Board Game Glossary

Board games are a captivating and ever-evolving hobby, attracting new fans every year. Whether you're a seasoned player or just beginning, understanding key terms and mechanics can make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. This comprehensive glossary covers everything from core gameplay mechanics to community lingo, helping you navigate the world of modern tabletop games.

Ameritrash vs. Eurogames

Most board games fall into two major stylistic categories: Ameritrash and Eurogames. Ameritrash titles focus on narrative, immersion, and flashy components like miniatures and dice. Eurogames emphasize strategy, planning, and minimal luck, often with abstract themes. Over time, many games have started to blend both styles.

Core Game Mechanics

Here are the most common gameplay mechanics you’ll encounter:

Action/Movement Programming - Players pre-plan and resolve a sequence of actions. (e.g., Colt Express)

Action Point Allowance System - Spend limited action points each turn. (e.g., Tikal)

Area Control - Compete for dominance over board regions. (e.g., Small World)

Bag Building - Draw from a custom token bag. (e.g., Altiplano)

Deck Building - Build a personalized card deck over time. (e.g., Dominion)

Drafting - Take cards from a shared pool. (e.g., 7 Wonders)

Engine Building - Create combos that generate increasing value. (e.g., Terraforming Mars)

Hand Management - Play cards strategically. (e.g., Ticket to Ride)- Push Your Luck: Risk-taking for bigger rewards. (e.g., Port Royal)

Roll and Move - Roll dice to move on the board. (e.g., classic games like Ludo)

Roll and Write - Use dice results to mark sheets. (e.g., Railroad Ink)

Set Collection - Gather matching sets for bonuses. (e.g., Azul)

Tile Placement - Add tiles to build a board. (e.g., Carcassonne)

Worker Placement - Assign workers to take actions. (e.g., Agricola)

Common Terms and Concepts

4X – Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate. A genre of deep strategy games.

Alpha Player – A dominant player in co-ops who dictates decisions.

Balance – Game fairness and equal winning chances for different strategies.

BGG – BoardGameGeek, the largest board game database and community.

CCG – Collectible Card Game, with randomized boosters. (e.g., Magic: The Gathering)

Deck – A stack of cards used in gameplay.

Deck Box – A container for storing card decks.

Decision Space – The number and impact of choices available to players.

Downtime – Time spent waiting for your turn.

Dungeon Crawler – Explore dungeons, defeat monsters, progress through story.

Snowball Effect – When early success gives a player increasing advantages.

Filler – A quick, light game played between longer ones.

Fluff – Narrative or lore in rulebooks or cards.

Gateway Game – Easy-to-learn games that introduce players to the hobby.

Geek – A term for enthusiasts deeply interested in niche hobbies.

Above-the-Table Play – Player interaction not involving game mechanics.

Abstract Game – Little or no theme, focus on logic and mechanics.

Asymmetric Game – Different player roles with unique abilities.

Heavy Game – Complex mechanics and high decision weight.

Family Game – Accessible games suitable for all ages.

Party Game – Simple, high-player-count games ideal for social gatherings.

Gamebook – Books with puzzles or branching narrative choices.

Legacy Game – Games that evolve permanently through campaign play.

Light Game – Simple rules and quick play.

Wargame – Games simulating battle using miniatures or hex maps.

Replayability – The game's ability to remain engaging across many plays.

Point Salad – A system with multiple scoring opportunities.

Setup – Preparing game components before play.

Scaling – How well a game plays with different player counts.

Storytelling – Narrative-driven gameplay experiences.

Tap – Rotating a card to indicate it has been used.

Tile – Square or hex pieces used to build maps or boards.

Unboxing – Reviewing the contents of a new game box.