Abstract
Abstract board games are a category of tabletop games that have no theme or have a theme that is disconnected from the gameplay experience. These games focus solely on the mechanics and strategy without any narrative or thematic elements. Some of the purest examples of abstract games include Draughts (also known as Checkers) and Go. These games are played on a grid or board, and the objective is to outmaneuver your opponent and achieve victory through strategic placement and movement of pieces.
Chess, although relatively more thematic compared to other abstract games, is still considered an abstract game due to its emphasis on strategic thinking and lack of a strong narrative connection. Other examples of abstract games include Tak, Shobu, Hive, Santorini, Azul, and its sequels.
Area control
Area control board games are a type of tabletop game where players compete to dominate a defined space or territory. These games typically involve a map or board that represents the playing area, which is divided into regions or areas. Players use various tactics and strategies to gain control of these regions, usually by adding their own pieces or removing opponents’ pieces.
In some area control games, players can also gain control by denying access to certain areas, making it more challenging for opponents to expand their influence. One classic example of area control is the game Risk, where players engage in strategic battles to conquer territories and ultimately dominate the world map.
Other popular area control games include Small World, Nanty Narking, and Blood Rage.
Campaign/legacy
Campaign and legacy board games provide players with a narrative-driven experience that unfolds over multiple gaming sessions. These games consist of interconnected scenarios, where the outcome of one scenario affects the next. Players progress through a story or campaign, facing new challenges and making choices that impact the overall narrative.
Legacy board games take the concept of campaign gameplay a step further by introducing permanent changes to the game components. This can involve applying stickers to the game board, tearing up cards, or modifying game pieces in some way. These alterations are irreversible and create a unique, personalized experience for each group of players.
Examples of campaign and legacy games include Gloomhaven, Pandemic Legacy, Charterstone, and Betrayal Legacy.
Deckbuilder
Deckbuilder board games are characterized by players starting with an identical deck of cards and then modifying it throughout the game. The gameplay revolves around the strategic management of the deck, with players acquiring more powerful cards and removing weaker ones.
In contrast to deck construction games like trading card games, where players build their decks before the game starts, deckbuilders incorporate the deck-building aspect directly into the gameplay experience. Players acquire new cards through various mechanics, such as purchasing them from a shared pool or earning them as rewards for certain actions.
Some popular deckbuilder games include Dominion, Star Realms, Undaunted: Normandy, and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle.
Deck construction
Deck construction games are a type of board game where players create their decks of cards before the game begins. These games typically involve constructing a deck based on specific rules and restrictions, using cards chosen from a large pool of options.
There are two main distribution models in deck construction games. Trading or collectible card games (CCGs) sell booster packs containing a randomized set of cards, allowing players to expand their collections and customize their decks. Living card games (LCGs) and expandable deck games, on the other hand, provide fixed sets of cards in each expansion, allowing players to build and refine their decks without the element of randomness.
Examples of deck construction games include Magic: The Gathering, Android: Netrunner, Marvel Champions, and Arkham Horror: The Card Game.
Dexterity
Dexterity board games incorporate physical skill and coordination as key elements of gameplay. These games require players to perform actions that involve physical movements, such as flicking, balancing, or throwing objects.
Examples of dexterity games include Cube Quest, Catacombs, Flip Ships, Flick ’em Up, crokinole, and Beasts of Balance.
Drafting
Drafting is a game mechanic where players are presented with a set of options, usually cards or dice, from which they must choose one. The remaining options are then passed on to the next player, creating a dynamic selection process.
In some drafting games, players choose from a shared central pool of options, while in others, they pass around a hand of cards between players. Drafting can be a small part of a game, such as selecting abilities for use during a round, or it can be the central decision-making mechanism for the entire game.
Examples of drafting games include 7 Wonders, Sushi Go!, and Villagers.
Dungeon-crawler
Dungeon-crawler board games immerse players in an adventure where they take on the roles of characters exploring dungeons or other dangerous locations. These games often feature a map with a square grid or a book with pages that represent different areas.
Players encounter various challenges, obstacles, and enemies controlled by either another player, a companion app, or the game system itself. The objective is to overcome these challenges, collect loot, and achieve specific goals, which may include defeating a powerful boss or completing a quest.
Popular dungeon-crawler games include Gloomhaven, Mansions of Madness, Star Wars: Imperial Assault, and Mice and Mystics.
Engine-builder
Engine-building board games revolve around players constructing and optimizing an “engine,” which is a system that generates resources or actions. The engine takes a player’s starting resources or actions and transforms them into more valuable resources, creating a self-sustaining cycle of growth.
