Game Glossary¶
Common board game terms and mechanics explained.
General Terms¶
BGG (BoardGameGeek) : The largest online board game database and community
Complexity Weight : BGG's 1-5 scale measuring game complexity and rules overhead
Gateway Game : Easy-to-learn games perfect for introducing new players to the hobby
Game Mechanics¶
Deck Building¶
Building your personal deck of cards during gameplay by purchasing new cards.
Hand Management¶
Strategic decisions about which cards to play, keep, or discard from your hand.
Worker Placement¶
Placing worker pieces on board locations to take actions, with limited spaces creating competition.
Featured in: National Economy Mesena
Area Control¶
Gaining and maintaining control over regions of the game board for points or benefits.
Featured in: FIXER
Roll and Write¶
Rolling dice and using the results to mark choices on your personal sheet.
Featured in: イスタンブール選択と集中
Trick-Taking¶
Card game mechanic where players play one card each, with the highest card (or trump) winning all played cards.
Featured in: FIXER
Japanese Gaming Terms¶
ボードゲーム (Bōdo Gēmu) : Board game
カードゲーム (Kādo Gēmu)
: Card game
戦略ゲーム (Senryaku Gēmu) : Strategy game
協力ゲーム (Kyōryoku Gēmu) : Cooperative game
拡張 (Kakuchō) : Expansion
Complexity Scale¶
1.0-1.5: Light games suitable for families and casual players
1.6-2.5: Medium-light games with some strategic depth
2.6-3.5: Medium games requiring planning and experience
3.6-4.0: Heavy games with complex rules and deep strategy
4.1-5.0: Very heavy games for serious enthusiasts
Player Interaction Levels¶
Solitaire: Minimal interaction, focusing on personal optimization
Multiplayer Solitaire: Light interaction through shared resources
Interactive: Moderate interaction through trading, blocking, or competition
Highly Interactive: Significant player interaction, negotiation, or conflict
Semi-Cooperative: Mix of cooperation and competition