Editing Board game (section)

==Categories==
===Historical development===

[[H. J. R. Murray|Harold Murray]]'s ''A History of Board Games Other Than Chess'' (1952)<ref name="classical-classification_murray_1952">{{Cite book|last=Murray|first=Harold James Ruthven|author-link=H. J. R. Murray|title=A History of Board Games Other Than Chess|publisher=Oxford [USA], Clarendon Press, and Hassell Street Press|year=2021|isbn=978-1-015-00305-7|edition=Reprint|orig-year=1st Pub. 1952, [[Clarendon Press]], Oxford}}</ref> has been called the first attempt to develop a "scheme for the classification of board games", in which he separated board games into five categories: "race", "war", "hunt", "alignment" / "configuration", and "mancala" games.<ref name="game-category_murray_1952">{{Cite web|title=SFE: Board Game|website=sf-encyclopedia.com|url=https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/board_game|access-date=18 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250118122450/https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/board_game|archive-date=18 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/> [[Robert Charles Bell|Robert Bell]]'s ''Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations'' (1869)<ref name="classical-classification_bell_1960">{{Cite book|last=Bell|first=Robert Charles|author-link=Robert Charles Bell|title=Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations|publisher=[[Dover Publications]]|year=1979|isbn=978-0-671-06030-5|edition=Revised|volume=I|orig-year=1st Pub. 1960, [[Oxford University Press]], London}}</ref> similarly espoused a classification of board games, this time divided into four categories, "race", "war", "positional", and "mancala" games.<ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/> In [[David Parlett]]'s ''The Oxford History of Board Games'' (1999),<ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999">{{Cite book|first=David|last=Parlett|author-link=David Parlett|title=The Oxford History of Board Games|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1999|isbn=978-0-192-12998-7}}</ref> based on the work of Murray and Bell,<ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/> he described a "classical" categorization of board games which consisted of four primary categories: "[[#race|race]]", "[[#space|space]]", "[[#chase|chase]]", and "[[#displacement|displace]]" games.<ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999" /><ref name="game-categories_woods_2024_p15">{{Cite book|last=Woods|first=Stewart|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xgmjCHxSxvoC&q=history+of+board+games&pg=PP1|title=Eurogames: The Design, Culture and Play of Modern European Board Games|date=16 August 2012|isbn=9780786490653|page=15|publisher=McFarland|df=dmy}} [https://ia601907.us.archive.org/9/items/woods-2012-eurogames-p-15/Woods%20%282012%29%20Eurogames%20-%20p15.pdf Alt URL]</ref>{{rp|page=17}}

Modern board games have been classified in a variety of ways, a classification that can be based on the board game's mechanics, theme, age range, player number, and promotion. The diversity of board games means that some games belong to several categories.<ref name="edwards_fv">{{Cite thesis|last=Edwards|first=Jason R.|title=Saving Families, One Game at a Time |url=http://visionandvalues.org/docs/familymatters/Edwards_Jason.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205071220/http://visionandvalues.org/docs/familymatters/Edwards_Jason.pdf|archive-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>{{rp|13}}

===Mechanics===

A board game's [[game mechanic|mechanics]] usually involve an assessment of a player or player/s achievements while adhering to a series of pre-established {{boardgloss#rule set|rules}}, i.e. {{boardgloss|gameplay}}, such as capturing opponents pieces, calculation of a final score, or achieving a predefined goal. Board games have a range of rule complexity but also a range of strategic depth, both of which determine the ease of mastering the game, i.e., hard-to-master games like [[chess]] possess a relatively simple rule set but have great strategic depth.<ref name="pritchard_1994">{{Cite book|last=Pritchard|first=D.B.|title=The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants|publisher=Games & Puzzles Publications|year=1994|isbn=978-0-9524142-0-9|page=84|quote=Chess itself is a simple game to learn but its resulting strategy is profound.|author-link=David Pritchard (chess player)}}</ref> Examples of categories based on a modern categorization of a board game's mechanics include:<ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+ Board game categorization by mechanics
|-
! Board game categories
! Description
! Examples 
! Ref
|-

| Alignment
| Alignment board games are a subcategory of space board games. In an alignment game, a player is required to position their tokens in an array of a prescribed length. Like space games, these games are often abstract games.
| [[Renju]]; [[Gomoku]]; [[Connect6]]; [[Nine men's morris]]; [[Tic-tac-toe]]
| <ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| American-style
| [[Ameritrash|American-style]] board games are those from the North American region, usually having an emphasis on theme; randomness, usually through dice; numerous ways to win; and direct player conflict. These board games are also called Ameritrash board games; however, this term is not necessarily a negative label.
| ''[[Betrayal at House on the Hill]]''; ''[[Zombicide]]''; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''; ''[[Arkham Horror]]''; ''[[Talisman (board game)|Talisman]]''
| <ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/>
|-

| Auction
| Auction board games are those that use [[bidding]], a competitive assigning of value to different items, resources, privileges, or game scenarios, as a mechanism by which players attempt to obtain valuable in-game assets or establish a favorable turn order. These board games are also called bidding board games.
| [[:Category:Auction board games|Examples]] include: ''[[Biblios]]''; ''[[Condottiere (board game)|Condottiere]]''; ''[[El Grande]]''; ''[[For Sale (board game)|For Sale]]''; ''[[Hit Z Road]]''; ''[[Hoity Toity]]''; ''[[The Estates (board game)|The Estates]]''; ''[[High Society (card game)|High Society]]''; ''[[Irish Gauge (board game)|Irish Gauge]]''; ''[[Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King|Isle of Skye]]''; ''[[Medici (board game)|Medici]]''; ''[[Power Grid]]''; ''[[Skull (card game)|Skull]]''; ''[[Taj Mahal (board game)|Taj Mahal]]''; ''[[Ra (board game)|Ra]]''
| <ref name="auction-games_bombard-games_2023">{{cite web|title=Board Game Mechanics – Auctions & Bidding|website=Bombard Games (www.bombardgames.com)|date=14 February 2023|language=en|url=https://bombardgames.com/board-game-mechanics-auctions-bidding|access-date=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401211943/https://bombardgames.com/board-game-mechanics-auctions-bidding|archive-date=1 April 2023|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="auction_dice-breaker_2020">{{cite web|title=10 best auction board games you can bet on for a good time|website=Dice Breaker (www.dicebreaker.com|date=25 May 2020|first=Thomas|last=Wells|language=en|url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/mechanics/auction/best-games/best-auction-board-games|access-date=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716132639/https://www.dicebreaker.com/mechanics/auction/best-games/best-auction-board-games|archive-date=16 July 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/>
|-

| Area control
| Area control board games are those with some form of map or board defining a space that players compete to dominate, usually through adding their own pieces to regions or areas or removing their opponents’ pieces. 
| ''[[Small World (board game)|Small World]]''; ''[[Risk (game)|Risk]]''; ''[[Nanty Narking]]''; ''[[Blood Rage (board game)|Blood Rage]]''; ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[Scythe (board game)|Scythe]]''; even arguably ''[[Scrabble]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Bluffing
| Bluffing board games involve convincing opponent players on the accuracy of a claim, which includes tricking opponent players into believing something that is incorrect. All bluffing board games revolve around an element of hidden information. 
| ''[[Blood on the Clocktower]]''; ''[[Coup (card game)|Coup]]''; ''[[The Resistance (game)|The Resistance]]''; ''[[Sheriff of Nottingham (board game)|Sheriff of Nottingham]]''; ''[[Skull (card game)|Skull]]''; ''[[Shadows Over Camelot]]''; ''[[Enigma Beyond Code]]''; ''[[Bacchus’ Banquet (board game)|Bacchus’ Banquet]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="bluffing-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Bluffing|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1023/bluffing|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212093435/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1023/bluffing|archive-date=12 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Campaign
| Campaign board games are defined by players following a series of connected scenarios, where the actions and outcome of one scenario will usually affect the next. 
| ''[[Charterstone]]''; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Return to Dark Tower]]''; ''[[The Ungame]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Chase
| Chase board games often have an asymmetrical layout, where players start the game with different sets of pieces and objectives, usually rolling one or more dice to move a corresponding number of spaces along a looping track of spaces, or a path with a start and finish. When players land on certain spaces, it triggers specific actions or offers the player certain gameplay options. These board games are also known as roll-and-move games.
| Classical: [[Tafl games|Hnefatafl]]; [[Snakes and ladders]]; [[Hyena chase]]{{pb}} Modern: ''[[Cluedo]]''; ''[[Cranium (board game)|Cranium]]''; ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]''; ''[[The Game of Life]]''; ''[[Formula D (board game)|Formula D]]''
| <ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/><ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| [[Chess variant]]
| Chess variant board games are displacement games that are variations upon the general [[chess]] concept.
| Traditional: [[Shogi]]; [[Xiangqi]]; [[Janggi]]{{pb}} Modern: [[Chess960]]; [[Grand Chess]]; [[Hexagonal chess]]; [[Alice Chess]]
| {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} <!-- This category appears in no current list of game categories. The question needs to be asked whether just being a variant of [[Chess]] satisfies the requirement for a game category. --> 
|-

| City building
| City building board games involve building and managing a city via planning decisions, in a way that is efficient, powerful or lucrative.
| ''[[7 Wonders (board game)|7 Wonders]]''; ''[[The Capitals (game)|The Capitals]]''; ''[[Suburbia (board game)|Suburbia]]''; ''[[Citadels (card game)|Citadels]]''; ''[[Catan]]''; ''[[Everdell]]''; ''[[Life in Reterra (game)|Life in Reterra]]''; ''[[Lisboa (board game)|Lisboa]]''; ''[[On Mars (board game)|On Mars]]''; ''[[Puerto Rico (board game)|Puerto Rico]]''; ''{{ill|Underwater Cities (board game)|lt=Underwater Cities|de|Underwater Cities}}''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="city-building-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=City Building|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1029/city-building|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107235705/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1029/city-building|archive-date=7 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Civilization building
| Civilization building board games are those that involve developing and managing a society of people, often from scratch, requiring the contemplation of long-term strategy, good resource management, and sometimes even conflict with opponents.
| ''[[7 Wonders (board game)|7 Wonders]]''; ''[[Anno 1800 (board game)|Anno 1800]]''; ''[[Civilization (2010 board game)|Civilization]]''; ''[[Eclipse (board game)|Eclipse]]''; ''[[Gaia (board game)|Gaia]]''; ''[[Shogun (2006 board game)|Shogun]]''; ''[[Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization|Through The Ages]]''; [[Terra Mystica|''Terra Mystica'' franchise games]]; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="civilisation_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Civilization|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1015/civilization|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171824/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1015/civilization|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Collectible component
| Collectible component board games involve collecting and trading certain game elements, usually [[Collectible card game|cards]] and [[Miniature figure (gaming)|miniatures]]. These games are built around strategy and collection building, but also luck. These board games are also often called building board games.
| ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''; ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game|Yu-Gi-Oh]]''; ''[[Pokémon Trading Card Game|Pokémon]]''; ''[[KeyForge]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="collectible-component-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Collectible Components|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1044/collectible-components|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216215532/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1044/collectible-components|archive-date=16 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Configuration
| Configuration board games are a sub-category of space games. However, as opposed to alignment games, the objective of players is to line up their pieces to complete per-determined array targets in a particular order. Like space games, these games are often abstract games. 
| [[Lines of Action]]; [[Hexade (board game)|Hexade]]; ''[[Entropy (1977 board game)|Entropy]]''
| <ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/>
|-

