Genre Terms for Tabletop Games
Developed by Diane Robson, Kevin Yanowski, Catherine Sassen, and Kelly Evans
University of North Texas Libraries
Version 2 (2024)
Key: 155 = Authorized Heading 455 = See From Tracing (Use the Authorized Heading instead of this term) 555 = See Also From Tracing (See another Authorized Heading that relates to this term) 670 = Source Data Found (Where information about the heading was found) 680 = Public General Note (Definition of the heading, if needed) |
155 Abstract games
455 Abstract strategy games
680 Abstract games are often theme-less, built on simple design and mechanics, perfect information games, promote one player overtaking opponents, little to no elements of luck, change, or random occurrence.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Acting games
450 Drama games
450 Theater games
555 Party games
680 Games with the Acting mechanic require players to use some form of mime or mimicry to communicate with the other players.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Adventure games
680 Adventure games often have themes of heroism, exploration, and puzzle solving. The storylines behind such games often have fantastical elements and involve the characters in some sort of quest.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Area of control games
455 Area of influence games
555 Strategy games
680 The Area Control mechanic typically awards control of an area to the player that has the majority of units or influence in that area.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Asymmetrical games
680 Asymmetrical games are games in which one player or faction of players plays the game differently from other players. An example would be Scotland Yard.
155 Betrayal games
680 Betrayal games allow some players to make choices and place trust in the game or in other players. Trust can either be reciprocated or betrayed based on various choices made by the game or other players.
670 harvardmagazine.com
155 Bidding games
455 Auction Games
555 Strategy games
680 Bidding games require the player to place a bid, usually monetary, on items in an auction of goods in order to enhance their position in the game. These goods allow players future actions or improve a position.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Biology games
555 Science games
155 Board games
455 Move games
555 Tabletop games
680 A board game is a game, played on a tabletop, which involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or “board.” The movements are defined according to a set of rules.
670 sh85015134
155 Card drafting games
555 Card games
680 Card drafting games are games where players pick cards from a limited subset, such as a common pool, to gain some advantage (immediate or long term) or to assemble hands of cards that are used to meet objectives within the game. Games where cards are simply drawn from a pile are not card drafting games–drafting implies that players have some sort of choice.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Card games
455 Cards
555 Collectible card games
555 Deck building games
555 Tabletop games
680 Card Games often use cards as its sole or central component. There are stand-alone card games, in which all the cards necessary for gameplay are purchased at once. There are also collectible card games (CCGs), where players purchase starter and “booster” packs in an effort to compile a more and more powerful deck of cards to compete with.
670 sh85020245
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Chemistry games
555 Science games
155 Children’s games
555 Educational games
155 Collectible games
455 Trading card games
455 Customizable card games
455 Expandable card games
455 Collectable figure games
455 Collectable action figure games
455 Miniatures games
555 Card games
555 Deck Building games
680 Collectible Components games are ones where the components required to play the game are purchased incrementally, rather than all at once. These games have a transitory nature as reprints really aren’t possible. Collecting a “complete set” for many of these games could be considered a hobby.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Communication games
555 Educational games
155 Cooperative games
455 Co-op games
680 In cooperative games the competition can be between a group or groups of players rather than between individuals.
155 Civilization games
455 Creation games
555 War games
680 Civilization games often have players developing and managing a society of people. The aim of each player is usually to employ citizens in ways that are beneficial to society, and have them progress throughout the game so that their civilization gains superiority over others. Civilization games may have each player build their society independently, or through warfare and diplomacy, each player may find themselves benefiting or suffering from the actions of others.
