The Game Mechanics

This series is called The Game Mechanics. It will be a series of blog posts that will focus in on a specific game mechanic and use an example game to dive in a little deeper. This is a great series of you are getting into game design or are just interested in how games work. Also we are interviewing game designers to see what makes them tick.

The Newest Posts

Preview of 52 Realms: Adventures

Postmark Games has been churning out print and play games since their debut game Voyages in 2021. The newest print and play game in...

Holiday Board Game Gift Guide 2024

Happy Holidays everyone. Its that time of year again and this year we are bringing you a big list of great games that you can get for...

Moonrollers: A Press Your Luck Dice Game

Moonrakers, a break out deck building game published in 2020 by IV Studios created a world where pilots recruit crews and complete...

B&N Makes Designers Names Searchable

Barnes and Noble have been selling board games for a long time. It took them until October 4th to put the game designers names in the...

Space Borne: Preview of a Strategic Dexterity Game

As one of the four ruling planets in the systemplayers must work together to find the precious crystals to power th Black Hole Limiter....

Preview: Springsign

The village of Springsign is a rough and tumble little settlement. Winters are difficult and theres only fish to eat, oh and bandits...

Cards Against Humanity Sues Elon Musk's SpaceX

In 2017 Cards Against humanity Launched a crowdfunding campaign to try and slow down former president Trump and his efforts to build a...

CVLT: Preview of a Trick Taking Card Drafting Game

In CVLT players bring offerings of earth, water, air, and fire. In return the gods bless the players with visions. CVLT is a trick...

What is a "Rouge-Like" Board Game?

The year was 1980 and the video game Rouge was published. This is the the Rouge in "Rouge-Like". Recently I have been hearing the term...

A Preview of Koala Rescue Club, an Adorable Print and Play Game

In 2022 the koalawas listed as an endangered species by Australia's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act . Koalas...

Bert

Sep 42 min read

What is a "Rouge-Like" Board Game?

The year was 1980 and the video game Rouge was published. This is the the Rouge in "Rouge-Like". Recently I have been hearing the term...

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Strategic Allocation: Unpacking Action Points in Board Games

Bert

Jun 102 min read

Strategic Allocation: Unpacking Action Points in Board Games

Welcome back to another dive into The Game Mechanics. Today we are looking at action points and what they are and how they are used....

71 views

Artificial Intelligence in Board Games, the Good the Bad and the Ugly

Bert

May 205 min read

Artificial Intelligence in Board Games, the Good the Bad and the Ugly

Artificial Intellegence has taken the world by storm. It has started to affect the daily lives of people. People are interested in it and...

99 views

Pick-up and Delivery in Board Games: Strategy and Mechanics Explained

Bert

Jan 152 min read

Pick-up and Delivery in Board Games: Strategy and Mechanics Explained

The phrase pick-up and deliver brings to mind something in the realm of UPS or FedEx. This thought is pretty accurate when we dive into...

159 views

Overcoming Analysis Paralysis: Tips for Getting Past the Hesitation in Board Gaming

Bert

Jan 83 min read

Overcoming Analysis Paralysis: Tips for Getting Past the Hesitation in Board Gaming

You and your friends are sitting around the game table playing the newest game. Your friends turn is taking way longer than everyone...

164 views

Bert

Feb 17, 20233 min read

The Game Mechanics: Tile Placement

Tile placement is a board game mechanic created by the ancient Romans when they were installing the mosaics in the great bathhouses of...

271 views

Bert

Oct 27, 20222 min read

The Game Mechanics: Hand Management

Hand management is used in games to reward players for playing a sequence or series of cards from their hands. Hand management is often...

256 views

Bert

Oct 17, 20222 min read

The Game Mechanics: Hand Management

Hand management is a mechanic that rewards players for playing sequences or sets of cards. This mechanic is frequently paired with card...

716 views

Bert

Oct 3, 20223 min read

The Game Mechanics: Roll and Write

Have you ever played Yahtzee or Bingo? Then you have played a roll and write game. Roll and write is exactly as it sounds. During a roll...

148 views

Bert

Sep 26, 20222 min read

The Game Mechanics: Closed Drafting

Lets dive into the world of closed drafting. Closed drafting is defined by players selecting a game elements such as cards then passing...

120 views

Bert

Jul 22, 20213 min read

The Game Mechanics: Asymmetric-Players

Today's post is about Asymmetric players.I know what your thinking and yes the players them selves are all asymmetric. But today we are...

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Bert

May 19, 20212 min read

The Game Mechanics: Weighted Drafting

On its surface it sounds like a fix for a broken game. I believe that this is a very intentional mechanic a designer can use to allow...

98 views

Bert

Mar 23, 20213 min read

The Game Mechanics: Hidden Roles

Hidden information in board games is popular mechanic and a wide scope. Games that implement this mechanic range from hidden movements,...

318 views