The world of board games is full of specific terms that can seem confusing to a beginner. Here’s a guide to the most common expressions to better understand the rules and discussions surrounding board games.
1. Types of games
Management game: A game where players must optimize resources to achieve a goal (e.g., Agricola).
Worker placement game: A game where players place their pawns on spaces to perform actions (e.g., Stone Age).
Deck-building game: A game where each player gradually builds their own deck of cards (e.g., Dominion).
Adversarial game: A game where players directly oppose each other, often with combat (e.g., Blood Rage).
Cooperative game: A game where players play together against the game (e.g., Pandemic).
Asymmetric game: A game where each player has different roles and objectives (e.g., Root).
Draft game: A game where players take turns choosing cards or elements from a selection (e.g., 7 Wonders).
Roll and write game: A game where players roll dice and fill out a sheet based on the results (e.g., Welcome to…).
2. Mechanical terms
Game Turn: The period during which a player performs their actions before moving on to the next player.
Engine Building: A strategy of creating a series of progressively improving actions.
Interaction: The degree to which a player’s actions influence others.
Draft: The act of choosing one card or item from a selection, then passing the rest to other players.
Meeple: A wooden token representing a character or resource.
Victory Points (VP): The unit of score used to determine the winner.
Modular Tiles: Game elements that make up a board that changes with each game
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3. Game formats and types
Expert Game: A complex game with in-depth rules and strategies.
Family Game: A game accessible to all audiences, often with simple rules.
Ameritrash: A type of game, often thematic, with a strong narrative element and miniatures (e.g., Zombicide).
Eurogame: A strategic game where optimizing actions takes precedence over chance and theme (e.g., Scythe).
Filler: A short, fast-paced game, often played between two longer games.
4. Other useful terms
Alpha player: A player who attempts to direct the actions of others in a cooperative game.
AP (Analysis Paralysis): The blockage of a player who spends too much time analyzing their options.
Kickstarter: A crowdfunding platform often used for board games.
Legacy: A type of game that evolves over the course of each game with permanent elements (e.g., Pandemic Legacy).
With this guide, you now have the basics to better understand discussions around board games and fully enjoy your games!
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