155 Deck building games
455 Living card games
555 Card Games
680 Deck building is a mechanism in which players start the game with a pre-determined set of cards / player pieces and add and change those pieces over the course of the game. Many deck-building games provide the players with a currency that they use to “buy” new items that are integrated into the deck or pool. These new resources generally expand the capabilities of the player and allow the player to build an “engine” to drive their future plays in the course of the game.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Deduction games
455 Guessing games
555 Hidden role games
680 Deduction games are those that require players to form conclusions based on available premises.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Developmental games
555 Educational games
155 Dexterity games
455 Action games
680 Dexterity games often compete players’ physical reflexes and co-ordination as a determinant of overall success.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Dice games
455 Dicing games
555 Tabletop games
680 Dice games often use dice as its sole or principal component. Dice games traditionally focus almost exclusively on dice rolling as a mechanic.
670 boardgamegeek.com
670 sh92001364
155 Economic games
455 Resource management games
680 Economic games encourage players to develop and manage a system of production, distribution, trade, and/or consumption of goods. The games usually simulate a market in some way. The term is often used interchangeably with resource management games.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Educational games
455 Instructive games
455 Training games
555 Communication games
555 Developmental games
555 History games
555 Language arts games
555 Math games
555 Science games
680 Educational games have been specifically designed to teach people about a certain subject, expand concepts, reinforce development, understand an historical event or culture, or assist them in learning a skill as they play.
670 boardgamegeek.com
670 sh85041126
155 Environmental games
555 Science games
680 Environmental games often have themes and storylines regarding environmental conservation and management.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Fantasy games
455 Magic games
680 Those that have themes and scenarios that exist in a fictional world. It is a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there can be a great deal of overlap between the three.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Fighting games
680 Fighting games are those that encourage players to engage game characters in close quarter battles and hand-to-hand combat.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Geography games
555 Science games
155 Grammar games
555 Language arts games
155 Hand management games
455 Deck management games
555 Card games
555 Collectible card games
555 Deck building games
680 Hand management games are games with cards in them that reward players for playing the cards in certain sequences or groups. The optimal sequence/grouping may vary, depending on board position, cards held and cards played by opponents. Managing your hand means gaining the most value out of available cards under given circumstances. Cards often have multiple uses in the game, further obfuscating an “optimal” sequence. Hand management has no relationship to action/dexterity.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Hidden movement games
455 Secret movement games
555 Betrayal games
555 Cooperative games
555 Deduction games
555 Hidden role games
680 In hidden movement games one or more player’s movements are hidden from the rest of the players.
155 Hidden role games
555 Deduction games
555 Mystery games
680 Hidden role games have an element that is hidden from one or more players. There may be secret consequences for actions: killing fellow players, releasing monsters, or a group of players may be trying to find another player whose true identity is only known to themselves.
155 History games
555 Educational games
555 War games
155 Horror games
555 Mystery Games
680 Horror games often contain themes and imagery depicting morbid and supernatural elements.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Language arts games
555 Educational games
555 Grammar games
555 Language development games
555 Spelling games
555 Storytelling games
155 Language development games
555 Language arts games
155 Math games
555 Educational games
155 Memory games
680 Memory games require players to retain and recall previous game events or information as an objective.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Movie/TV/Radio themed games
455 Movie themed games
455 TV themed games
455 Television themed games
455 Radio themed games
680 Movie/TV/Radio themed games feature characters from a movie or a series of movies, a television show, and/or a radio program and are thematically linked to these programs.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Mystery games
455 Detective games
555 Horror games
680 Mystery games often involve an unsolved murder or a mystery. A requirement of these games is usually for players to investigate and determine the details and/or perpetrator(s).