| [[Connection game|Connection]]
| A connection board game is often an abstract strategy game, in which players attempt to complete a specific type of connection with their pieces. This could involve forming a path between two or more endpoints, completing a closed loop, or a player connecting all of their pieces so they are adjacent to each other. 
| [[TwixT]]; [[Hex (board game)|Hex]]; [[Havannah (board game)|Havannah]]
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| [[Cooperative board game|Cooperative]]
| Cooperative board games are those in which all the players work together to achieve a common goal rather than competing against each other. Either the players win the game by reaching a predetermined objective, or all players lose the game, often by not reaching the objective before a certain trigger event ends the game. These board games are also called non-competitive or co-op games. 
| [[:Category:Cooperative board games|Examples]] include: ''[[Max the Cat (board game)|Max the Cat]]''; ''[[Caves and Claws (board game)|Caves and Claws]]''; ''[[Bambino Dino (board game)|Bambino Dino]]''; [[Forbidden Island (game)|''Forbidden Island'' franchise games]]; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Horrified (board game)|Horrified]]''; ''[[Mountaineering (board game)|Mountaineering]]''; ''[[Nemesis (board game)|Nemesis]]''; ''[[Nurturing Game]]''; ''[[Pandemic (board game)|Pandemic]]''; ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[There’s a Growly in the Garden (board game)|There’s a Growly in the Garden]]''; ''[[The Ungame]]''; ''[[Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island|Robinson Crusoe]]''; ''[[Shadows over Camelot]]''
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring/resources/99-720/x08.pdf|title=Cooperative Games|website=Learningforlife.org|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224235936/http://www.learningforlife.org/exploring/resources/99-720/x08.pdf|archive-date=24 December 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="cooperative-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{Cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2023/cooperative-game|title=Cooperative Game &#124; Board Game Mechanic &#124; BoardGameGeek|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230703030659/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2023/cooperative-game|archive-date=3 July 2023|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="cooperative-games_children-therapy_toys">{{cite web|title=Cooperative and Non-Competitive Games|website=Child Therapy Toys (www.childtherapytoys.com)|date=19 October 2017|first=Gary|last=Yorke|language=en|url=https://www.childtherapytoys.com/blogs/news/cooperative-and-non-competitive-games|access-date=1 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330060606/https://www.childtherapytoys.com/blogs/news/cooperative-and-non-competitive-games|archive-date=30 March 2022|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Count and capture
| Count and capture board games are where players use tokens in rows of designated positions to capture their opponent's pieces. They are often also called sowing or mancala games.
| [[List of mancala games|Examples]] include: [[Mangala (game)|Mancala]]; [[Wari (game)|Wari]]; [[Oware]]; The Glass Bead Game
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| [[Cross and circle game|Cross and circle]]
| Cross and circle board games are race games with a board consisting of a circle divided into four equal portions by a cross inscribed inside it like four spokes in a wheel.
| [[List of cross and circle games|Examples Cross and circle games]] that are also included: [[Yut]]; [[Ludo (board game)|Ludo]]; ''[[Aggravation (board game)|Aggravation]]''
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| Deck-builder
| In [[Deck-building game|deck-builder]] board games, each player starts with their own identical deck of cards but alters it during play, with more powerful cards being added to the deck and less powerful ones being removed.
| ''[[Aeon's End (board game)|Aeon's End]]''; ''[[Black Box (game)|Black Box]]''; [[Clank! (board game)|''Clank!'' franchise games]]; ''[[Dominion (game)]]''; ''[[Dune: Imperium]]''; ''{{ill|Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle|de|Harry Potter: Kampf um Hogwarts}}''; ''[[Hero Realms]]''; ''[[Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game]]''; ''[[Mystic Vale (board game)|Mystic Vale]]''; ''[[Star Realms]]''; ''[[Undaunted (board game)|Undaunted: Normandy]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Deck construction
| Deck construction board games involve players using different decks of cards to play, constructed prior to the game from a large pool of options, according to specific rules. This type of board game is also called a trading card board game.
| ''[[Android: Netrunner]]''; ''[[Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]''; ''[[Disney Lorcana]]''; ''[[Keyforge]]''; ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''; ''[[Marvel Champions: The Card Game|Marvel Champions]]''; ''[[Pokémon Trading Card Game|Pokémon]]''; ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game|YU-Gi-OH!]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>
|-

| Deduction
| Deduction board games involve requiring players to form conclusions based on what is occurring or has transpired based on available premises, such as provided clues either by the board game itself or by fellow players. These board games are also called Investigation games. Social deduction board games are a subcategory of deduction board games. 
| [[:Category:Deduction board games|Examples]] include: ''[[Alchemists (board game)|Alchemists]]'', ''[[Bureau of Investigation: Investigations in Arkham & Elsewhere]]'', ''[[Clue (game)|Clue]]''; ''[[Cryptid (board game)|Cryptid]]'', ''[[Decrypto]]'', ''[[Hanabi (card game)|Hanabi]]'', ''[[Kryptos (board game)|Kryptos]]'', ''[[Love Letter (card game)|Love Letter]]'', ''[[Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation]]'', ''[[Mastermind (board game)|Mastermind]]'', ''[[Scotland Yard (game)|Scotland Yard]]''; ''[[Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective]]'', ''[[Sleuth (game)|Sleuth]]'', ''[[Spectator Ops (board game)|Spectator Ops]]'', ''[[Werewolf (social deduction game)|Werewolf]]''; ''[[Zendo (game)|Zendo]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="deduction_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Description|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1039/deduction|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217205453/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1039/deduction|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="deduction_tabletop-family_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=10 Great Deduction Board Games|website=The TableTop Family (www.thetabletopfamily.com)|language=en|url=https://thetabletopfamily.com/10-great-deduction-board-games|access-date=12 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250112082655/https://thetabletopfamily.com/10-great-deduction-board-games|archive-date=12 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/>
|-

| Dexterity
| Dexterity board games are those that require accurate movements of the body in response to real-time game situations. These games are a particular form of physical board game where [[Motor skill#Types of motor skills|fine motors skills]] are more important than physical attributes such as strength or endurance, including flicking, balancing, or even throwing objects around. Dexterity board games test motor skills, reflexes and coordination; and reward carefulness and punishing clumsiness. These board games are also known as action board games.  
| ''[[Flick ‘em Up (game)|Flick ‘em Up]]''; ''[[Beasts of Balance]]''; ''[[Dungeon Fighter (board game)|Dungeon Fighter]]''; ''[[Flip Ships (board game)|Flip Ships]]''; ''{{ill|Ghost Blitz (board game)|lt=Ghost Blitz|de|Geistesblitz (Spiel)}}''; ''[[Jenga]]''; ''[[Jungle Speed]]''; ''[[Klask]]''; ''{{ill|Paku Paku|de|Paku Paku}}''; ''[[Pitch Car (board game)|Pitch Car]]''; ''[[Spot It!]]''; ''[[Tumblin' Dice (board game)|Tumblin' Dice]]''; ''[[What Next? (party game)|What Next?]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="dexterity-games_changing-minds_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Dexterity Games|website=Changing Minds (www.changingminds.org)|language=en|url=http://changingminds.org/disciplines/game_design/types_game/games_dexterity.htm|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714221944/https://changingminds.org/disciplines/game_design/types_game/games_dexterity.htm|archive-date=14 July 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="dexerity_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Action / Dexterity|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1032/action-dexterity|access-date=8 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171826/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1032/action-dexterity|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Displacement
| Displacement board games are those in which the main objective is the capture the opponents' pieces. These board games are also often called elimination or war board games.
| [[Chess]]; [[Draughts]]; [[Alquerque]]; [[Fanorona]]; [[Yoté]]; [[Surakarta (game)|Surakarta]]
| <ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/>
|-

| Drafting
| Drafting board games involve a mechanism where players are presented with a set of options, usually cards, from which they must pick one, thus choosing the best options from a pool, leaving the remainder for the next player to choose from. They combine strategy, quick decision-making, and outguessing opponent players. The drafting mechanism can be a small part of a game, in order to select an ability for use during a round, or the entire decision space for a game.
| ''[[7 Wonders (board game)|7 Wonders]]''; ''[[Blood Rage (board game)|Blood Rage]]''; ''{{ill|Bunny Kingdom|de|Bunny Kingdom}}''; ''[[Citadels (card game)|Citadels]]''; ''[[Exploding Kittens]]''; ''[[Sushi Go!]]''; ''[[Ticket to Ride (board game)|Ticket to Ride]]''; ''{{ill|It's a Wonderful World (board game)|lt=It's a Wonderful World|de|It's a Wonderful World (jeu de société)}}''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/>| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Dungeon-crawler
| In dungeon-crawler board games, players take the roles of characters making their way through a location, often depicted by a map with a square grid or a page in a book, defeating enemies controlled by another player, a companion app, or the game system itself.
| ''[[Descent: Journeys in the Dark|Descent]]''; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; [[Betrayal at House on the Hill|''Betrayal at House on the Hill'' franchise games]]; ''[[HeroQuest]]''; ''[[Mansions of Madness]]''; ''[[Star Wars: Imperial Assault]]''; ''[[Mice and Mystics]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/>| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Economic
| Economic board games involve players managing resources and making smart decisions about how they spend or invest money. A player's strategy usually revolves around ensuring they have enough resources to achieve a strong financial position. Economic board games usually simulate a market in some way. These games are often also called Economic simulation games. The term economic board game is often used interchangeably with resource management board game.
| [[:Category:Economic simulation board games|Examples]] include: ''[[Ark Nova]]''; [[Brass (board game)|''Brass'' franchise games]]; ''[[The Business Game]]''; [[Terra Mystica|''Terra Mystica'' franchise games]]; ''[[Great Western Trail (board game)|Great Western Trail]]''; ''[[Catan]]''; ''[[Food Chain Magnate]]''; ''[[The Game of Life]]''; ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]''; ''[[Power Grid]]''; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mars]]''; ''[[Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization|Through The Ages]]''; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="economics_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Economic|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1021/economic|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217193903/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1021/economic|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Educational
| [[Educational game|Educational]] board games are those designed to teach new ideas, concepts, topics or understanding while playing. The board game's learning is based on a particular theme. While educational games exist for different age groups, they are usually designed for children.
| ''[[The Magic Labyrinth (board game)|The Magic Labyrinth]]''; ''[[Brain Quest]]''; ''[[Cashflow (board game)|Cashflow]]''; [[Evolution (board game)|''Evolution'' franchise games]]; ''[[Mariposas (board game)|Mariposas]]''; ''[[Wingspan (board game)|Wingspan]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="educational-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Educational|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1094/educational|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108222450/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1094/educational|archive-date=8 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Engine-builder
| Engine-builder board games are those where the course of the game involves building an engine, something that takes your starting resources or actions and turns them into more resources, which often eventually accumulate scored points.
| ''{{ill|Res Arcana|fr|Res Arcana}}''; ''[[Century: Spice Road|Century]]''; ''[[Everdell]]''; ''[[Imagnarium (board game)|Imagnarium]]''; ''[[Race for the Galaxy]]''; ''[[Splendor (game)|Splendor]]''; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mars]]''; ''[[Wingspan (board game)|Wingspan]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Euro-style
| [[Eurogame|Euro-style]] board games are those with a strategy focus, prioritising limited randomness over theme. These board games usually have competitive interactions between players through passive competition, rather than aggressive conflict, in contrast to the more thematic but chance-driven American-style board games. Euro-style board games are also called Eurogames or German-style board games due to the fact many of the early games of this style were developed in Germany.
| ''[[Agricola (board game)|Agricola]]''; ''[[Catan]]''; ''[[Carcassonne (board game)|Carcassonne]]''; ''[[Decatur (board game)|Decatur]]''; ''[[Carson City (board game)|Carson City]]''; ''[[Five Tribes (board game)|Five tribes]]''; ''[[Le Havre (board game)|Le Havre]]''; ''[[Lords of Waterdeep]]''; ''[[Montana (board game)|Montana]]''; ''[[Paladins of the West Kingdom (board game)|Paladins of the West Kingdom]]''; ''[[Power Grid]]''; ''[[Puerto Rico (board game)|Puerto Rico]]''; ''[[Stone Age (board game)|Stone Age]]''; ''[[Suburbia (board game)|Suburbia]]''; ''[[Takenoko (board game)|Takenoko]]''; ''[[Ticket to Ride (board game)|Ticket to Ride]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Exploration
| Exploration board games are those that have an unexplored map of tiles or cards, which the game encourages players to explore by flipping them and dealing with the consequences, either beneficial or detrimental. These board games are also often called Travel or 4x games.
| ''[[Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]''; [[Betrayal at House on the Hill|''Betrayal at House on the Hill'' franchise games]]; ''[[Eclipse (board game)|Eclipse]]''; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[The Lost Expedition (board game)|The Lost Expedition]]''; ''[[Lost Ruins of Arnak]]''; ''[[Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island|Robinson Crusoe]]''; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="exploration-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Exploration|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1020/exploration|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217202803/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1020/exploration|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Fighting
| Fighting board games are those that encourage players to engage game characters in close quarter battles and hand-to-hand combat. They differ from Wargames in that the combat in Wargames exists as one part of a large-scale military simulation, while in Fighting games the focus is on the particular combat scenarios.
| [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Scythe (board game)|Scythe]]''; ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[War of the Ring (board game)|War of the Ring]]''
| <ref name="fighting_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Fighting|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1046/fighting|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126161618/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1046/fighting|archive-date=26 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Guessing game|Guessing]]
| Guessing board games are those that involve a player, or players, guessing the answer to a question based on clues from another player. 
| ''[[Battleship (game)|Battleship]]''; ''[[Mysterium (board game)|Mysterium]]''; ''[[Pictionary]]''
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| Hidden movement
| Hidden-movement games are defined as those that feature one or more players who move across the board, unseen to the other players. 
| ''[[Black Sonata]]''; ''{{ill|Captain Sonar|de|Captain Sonar}}''; ''[[City of the Great Machine (board game)|City of the Great Machine]]''; ''[[Fury of Dracula]]''; ''[[Letters from Whitechapel (board game)|Letters from Whitechapel]]''; ''[[Mind MGMT#Board game|Mind MGMT]]''; ''[[Star Wars: Rebellion (board game)|Star Wars Rebellion]]'' 
| <ref name="hidden-movement-games_more-than-meeples_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Best Hidden Movement Board Games|website=More than Meeples (www.morethanmeeples.com.au)|language=en|url=https://morethanmeeples.com.au/best-hidden-movement-board-games|access-date=31 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421081741/https://morethanmeeples.com.au/best-hidden-movement-board-games|archive-date=21 April 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Hidden role
| Hidden-role board games involving a player, or players, with a hidden role within the group, where the rest of the players have to identify them, avoiding any influence or tricks used to deflect any suspicions that they have those roles. Sometimes called hidden traitor board games.
| ''[[Mafia (party game)|Mafia]]''; [[The Resistance (game)|''The Resistance'' franchise games]]; [[Ultimate Werewolf|''Werewolf'' franchise games]]; ''[[Secret Hitler]]''; [[Betrayal at House on the Hill|''Betrayal at House on the Hill'' franchise games]]
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/>
|-

