BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP API Server

What is BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP Server?

BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP Server provides access to the BoardGameGeek API through the Model Context Protocol, enabling retrieval and filtering of board game data, user collections, and profiles. It is implemented in Go using the GoGeek library, with price data from BoardGamePrices.co.uk and game recommendations from Recommend.Games.

How to use BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP Server?

Install via Docker (recommended) or build manually from Go source. Add the server to your MCP client configuration (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or settings.json) and set required environment variables BGG_API_KEY (or BGG_COOKIE) and optionally BGG_USERNAME. Tools are invoked via natural language prompts in the client.

Key features of BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP Server

• Search board games with type filtering (base games, expansions, all)
• Get detailed information and BGG ratings for specific games
• Query and filter a user's game collection with extensive options
• Retrieve the current BGG hotness list
• Fetch real-time prices from multiple retailers
• Find trading opportunities between two BGG users
• Receive game recommendations based on similarity
• Answer rules questions via BGG forum search (experimental)
• Expose BGG hotness and personal collection as MCP resources

Use cases of BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP Server

• Searching for board games and their expansions
• Comparing BGG ratings and details for game selection
• Viewing and filtering personal or others' game collections
• Checking current trending games on BGG
• Finding the best price for a game from multiple UK retailers
• Discovering game recommendations similar to a favorite title
• Generating formatted trade/sales posts for your BGG collection

FAQ from BGG MCP: BoardGameGeek MCP Server

How do I authenticate with the BoardGameGeek API?

You must provide BGG_API_KEY (recommended, get from BGG's API application form) or BGG_COOKIE in the server environment. If both are provided, BGG_API_KEY takes precedence.

What is the BGG_USERNAME environment variable for?

Setting BGG_USERNAME enables the use of "me" and "my" references in queries (e.g., "show my collection") without needing to explicitly state your username. If unset, self-references will produce a clear error.

Where does price and recommendation data come from?

Price data is provided by BoardGamePrices.co.uk, offering real-time pricing from multiple retailers. Recommendations are powered by Recommend.Games, which provides algorithmic similarity recommendations based on BoardGameGeek data.

What are the experimental tools?

The server includes an experimental tool bgg-rules that answers rules questions by searching BGG forums for relevant discussions and clarifications. It is activated by including "use bgg-rules" in your prompt.

What dependencies or runtime are required?

For Docker, no local dependencies are needed. For manual setup, you must have Go installed to build the binary. The server communicates via stdio and requires an MCP-compatible client (e.g., Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor).