Both Papa Bear and I grew up playing board games. In fact, when asked if he liked growing up with three brothers, he says, “Yes, because we always had a perfect amount of people for games.” I’m sure he likes his brothers for other reasons too, but it’s hard to say.
As an only child, I prefer to think that I was just super creative when I wanted to play a game and couldn’t wrangle together anyone else. After all, playing by oneself is almost a surefire way to win.
I’m also going to lose, unfortunately.
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Though we grew up with games like Mastermind, Scrabble, Life, and Monopoly (So. Much. Monopoly.), our tastes have changed in recent years. It all started when a good friend gifted us with Dominion for our wedding.
More on this later.
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Any good game involves a certain level of strategy, but what Dominion introduced us to was a whole new world that took those strategies to the next level. (For what it’s worth, bad games involve strategy too, but the goal is usually to end the game as soon as possible. Here’s looking at you, Candyland.)
In this new world, games are more complex. When I asked my game group to describe what makes these games different, they said that, unlike Monopoly or Life, for example, these require “meaningful decisions.” Because there is much less left to chance (e.g., rolling a die or spinning a wheel), you are responsible for your outcomes. Each action must be carefully planned as it can greatly affect your and your opponent’s future strategies. In turn, each time you play is very different from the last.
Now, I don’t mean to sound snobbish. There is a time and a place for games like Monopoly and Life. To me, one of the greatest things about board games is that they encourage conversation and interaction. Nearly any game allows for fun interchange, even those where “fun interchange” may be better described as “contentious debate.” Plus, many of us grew up playing these games. Playing them later in life can be fun for purely nostalgic reasons. Furthermore, they are great for teaching both kids and adults how to play board games. They introduce turn order and help people learn how to read game rules, win and lose with grace (sometimes), and generally have fun playing games.
These faces strike a chord with my sentimental heart.
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Let me step back, though. Before we go too far down the board game path, let’s start with some basics.
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A Quick Board Game Primer
A board gamer’s best friend: BoardGameGeek
Simply put, BoardGameGeek is a database for board games and it pretty much contains anything you’d possibly want to know about any game. I like to use it to research games before we buy them, read forums for recommendations of what to buy next in any certain category, search for rule clarifications, and log my game plays. If you think that’s a lot, you should see how Papa Bear uses the site. He basically lives and breathes “BGG.”
Board game categories
BGG helpfully classifies games in a few ways: type, category, and mechanism. Here are BGG’s “types” of games:
- Abstract strategy games or “a strategy game that minimizes luck and does not rely on a theme.” An example is chess.
- Children’s games which is pretty self-explanatory. An example is Chutes & Ladders. (Note: I just learned that some monsters call this “Snakes & Ladders.” Bogus.)
- Customizable games or any kind of collectible games like collectible/customizable card games (CCGs), collectible dice games (CDGs), collectible miniature games (CMGs), living card games (LCGs), and trading card games (TCGs). An example of this category is Magic: The Gathering.
- Family games like Ticket to Ride.
- Party games like Dixit.
- Strategy games or games “in which the players’ decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome,” or basically exactly what I said above. Often referred to as “Eurogames,” these typically have a general theme but focus more on mechanics. Examples include Power Grid, Le Havre, Keyflower, and Dominion (and all of its expansions).
- Thematic games, unlike strategy games above, are very heavily focused on a theme and aim to create a narrative experience. Examples include Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game and Pandemic Legacy.
- War games are “games that depict military action” and can be set in a “variety of timelines,” both real and fictional. An example is 1775: Rebellion.
While these categories and descriptions are generally helpful, and will earn you points if you use them correctly in the gaming community, it’s important to remember that some games span across categories. So if you think you only enjoy party games, you may be surprised to find out that some of your favorites are also considered to be thematic games. You may be a bigger board game geek than you thought!
This guy is so excited about games that he decided to dress up as a blue meeple at the beach!*
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Where to begin
Based on the above descriptions, you may be drawn to a particular kind of game. You’ve likely already played a party game in recent years. If you have any friends who like to play games, ask them to play. I’ve never met a board game fan who will turn down a game night. If you don’t know any game lovers, check out a local board game store. For me, it’s the Chicagoland Games: Dice Dojo on Broadway and Bryn Mawr.
Going to your local store is great for a few reasons: 1. Any purchase would help support a local business; 2. They usually have demo libraries full of games you can try before you buy (with no pressure to buy at all); and 3. They typically host open game nights. The Dojo, for example, hosts an open board game night each Wednesday. There, you can meet like-minded people and try your hand at a new game. You are most likely not the only person unfamiliar with the game, so the environment is very conducive to learning and asking questions.
Open game night at the Dojo. You can see a sliver of the demo wall on the right. They have so many games to try.
[Source: Me, after participating in a great open game night at the Dojo]
Now, since I tend to like strategy games (and party games) best, and since that’s kind of what I started off talking about here, I’d personally recommend starting with Dominion. Admittedly, I have no other frame of reference, but I think it’s a fun game that’s easy to learn and play in a relatively short amount of time. Another popular starting point for strategy games is Catan, formerly known as Settlers of Catan or “Settlers.”
Learning to play a new game
I’ll admit, when we first started playing Dominion, I found the eight-page rule book to be rather daunting. Now, I find eight-page rule books to be refreshingly short.
“Time out. I don’t want to read eight pages of rules. What else can I do?”
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There are several ways to learn how to play a new game. Over time I’ve realized that, in order of preference, I like to:
- Play with someone who already knows the game;
- Watch an overview video; and/or
- Read through the rule book.
Playing with people who know the game. Assuming your friends are somewhat articulate, it’s easiest to learn how to play a game from people who have already played it, especially if they’re played more than once. After a brief summary of components and rules, I often find that it’s easiest to just start playing and asking questions along the way. Sure, you may not be able to form a solid strategy yet, but there’s no better way to improve than by making mistakes. Plus, if you totally suck it up the first time, imagine how surprised they’ll be when you dominate the second time around.
Watching an overview video. Now, let’s say you know you’re going to play a game but you don’t own it and your friends aren’t with you yet. Save everyone the time and energy of having someone explain it by watching an overview video first. Good ones (like the Watch It Played series) will provide a succinct review of the basic game play and may even throw out a few ideas for strategy. The Dice Tower also has some nice videos.
Reading the rules. Finally, it never hurts to learn a game by simply reading the rules the designers took so long to write. In my experience, they become easier to understand the more games you play and rule books you read.
Regardless of how I initially learn a game, I find it to be very insightful to read through the rule book again after playing once. With a basic understanding of the game down, it’s easier to understand some of the intricacies of the rules. It’s also helpful because you realize what you did incorrectly the first time. Oops.
Ready to Play?
Enough talking about what kinds of games are out there and how to learn how to play them. It’s time for you to just start playing!
Have no friends? There are several solo games. Have a lot of friends? Grab a party game. Have just a medium amount of friends? You’re in luck, because there are a gazillion for two to four players.
Because I talked up Dominion a couple of times throughout this post, look for a follow-up that gives a little more detail about the game and why Papa Bear and I like it so much.
(Edit: Here’s the Dominion review.)
Again, the best part of playing games is the social element (although I do love a good mental challenge and some healthy competition). So while you (eagerly) wait to learn more about Dominion, feel free to ask questions or comment with your personal favorites.
Yes, I’m using a Monopoly board as the final image on a post where I kind of bash Monopoly.
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*A meeple is a little wooden figure used in board games.
Baby Brown Bear 