18 New Geek Monthly Mystery Box Subscriptions To Check Out

 

Welcome back to our Geek Monthly Mystery Box subscription round up! For anyone new to this concept, mystery subscription boxes are mail order boxes filled with “stuff” that you pay for on a monthly basis. The catch is that you have no idea what is going to be in the box month-to-month. You have to go on faith that what is being delivered, will match the value of the monthly subscription fee.

And if you’ve been following Gabbing Geek for a while, then you’ll know we did a 22 box review: Mystery Geek Box Monthly Subscriptions: The Good, The Bad, and The Geeky not too long ago. But since that post, the Geek Mystery Box market has added a few more contenders to the race!

Want to know how the new additions stack up agains the old trusties? Read on!

Since my original post where I reviewed 22 different boxes, 18 new boxes have been added to the market.  All new boxes have been added to the list below and highlighted in BLUE:

• 1up Box
• Aboxalypse
• Anime Bento
• Arcade Block
• Arcade County Video Game Box
• Booty Bin
• Box Of Dread
• Boxy Chan
• Cave Crate
• Collectible Geek
• Comic Bento
• Comic Block
• Comic Box Monthly
• Comic Boxer
• ComicCon Box
• Cosmo Cube
• Fandom Of The Month
• Fan Mail
• Game Stop Vault Drop
• Geek Fuel
• Geek Me Box
• Hero Box
• Hero Crate
• Horror Block
• Infinity Crates
• Landfall Freight Co.
• Loot Crate
• Marvel Collector Corps
• My Geek Box
• My Geeky Goodies
• Naomi Kyle Quarterly Box
• Nerd Block
• Nerd Block Jr. Boys
• Nerd Block Jr. Girls
• Owl Crate
• PokeCrate
• Power Up Box
• Super Geek Box
• Your Toy Box
• ZBOX

That makes 40 total mystery geek box subscriptions! My mind is already spinning – this is nuts! So to help you with your choice, we have not only rated the new boxes from worst to best, we also did a little research in an effort to better understand the n00b geek-box-subscriptions, Here is what I reviewed:

1. Cost of subscription
2. Value of the box based on inventory of items.

First, I gathered cost/value comparison information & pictures from My Subscription Addiction unless otherwise noted. Second, I personally ranked the 18 new subscription companies from WORST to BEST based on my own perception of value. My hope is that these mini overviews will help you determine for yourself if the cost of a geek box subscription is worth the price. And for any of you that want to read about the 22 other boxes, please be sure to go back to my original post. Without further adieu, let’s begin.

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#18 Arcade County Video Game Box:

Subscription Cost:$29.00
Estimated Box Value: based on April’s box via Jik Unboxes = $60.00

• Sonic Rush for Nintendo DS (used) $15
• Skyrim Necklace (new!) $10
• Lost Oddessy for the X-Box 360 (used) $25
• Bioshock 2 for the PS3 (used) $10

Jenny’s Thoughts: The Arcade County Video Game Box contains 3-4 video games for the platform of your choosing every single month. They cover over 25 years of video game consoles – old and new. Don’t like what they sent? Send it back and we’ll send you more for free in your next month’s box. Now – even though the value seems to be well over the subscription cost, the company itself is having MAJOR issues with their service. Bottom line – they can’t handle it. They had to shut down their website due to the fact that they don’t have any more inventory. To me – that’s bad news. I would stay away from this service until they have a more reliable system in place….any system in place.

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#17 The Cave Crate

Subscription Cost: $40.00
Estimated Box Value: based on March’s box via The Game Cave = $45.00

• Giant 20 sided die $8
• 3 (color of your choice) chessex dice (est. $4)
• Magic deck box $12
• 6 Magic booster packs @ $3.50 each = $21

Jenny’s Thoughts: First off, this is strictly a Magic: The Gathering box. So if you don’t play Magic, then this box isn’t for you. The Cave Crate promises to bring you 3-6 assorted booster packs as well as 3-5 other Magic: The Gathering or random Geeky products totally $50 in value. The tout on their website that they support local artists and makers by including at least one hand made item every month. In their video (link above) they say that each crate is customized to your game play, which is cool in theory. Since I don’t play Magic: The Gathering, I cannot say one way or the other whether this is of any value. So this is where Magic fans need to step up and leave us a comment below on our website. Based on fundamental research value via amazon or google shopping, the crate value didn’t add up to $50. But then again, there may be intrinsic value to some cards that I don’t know about. Either way – I shouldn’t be able to curate my own box for cheaper than the company, just food for thought.

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#16 Comic Box Monthly

Subscription Cost: $15.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box via TksJohnFilms = $10 – $15.00

• X Factor – Mutant Sacrifice 1994
• Blood Brothers – Blood Strike  1993
• Silver Surfer – 1987
• Captain Atom – year unknown
• Wolverine – 1988
• The Savage Dragon – year unknown
• X Force – year unknown
• New Mutants – 1987
• Robin II – year unknown
• Judge Dredd – year unknown

Jenny’s Thoughts: The subscription will get you at least 10 comics a month which are totally random. The one good thing is that each comic is bagged and boarded. So at least they come individually protected. That’s a win. The downside is that it is totally random, so some of the issues may be from the 80’s (which may be cool if you’re into that kind of thing) or it may be comics from indy artists. Again – it’s like Comic roulette, you are gambling that what they send you is going to have any personal worth. All things considered, this is definitely geared toward the comic collector. My only issue is the subscription price, most of these comics you can find at discount book stores, sometimes for a dollar. So essentially you’re paying for comics to be shipped to you, instead of going and hunting for them yourself. So if you’re willing to pay $1 per book, and shipping (for convenience) then consider this a good deal, just not the BEST deal. 🙂

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#15 Game Stop Vault Drop

Subscription Cost: $25.00
Estimated Box Value: based on May’s box via Hello Subscription = $33.00

• Batman Arkham Knight Comic #1 $4
• Spider-Man socks $9
• Batman socks $10
• ScribbleNauts Unmasked GameStop Exclusive Green Lantern $5
• ScribbleNauts Unmasked GameStop Exclusive Batman $5

Jenny’s Thoughts: So this box is a little odd, or at least the May’s version was. First thing is first – this is not a subscription per say, it’s more of a “please buy our mystery box” each month kind of deal. Here is what Game Stop promises: “The drop will include an assortment of gamer and inner geek collectibles along with GameStop exclusive items and a special coupon valued at over $40. Must order every month.” The other item to note, is that there wasn’t a coupon included in the May box either. So – based on the fact that they had duplicate items (socks x 2) + (ScribbleNauts x 2) and a comic, I’d say this is kind of a miss for Game Stop despite the price to value ratio.

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#14 PokéCrate

Subscription Cost: $20.00
Estimated Box Value: based on May’s box via iMonthly-Subscribe = $30.00

• Taurus key chain $4
• 2 loose Pokemon cards & coin $3
• 2 Pokemon cards in a hard cover sleeve $4
• 1 Pokemon card in a case $6
• Snorlax plushie puppet $10
• Pokemon Roaring Skies card pack $3

Jenny’s Thoughts: PokeCrate promises that every month’s box will include a plushie, and also feature a wide variety of Pokémon items, including shirts, booster packs, candy, out-of-print cards, and Pokémon merchandise. Here’s where things get weird. When you go to their website, the directions for how to select a crate are a little, how should I say this, non-existant. They have a shop, and in that shop you can add things to your cart on an individual basis, but there is nothing on the website that makes selecting a crate seem easy. And to me that’s a problem. Obviously this is a crate centered around Pokemon fans, so despite the price vs. value from above (and believe me, I was being very generous in my price comparisons), you’ll have to determine whether this box is worth it to you.

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#13 BoxyChan

Subscription Cost: $31.00
Estimated Box Value: based on recent box selections via Nerfherder / Beejuboxes = $30 – $40.00

• Gamer box
  • Mario puffy hat
  • Sonic the Hedgehog wrist band
  • Assassin’s Creed figurine
  • Chun-Li key chain
  • Super Mario Galaxy Gachapon
  • Mario Pins

Jenny’s Thoughts: BoxyChan is a little different than some of the other subscription services in the fact that they allow you to choose whether or not you want to “subscribe” or not. That’s right, you can either by one box at a time, or you can choose to have a subscription. The gimic is that you pick from a menu of themed products and they will personally fill with surprises. There are a bunch of themes, and they claim that even if you chose the same theme every month, you’re promised to get different content. It would also be interesting to know if you did subscribe, could you choose your own theme month-to-month, or does BoxyChan choose it for you? Either way, I think this is one of those companies that will give you your value’s worth, and the actual perceived value will be totally up to the person receiving the box.

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#12 Comic Boxer

Subscription Cost: $20.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box via Stadium Comics = $22.00

• Amazing Spider Man Renew Your Vows #1 $4
• Broken World #1 $4
• Justice League of America #1 $6
• Batman #41 $4
• Signed by artist Mike Del Mundo: WeirdWorld #1 $4

Jenny’s Thoughts: The company hand picks a selection of the “hottest” comics that could include number one issues, variant covers, exclusives, and first appearances. The number of comics you will receive is anywhere between 5 to 7 different single issues. June’s box include 5 comics, and most of them were first issues. It was cool that they got the artist of Marvel’s Weirdworld to sign the comic, which adds a little bit of extra value (which is up to you) to the original comic cost. All in all – for comic lovers, this box is not a bad deal. You get what you pay for with this box.

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#11 Naomi Kyle Quarterly

Subscription Cost: $50.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box (My Subscription Addiction) = $69.50

• Battery Morph Mug $12
• Ritual Coffee 8oz bag $13
• Hot chocolate on a stick $6 x 2
• CC Made Popcorn 3oz $5
• SkullCandy Ink’d Earbuds $10
• Green Ronan Dragon Age RPG Set 1 Download Code $17.50

Jenny’s Thoughts: This is an interesting box. Apparently with the company Quarterly, Naomi will send you an eclectic mix of video game, pop culture, and art inspired goods. Each Quarterly box comes with a letter from the curator detailing the items and why they were selected for the box. The box above was focused on Gamer Fuel and Fun, and is a collaboration with Naomi’s friend/food fanatic Kristin Emi. So all things considered, a quarterly box for $50 filled with mostly snack items that I can find at a cheaper price at my local grocery store is not what I would call a deal. Additionally, the mug, earbuds, and game are okay. They are pretty main stream, and most likely (if you’re like me) you have plenty of simple coffee mugs and headphones laying around. But maybe quarterly boxes are your thing. And maybe you really love snacks. So if that’s the case, then consider the value there. Just not my cup of tea.

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#10 Landfall Freight Co.

Subscription Cost: $30.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box via BookRatMisty = $32.00

• Strong Brew tea infuser $10
• Packet of Evil Blend Tea (est. $4)
• Carmel Apple lollipop (est. $0.25)
• The Spire #1 $4
• Ms. Marvel #16 $4
• Nimona Graphic Novel (est. $10)

Jenny’s Thoughts: So the box is in it’s very first month, and is being curated by two sisters in Canada who wanted to bring more comics to women and girls. Awesome! Landfall states that they only feature stories that have at least one female lead character, and they prioritize female creators, particularly for the graphic novel they promise in each box. So the value and the price are very close. I could not determine from their website if shipping was included (from Canada – eyh) or not. If shipping is included, then the value matching the price of subscription. If not, then you’ll be paying over the value for their first box. Keep in mind that the video unboxing from BookRatMisty (link above) states that some of her items were missing in the first box because it she was sent her box early to review. So that could sway the value one way or another depending on what they ended up being. I love the concept of this box, because girl reasons, I’m just weary on the value for such a new company. I say watch this one, because I’d love for this to be successful. Side note – I hate the subscription name – Landfall is too close to Landfill for me. And I don’t want women in comics to be associated to a Landfill. Can we fix that ladies?

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#9 Cosmo Cube:

Subscription Cost:$25.00
Estimated Box Value: based on May’s box via Nerfherder = $37.00

• Micro Muggs Iron Man $4
• Guardians Of The Galaxy Mystery Mini $7
• Thor Pocket Pop $5
• Thor’s Hammer Pin $4
• Original artwork rocket poster for the company (est. $2)
• Original artwork “The Order” t-shirt $15

Jenny’s Thoughts: The company started their services on March 2015 and only offered a total of 50 boxes (which means they are a very small operation). They claim that their box is different due to the content being curated around gatherings like Comic-Con, PAX, WizCon, etc. They also offer geeky/nerdy, gaming and pop culture gear along with a t-shirt and poster that comes from an original artist in which you vote for month to month on their website. And after watching the video review provide by Nerfherder, I wasn’t as disappointed with the inventory like he was, but needless to say, most of the items they curated have been on the market for a while. So much so, you could probably just walk through Target or your local comic book shop and get the same things. The only original items were the poster and the shirt, which was just okay. So this one is up to you – the value was slightly over the cost. I’d be weary till they get a few more boxes out.

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#8 Super Geek Box

 

Subscription Cost: $19.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box via Boored At Work = $54.00

• Link button pin $1
• Legend Of Zelda T-Shirt $15
• South Park Stick Of Truth figurine $10
• Link tin candy box $3
• Captain America Air Freshener $4
• Bravest Warriors key chain $5
• Dragon Ball-Z collector cards $8
• Dorbz Batman figurine $8

Jenny’s Thoughts:  I had my doubts about this box, but honestly it wasn’t a bad month for Super Geek Box. The curated items were fun – pretty standard when you start comparing them to Loot Crate, or Hero Crate. That being said – there is nothing in the box that is exclusive that you wouldn’t get from another subscription box that is is already out there and established. But for the money, the value of the box is definitely there. The T-Shirt and figurines are your highest valued items, and with those alone, you get more than what you paid for with the subscription. So ultimately, this is not a bad box. You’ll just have to compare it to the other similar boxes out there and see if you like Super Geek Box better.

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#7 Fandom Of The Month Club

Subscription Cost:$15.00
Estimated Box Value: based on May’s box via My Happy Mail = $32.00

• S&S Ink Stash Sack $2
• LOTR White Tree of Gondor Earrings $10
• Hobbit Door Necklace $10
• One Ring Bracelet $10

Jenny’s Thoughts: Yo. So this subscription box is pretty cool if you’re into jewelry. Yeah – it’s a surprise jewelry of the month club! So far, the themes I saw online were pretty cool. As you can see from May, Lord Of the Rings was the main theme. But I also saw from previous boxes that they did other geeky themes like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and more. The only thing I am weary on is that when I went to research the jewelry, it was really hard to find similar products. And even if I did find something similar, the price range between the items was so drastic, it was hard to truly come up with an estimated average. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing, since that means the jewelry they are curating must be somewhat original. That being said – if you’re a fan of wearing your geekery, this is the box for you. The value is most likely there, unfortunately the research (read googling) was a little less than reliable.

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#6 Comic Block

Subscription Cost: $14.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box via My Subscription Addiction = $29.00

• Batman vs. Superman t-shirt $10
• Avengers Pen $1
• 21st Century Tank Girl #1 $10
• Ghostbusters: Get Real #1 $4
• Groot #1 $4

Jenny’s Thoughts: Comic Block is from the same company that gave you Nerd Block, Horror Block, Arcade Block, etc. With this subscription you get 3 comics (some might be variants or graphic novels), one exclusive t-shirt, and one comic collectible. Whether or not the value of items will be worth it to you will largely depend on you liking the shirt and bonus item – it’s certainly more for curation and discovery, which the comics do for those that are fans. Like most of “block” boxes, this is totally up to preference. Not a bad box for the value if you ask me.

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#5 Owl Crate

Subscription Cost: $30.00
Estimated Box Value: based on May’s box via My Subscription Addiction = $46.00

• Magonia hard back book $18
• GeekTat Alice In Wonderland Temp Tattoo $7
• Obvious State Notebook $6
• Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty $15

Jenny’s Thoughts: I like the idea of this mystery box. Owl Crate promise to send you a newly released YA book with some bookish goodies each month. So for you book worms out there, especially if you’re crazy about Young Adult literature, then this is the box for you. The value seems to be there, and if you love reading, then you know that a good book is worth it’s weight in gold.

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#4 Fan Mail

Subscription Cost:$22.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box  via Subscription Box Mom = $54.00

• How To Train Your Dragon Toothless t-shirt $15
• Legend of Zelda necklace $4
• Sorcerer’s Stone Soap $8
• Game Of Thrones Purple Wedding Invitation $10
• Once Upon A Time & Hobbit, & Harry Potter buttons $3
• The Hobbit Thranduil brooch $8
• Harry Potter nail art $6

Jenny’s Thoughts: Fan Mail is a mystery box designed for lady geeks, though I am sure anyone could enjoy it’s contents. The company states that their boxes contain a variety of memorabilia and collectibles, some old, some new, some handmade, some fanmade. Among the items you may find are exclusive comics and t-shirts, jewelry, stationery, books, autographs, photos and more. And each month, you’ll get a pop culture newsletter that will tell you what movies are coming out, what’s up for streaming (on Netflix or similar service), and what conventions or events are out there that you may want to attend. Listen, I’m a sucker for girly items, because girl reasons. And I love that they curate some of their stuff from fans. I think that is ingenious and not something other companies are doing. The value of the box is legit – they keep to their promise of offering at least $50 worth of items for the $22 subscription cost. Not to shabby Fan mail. I’ll be keeping my eye on you.

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#3 Power Up Box

Subscription Cost: $20.00
Estimated Box Value: based on June’s box (My Subscription Addiction) = $56.00

• Rocket Raccoon Dorbz Vinyl Figure $12
• Marvel Groot #1 $3
• Monopoly T-Shirts x 2 $15 each
• NECA Scaler Potted Groot $5
• Bean Boozled jelly beans $4
• DeadWorld Orange Roamer Soda $2

Jenny’s Thoughts: This was a great box for June! After looking at numerous reviews for this company, it looks like they have gotten it right. If you’re like me, you appreciate the T-Shirts and the figurines from Funko Pop. Including a comic, and a couple of other fun items makes the unboxing experience an enjoyable one. I would say this is in the same realm as the other top subscription companies out there. It all boils down to your matter of preference and allegiance.

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#2 Your Toy Box

Subscription Cost:$25.00
Estimated Box Value: based on April’s box via The Nerf Herder = $63.00

• 1988 Alf figurine $4
• 1978 Buck Rodgers Wilma Deering Action Figure $20
• 1982 LJN Dungeons & Dragons Dwarf $5
• SD Gundam figure $5
• 1995 Star Wars Power of The Force Lando Calrissian $4
• 1996 Star Wars Die Cast Millennium Falcon $5
• NES Dr. Mario Game $6
• Transformers Robot Heroes Optimus Prime $4
• 1980 Star Wars IG88 $5
• 2002 Zoids Liger Zero Figure $5

Jenny’s Thoughts: Wow! For you retro toy collectors out there – this is the box for you. If you’re not familiar with the company, Your Toy Box sends you a bunch of new and vintage toys each month from a list of 100 categories that you pick and choose from. Every box is different, so the box represented above is on a fraction of the possibilities you can get. And that’s nice – it means customization for each person, and basically no duplicates. And with a sticker price of $25 that equals a value over $50, then this is a win for the subscriber. The only catch is that most of these toys are used. So you have to be okay with that. With the exception of maybe a few – the toys are retro based, and pulled from the depths of Mordor. No, not really, but you get the idea.

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#1 ComicCon Box

Subscription Cost:$30.00
Estimated Box Value: based on May’s box via (My Subscription Addiction) $70.00

• “No Strings” Ultron t-shirt $12
• Avengers Kree-Skrull War Card Pack $4
• Billionaire Playboys Print $10
• Marvel Secret Wars Comic (Exclusive Variant) $5
• Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Mug $13
• Metal Earth Halo Master Chief Hemet $9
• Mustache Friends Plushstache $10
• Marvel Spider-man Smashem $2
• The LEGO Movie luggage tag $5

Jenny’s Thoughts: So Wizard World Comic Con is getting into the subscription box service. I mean, why not. Everyone else is doing it too. They state that their box delivers Comic Con to the doorsteps of fans with toys, collectibles, and exclusives. So how are they different from everyone else? Well they claim the following: “ComicConBox is a PREMIUM monthly box that truly brings Comic Con to doorsteps of the fans. Although we love and respect the “other guys”, there is simply nobody in the industry that can compare to the quality and variation of products you will receive in your ComicConBox.” Cmmmmmm. I think the jury is still out on that claim. But I will say, that you can win extra prizes for sharing your unboxing experience, and that seems cool, but it’s videos only, so keep that in mind. Anyway – the value is definitely there. Remember though, that the price doesn’t include shipping, so depending on where you live, you’ll incur a little more than the $30 price tag. But looks like this one is worth it.

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So there you have it. 18 new geek subscription box companies to choose from! Something to remember before you move forward with any subscription is to look for consistency. Read the reviews of current subscribers. Watch the unboxing videos that are out there. Speaking of, check out my personal unboxing review on recent boxes in which I subscribe to:

• June’s Marvel Collector Corp: Ant-Man
• June’s Geek Fuel: Retro 90’s
• July Loot crate (coming soon)

With any subscription, some months are going to seem better than others, but like I said before, do your research and look for consistency. After putting so much research into the now 40 subscriptions I’ve listed above, I am definitely more curious about a few of them.

Curious to see how each of them stacks up against each other – the full 40!? Check out our Ultimate Monthly Mystery Geek Subscription Box Rankings.

But what about you? Was this helpful? What are your thoughts on geek subscription boxes – and do you have any experiences you’d like to share with Gabbing Geek? Be sure to let us know in the comments!