What Are the Different Types of Board Games?

25th April 2022

Board games are very popular for family or friend gatherings. There are so many different ones that you can choose from that you can never get bored. Playing in a team or solo, everything is very exciting, and the victory will bring you so much joy. Board games are a hobby that has existed for so long already and was an amusement even for kings and queens. The games evolved a lot, and many new ones are still being invented every year. Let’s talk a bit about the main types of board games there are.

The main types of board games

Board games are so different, and there will be one for everybody. There are so many types that we can cover all of them, but we will talk about the main ones.

Dexterity

Those are the games that will involve some movement and physical skills so that you won’t be just sitting around the table. Twister is the perfect example of your whole body being involved, and you will have to be very flexible to win. Any game that requires movement or physical activity falls under this type.

Word games

The name of the type gives it away — those are the games that involve words. The most evident example is Scrabble, where you need to come up with words with the letter tiles you have. Those games are a bit more challenging because you might not have the letters or words you need. So, you can use some small tricks to prepare and win those games. You can visit here one of the best sites to get ideas for the words that can bring you victory.

Abstract

Those are the games that can’t be easily categorized because there is no main theme. Usually, you can’t guess what the game is about and how it is played only by the name or by seeing the pieces. Chess is an example of an abstract game, Go and Draughts as well. In those games, the most important thing is the player’s skills and knowledge. Usually, you can win if you have the best strategy, honed perhaps with the help of chess trainers, and there is almost nothing to do with luck.

Like Chess, Go, and Draughts, Backgammon is another classic example of an abstract game where player skill and strategy are paramount. In Backgammon, the objective is to move all of one’s pieces around the board and bear them off before the opponent does, blending strategic decision-making with elements of chance influenced by dice rolls. The ancient game like many others can now be accessed for free online: Play Backgammon here.

Card games

Those are the games that are played only with cards, so not board games like Monopoli, where the bonus cards are just a complementary feature. Such games can, of course, include a board and some mascots that represent the players. Except for the obvious games that involve only a deck of cards, an example of such a game is Dixit. There you have a variety of cards which you describe to the others, and they also play with their cards. Each of you will have a little bunny to represent the winning points, but the main gameplay is still done with the cards.

Cribbage stands out as another great example, where the gameplay centers around a unique combination of a card deck and a scoring board. In Cribbage, players aim to score points by forming combinations of cards, and the progress is tracked on a wooden board using pegs, making it a fascinating blend of strategy and chance within the card game genre. For those without a deck of cards, the classic game can be played in a variety of difficulty modes online for free at Cribbage-Online.

Campaign

Those are the games where different scenarios connect, and the gameplay is very individual. In those games, you can’t plan ahead since you never know what the next scenario is and what actions you will be able to make. Gloomhaven is a very popular example of a campaign game where each choice can lead to a different scenario and outcome. So, you basically lead campaigns in which you need to think about all possible scenarios and how you should get the win no matter what happens.

Area control

Small World and Risk are examples of area control games. Those games usually involve a map where you start controlling a particular area, and your goal is to win more territory. The player that dominates the biggest part of the world at the end of the game will be the one taking the victory home. How you win more areas depends on the game’s rules — it can be with direct battles, getting cards, etc.

Civilization building

Civilization building games can involve parts of many others like area control, cards, campaign, etc. Those games usually take a lot of time to come to an end because, after all, it is not that easy to build your own civilization. You will most probably start from ancient times when you just discovered fire, and you will have to advance slowly. Sid Meier’s Civilization is the perfect example, and it is one of the most beloved games in this genre that is also available as a video game. Many fans are wondering if a new Civilization video game will be released any time soon, but the board game equivalent is also a pretty good option.

And many, many more

There are many other types of board games like collectables, deduction, dungeon crawlers, and many, many more. Certainly, there will be a game that will become your favorite, and you will be able to play it repeatedly. Explore different options and find which is the type that fits you the best.