Editing Eurogame (section)

== History ==
[[Image:Acquire game.JPG|thumb|The 1999 Hasbro version of ''[[Acquire]]'']]
Due in part to postwar aversion to products which glorified conflict, the [[3M bookshelf game series|3M series]] of strategy and economic games, including ''[[Acquire]]'', became popular in Germany. They offered a style of gameplay without direct conflict or warfare and led the way for designs that focused on resource management and competitive strategy through more peaceful means.<ref name="Eurogames">{{cite book | title= Eurogames: The Design, Culture and Play of Modern European Board Games | last= Woods | first= Stewart | year= 2009 | publisher= [[McFarland & Company|McFarland]] | isbn= 978-0786467976}}</ref><ref name="It's All a Game">{{cite book | title= It's All a Game: The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan | last= Donovan | first= Tristan | year= 2017 | publisher= [[Thomas Dunne Books]] | isbn= 978-1250082725}}</ref> 

=== German family board games ===
The genre developed as a more concentrated design movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s in [[Germany]]. The genre has spread to other European countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Sweden.{{citation needed|date= July 2012}} During this time, board games in Europe often featured shorter play times than their American counterparts, along with rules that encouraged all players to remain engaged until the end, thereby reducing the risk of early elimination.

=== ''Settlers of Catan'' ===
Although German-style designs were already popular within Germany, ''[[Catan|The Settlers of Catan]]'', first published in 1995, paved the way for the genre outside Europe.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1aab09a4-8fb2-11df-8df0-00144feab49a.html
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150503185050/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1aab09a4-8fb2-11df-8df0-00144feab49a.html
 |archive-date = 3 May 2015
 |url-access   = subscription
 |title        = Why we still love board games
 |last1        = Harford
 |first1       = Tim
 |date         = 17 July 2010
 |website      = ft.com
 |publisher    = FT Magazine
 |access-date  = 27 May 2015
 |url-status   = bot: unknown
}}</ref> While it was not the first Eurogame and not the first to achieve popularity outside Germany, it became more successful than any of its predecessors. Millions of copies were sold in Germany alone. The game's success brought new interest, investment, and attention to this genre of board games emphasizing planning and negotiation rather than direct conflict. Game designers like [[Reiner Knizia]] became popular globally. Knizia's notable designs include [[Amun-Re (board game)|''Amun-Re'']], ''[[Blue Moon City]]'', [[Ingenious (board game)|''Ingenious'']], ''[[Keltis]]'', [[Lord of the Rings (board game)|''Lord of the Rings'']], ''Medici'', [[Modern Art (game)|''Modern Art'']], [[Ra (board game)|''Ra'']], ''Taj Mahal'', ''[[Tigris and Euphrates]]'', and ''[[Through the Desert]]''. Many of his designs incorporate mathematical principles, such as his repeated use of auction mechanics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Knizia auction trilogy |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Knizia_auction_trilogy |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=BoardGameGeek |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Growth in the 21st century ===
[[File:Agricola board game.jpg|thumb|A game of ''[[Agricola (board game)|Agricola]]'' being set up ]]As the market expanded, some designers began creating deeper, more complex games often referred to as “gamer’s games” or “expert games.” Titles such as ''[[Agricola (board game)|Agricola]]'' (2007) by Uwe Rosenberg and ''[[Terra Mystica]]'' (2012) by Helge Ostertag and Jens Drögemüller introduced more detailed resource management, longer playing times, and heightened decision depth. These games often came with multiple paths to victory, ensuring [[replay value]] and a variety of strategies for enthusiasts. Residents of Germany purchased more board games per capita than any other country {{As of | 2009 | lc = on}}.<ref name="wired">{{cite web |url= http://archive.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/17-04/mf_settlers?currentPage=all |title= Monopoly Killer: Perfect German Board Game Redefines Genre |last1= Curry |first1= Andrew |date= 23 March 2009 |website= archive.wired.com |access-date= 27 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150510075137/http://archive.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/17-04/mf_settlers?currentPage=all |archive-date= 10 May 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref> While many Eurogames are published and played in [[Anglophone]] markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, they occupy a niche status there.<ref name="wired" /> Other games in the genre to achieve widespread popularity include ''[[Carcassonne (board game)|Carcassonne]]'', ''[[Puerto Rico (board game)|Puerto Rico]]'', [[TransAmerica (board game)|''TransAmerica'']], ''[[Ticket to Ride (board game)|Ticket to Ride]]'', ''[[Alhambra (board game)|Alhambra]]'', ''[[Brass (board game)|Brass]],'' and [[Terraforming Mars (board game)|''Terraforming Mars'']]. Today, Eurogames remain an important segment of the board gaming industry, appreciated for their emphasis on strategy, thoughtful interaction, and lack of player elimination that allows all participants to remain engaged. While Germany still leads in per capita board game purchases, the popularity of Eurogames has spread worldwide, and many titles now receive international distribution and acclaim. Conventions such as ''[[Spiel|Essen Spiel]]'' in Germany gather thousands of fans annually.