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Nautical games
455 Pirate games
680 Nautical games involve sailors, ships, and/or maritime navigation as a major component of the theme or gameplay. Most Nautical games require players to effectively control ships as an objective.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Novel-based games
455 Book based games
680 Novel-based games feature characters from a book or series of books and may incorporate other elements from the book as well.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Party games
555 Acting games
555 Trivia games
680 Party games are games that encourage social interaction. They generally have easy setups, simple rules, and they can accommodate large groups of people and play in a short amount of time.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Physics games
555 Science games
155 Political games
555 Simulation games
680 Political games encourage players to use their character’s authority to manipulate societal activities and policy.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Print and Play games
680 Print & Play (versions of) games are not published in a physical form. Instead, the rules and (most) components are available in a digital format, and players are expected to print them off and assemble them themselves. Often, some additional, non-printable components are required as well.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Puzzle Games
680 Puzzle games are those in which the players are trying to solve a puzzle. Many puzzle games require players to use problem solving, pattern recognition, organization and/or sequencing to reach their objectives.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Questions and answers games
455 Relationship games
555 Communication games
555 Trivia games
680 Players ask and answer questions in a manner constrained by rules.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Real-time games
680 Real-time games often allow for players to take their turns (or part of their turns) simultaneously. This is in contrast to turn-based games. There are also some Real-time games in which there is a consequence if a player does not play their turn in a set amount of time.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Roleplaying games
455 RPG
680 A game in which participants adopt the roles of imaginary characters in an adventure under the direction of a Game Master.
670 dictionary.com
155 Science fiction games
680 Science fiction games often have themes relating to imagined possibilities in the sciences. Such games need not be futuristic; they can be based on an alternative past. (For example, the writings of Jules Verne and the Star Wars saga are set before present time.) Many of the most popular Science fiction games are set in outer space, and often involve alien races.
155 Science games
555 Biology games
555 Educational games
555 Chemistry games
555 Geography games
555 Physics games
155 Serious games
555 Educational games
680 Serious games are pedagogical in nature and may include elements of storytelling, experiential learning, immersion, or simulation to convey the educational purpose. They may be able to be played solo for personal benefit or in a group setting, such as for institutional teambuilding.
670 wikipedia.org
155 Set collection games
455 Component collection games
555 Collectible card games
555 Collectable component games
555 Deck building games
555 Tile placement games
680 The primary goal of set collection games is to encourage a player to collect a set of items.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Simulation games
555 Political games
680 Simulation games attempt to create a realistic model actual events or situations.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Solo games
455 Solitary games
680 Solo or solitary games are made for a single-player or have a single-player option.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Spelling games
555 Language arts games
555 Educational games
680 Players arrange cards, tiles, or other components that represent an individual letter or small group of letters to create words.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Spy games
455 Secret agent games
680 Spies/Secret Agents games often have themes or storylines relating to espionage. Often, players must identify another player who has taken the role of spy or secret agent and attempt to reveal secret information that this player holds.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Storytelling games
555 Language arts games
155 Strategy games
555 Area of control games
555 Tactical games
555 War games
555 Worker placement games
155 Tabletop games
555 Board games
555 Card games
555 Dice games
155 Tactical games
555 Strategy games
555 War games
155 Territory building games
680 Territory Building games have the players establish and/or amass control over a specific area. Often, these games employ Area Control and Area Enclosure mechanics, in which the areas are not necessarily delineated at the beginning of the game but are instead contained from larger territories as the game progresses.
155 Tile placement games
680 Tile Placement games feature placing a piece to score VPs, with the amount often based on adjacent pieces or pieces in the same group/cluster, and keying off non-spatial properties like color, “feature completion,” cluster size, etc.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Trading games
555 Economic games
555 Strategy games
555 Territory building games
680 In trading games the players can exchange game items between each other.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Trivia games
555 Party games
155 Video game-themed games
680 Video game-themed games are games thematically linked with or inspired by a video game franchise or genre.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 War games
555 Strategy games
555 Tactical games
555 Simulation games
680 War games are games that depict military actions.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Wellness games
455 Health games
680 Wellness games promote mental or physical health by increasing knowledge and modeling healthy behaviors through play.
670 wikipedia.org
155 Word games
455 Word puzzles
680 Word games often require players to competitively use their knowledge of language. Language knowledge in Word games is often focused on spelling and definitions.
670 boardgamegeek.com
155 Worker placement games
455 Action drafting games
555 Strategy games
680 This mechanism requires players to draft individual actions from a set that is available to all players. In a given round, drafting is done one-at-a-time and in turn order until all players have had a chance to draft individual actions.
670 boardgamegeek.com