| [[Legacy game|Legacy]]
| Legacy board games are a sub-category of campaign board games, as they also involve players following a series of connected scenarios, where the actions and outcome of one scenario will usually affect the next. However, in legacy board games, a player's choices and actions cause permanent, often physical, changes to the game and its components, such as applying stickers to the board or tearing up cards, thus providing a one-time experience. 
| ''[[Betrayal at House on the Hill#Versions|Betrayal Legacy]]''; ''[[Charterstone]]''; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar]]''; ''[[Pandemic (board game)#Pandemic Legacy|Pandemic Legacy]]''; [[Ticket to Ride (board game)#9) Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West|Ticket to Ride: Legands of the West]]
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Math
| Math board games explicitly require players to use mathematical knowledge and concepts to achieve game objectives, thereby testing each player's number skills. These games combine mathematical skills, such as calculations, with regular game structures, such as sources of randomness.
| ''[[Lost Cities]]''; ''[[Sentient (board game)|Sentient]]''; ''[[The Shipwreck Arcana (board game)|The Shipwreck Arcana]]''; ''[[Turning Machine (board game)|Turning Machine]]''; ''[[Prime Club (board game)|Prime Club]]''; ''{{ill|Qwixx|de|Qwixx}}''; ''[[Fluxx#Editions|Math Fluxx]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Maze and labyrinth
| A maze and labyrinth board game often requires players to navigate a series of complex pathways that are located on the game board. This type of board game tests a player's spatial awareness and problem-solving skills, often while adding in design elements from other types of board games.
| ''[[Burgle Bros. (board game)|Burgle Bros.]]''; ''[[RoboRally]]''; ''[[Labyrinth (board game)|Labyrinth]]''; ''{{ill|Magic Maze|fr|Magic Maze}}''; ''[[Sub Terra]]''; ''[[Ricochet Robots]]''; ''[[The Magic Labyrinth (board game)|The Magic Labyrinth]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="maze-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Maze|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1059/maze|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032105/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1059/maze|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Memory
| Memory board games concern memorizing certain facts, figures, and other information while testing a player's ability to recall sequences, locations, or specific items. 
| ''[[Codenames (board game)|Codenames]]''; ''[[Confusion (board game)|Confusion]]''; ''[[Cortex + Challenge (board game)|Cortex + Challenge]]''; ''[[Enigma: Beyond code (board game)|Enigma: Beyond code]]''; ''[[Hanabi (card game)|Hanabi]]''; ''[[The Magic Labyrinth (board game)|The Magic Labyrinth]]''; ''[[Concentration (card game)|Memory]]''; ''[[That's not a hat (board game)|That's not a hat]]''; ''[[The Resistance (game)|''The Resistance'' franchise games]]''; ''[[Sideshow Swap (board game)|Sideshow Swap]]''; ''[[Simon (game)|Simon]]''; ''[[Wandering Towers (board game)|Wandering Towers]]''; ''[[Whitehall Mystery (board game)|Whitehall Mystery]]''; ''[[Witness (board game)|Witness]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="memory-game_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Memory|website=Board Game Geek (boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1045/memory|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108231432/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1045/memory|archive-date=8 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Moral and spiritual development
| Moral and spiritual development board games are those that prioritise player moral and spiritual development above any technical process of establishing a winner and loser. 
| ''[[Transformation Game]]'';<ref name="transformation-game_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=The Transformation Game|website=Transformation Game Wworldwide (www.transformationgameworldwide.com)|first=Nancy|last=Jochim|language=en|url=https://transformationgameworldwide.com|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214112053/https://transformationgameworldwide.com|archive-date=14 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> ''[[The Mansion of Happiness|Mansion of Happiness]]'';<ref name="mansion-of-hapiness_nyt_2012">{{cite web|title=Streams of Consciousness|website=The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)|date=10 August 2012|first=Dani|last=Shapiro|language=en|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/books/review/the-mansion-of-happiness-by-jill-lepore.html|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511035646/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/books/review/the-mansion-of-happiness-by-jill-lepore.html|archive-date=11 May 2023|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="mansion-of-hapiness_ny-historical_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=The Mansion of Happiness|website=The New York Historical (www.wams.nyhistory.org)|language=en|url=https://wams.nyhistory.org/expansions-and-inequalities/industry-and-immigration/the-mansion-of-happiness|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250104001541/https://wams.nyhistory.org/expansions-and-inequalities/industry-and-immigration/the-mansion-of-happiness|archive-date=4 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="mansion-of-hapiness_henry-ford_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Mansion of Happiness Gameboard, 1845-1880|website=The Henry Ford Museum (www.thehenryford.org)|language=en|url=https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/27801|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250104002213/https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/27801|archive-date=4 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="transformation-games_spririt-of-translformation_currrent(2025)">{{cite web|title=What is the Transformation Game?|website=Spirit of Transformation (www.spiritoftransformation.com)|language=en|url=https://www.spiritoftransformation.com/Whatisthegame.htm|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519042130/https://www.spiritoftransformation.com/Whatisthegame.htm|archive-date=19 May 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> or ''[[Psyche's Key]]''<ref name="psyche's-key_purple-pawn_2010">{{cite web|title=Psyche’s Key, A Personal Journey of Discovery|website=Purple Pawn (www.purplepawn.com)|date=21 February 2010|language=en|url=http://www.purplepawn.com/2010/02/psyches-key-a-personal-journey-of-discovery|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912091154/http://www.purplepawn.com/2010/02/psyches-key-a-personal-journey-of-discovery|archive-date=12 September 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="psyche's-key_craven-herald_2010">{{cite web|title=Addingham woman invents self-help board game|website=(www.cravenherald.co.uk)|date=21 February 2010|language=en|url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/5013457.addingham-woman-invents-self-help-board-game|access-date=3 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906170645/https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/5013457.addingham-woman-invents-self-help-board-game|archive-date=6 September 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
| {{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
|-

| Negotiation
| Negotiation board games are where players must persuade fellow players to make deals and alliances or even offer bribes to get ahead in the game. The only exceptions to this are often euro games, which have stringent resource management rules. 
| ''[[Ca$h’ n Guns (board game)|Ca$h’ n Guns]]''; ''[[Cosmic Encounter]]''; ''[[Diplomacy (game)|Diplomacy]]''; ''[[Hegemony (board game)|Hegemony]]''; [[The Resistance (game)|''The Resistance'' franchise games]]; ''[[Rising Sun (board game)|Rising Sun]]''; ''[[Sheriff of Nottingham (board game)|Sheriff of Nottingham]]''; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''; ''[[Paydirt (game)|Paydirt]]''; [[Pax Pamir|''Pax'' franchise games]]
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="negociation-game_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Negotiation|website=Board Game Geek (boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1026/negotiation|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108232240/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1026/negotiation|archive-date=8 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Number
| Number board games are ones in which players are required to use or manipulate numbers to achieve their the games objectives.
| {{ill|That's Pretty Clever! (board game)|lt=''That's Pretty Clever!'' franchise games|de|Ganz schön clever}}; ''[[Arboretum (board game)|Arboretum]]''; ''[[Take 5 (board game)|Take 5]]''; ''[[The Shipwreck Arcana (board game)|The Shipwreck Arcana]]''
| <ref name="number-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Number|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1098/number|access-date=17 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218124503/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1098/number|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Paper-and-pencil game|Paper-and-pencil]]
| Paper-and-pencil board games are those that can be played solely with writing implements, usually without erasing. They may be played to pass the time, as icebreakers, or for brain training.
| [[Dots and boxes]]; [[Hangman (game)|Hangman]]; [[MASH (game)|MASH]]; [[Paper soccer]]; [[Spellbinder (paper-and-pencil game)|Spellbinder]]; [[Sprouts (game)|Sprouts]]; [[Tic-tac-toe]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Fun Pen and Paper Games to Cure Boredom|website=What Do We Do All Day (www.whatdowedoallday.com)|date=18 February 2020|url=https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/pen-and-paper-games|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206021055/https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/pen-and-paper-games|archive-date=6 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Party
| Party board games are those that encourage social interaction. They are designed for larger groups of players with the aim of fostering social interaction amongst players, thus combining humour, creativity, and social interaction. 
| Classic: [[Charades]]; ''[[Pictionary]]''{{pb}} Modern: ''[[Blood on the Clocktower]]''; ''[[Codenames (board game)|Codenames]]''; ''[[Concept (board game)|Concept]]''; ''[[Dixit (board game)|Dixit]]''; ''[[Decrypto]]''; ''[[Just One (board game)|Just One]]''; ''[[Mysterium (board game)|Mysterium]]''; [[The Resistance (game)|''The Resistance'' franchise games]]; ''[[Secret Hitler]]''; ''[[Snake Oil (board game)|Snake Oil]]''; ''[[Telestrations]]''; ''[[Time's Up! (game)|Time’s Up]]''; [[Ultimate Werewolf|''Werewolf'' franchise games]]
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="party-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Party Game|website=Board Game Geek (boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1030/party-game|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101232833/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1030/party-game|archive-date=1 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Physical
| Physical board games are those involving physical challenges, and fall into two sub-categories: 
<ul>'''Dexterity board games'''
: Those focusing on [[Motor skill#Types of motor skills|fine motors skills]] of a player's fingers, including flicking, balancing, or even throwing objects around. {{pb}}'''Physical skill board games'''
: Those focusing on [[Motor skill#Types of motor skills|gross motors skills]] by utilising a player's whole body movement.</ul>
| ''[[Camp Granada]]''; ''[[Flick ‘em Up (board game)|Flick ‘em Up]]''; ''[[Beasts of Balance]]''; ''[[Dungeon Fighter (board game)|Dungeon Fighter]]''; ''[[Flip Ships (board game)|Flip Ships]]''; ''{{ill|Ghost Blitz (board game)|lt=Ghost Blitz|de|Geistesblitz (Spiel)}}''; ''[[Jenga]]''; ''[[Jungle Speed]]''; ''[[Klask]]''; ''{{ill|Paku Paku|de|Paku Paku}}''; ''[[Pitch Car (board game)|Pitch Car]]''; ''[[Spot It!]]''; ''[[Tumblin' Dice (board game)|Tumblin' Dice]]''; ''[[What Next? (party game)|What Next?]]''
| <ref name="dexterity-games_changing-minds_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Physical skill
| Physical skill board games involve challenges involving [[Motor skill#Types of motor skills|gross motors skills]], through assigning whole body movement tasks to players. 
| ''[[Camp Granada]]''
| {{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
|-

| Position
| Position board games are where the object is not to capture, but to win by leaving the opponent player unable to make a move.
| [[Kōnane]]; [[Mū tōrere]]; [[L game]]
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| Push-your-luck
| Push-your-luck board games that invite you to take ever bigger risks to achieve increasingly valuable rewards against the risk of significant loss. These board games are also called press your luck board games.
| ''[[Biblios (board game)|Biblios]]''; ''[[Formula D (board game)|Formula D]]''; ''[[The Captain is Dead (board game)|The Captain is Dead: Dangerous Planet]]''; ''[[King of Tokyo]]''; ''[[The Quacks of Quedlinburg]]''; ''[[Port Royale (board game)|Port Royale]]''; ''[[Deep Sea Adventure (board game)|Deep Sea Adventure]]''; ''{{ill|Welcome to the Dungeon|de|Welcome to the Dungeon}}''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-
 
| Puzzle
| Puzzle board games are based on the solving of a [[puzzle]] or mystery and are commonly single-player games. 
| Classic: [[Peg solitaire]]; [[Sudoku]]{{pb}} Modern: ''[[Azul (board game)|Azul]]''; ''[[Bärenpark]]''; ''[[Blokus]]''; ''[[Exit: The Game (board game)|Exit: The Game]]''; ''[[Patchwork (board game)|Patchwork]]''; ''[[Ubongo]]''; ''[[Unlock! (board game)|Unlock!]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="puzzle-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Puzzle|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1028/puzzle|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218081917/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1028/puzzle|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Race game|Race]]
| Race board games are those in which each player has the goal of being the player to finish first, either by moving all their pieces to the final destination or completing an objective, e.g., the first player to collect five gems. This also includes games where the objective is to be the first to reach a checkpoint by navigation or steering around obstacles, usually by having greater speed or control than your opponents. The basic requirement is that race mechanics be an operative mechanism; however, racing is not required to be part of the board game’s theme. 
| Classic: [[Agon (game)|Agon]]; [[Pachisi]]; [[Backgammon]]; [[Chaupar]]; [[Chinese checkers]]; [[Coan ki|The bottle game]]; [[Dogs and jackals]]; [[Five-field kono]]; [[Grasshopper (chess)|Grasshopper]]; [[Halma]]; [[Hyena chase]]; ''[[Kerala (board game)|Kerala]]''; [[Liubo]]; [[Ludo]]; [[Ludus duodecim scriptorum]]; [[Mehen (game)|Mehen]]; [[Nyout]]; [[Pachisi]]; [[Patolli]]; [[Royal Game of Ur]]; [[Salta]]; ''[[Saturankam (board game)|Saturankam]]''; [[Senet]]; ''[[T'shu-p'u (board game)|T'shu-p'u]]''; [[Chowka bhara]]; ''[[Kilkenny Cats (board game)|Kilkenny Cats]]''; [[Game of the goose]]; [[Zohn ahl]]{{pb}} Modern: ''[[Camel Up]]''; ''[[Downforce and Rallyman: GT (board game)|Downforce and Rallyman: GT]]''; ''{{ill|Flamme Rouge (board game)|fr|lt=Flamme Rouge|Flamme Rouge}}''; ''[[Formula D]]''; ''[[Istanbul (board game)|Istanbul]]''; ''[[Long Shot: The Dice Game (board game)|Long Shot: The Dice Game]]''; ''[[Montana (board game)|Montana]]''; ''[[Heat: Pedal to the Metal (board game)|Heat: Pedal to the Metal]]''; ''[[The Quest for El Dorado (board game)|The Quest for El Dorado]]''; ''[[Snow Tails (board game)|Snow Tails]]''; [[Thunder Road (board game)|''Thunder Road'' franchise games]]    
| <ref name="cyningstan_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Race Games|website=Cyningstan (www.cyningstan.com)|language=en|url=http://www.cyningstan.com/games/521/race-games|access-date=28 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205151605/http://www.cyningstan.com/games/521/race-games|archive-date=5 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024">{{cite web|title=Clasification of Game|website=The Big Game Hunter (www.thebiggamehunter.com)|first=Bruce|last=Whitehill|language=en|url=https://thebiggamehunter.com/classification-of-games|access-date=31 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207082259/https://thebiggamehunter.com/classification-of-games|archive-date=7 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="race-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Race|website=Board Game Geek (boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2876/race|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217024556/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2876/race|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="racing-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Racing|website=BoardGame Arena (www.boardgamearena.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1031/racing|access-date=18 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114031954/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1031/racing|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Tabletop role-playing game|Role-playing]]
| Role-playing board games are those where players assume a fictional character identity to participate in the game and its narrative. These games combine the character development and narrative of classic role-playing games with the mechanics of a board game.
| ''[[Arcadia (card game)|Arcadia Quest]]''; ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Mage Knight Board Game|Mage Knight]]''; ''[[Mice and Mystics]]''; ''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game|Pathfinder]]''; ''[[Shadowrun]]''; ''[[Swords & Sorcery (SPI)|Sword and Sorcery]]''; ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Real-time
| Real-time board games are those with time limitations, usually playing against a timer, necessitating quick decision-making under pressure. In some real-time games, players take their turns simultaneously, creating a fast-paced, chaotic environment.
| ''{{ill|Captain Sonar|de|Captain Sonar}}''; ''[[Galaxy Trucker]]''; ''[[Pendulum (board game)|Pendulum]]''; ''[[Space Alert]]''; ''[[Fast chess|Speed chess]]''; ''[[XCOM: The Board Game]]'' 
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="real-time-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Real-time|website=Bord Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1037/real-time|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105010916/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1037/real-time|archive-date=5 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Resource management
| The aim of resource management board games is to achieve objectives and gain an advantage through players acquiring, using, and managing a set of resources, which can be anything from physical materials, currency, and points to abstract concepts like time or influence. 
| ''[[Everdell]]''; ''[[Imperial Settlers]]''; ''[[Concordia (board game)|Concordia]]''; ''[[Scythe (game)|Scythe]]''
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="resource-management-games_mahtgichan-games_2024">{{cite web|title=Incorporating Resource Management Mechanics|website=The Creative Workshop (www.mahtgiciangames.com)|date=19 January 2024|language=en|url=https://mahtgiciangames.com/blogs/the-creative-workshop-game-design-blueprints/incorporating-resource-management-mechanics?srsltid=AfmBOop45_zqVF8TUXRJnv6QpH3gD4vWkdMsMbjKQt7Ph8pCybRHFLJt|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250113032358/https://mahtgiciangames.com/blogs/the-creative-workshop-game-design-blueprints/incorporating-resource-management-mechanics?srsltid=AfmBOop45_zqVF8TUXRJnv6QpH3gD4vWkdMsMbjKQt7Ph8pCybRHFLJt|archive-date=13 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="resource-management-games_cbr_2022">{{cite web|title=10 Best Resource Management Tabletop Games|website=Comic Book Resources (www.cbr.com)|date=20 December 2022|first=Rebekah|last=Krum|language=en|url=https://www.cbr.com/best-resource-management-tabletop-games/|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101142939/https://www.cbr.com/best-resource-management-tabletop-games|archive-date=1 January 2023|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=17 Types of Board Games Explained!|website=Gameology (www.gameology.com.au)|date=3 October 2020|language=en|url=https://www.gameology.com.au/blogs/news/types-of-board-games-explained?srsltid=AfmBOorw2dGN5GNgBkkbj6qI3JPU3rRG-1zkcsP9HN0IYmZacrkfNRDj|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250206034019/https://www.gameology.com.au/blogs/news/types-of-board-games-explained|archive-date=6 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Roll-and-write
| Roll-and-write board games are those where players roll dice and decide how to use the outcome, writing it into a personal scoring sheet. Each decision impacts on a player's options for the rest of the game, so even in games where everyone uses the same dice, slightly different choices at the start can lead to very different end results. Some games replace dice rolls with card exposure or the writing with miniature-based roll-and-build.
| ''[[Bargain Basement Bathysphere (board game)|Bargain Basement Bathysphere]]''; ''[[Corinth (board game)|Corinth]]''; ''{{ill|Railroad Ink|de|Railroad Ink}}''; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''; {{ill|That's Pretty Clever! (board game)|lt=''That's Pretty Clever!'' franchise games|de|Ganz schön clever}}; ''[[Yahtzee]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| [[Running-fight game|Running-fight]]
| Running-fight board games are those that combine the movement of race games with the goal of eliminating opponent player pieces like in chess or draughts.
| [[:Category:Running-fight board games|Examples of Running-fight games]] that are also board games include: ''[[Bul (game)|Bul]]''
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| Share-buying
| Share-buying board games are those in which players buy stakes in each other's positions. These board games are typically longer economic-management games.
| ''[[Acquire]]'' or ''[[Panamax (board game)|Panamax]]''
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| [[Social deduction game|Social deduction]]
| Social deduction board games are those where one or more players have a secret that the rest of the players need to figure out. Often, players are secretly assigned roles known only to them and must achieve their own objectives, commonly either establishing the odd one out or hiding the fact that they are the odd one out. These board games generally involve deceit, bluffing, and accusations. 
| ''[[Blood on the Clocktower]]''; [[Ultimate Werewolf|''Werewolf'' franchise games]]; ''[[The Resistance (game)|The Resistance]]''; ''[[Secret Hitler]]''; ''[[Unfathomable (board game)|Unfathomable]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>
|-

| Space
| In space board games are often abstract games where the objective is for players to line up their pieces in order to complete predetermined array targets. Space board game fall into either two of the following sub-cateogires:
<ul>'''Alignment board games'''
: The goal of an alignment board game is to create a line of tokens of a prescribed length. {{pb}}'''Configuration board games'''
: The goal of a configuration board game is to create a line of tokens of a prescribed length in a particular order.
</ul>
| ''[[Connect6]]''; ''[[Entropy (1977 board game)|Entropy]]''; [[Gomoku]]; [[Hexade (board game)|Hexade]]; [[Lines of Action]]; [[Nine men's morris]]; [[Noughts and crosses]]; [[Renju]]; [[Tic-tac-toe]]
| <ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/>
|-

| Storytelling
| Story-telling board games are those with a focus on narrative and description that is directed or fully created by the players. This can be an overarching story lasting the whole game, or across a campaign of multiple sessions, read from pre-written passages, or a sequence of vignettes tasking players with inventing and describing something. Story-telling board games often test a player's creativity, improvisation, and sometimes acting skills.
| [[List of storytelling games|Examples of story-telling games]] that are also board games include: ''[[Betrayal at House on the Hill]]''; ''[[Dixit (card game)|Dixit]]''; ''[[Fog of Love (board game)|Fog of Love]]''; ''[[The King’s Dilemma (board game)|The King’s Dilemma]]''; ''[[Once Upon a Time (game)|Once Upon a Time]]''; ''[[Tales of the Arabian Nights (board game)|Tales of the Arabian Nights]]''

| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>
|-

| Stacking
| Stacking board games involve players physically stacking and balancing game pieces.
| [[List of abstract strategy games#Stacking games|Examples of stacking games]] that are also board games include: ''[[Boom Blast Stix (board game)|Boom Blast Stix]]''; ''[[Bamboleo (board game)|Bamboleo]]''; ''{{ill|Paku Paku|de|Paku Paku}}''; ''[[Animal Upon Animal (board game)|Animal Upon Animal]]''; ''[[Junk Art (board game)|Junk Art]]''; ''[[Jenga]]''; ''[[Beasts of Balance]]''; [[Lasca]]; ''[[Meeple Circus (board game)|Meeple Circus]]''; ''[[Riff Raff (board game)|Riff Raff]]''; ''[[Rhino Hero (board game)|Rhino Hero]]''; ''[[DVONN]]''
| <ref name="stacking_board-game-quest_2018">{{cite web|title=Top 10 Stacking Board Games|website=Board Game Quest (www.boardgamequest.com)|date=19 October 2018|first=Tony|last=Mastrangeli|language=en|url=https://www.boardgamequest.com/top-10-stacking-board-games|access-date=1 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415193726/https://www.boardgamequest.com/top-10-stacking-board-games|archive-date=15 April 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Territory building
| In territory building board games, players establish or gain control over a specific area. These games often use area majority mechanics, also known as influence or enclosure mechanics, where areas are created as the game progresses. 
| ''[[The Castles of Burgundy]]''; ''[[Faust (board game)|Faust]]''; [[Terra Mystica|''Terra Mystica'' franchise games]]; [[Go (game)|Go]]; [[Reversi]]; ''[[Risk (game)|Risk]]''; ''[[Scythe (game)|Scythe]]''; ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mars]]''; ''[[War of the Ring (board game)|War of the Ring]]'' 
| <ref name="territory-building-games-bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Territory building|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1086/territory-building|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171822/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1086/territory-building|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Trivia
| Trivia board games are those that test a player's ability to recall [[trivia]] facts. Many are based on a simple design that revolves around a deck of cards with questions. 
| ''[[Articulate!]]''; ''[[Blockbuster: The Game (board game)|Blockbuster: The Game]]''; ''[[Fauna (board game)|Fuana]]''; ''[[Hipster (board game)|Hipster]]''; ''[[Richard Garfield#Other Games|Half-Truth]]''; ''[[Linkee! (board game)|Linkee!]]''; ''{{ill|Smart10|fi|Smart10}}''; ''[[Timeline (board game)|''Timeline'' franchise games]]''; ''[[Trivial Pursuit]]''; ''[[Wits and Wagers]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Types of Board Games|website=Hero Time University|language=en|url=https://herotime1.com/design/types-of-board-games|access-date=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230064713/https://herotime1.com/design/types-of-board-games|archive-date=30 December 2024|url-status=dead|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="trivia-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Trivia|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1027/trivia|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216222203/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1027/trivia|archive-date=16 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Unequal forces
| Unequal force board games are classified as any game whose core mechanics involve one player who is playing against all the other players right from the start or at least changes their allegiance, usually pledging it to the dark side. These board games are also known as hunt or one vs many board games.
| ''[[Betrayal at House on the Hill]]''; ''[[Fox games|fox and geese]]''; ''[[Fury of Dracula]]''; ''[[Not Alone (board game)|Not Alone]]''; ''[[Shadows Over Camelot]]''; [[Tafl games|Tablut]]
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>
|-

| [[Word game|Word]]
| Word board games involve the competitive use of language, testing each player's vocabulary, creative thinking skills, spelling or ability to quickly come up with words, phrases, or sentences.
| ''[[Anagrams (game)|Anagrams]]''; ''[[Boggle]]''; ''[[So Clover! (board game)|So Clover!]]''; ''[[Codenames (board game)|Codenames]]''; ''[[Decrypto]]''; ''[[Bananagrams]]''; ''[[Just One (board game)|Just One]]''; ''[[Paperback (board game)|Paperback]]''; ''[[Scrabble]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="word-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Word Game|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1025/word-game|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217214756/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1025/word-game|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Worker-placement
| Worker-placement board games are those where actions are taken by assigning worker tokens, from a player's allocated allotment, on designated game board spaces, which trigger specific actions, like collecting resources or completing tasks. Such board games are more commonly Euro-style board games, which concentrate on player interaction. Actions one player has taken often can not be taken by or come with a cost for other players.
| ''[[Agricola (board game)|Agricola]]''; ''[[Charterstone]]''; ''[[Caverna (board game)|Caverna]]''; ''[[Caylus (game)|Caylus]]''; ''[[Dune: Imperium]]''; ''[[Everdell]]''; ''[[A Feast for Odin]]''; ''[[Keyflower (board game)|Keyflower]]''; ''[[Lords of Waterdeep]]''; ''[[Ora et Labora (board game)|Ora et Labora]]''; ''[[Stone Age (board game)|Stone Age]]''; ''[[Tōkaidō (board game)|Tōkaidō]]''; ''[[Village (board game)|Village]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|-

| Wargame
| [[Wargame]] board games are strategy-based board games with a war theme. Their mechanics are also closely tied to simulate battles, either fictional or historical, within differing settings, e.g. Napoleonic Wars, World War II, even Mars. Players pit armies against each other, represented by collections of miniatures or tokens on a map, with a grid or actual measured distances for movement. Players are required to eliminate the opponent's figures or achieve objectives to win, with combat usually dictated by dice rolls or card play. This type of game has three subcategories: 
<ul>'''Tactical'''
: Tactical wargame board games depict a skirmish, battle or series of battles, using smaller scale units and maps that depict a battleground that is a few miles or less in size. {{pb}}'''Operational'''
:  Operational wargame board games cover a broader scope of military actions, greater than single battles. These may cover an entire smaller war, or a series of operations, or even a campaign within a greater war. {{pb}}'''Strategic'''
: Strategic wargame board games usually recreate a major war on a large scale. Typically, units in such a game will be corps or army level; however, in the monster wargame, divisions and even smaller-sized units can be depicted.
</ul>

| [[List of board wargames|Examples]] include: ''[[Axis & Allies]]''; ''[[Cry Havoc (2016 board game)|Cry Havoc]]''; ''[[Dune: Imperium]]''; ''[[Inis (board game)|Inis]]'', ''[[Kings of War]]''; ''[[Memoir '44]]''; ''[[Risk (game)|Risk]]''; ''[[Root (board game)|Root]]''; ''[[Star Wars: Armada (board game)|Star Wars: Armada]]''; ''[[Scythe (board game)|Scythe]]''; ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''; ''[[Undaunted (board game)|Undaunted: Normandy]]''; ''[[Warhammer (game)|Warhammer]]''
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021"/><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="war_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Wargame|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1019/wargame|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217204338/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1019/wargame|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="resource-management-games_gameology_current(2025)"/>
|}

===Theme===

Parlett also distinguishes between [[Abstract strategy game|abstract]] and [[Theme (narrative)|thematic]] games, the latter having a specific genre or frame narrative, for examples regular chess versus [[Star Wars]]-themed chess.<ref name="game-category_murray_1952"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/> The board games often have themes that emulate concepts in real-life situations or fictional scenario, but can also have no evident theme.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Such games have come under criticism, usually when trending thematic concepts, such as those based on popular television show licenses, have been used to supplement deficiencies in the game mechanics. When discussing this practice, Edwards wrote "A bad game, however, remains a bad game even if it has been themed to a favorite television show."<ref name="edwards_fv"/>{{rp|11}} Parlett went so far as to describe these promotional and television spin-off games as being “of an essentially trivial, ephemeral, mind-numbing, and ultimately soul-destroying degree of worthlessness".<ref name="classical-classification_parlett_1999"/>{{rp|7}}

The prominent themes found in board games of the Golden Era included: travel, sports, courtship, racism, city life, war, education and capitalist enterprise".<ref name="golden-era_hofer_2003">{{cite book|title=The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board and Table Games|via=Google Books|date=1 March 2003|first=Margaret|last=Hofer|language=en|url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Games_we_Played/icYtGRUZrZUC?hl=en|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250114024717/https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_Games_we_Played/icYtGRUZrZUC?hl=en|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy|publisher=Princeton Architectural Press|isbn=978-1-56898-397-4}}</ref> Common modern thematic game categories include:

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+ Thematic categorization of board games
|-
! Board game genres
! Description
! Examples 
! Ref
|-

| Adventure
| An [[adventure]]-themed board games have themes of heroism, exploration, and puzzle-solving, often involving the game characters in quests. The storylines for these types of games often make them fantasy board games.
| [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Nemesis (board game)|Nemesis]]''; [[Clank! (board game)|''Clank!'' franchise games]]; ''[[Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]''
| <ref name="adventure_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Adventure|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1022/adventure|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217185529/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1013/farming|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Abstract strategy game|Abstract strategy]]
| Abstract strategy board games are where a player's decisions affect the outcome rather than luck, but that does not overtly simulate a real-world theme or has a thematic concept disconnected from real-world experience. 
| [[List of abstract strategy games|Examples of abstract strategy games]] that are also board games include:<ul>Classical: [[Chess]]; [[Checkers]]; [[Go (board game)|Go]]; [[Reversi]]; [[Tafl games]]{{pb}} Modern: ''[[Azul (board game)|Azul]]''; ''[[Abalone (game)|Abalone]]''; [[Dameo]]; ''[[Stratego]]''; ''[[Hive (game)|Hive]]''; ''[[GIPF (game)|GIPF]]''; ''[[Blokus]]''; ''[[Patchwork (board game)|Patchwork]]''; ''[[Quoridor]]''; ''[[Tigris and Euphrates (game)|Tigris and Euphrates]]''; ''[[Hive (game)|Hive]]''; ''[[War Chest (board game)|War Chest]]''</ul>
| <ref name="gamy-types_dice-breaker_2021">{{cite web|title=Board game types explained: a beginner's guide to tabletop gaming terms|website=Dice Breaker (www.dicebreaker.com)|date=25 June 2021|first=Simon|last=Castle|language=en|url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/board-game/how-to/board-game-types-explained|access-date=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230140816/https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/board-game/how-to/board-game-types-explained|archive-date=30 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_games-radar_2024">{{cite web|title=Types of board games, explained|website=Games Radar (www.gamesradar.com)|date=21 September 2024|first=Benjamin|last=Abbott|language=en|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/types-of-board-games|access-date=21 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230064243/https://www.gamesradar.com/tabletop-gaming/types-of-board-games|archive-date=30 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024">{{cite web|title=Different types of board games|website=Board Games Land (www.boardgamesland.com)|date=22 October 2024|language=en|url=https://boardgamesland.com/different-types-of-board-games|access-date=31 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910213932/https://boardgamesland.com/different-types-of-board-games|archive-date=10 September 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="abstract-strategy-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Abstract Strategy|website=Board Game Geek (boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1009/abstract-strategy|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218114312/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1009/abstract-strategy|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Animal
| [[Animal]]-themed games involve animals as a major component of the theme or gameplay, often requiring players to attend to their management or control. Players can even be required to take on the role of animals in the game.
| ''[[Ark Nova]]''; ''[[Great Western Trail (board game)|Great Western Trail]]''; ''[[Root (board game)|Root]]''; ''[[Wingspan (board game)|Wingspan]]''; ''[[Everdell]]''
| <ref name="animal-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Animals|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1089/animals|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114031906/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1089/animals|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Arabian
| [[Arab culture|Arabian]]-themed board games are generally fantasy or adventure games that are set in, or inspired by, locations on the Arabian Peninsula of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, or North/East Africa, including themes and imagery such as deserts, palaces, camels, jewels, and oases etc.
| ''[[Five Tribes (board game)|Five Tribes]]''; ''[[Targui]]''; ''[[Camel Up]]''; ''[[Wayfarers of the South Tigris (board game)|Wayfarers of the South Tigris]]''; ''[[Through the Desert]]''
| <ref name="arbian_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Arabian|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1052/arabian|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171825/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1052/arabian|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Environmental
| [[Natural environment|Environmental]]-themed games have themes and storylines regarding environmental conservation and management.
| ''[[Pandemic (board game)#Pandemic Legacy|Pandemic Legacy]]''; ''[[Ark Nova]]''; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mars]]''; ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[Barrage (board game)|Barrage]]''; ''[[Cascadia (board game)|Cascadia]]''
| <ref name="environmental_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Environmental|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1084/environmental|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217195924/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1084/environmental|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Civil War
| [[Civil war]]-themed board games have storylines concerning a violent battle for government control between two more groups from the same country. The majority of Civil War games are also categorized as [[wargame]] board games.
| ''[[Star Wars: Rebellion (board game)|Star Wars: Rebellion]]''; ''[[Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan (board game)|Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan]]''; ''[[COIN (board game)|Fire in the Lake]]''; [[Pax Pamir|''Pax'' franchise games]]; ''[[Seize Rome in 20 Minutes! (board game)|Caesar!: Seize Rome in 20 Minutes!]]''; ''[[Resist! (board game)|Resist!]]''
| <ref name="civil-war-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Civil War|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1102/civil-war|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217203548/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1102/civil-war|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Climbing
| A [[climbing]]-themed board game is one thematically related to mountaineering or scaling a similarly steep surface, including a wall.
| ''[[K2 (board game)|K2]]''; ''[[Mountaineering (board game)|Mountaineering]]''; ''[[Climb! (board game)|Climb!]]''; ''[[Summit: The Board Game|Summit]]''; ''[[Mountaineers (board game)|Mountaineers]]''
| <ref name="climbing-games_climbing_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=5 Climbing Board Games|website=Climbing (www.climbing.com)|language=en|url=https://www.climbing.com/news/5-climbing-board-games|access-date=22 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522202906/https://www.climbing.com/news/5-climbing-board-games|archive-date=22 May 2022|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Fantasy
| A [[fantasy]]-themed board game is one whose themes and scenarios exist in a fictional world, where magic and other supernatural forms are a primary element of the plot, theme or setting. 
| [[:Category:Fantasy board games|Fantasy games]] include: [[Clank! (board game)|''Clank!'' franchise games]]; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Shadows Over Camelot]]''; ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[War of the Ring (board game)|War of the Ring]]''
| <ref name="fantasy-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Fantasy|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1010/fantasy|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217193611/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1010/fantasy|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Farming
| A [[farming]]-themed game, usually a turn-based game revolving around building farms, growing crops, and raising livestock. 
| ''[[Agricola (board game)|Agricola]]''; ''[[Caverna (board game)|Caverna]]''; ''[[A Feast for Odin]]''; ''[[Puerto Rico (board game)|Puerto Rico]]''; ''[[Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar (board game)|Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar]]''; ''[[Viticulture (board game)|Viticulture]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="farming_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Farming|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1013/farming|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217185529/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1013/farming|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Flight
| [[Flight]]-themed board games have themes concerned with mechanical flight, including planes, helicopters, and gliders etc.
| ''[[Sky Team (board game)|Sky Team]]''; ''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game]]''; ''[[Pan Am (board game)|Pan Am]]''; ''[[The Manhattan Project (board game)|The Manhattan Project]]''; ''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition]]''; ''[[Airlines Europe (board game)|Airlines Europe]]''
| <ref name="flight-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Aviation / Flight|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2650/aviation-flight|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032031/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2650/aviation-flight|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Industry / manufacturing 
| [[Manufacturing|Industry / manufacturing]]-themed games encourage players to build, manage or operate tools and machinery in order to manufacture raw materials into goods and products. Many industry / manufacturing-themed games are economic games.
| [[Brass (board game)|''Brass'' franchise games]]; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mars]]''; ''[[A Feast for Odin]]''; ''[[Barrage (board game)|Barrage]]''; ''[[Food Chain Magnate]]''
| <ref name="Industry-Manufacturing-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Industry-Manufacturing|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1088/industry-manufacturing|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032046/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1088/industry-manufacturing|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Historical simulation
| A historical simulation board game is a game that attempts to create a realistic model of a historical event, battle, or encounter. The game uses rules and other [[wikt:ludus#Latin|ludic]] elements to construct meaning about the event, and players can use these elements to interpret the game in specific ways. Common periods of history which have provided themes for board games include:<ul>
<li>General<ref name="history-simulation_play-the-past_2012">{{cite web|title=Historical Simulations as Problem Spaces: Some Guidelines for Criticism|website=Play the Past (www.playthepast.org)|date=21 March 2012|first=Jeremiah|last=McCall|language=en|url=https://www.playthepast.org/?p=2594|access-date=1 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130155610/http://www.playthepast.org/?p=2594|archive-date=30 January 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>Before 4000 BC [[Prehistoric]]<ref name="prehistoric-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Prehistoric|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1036/prehistoric|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114125431/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1036/prehistoric|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>3000 BC–476 [[Ancient]]<ref name="ancient-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Ancient|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1050/ancient|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114094140/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1050/ancient|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>476–1492 [[Medieval]]<ref name="medieval-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Medieval|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1035/medieval|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032057/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1035/medieval|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1380–1590 [[Renaissance]]<ref name="renaissance-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Renaissance|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1070/renaissance|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114094058/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1070/renaissance|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1500–1690 Pike and Shot<ref name="16-17th-century-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Pike and Shot|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2725/pike-and-shot|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114094204/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2725/pike-and-shot|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1690–1789 [[Age of Reason]]<ref name="age-of-reason-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Age of Reason|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2726/age-of-reason|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171824/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2726/age-of-reason|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1600–1800 [[American Indian Wars]]<ref name="us-indian-wars_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=American Indian Wars|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1108/american-indian-wars|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032054/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1108/american-indian-wars|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1775–1783 [[American Revolutionary War]]<ref name="us-revolutionary-war_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=American Revolutionary War|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1075/american-revolutionary-war|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171823/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1075/american-revolutionary-war|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1789–1815 [[Napoleonic]]<ref name="napoleonic-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Napoleonic|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1051/napoleonic|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114115000/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1051/napoleonic|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1815–1914 Post-Napoleonic<ref name="post-napoleonic-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Post-Napoleonic|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2710/post-napoleonic|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114094044/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2710/post-napoleonic|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1861–1865 [[American Civil War]]<ref name="us-civil-war_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=
American Civil War|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1075/american-revolutionary-war|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171823/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1075/american-revolutionary-war|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1850–1900 [[Timeline of the American Old West|American Old West]]<ref name="us-west_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=American West|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1055/american-west|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114121414/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1055/american-west|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1914–1918 [[World War I]]<ref name="ww1-bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=World War I|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1065/world-war-i|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114121517/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1065/world-war-i|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1939–1945 [[World War II]]<ref name="ww2_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=World War II|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1049/world-war-ii|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217221414/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1049/world-war-ii|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1945–present [[Modern warfare]]<ref name="modern-warfare_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Modern Warfare|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1069/modern-warfare|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115023010/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1069/modern-warfare|archive-date=15 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><li>
1945–1975 [[Vietnam Wars]]<ref name="vietnam-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Vietnam War|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1109/vietnam-war|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114122328/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1109/vietnam-war|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>1950–1953 [[Korean War]]<ref name="korean-war-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Korean War|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1091/korean-war|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114094213/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1091/korean-war|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
</ul>
| General: ''[[Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization|Through The Ages]]'' or ''[[History of the World]]''{{pb}} Before 4000 BC Prehistoric: ''[[Dominant Species (board game)|Dominant Species]]''; ''[[Stone Age (board game)|Stone Age]]''; ''[[Paleo (board game)|Paleo]]''; ''[[Endless Winter: Paleoamericans (board game)|Endless Winter: Paleoamericans]]''; [[Evolution (board game)|''Evolution'' franchise games]], or ''[[Oceans (board game)|Oceans]]''{{pb}} 3000 BC–476 Ancient: ''[[7 Wonders Duel]]''; ''[[Concordia (board game)|''Concordia'' franchise games]]''; ''[[Lost Ruins of Arnak]]''; ''[[Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar (board game)|Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar]]''; ''[[Teotihuacan: City of Gods (board game)|Teotihuacan: City of Gods]]''{{pb}} 476–1492 Medieval: ''[[The Castles of Burgundy]]''; ''[[A Feast for Odin]]''; ''[[Orléans (board game)|Orléans]]''; ''[[The Quacks of Quedlinburg]]''; ''[[Paladins of the West Kingdom (board game)|Paladins of the West Kingdom]]''; ''[[El Grande]]''{{pb}} 1380–1590 Renaissance: ''[[Azul (board game)|Azul]]''; ''[[El Grande]]''; ''[[Splendor (game)|Splendor]]''; ''[[Keyflower]]''; ''[[Lorenzo il Magnifico]]''; ''[[Rajas of the Ganges]]''{{pb}} 1500–1690 Pike and Shot: ''[[Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan (board game)|Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan]]''; ''[[Merchants & Marauders (board game)|Merchants & Marauders]]''; ''[[Here I Stand (boardgame)|Here I Stand]]''; ''[[Pax Renaissance (board game)|Pax Renaissance]]''; ''[[Wallenstein (board game)|Wallenstein]]''{{pb}} 1690–1789 Age of Reason: [[Brass (board game)|''Brass'' franchise games]]; ''[[Rococo (board game)|Rococo]]''; ''[[Maria (board game)|Maria]]''; ''[[Newton (board game)|Newton]]''; ''[[Saint Petersburg (board game)|Saint Petersburg]]''; ''[[Imperial Struggle (board game)|Imperial Struggle]]''{{pb}} 1600–1800 American Indian Wars: ''[[A Few Acres of Snow (board game)|A Few Acres of Snow]]''; ''[[Wilderness War (board game)|Wilderness War]]''; ''[[Wendake (board game)|Wendake]]''; ''{{ill|1812: The Invasion of Canada|de|1812: Der zweite amerikanische Unabhängigkeitskrieg}}''; ''[[Navajo Wars (board game)|Navajo Wars]]''; ''[[Wooden Ships and Iron Men]]''{{pb}} 1775–1783 American Revolutionary War: ''[[Imperial Struggle (board game)|Imperial Struggle]]''; ''[[1775: Rebellion (board game)|1775: Rebellion]]''; ''[[Washington's War]]''; ''[[Liberty or Death: The American Insurrection (board game)|Liberty or Death: The American Insurrection]]''; ''[[Wooden Ships and Iron Men]]''; ''{{ill|Sails of Glory|it|Sails of Glory}}''{{pb}} 1789–1815 Napoleonic: ''[[Commands & Colors: Napoleonics (board game)|Commands & Colors: Napoleonics]]''; ''[[Napoleon's Triumph (board game)|Napoleon's Triumph]]''; ''{{ill|1812: The Invasion of Canada|de|1812: Der zweite amerikanische Unabhängigkeitskrieg}}'', or ''[[Manoeuvre (board game)|Manoeuvre]]''{{pb}} 1815–1914 Post-Napoleonic: [[Brass (board game)|''Brass'' franchise games]]; ''[[Pax Pamir]]''; ''[[Obsession (board game)|Obsession]]''; ''[[Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (board game)|Trickerion: Legends of Illusion]]''; ''[[Carnegie (board game)|Carnegie]]''{{pb}} 1861–1865 American Civil War: ''[[Freedom: The Underground Railroad]]''; ''[[Battle Cry (game)|Battle Cry]]''; ''[[For the People (board game)|For the People]]''; ''[[The Civil War 1861-1865 (board game)|The Civil War 1861-1865]]''; ''[[A House Divided (board game)|A House Divided]]''{{pb}} 1850–1900 American Old West: ''[[Great Western Trail (board game)|Great Western Trail]]''; ''[[Western Legends (board game)|Western Legends]]''; ''[[Lewis & Clark: The Expedition (board game)|Lewis & Clark: The Expedition]]''; ''[[Boonlake (board game)|Boonlake]]''; ''[[Colt Express]]''{{pb}} 1914–1918 World War I: ''[[Memoir '44]]''; ''[[Paths of Glory (board game)|Paths of Glory]]''; ''[[The Grizzled (board game)|The Grizzled]]''; ''[[Wings of War: Famous Aces]]''; ''[[Quartermaster General: 1914 (board game)|Quartermaster General: 1914]]''; ''[[Wings of War#First World War Series|Wings of War: First World War Series]]''{{pb}} 1939–1945 World War II: ''[[Axis & Allies]]''; ''[[Undaunted: Normandy (board game)|Undaunted: Normandy]]''; ''[[Memoir '44]]''; ''[[Combat Commander: Europe (board game)|Combat Commander: Europe]]''; ''[[Air, Land, & Sea (board game)|Air, Land, & Sea]]''; ''[[Blitzkrieg!: World War Two in 20 Minutes (board game)|Blitzkrieg!: World War Two in 20 Minutes]]''; ''[[Black Orchestra (board game)|Black Orchestra]]''{{pb}} Modern Warfare: ''[[Twilight Struggle]]''; ''[[This War of Mine: The Board Game]]''; ''{{ill|Captain Sonar|de|Captain Sonar}}''; ''[[Fire in the Lake (board game)|Fire in the Lake]]''; ''[[Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001–?]]''; [[COIN (board game)|''COIN'' franchise games]]{{pb}} 1945–1975 Vietnam Wars: ''[[Downtown: Air War Over Hanoi, 1965-1972 (board game)|Downtown: Air War Over Hanoi, 1965-1972]]''; [[Fields of Fire (game)|''Fields of Fire'' franchise games]]; ''[[Fire in the Lake (board game)|Fire in the Lake]]''; ''[[Phantom Leader (board game)|Phantom Leader]]''; ''[[Vietnam 1965-1975]]''{{pb}} 1950–1953 Korean War: [[Fields of Fire (game)|''Fields of Fire'' franchise games]]; ''[[The Korean War: June 1950-May 1951 (board game)|The Korean War: June 1950-May 1951]]''; ''[[Korea: The Forgotten War (board game)|Korea: The Forgotten War]]''; ''[[Flight Leader (board game)|Flight Leader]]''; ''[[The Speed of Heat (board game)|The Speed of Heat]]''
|-

