Van box. Best if you want tactile pieces and are willing to paint them; skip if you want zero prep.
Product facts
- Burgle Bros 2 Playmat: This is 1 additional neoprene playmat from Burgle Bros 2. This enables players to make 3 floor layouts. Include lines for room placements. Also works with Burgle Bros. You get a third floor layout and printed placement lines, and the same mat can be used with the original Burgle Bros, so it serves two games.
- Burgle Bros Miniatures: A set of custom made miniatures for playing with Burgle Bros 1 or 2. They come with custom GameTrayz in a box styled as the Burgle Van. Comes with 12 miniatures - 9 burgle bros and 3 guards. Do not come painted, some painting examples in gallery. The miniatures upgrade the pieces you move, while the playmat upgrades the surface you move them on. They are complementary, but only the mat is ready to use without painting.
Who should buy which
Best for
- Players who want a third floor layout and consistent room placement without measuring
- Groups that already own Burgle Bros 1 or 2 and want a surface upgrade that serves both
- Players who want a neoprene surface that keeps tiles from sliding during a heist
Not for
- Players with a small table who need to minimize footprint
- Anyone looking for a rules expansion or new scenarios; the playmat only changes layout and surface
- Shoppers who want painted miniatures out of the box; the miniatures require painting
