Browse Board Games
Image Credit: Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right by Leder Games. Art by Kyle Ferrin.
On this page you can browse board games by categories such as type, game mechanics, complexity, number of players and play time. Definitions for game categories are adapted from the Board Game Geek glossary.
2 Player Games
These games can be played by two players.
4 Player Games
These games can be played by up to four players.
5-6 Player Games
These games can be played by up to five or six players.
8-10+ Player Games
Games that can be played up to eight, nine, ten, or more players.
Playtime: 10-20 min
These games last around 10 to 20 minutes.
Playtime: 30-45 min
These games last about 30 to 45 minutes.
Playtime: 1+ Hour
These games take an hour or more.
Abstract Games
Abstract games minimize luck and usually do not rely on themes or story. They have no hidden information (such as not being able to see your opponent's cards), no non-deterministic elements (such as shuffled cards or dice rolls), and (usually) two players or teams taking a finite number of alternating turns. Examples of abstract games include chess, shogi and go.
Classic Games
The Classic category includes well-known titles that have usually been around for several decades. They are usually relatively easy-to-learn and are sometimes geared towards younger audiences.
Complexity: Low
These games have simple rules and are easy to learn quickly. Great for more casual board game players who want to get into the game quickly, or who want more fun and interaction rather than strategy and competition.
Complexity: Medium
These are games of average complexity, many of which are relatively easy to learn but hard to master. Good for players who want to balance strategic depth with playability.
Complexity: High
These games have more complicated rules that take longer to learn. Great for avid board gamers looking for a rewarding challenge.
Deduction
Deduction games require players to form conclusions based on available information. Social deduction games such as One Night Ultimate Werewolf and Coup combine deduction with hidden roles and bluffing mechanics.
Party Games
Party games encourage social interaction. They generally have easy setups and simple rules, and they can accommodate large groups of people and play in a short amount of time. Lots of laughs!
Solo Mode
These games incorporate a "solo mode" component where a single player can compete against the game.
Strategy Games
More complex games in which players' decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome. Strategy games often require decision tree analysis, or probabilistic estimation in the case of games with chance elements. Strategy games can include abstract games, with artificial rules and little or no theme, and thematic games with rules designed to emulate and reproduce a real or fictional scenario.
Thematic Games
Thematic games are designed around a strong theme which drives the overall game experience, with rules and game mechanics designed to support this overarching narrative. These games are sometimes referred to as Experience or "Ameritrash" games. The latter term was originally intended to dismissively differentiate them from Eurogames (aka German-style games), which focus heavily on game mechanics rather than narrative themes. However, the term has been widely embraced by fans of the genre.