| Horror
| A [[Horror fiction|horror]]-themed game is one that contains themes and imagery depicting morbid topics that are associated with fear, terror, or dread, often also including supernatural elements.
| [[:Category: Horror board games|Examples of horror games]] that are also board game include: ''[[Arkham Horror]]''; ''[[AuZtralia (board game)|AuZtralia]]''; ''[[Betrayal at House on the Hill]]''; ''[[Cthulhu: Death May Die (board game)|Cthulhu: Death May Die]]''; ''[[Dead Man’s Cabal]]''; ''[[Dead of Winter: A Cross Roads Game|Dead of Winter]]''; ''[[Eldritch Horror]]''; ''[[Horrified (board game)|Horrified]]''; ''[[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre#Adaptations|Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Slaughterhouse]]''; ''[[Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game (board game)|Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game]]''; ''[[Mansions of Madness]]''; ''[[Mysterium (board game)|Mysterium]]''; ''[[Nyctophobia (board game)|Nyctophobia]]''; ''[[Shadow Hunters]]''; ''[[The Thing (board game)|''The Thing'' franchise games]]''; [[Ultimate Werewolf|''Werewolf'' franchise games]]; ''[[Unmatched (board game)#Cobble & Fog|Unmatched: Cobble and Fog]]''; ''[[Unfathomable (board game)|Unfathomable]]''; ''[[Zombicide]]''
| <ref>{{Cite web|title=Arkham Horror's 3rd Edition Gives the Game a Dramatic and Awesome Overhaul - Gen Con 2018|date=3 August 2018|website=IGN (www.ign.com)|language=en|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/03/arkham-horrors-3rd-edition-gives-the-game-a-dramatic-and-awesome-overhaul-gen-con-2018|access-date=28 December 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190121013402/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/03/arkham-horrors-3rd-edition-gives-the-game-a-dramatic-and-awesome-overhaul-gen-con-2018|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 December 2019|title=The Best Horror and Zombie Board Games|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-horror-and-zombie-board-games|website=IGN (www.ign.com)|language=en|access-date=28 December 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241228062342/https://www.ign.com/articles/best-horror-board-games|archive-date=28 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="horror_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Horror|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1024/horror|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171820/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1024/horror|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="horror_meehan(dice-breaker)_2023">{{Cite news|title=Best horror board games|first=Alex|last=Meehan|date=26 October 2023|language=en|page=|website=Dice Breaker (www.dicebreaker.com)|url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/themes/horror/best-games/best-horror-board-games|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721092451/https://www.dicebreaker.com/themes/horror/best-games/best-horror-board-games|archive-date=21 July 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Mafia
| [[Mafia]]-themed board games have themes, narratives or scenarios related to organized criminal groups.
| ''[[The Godfather: Corleone's Empire]]''; ''[[Ca$h 'n Guns (board game)|Ca$h 'n Guns]]''; ''[[Scarface (board game)|Scarface]]''; ''[[Sons of Anarchy: Men of Mayhem (board game)|Sons of Anarchy: Men of Mayhem]]''; ''[[La Cosa Nostra (board game)|La Cosa Nostra]]''
| <ref name="mafia-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Mafia|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1033/mafia|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032055/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1033/mafia|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Medical
| [[Medicine|Medical]]-themed board games often can have elements of surgery, cures, recovery/recuperation/physical therapy, psychiatry, pharmaceutical prescription, and other medicine-related matters.
| [[Pandemic (board game)|''Pandemic'' franchise games]] or ''[[Unconscious Mind (board game)|Unconscious Mind]]''
| <ref name="medical-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Medical|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2145/medical|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114031900/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2145/medical|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Murder mystery
| Murder mystery-themed board games are board games that often deduction or social deduction board games, where players investigate an unsolved murder, or murders, determining the criminal details or perpetrators.
| ''[[Mansions of Madness]]''; ''[[Blood on the Clocktower]]''; ''[[Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective (gamebook)|Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective]]''; ''[[Deception (board game)|Deception: Murder in Hong Kong]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="murder-myster-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Murder / Mystery|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1040/murder-mystery|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218031609/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1040/murder-mystery|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Musical
| Musical board games are thematically linked to music, [[Musical ensemble|bands]] or the [[music industry]]. 
| ''[[Battle of the Bands (board game)|Battle of the Bands]]''; ''[[Cranium (board game)#Expansions and spinoffs|Cranium Pop 5]]''; ''[[DropMix (game)|DropMix]]''; ''[[Game that Song (board game)|Game that Song]]''; ''{{ill|Hitster (board game)|de|lt=Hitster|Hitster}}''; ''[[Humm Bug (board game)|Humm Bug]]''; ''[[Encore (board game)|Encore]]''; ''[[Lacrimosa (board game)|Lacrimosa]]''; ''[[Melody Infidelody (board game)|Melody Infidelody]]''; ''[[On Tour (board game)|On Tour]]''; ''[[Spontuneous (board game)|Spontuneous]]''; ''[[Schrille Stille (board game)|Schrille Stille]]'' ; ''[[Timeline: Music & Cinema (board game)|Timeline: Music & Cinema]]''
| <ref name="musical-gmaes_gamer_2024">{{cite web|title=Best Musical Board Games In 2024|website=The Gamer (www.thegamer.com)|date=24 April 2024|first=Davis|last=Collins|language=en|url=https://www.thegamer.com/best-music-board-games|access-date=1 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514220831/https://www.thegamer.com/best-music-board-games|archive-date=14 May 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="musical-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Music|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1054/music|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920145157/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1054/music|archive-date=20 September 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Mythology
| [[Myth]]ology-themed board games are those that incorporate a thematic narrative that defines how the game world or characters came into existence, especially those related or based on narratives of ancient civilizations. The storylines usually include supernatural elements, e.g. gods, goddesses and demigods, and are sometimes even set in a fabled or primordial time, which usually corresponds to a general corpus of folk stories (myths) that used to have some form of religious or sacred nature for the cultures focused on in the game.
| ''[[Spirit Island (board game)|Spirit Island]]''; ''[[The Crew (card game)#Reimplementation|The Crew: Mission Deep Sea]]''; ''[[Blood Rage (board game)|Blood Rage]]''; ''[[Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (board game)|Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood]]''; ''[[Mansions of Madness]]''; ''[[Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar (board game)|Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar]]''
| <ref name="mythology-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Mythology|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1082/mythology|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217023226/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1082/mythology|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Nautical
| [[Seamanship|Nautical]]-themed board games involve sailors, ships or maritime navigation as a major component of the theme or gameplay, often requiring players to effectively control ships as an objective.
| ''[[Concordia (board game)|Concordia]]''; ''[[The Crew (card game)#Reimplementation|The Crew: Mission Deep Sea]]''; ''[[Underwater Cities (board game)|Underwater Cities]]''; ''[[Sleeping Gods (board game)|Sleeping Gods]]''; ''[[Maracaibo (board game)|Maracaibo]]''; ''[[Le Havre (board game)|Le Havre]]''
| <ref name="nautical_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Nautical|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1008/nautical|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032056/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1008/nautical|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Other media
| These are board games thematically link, derived or inspired from works or franchises in other media sources, including: 
<ul><li>Comic book / Strips<ref name="comics_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Comic Book / Strip|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1116/comic-book-strip|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032154/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1116/comic-book-strip|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><li>Novels<ref name="novels_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Novel-based|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1093/novel-based|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171820/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1093/novel-based|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><li>Video games<ref name="video-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Video Game Theme|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1101/video-game-theme|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250116043845/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1101/video-game-theme|archive-date=16 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><li>Movies / Television / Radio<ref name="movies-tv-radio_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Movies / TV / Radio theme|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1064/movies-tv-radio-theme|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116053709/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1064/movies-tv-radio-theme|archive-date=16 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref></ul>
| Comic books:<ul><li>''[[Marvel Champions: The Card Game]]'';<li>''[[Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game]]'';<li>''[[Marvel United (board game)|Marvel United]]'';<li>''[[Splendor: Marvel]]'' (all based on the [[Marvel Universe]]); <li>''[[MIND MGMT#Board game|Mind MGMT: The Psychic Espionage “Game”]]'' (based on ''[[MIND MGMT]]'');</ul>Novels: <ul><li>''[[Dune: Imperium]]'' (based on the ''[[Dune (franchise)|''Dune'' novels]]'');<li>''[[War of the Ring (board game)|War of the Ring]]'';<li>''[[The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth]]'' (both based on ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' novels);<li>''[[Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]'';<li>''[[Cthulhu: Death May Die]]'' (both based on the [[Cthulhu mythos]] created in the novels by [[H. P. Lovecraft]]);</ul>Video games: <ul><li>''[[Mechs vs. Minions]]'' (based on ''[[League of Legends]]'');<li>''[[Slay the Spire#Board game adaptation|Slay the Spire: The Board Game]]'' (based on ''[[Slay the Spire]]'');<li>''[[This War of Mine: The Board Game]]'' (based on ''[[This War of Mine]]'');<li>''[[Railways of the World]]'' (based on ''[[Railroad Tycoon]]'');<li>''{{ill|Hanamikoji|de|Hanamikoji}}'';<li>''[[Anno 1800 (board game)|Anno 1800]]'' (based on ''[[Anno 1800]]'')</ul>
|-