Throughout the game, players make strategic decisions to enhance their engines, allowing them to generate even more resources or actions. The ultimate goal is typically to amass victory points, which are often obtained through the efficient operation of the engine.
Examples of engine-builder games include Res Arcana, Century: Spice Road, and Race for the Galaxy.
Eurogame
Eurogames, often referred to as Euros for short, are a genre of board games that emphasize strategy and limited randomness. These games originated in Europe, particularly Germany, and are known for their deep strategic gameplay and minimal reliance on luck or chance elements.
Eurogames typically feature intricate mechanics and elegant rulesets, offering players a wide range of strategic choices. They often focus on resource management, economic systems, and player interaction through passive competition rather than direct conflict.
Examples of Eurogames include Agricola, Paladins of the West Kingdom, and Terra Mystica.
Push-your-luck
Push-your-luck board games are all about taking calculated risks and deciding when to push further for greater rewards or when to stop to avoid losing everything. These games test players’ decision-making skills and their willingness to take chances.
In push-your-luck games, players face situations where they can continue pushing for more significant gains or rewards, but with the risk of losing everything if luck turns against them. The tension arises from the constant evaluation of probabilities and weighing the potential rewards against the potential losses.
Examples of push-your-luck games include The Quacks of Quedlinburg, Port Royal, and Deep Sea Adventure.
Roll-and-move
Roll-and-move board games are a classic genre where players roll one or more dice and move their game pieces a corresponding number of spaces on a board. These games often feature a linear track or a path with a start and finish point.
When players land on specific spaces, they may trigger certain actions or gain specific gameplay advantages or disadvantages. The gameplay mechanics in roll-and-move games are usually straightforward, with the main focus on luck and randomness rather than deep strategy or decision-making.
Examples of roll-and-move games include Monopoly, The Game of Life, Snakes and Ladders, and Formula D.
Roll-and-write
Roll-and-write board games combine dice rolling and strategic decision-making with the act of writing on a scoring sheet. Players roll dice and use the resulting outcomes to mark or write specific information on their personal score sheets.
Each decision made during the game impacts the player’s options and strategies for the rest of the game. Even if all players use the same dice, slight variations in choices and interpretations can lead to significantly different end results.
Some roll-and-write games twist the concept by replacing dice with other elements, such as cards in a “flip-and-write” game like Welcome To… or miniatures in a “roll-and-build” game like Era: Medieval Age.
Popular roll-and-write games include Yahtzee, Railroad Ink, Ganz Schon Clever, and Corinth.
Social deduction
Social deduction board games are designed to test players’ abilities to deceive, bluff, and deduce the hidden roles or information of other players. These games often create an atmosphere of suspicion, collaboration, and intense interaction among the players.
Players are usually assigned secret roles that only they know, and the objective is to either identify the odd one out or hide the fact that one is the odd one out. The gameplay involves making deductions based on the actions, statements, and behaviors of other players, leading to wild accusations, alliances, and intense mind games.
Examples of social deduction games include Blood on the Clocktower, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, and The Resistance.
Storytelling
Storytelling board games focus on creating narratives and immersive storytelling experiences. These games often provide players with opportunities to shape the story through their decisions, actions, and descriptions.
In some storytelling games, players embark on an overarching story that unfolds over the course of a single game or a campaign of multiple gaming sessions. The narrative may be read from pre-written passages or presented through different scenarios. Other storytelling games involve players inventing and describing elements of the story based on prompts provided by cards or other game components.
Examples of storytelling games include The King’s Dilemma, Tales of the Arabian Nights, and Once Upon a Time.
Worker-placement
Worker-placement board games involve players taking turns placing their workers on specific locations or spaces on the game board. These workers, often thematically represented as actual workers or resources, grant players access to certain actions or resources.
Player interaction in worker-placement games usually arises from limited spaces available for worker placement. Once a player occupies a space, other players cannot use that same space or may face additional costs or restrictions. The goal is to strategically assign workers to maximize efficiency and gain advantages over opponents.
Some popular worker-placement games include Charterstone, Agricola, Caverna, and Lords of Waterdeep.
Wargame
Wargames are a genre of board games that simulate military conflicts and strategic warfare. Players take on the roles of commanders or generals, controlling armies represented by miniatures, tokens, or markers on a map.
These games often involve strategic decision-making, tactical positioning, and combat resolution. The outcome of battles and conflicts is determined by dice rolls, card play, or a combination of both. The objective of wargames is typically to eliminate the opponent’s figures, achieve specific objectives, or control strategic points on the map.
Examples of wargames include Warhammer 40,000, Memoir ’44, Risk, and Axis & Allies.