What Makes A Board Game "Good"

“Any game that depends on one dice roll, is just an awful game.”

Ever lost a game because of one dice roll? Then proceed to blame the creator of the game for your loss. Yeah, me too. However, does this mean it’s an awful game? Not necessarily.

Anyone who loves playing table top games with friends has a favorite genre of game. Whether it be Euro, Puzzle, Party, Secret Identity, Social Deduction, or Ameritrash; all games share similar qualities that cause you to have fun and come back to play again.

Progression

Close your eyes and try to think of a game… Don’t actually close them, you need them to read… Think of a game that uses some kind of point or tier system to win… Now think of one that doesn’t. Is your list a million to none? mine too. Seriously if you can think of one that doesn’t, let me know.

Progress is very important in a board game! If you don’t feel like you accomplished something in a game, then why are you playing it? We as humans love to feel like we have earned our success. We want to grow and create. Being damned to never progress would be hell right?

A good game will make the player feel accomplished at the end of it. Even if you lost, you feel good because you created something that wasn’t there before.

The Unknown

When you stop from your crazy busy life, go outside on a clear night and stare at the stars for a few hours. You’ll start to wonder what is beyond our earth, it’s fascinating, it’s unknown. Even when we find out more about the universe we will want to know more.

This same fascination exists in a good board game. It could be that you don’t know how your opponent will respond to your actions. It could be that you don’t know what character your friends have, could they actually lie to you? Or it could be that you want to know what funny card everyone has played this round cause you really need a laugh right now. This element of surprise causes us to keep playing over and over again. It’s fun!

The unknown and luck are not the same, but I think the element of surprise can fit here. This is why dice chucking games are addictive. You don’t know exactly what will happen, but it’s exciting when it goes your way!

That one good shot

Isn’t it strange how people will focus on all the bad things that happen that day and say “Man, my day was sooo bad.” but then go play golf, hit 50 bad shots, one good shot, and say “I love this game! When are we coming back?” The satisfaction of that one great shot makes up for all the bad ones because of the emotional excitement that comes with it.

That same simple principle applies to board games. You could play any game and make bad choices the entire time, but then one great thing happens and you’re wanting to play again.

Power

This element goes along with progression, but it’s still different. Some games you play may have good progression, but lack the feeling of power. On the other hand, you could play a game that gives too much power all at once. The best games are when you feel like you have progressed to gain enough power that makes you feel the difference between the beginning of the game from the end of the game.

However, that emotional connection is at its peak right at the end. This way you leave the game at a high note or at that “one good shot.” For bonus points is when the game does this for all players, winners and losers.

Let’s play again

So what makes a board game “good”? Replay-ability. You feel progression into power, There is a hint of unknown , and you’re able to make that perfect play.

What do you think? What makes a good board game?