| Pirate
| A [[pirate]]-themed game has characters, themes, or storylines of nautical robbery or criminal violence, including [[treasure hunting]], sea robbery, [[swords]] and [[cannons]], [[Swashbuckler|swashbuckling]], and ship racing etc. Pirate board games are usually thematically set between the 14th to 20th centuries.
| ''[[Maracaibo (board game)|Maracaibo]]''; ''[[Skull King (board game)|Skull King]]''; ''[[Forgotten Waters (board game)|Forgotten Waters]]''; ''[[Merchants & Marauders (board game)|Merchants & Marauders]]''; ''[[Dead Reckoning (board game)|Dead Reckoning]]''; ''[[Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest (board game)|Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest]]''
| <ref name="pirate_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Pirate|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1090/pirates|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032013/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1090/pirates|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Political
| [[Politics|Political]]-themed board games encourage players to use their character's authority to manipulate societal activities and policy.
| ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''; ''[[Dune: Imperium]]''; ''[[Twilight Struggle]]''; [[Pax Pamir|''Pax'' franchise games]]; ''[[Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory (board game)|Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory]]''
| <ref name="political-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Political|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1001/political|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032033/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1016/science-fiction|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Religion
| [[religion|Religious]]-themed games feature elements of their narrative, setting or characters that relate to current belief systems or religions of the world, either in their historical aspect and development through time, or their actual objects of faith, like sacred scriptures and articles of doctrine.
| ''[[Here I Stand (boardgame)|Here I Stand]]''; ''[[Biblios (boardgame)|Biblios]]''; ''[[Orléans (board game)|Orléans]]''; ''[[Ora et Labora (boardgame)|Ora et Labora]]''; ''[[Pax Pamir|Pax Renaissance]]''; ''[[The Pillars of the Earth#Adaptations|The Pillars of the Earth]]''
| <ref name="religious-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Religious|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1115/religious|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124115650/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1001/political|archive-date=24 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Science fiction
| [[Science fiction]]-themed board games often have themes relating to imagined possibilities in the sciences. Such games need not be futuristic, or they can be based on an alternative past. 
| ''[[Twilight Imperium]]''; ''[[Dune: Imperium]]''; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mars]]''; ''[[Star Wars: Rebellion (board game)|Star Wars: Rebellion]]''; ''[[Terra Mystica#Expansions|Gaia Project]]''
| <ref name="sci-fi-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Science Fiction|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1016/science-fiction|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032033/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1016/science-fiction|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Space exploration
| [[Space exploration]]-themed board games have storylines relating to travel and adventure in [[outer space]]. Often players must seek and gather resources and territories as objectives of the game. These board games are also simply called Space games.
| ''[[Alien: The Role Playing Game]]''; ''[[Black Angel (board game)|Black Angel]]''; ''{{ill|The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine (board game)|fr|lt=The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine|The Crew : en quête de la neuvième planète}}''; ''[[Ganymede (board game)|Ganymede]]''; ''{{ill|High Frontier 4 All (board game)|es|lt=''High Frontier'' franchise game|High Frontier 4 all (ION Game Design, Sierra Madre Games, 2020)}}''; ''[[Kepler-3042 (board game)|Kepler-3042]]''; ''[[Pulsar 2849 (board game)|Pulsar 2849]]''; ''[[Race for the Galaxy]]''; ''[[Space Base (board game)|Space Base]]''; ''[[Star Wars: Outer Rim (board game)|Star Wars: Outer Rim]]''; ''[[Starship Samurai (board game)|Starship Samurai]]''; ''[[Terraforming Mars (board game)|Terraforming Mar]]''
| <ref name="outspace_space_2022">{{cite web|title=Best space board games 2024|website=Space (www.space.com)|date=22 February 2022|first=Jeff|last=Spry|language=en|url=https://www.space.com/best-space-board-games|access-date=1 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250102020100/https://www.space.com/best-space-board-games|archive-date=2 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="outer-space_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Space exploration|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1113/space-exploration|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218115013/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1113/space-exploration|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Spies / secret agents
| A [[espionage|spies / secret agents]]-themed board games often have themes or storylines relating to espionage. A common premise is that players must identify another player who has taken the role of spy or secret agent, in an attempt to reveal that player's allotted information. Since many Spies / Secret Agents-themed board games have an element of hidden information, they are therefore often also categorized as bluffing or deduction board games. 
| [[Pax Pamir|''Pax'' franchise game]]; ''[[Pandemic (board game)#Spinoffs|Pandemic Legacy]]''; ''[[Decrypto]]''; ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game]]''; ''[[Codenames (board game)|Codenames]]''; ''[[Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective (gamebook)|Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective]]''
| <ref name="spy_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Spy / Secret Agents|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1081/spies-secret-agents|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218120251/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1081/spies-secret-agents|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Sports
| [[Sports]]-themed board games have themes or storylines related to the physical activity of sports, including football and racing (whether car, boat, bicycle, or horse) etc.
| ''[[Heat: Pedal to the Metal (board game)|Heat: Pedal to the Metal]]''; ''{{ill|Flamme Rouge|it|Flamme rouge}}''; ''[[Long Shot: The Dice Game (board game)|Long Shot: The Dice Game]]''; ''[[Blood Bowl]]''; ''[[Downforce (board game)|Downforce]]''; ''[[Ready Set Bet (board game)|Ready Set Bet]]''
| <ref name="sports-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Sports|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1038/sports|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032129/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1038/sports|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Train game|Train]]
| [[Train]] board games are those concerned with building and managing [[Rail transport|railway routes]]. They often combine elements from many other game types, requiring the use of strategy, planning, and economic skills to gain an advantage over other players.
| [[Ticket to Ride (board game)|''Ticket to Ride'' franchise games]]; ''[[18xx]]''; ''[[Railways of the World]]''; ''[[Colt Express]]''; ''[[Age of Steam (game)|Age of Steam]]''; ''[[TransAmerica (board game)|TransAmerica]]''
| <ref name="trains_bgg_current(2025_)">{{cite web|title=Trains|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1034/trains|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171824/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1034/trains|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Travel
| [[Travel]]-themed board games are travel-themed board games where the objective is to move to and from different geographic locations. Travel games usually employ a map as the main feature of the game board.
| ''[[Lost Ruins of Arnak]]''; ''[[Orléans (board game)|Orléans]]''; ''[[Lost Ruins of Arnak]]''; ''[[The Voyages of Marco Polo]]''; ''[[Darwin's Journey (board game)|Darwin's Journey]]''; ''[[Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon]]''; ''[[Eldritch Horror]]'' 
| <ref name="travel-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Travel|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1097/travel|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217215923/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1097/travel|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Transportation
| [[Transportation]]-themed board games are those that have gameplay involving the movement of goods or people from one place to another. 
| [[Brass (board game)|''Brass'' franchise games]]; ''[[Keyflower (board game)|Keyflower]]''; ''[[Age of Steam (game)|Age of Steam]]''; ''[[Xia: Legends of a Drift System (board game)|Xia: Legends of a Drift System]]''; ''[[Railways of the World]]''
| <ref name="transportation_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Transportation|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1011/transportation|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032125/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1011/transportation|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Zombie
| [[Zombie]]-themed board games often contain themes and imagery concerning the animated dead, including common storylines themes of an apocalypse, horror, and fighting. These games are a thematic sub-category of Horror-themed board games. 
| ''[[Dead of Winter: A Cross Roads Game|Dead of Winter]]''; ''[[Dawn of the Zeds (board game)|Dawn of the Zeds]]''; ''[[Zombicide]]''; ''{{ill|Zombie Kidz Evolution|de|Zombie Kidz Evolution}}'' 
| <ref name="zombies-game_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Zombies|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2481/zombies|access-date=14 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032140/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2481/zombies|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|}

===Components===

Board games can also be categorized by their components, including:<ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+ Board game categorization by components
|-
! Board game audience
! Description
! Examples 
! Ref
|-

| [[Dice game|Dice]]
| [[Dice]] board games are those that use dice as their sole or principal component. 
| [[List of dice games|Example of ''dice'' games]] that are also board games, include: ''[[The Castles of Burgundy]]''; [[King of Tokyo|''King of Tokyo'' franchise games]]; ''[[Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood (board game)|Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood]]''; ''[[Sagrada (board game)|Sagrada]]''; ''[[Too Many Bones (board game)|Too Many Bones]]''; ''[[Troyes#In popular culture|Troyes]]''; ''[[The Voyages of Marco Polo]]''; ''[[The White Castle (board game)|The White Castle]]''  
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="dice-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Dice|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1017/dice|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217195833/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1017/dice|archive-date=17 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Gamebook|Book]]
| Book board games are those where a book is a major operative component, can be separated into two types:<ul>'''Supplement'''
: A book is used as a repository for game designs and rules, which are applied to common gaming equipment, i.e. a checkered board, paper and pencil, cards, dominoes, dice, etc. {{pb}}'''Narrative'''
: A book is a board game's operative mechanism, involving storytelling, dice rolling or a "multiple-choice paragraph system".
</ul>
| ''[[Gaslands]]''; ''[[Four Against Darkness (board game)|Four Against Darkness]]''; ''[[Frostgrave]]''; ''[[Spire's End (board game)|Spire's End]]''; ''[[Ace of Aces (picture book game)|''Ace of Aces'' franchise games]]''
| <ref name="book_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Book|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1117/book|access-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114032112/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1117/book|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Card game|Card]]
| [[Playing card|Card]] board games are those where cards are the sole or central mechanism of the game. There are two types:<ul>'''Stand-alone'''
: In stand-alone card board games all the cards necessary for gameplay are purchased at once. {{pb}}'''Collectible'''
: In collectible card board games players purchase either "starter" and "booster" card packs to compile an increasingly more powerful deck with which to compete with.
</ul>
| ''[[7 Wonders Duel]]''; ''[[Anno 1800 (board game)|Anno 1800]]''; ''[[Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]''; ''[[Citadels (card game)|Citadels]]''; ''[[The Crew (card game)|''The Crew'' franchise games]]''; ''[[Everdell]]''; ''[[Splendor (game)|Splendor]]''; ''[[Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization]]''; ''[[Wingspan (board game)|Wingspan]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="card_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Card Game|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1002/card-game|access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250109143809/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1002/card-game|archive-date=9 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Electronic
| Electronic board games are those that have an electronic apparatus as the central component of the game, such as circuitry or sometimes simple computers. Electronic board games differ from both; electrified games, such as ''[[Operation (game)|Operation]]'' which contain no circuitry; and those games requiring a website or app to be played.
| ''[[Return to Dark Tower]]''; ''[[Space Alert]]''; ''[[Escape: The Curse of the Temple (board game)|Escape: The Curse of the Temple]]''; ''[[Loopin' Louie]]''; ''[[Escape Room: The Game (board game)|Escape Room: The Game]]''; ''{{ill|La Boca (board game)|it|lt=La Boca|La Boca (gioco da tavolo)}}''  
| <ref name="electornic-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Electronic|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1072/electronic|access-date=18 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229233540/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1072/electronic|archive-date=29 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Game system
| Game system board games are ones based around an item whose components are not a game of themselves, but are used to play games.
| The [[''Dungeons & Dragons'' starter set]]; a [[piecepack]]; a [[decktet]];<ref name="decktet_decktet_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Decktet|website=Decktet (www.decktet.com)|language=en|url=https://www.decktet.com|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110041225/https://www.decktet.com|archive-date=10 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="decktet_father-geek_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Decktet Game System Review|website=Father Geek (www.fathergeek.com)|language=en|url=https://fathergeek.com/decktet-game-system|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919171639/https://fathergeek.com/decktet-game-system|archive-date=19 September 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="decktet_gaming-stuff_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=The Decktet|website=Gaming Stuff (www.fecundity.com)|first=P.D.|last=Magnus|language=en|url=https://www.fecundity.com/pmagnus/decktet/index.php|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908125945/https://www.fecundity.com/pmagnus/decktet|archive-date=8 September 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> [[GEMJI|GEMJI tiles]];<ref name="gemji_gemji_current(2025)">{{Cite news|title=Grow with games. Be a better parent, leader & human with GEMJI!|language=en|website=Gemji (www.gemji.com)|url=https://gemji.com|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124214218/https://gemji.com|archive-date=24 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="gemji_bgg_2020">{{Cite news|title=GEMJI (2020)|language=en|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/320963/gemji|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250207223000/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/320963/gemji|archive-date=7 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> a [[chestego|chestego set]];<ref name="chestigo_bgg_current(2025)">{{Cite news|title=Chestego (2018)|language=en|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/265071/chestego|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207223550/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/265071/chestego|archive-date=7 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> a [[shibumi (game system)|shibumi object]];<ref name="shibumi_chesstris_2012">{{Cite news|title=Chesstris|author=Martin|date=28 January 2012|language=en|page=|website=Chresstris (www.chesstris.com)|url=http://chesstris.com/2012/01/28/shibumi-game-design|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207220553/http://chesstris.com/2012/01/28/shibumi-game-design|archive-date=7 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="shibumi_browne-andrés(campolbri)_2012">{{Cite news|title=Shibumi│Rule book|first1=Cameron|last1=Browne|first2=Néstor Romeral|last2=Andrés|date=2012|language=en|pages=7–8|website=Cambolbro (www.cambolbro.com)|url=http://cambolbro.com/games/shibumi/shibumi-rule-book-v1.1.pdf|access-date=8 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207221114/http://cambolbro.com/games/shibumi/shibumi-rule-book-v1.1.pdf|archive-date=7 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="shimbumi_brown_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Shibumi Game System|website=(www.cambolbro.com/games/shibumi)|first=Cameron|last=Browne|language=en|url=https://cambolbro.com/games/shibumi|access-date=21 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105033735/http://www.cambolbro.com/games/shibumi|archive-date=5 November 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><ref name="
shibumi_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Shibumi (2011)|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/135270/shibumi|access-date=21 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404193653/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/135270/shibumi|archive-date=4 April 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> [[Mü & More (board game)|''Mü & More'']]'s unique card deck; a [[card games|traditional deck of card]]; ''[[Unmatched (board game)|Unmatched]]'s'' unique card deck; a ''[[Hanafuda]]''; [[Unsettled (board game)|''Unsettled'']]'s unique card deck; a [[rainbow deck]]<ref name="game-system-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Number|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1098/number|access-date=17 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250117124123/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1098/number|archive-date=17 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
| {{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
|-

| Miniatures
| [[Miniature model (gaming)|Miniatures]] board games are board games that use detailed miniature models to represent characters or units. Games of this type use miniatures as part of their game mechanics, combining tactics and strategy with collecting and artistry. Of all board game types, miniature games can be some of the most complex to produce, and time-consuming for players, who often are required to paint the models. 
| ''[[BattleTech]]''; ''[[Blood Rage (board game)|Blood Rage]]''; ''[[Dead of Winter: A Cross Roads Game|Dead of Winter]]''; ''[[Fury of Dracula]]''; [[Gloomhaven|''Gloomhaven'' franchise games]]; ''[[Mansions of Madness]]''; ''[[Memoir '44]]''; ''[[Nemesis (board game)|Nemesis]]''; ''[[Rising Sun (board game)|Rising Sun]]''; ''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game|''Star Wars'' franchise miniature games]]''; ''[[Santorini (game)|Santorini]]''; ''[[War of the Ring (board game)|War of the Ring]]''; ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]''
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="miniatures-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Miniatures|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1047/miniatures|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171820/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1047/miniatures|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| [[Tile-based game|Tile-based]]
| A tile-based board game is one that uses small tiles as playing pieces or to create the board. These board games are also called "tile placement" board games.
| [[:Category:Tile-based board games|Examples of tile-based games]] that are also board games include: ''[[Carcassonne (board game)|Carcassonne]]''; ''[[Scrabble]]''; ''[[Tigris and Euphrates]]''; ''[[Evo (board game)|Evo]]''; ''[[Takenoko (board game)|Takenoko]]''; ''[[Cacao (board game)|Cacao]]''; ''[[The Castles of Burgundy]]''; ''[[Quadropolis (board game)|Quadropolis]]''; ''[[Between Two Cities (board game)|Between Two Cities]]''
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>
|}

===Age range===

The recommended age range of board game’s target player market impacts of the categorization of that board game:

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+ Board game categorization by age range
|-
! Board game audience
! Description
! Examples 
! Ref
|-

| Adult / mature
| Adult and mature board games are those designed exclusively for grown-up players. Compared to family or children's games, adult / mature board games usually involve more complex rules; deeper themes; and mature subject matter, including violence, mystery or sexual humour etc.
| ''[[Cards Against Humanity]]''; ''[[Dead of Winter: The Long Night (board game)|Dead of Winter: The Long Night]]''; ''[[Escape Tales: The Awakening (board game)|Escape Tales: The Awakening]]''; ''[[Kingdom Death: Monster]]''; ''[[Tainted Grail: Conquest|''Tainted Grail'' franchise games]]''; ''[[Monikers (board game)|Monikers]]''; ''[[Codenames (board game)#Official variations|Codenames: Deep Undercover]]'' 
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/><ref name="adult-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Mature / Adult|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1118/mature-adult|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171823/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1118/mature-adult|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Children's
| Children's board games are designed for kids and are usually straightforward enough for very young children to learn in a short period of time, having bright colors, and fun and engaging settings.
| ''[[Mouse Trap (board game)|Mouse Trap]]''; ''[[Animal Upon Animal (board game)|Animal Upon Animal]]''; ''[[My First Stone Age (board game)|My First Stone Age]]''; ''[[Dinosaur Escape and Candy Land (board game)|Dinosaur Escape and Candy Land]]''; ''[[My Little Scythe]]''; ''[[Perudo]]''; ''[[PitchCar (board game)|PitchCar]]''; ''[[Rhino Hero (board game)|Rhino Hero]]''; ''{{ill|Zombie Kidz Evolution|de|Zombie Kidz Evolution}}'' 
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/><ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/><ref name="cildren's-games_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Children's Game|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1041/childrens-game|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218120316/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1041/childrens-game|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Family
| Family board games are those suitable for the entire family, including adults who play together with younger children.
| ''[[Artriculate (board game)|Artriculate]]''; ''[[Birds on a Wire (board game)|Birds on a Wire]]''; ''[[For Sale (board game)|For Sale]]''; ''[[Herd Mentality (board game)|Herd Mentality]]''; ''[[Photosynthesis (board game)|Photosynthesis]]''; ''[[Roll Through the Ages (board game)|Roll Through the Ages]]''; ''[[Sushi Go]]''; ''[[Ticket to Ride (board game)|Ticket to Ride]]''; or ''[[Wingspan (board game)|Wingspan]]''
| <ref name="game-categories_big-game-hunter_2024"/><ref name="family-games_games-radar_2024">{{cite web|title=Must-have family board games for 2024|website=Games Radar (www.gamesradar.com)|date=21 December 2024|first=Benjamin|last=Abbott|language=en|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/board-games-for-families|access-date=1 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230064215/https://www.gamesradar.com/board-games-for-families|archive-date=30 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|}

===Player number===

Board games can be characterised by the number of players they are designed for. Board games can be; solitaire [[puzzle]] games, where a player's performance is assessed against a specified target; or multiplayer games such as competitive games, where a comparison is made between two or more players' achievements, or [[Cooperative board game]] where players all players win or lose as a team.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} :

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+ Board game categorization by player number 
|-
! Board Game Audience
! Examples 
! Ref
|-

| Large multiplayer
| ''[[Take It Easy (game)|Take It Easy]]''; ''Swat''
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| [[Multiplayer game|Multiplayer]]
| ''[[Risk (game)|Risk]]''; ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]''; [[Four-player chess]]
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-

| [[Two-player game|Two-player]]
| ''En Garde''; ''Dos de Mayo''
| {{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|}

===Promotion type===

The following categories of board games are not board game types but rather paths board game creators take to promote their game:<ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers"
|+ Board game categorization by promotion
|-
! Promotional Approach
! Description
! Examples 
! Ref
|-

| Collectable
| A collectible board game is a special edition of a board game that has limited copies, such as anniversaries or deluxe versions. 
| <ul>
<li>''[[Dune: Imperium|Dune: Imperium – Deluxe upgrade pack]]''<!-- The Wikipedia article doesn't yet mention the deluxe edition, therefore, an inline citation is included. -->;<ref name="dune-imperium-ugrade_bgg_current(2020)">{{cite web|title=Dune: Imperium – Deluxe Upgrade Pack (2020)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameaccessory/324114/dune-imperium-deluxe-upgrade-pack|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250208110030/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameaccessory/324114/dune-imperium-deluxe-upgrade-pack|archive-date=8 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Dungeon Lords (board game)|Dungeon Lords – Happy Anniversary]]''<!-- The Wikipedia article doesn't yet mention the deluxe edition, therefore, an inline citation is included. -->;<ref name="duneon-lords_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Dungeon Lords: Happy Anniversary (2014)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161617/dungeon-lords-happy-anniversary|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109091046/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161617/dungeon-lords-happy-anniversary|archive-date=9 January 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Pandemic (board game)#Editions|Pandemic – 10th Anniversary Edition]]'';</li>
<li> ''[[Magic the gathering|Magic the gathering – 4th edition]]''<!-- The Wikipedia article doesn't yet mention the deluxe edition, therefore, an inline citation is included. -->;<ref name="magic-the-gathering_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Magic: The Gathering – Fourth Edition Core Set (1995)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/221378/magic-the-gathering-fourth-edition-core-set|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250208105611/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/221378/magic-the-gathering-fourth-edition-core-set|archive-date=8 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Ticket to Ride (board game)#Anniversary releases|Ticket to Ride: Anniversary Editions]]''</li>
</ul>
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/>
|-

| [[Expansion pack|Expansion]]
| An expansion of the base board game is a set of additional components and rules for expanding on an original base game. An "expansion" requires the base game to play.
| <ul>
<li>''[[Blood Bowl#Fourth Edition, rule updates and Living Rulebook|Living Rulebook]]'' (expansion of ''[[Blood Bowl]]'');
<li>''[[Boss Monster 2: The Next Level (board game)|Boss Monster 2: The Next Level]]''<ref name="boss-level-2_brotherwise_current(2019)">{{cite web|title=Boss Monster 2: The Next Level|website=Brotherwise Games (www.brotherwisegames.com)|language=en|url=http://www.brotherwisegames.com/2015/04/16/boss-monster-2-the-next-level|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710060641/http://www.brotherwisegames.com/2015/04/16/boss-monster-2-the-next-level|archive-date=10 July 2019|url-status=dead|df=dmy}}</ref> (expansion of ''[[Boss Monster (board game)|Boss Monster]]'');<ref name="boss-monster_brotherwise-games_current(2013)">{{cite web|title=Boss Monster|website=Brotherwise Games (www.bossmonstergame.wordpress.com)|date=13 June 2013|language=en|url=http://bossmonstergame.wordpress.com|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703093806/http://bossmonstergame.wordpress.com|archive-date=3 July 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy}}</ref><!--No Wikipedia page exists for either game, therefore inline citations are needed.-->
<li>''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game#Related products|Wrath of the Righteous]]'' (expansion of ''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game#Related products|Pathfinder Adventure Card Game]]'' based on ''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game|Pathfinder]]'');</li>
<li>[[Pixel Tactics 5 (board game)|Pixel Tactics 5]]<ref name="pixel-tactics-5_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Pixel Tactics 5 (2015)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172969/pixel-tactics-5|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130094911/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172969/pixel-tactics-5|archive-date=30 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref> (expansion of ''[[Pixel Tactics (board game)|Pixel Tactics]]'');<ref name="pixel-tactics_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Pixel Tactics (2012) |website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125548/pixel-tactics|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229183137/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125548/pixel-tactics|archive-date=29 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>{{ill|Rumis+|de|Rumis#Veröffentlichung}} (expansion of ''[[Rumis]]'');
<li>[[Star Wars: Destiny#Sets|Booster Packs]] (expansion of ''[[Star Wars: Destiny]]'');<ref name="star-wars-2-player_ffg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Star Wars: Destiny Two-Player Game|website=Fantasy Flight Games (www.fantasyflightgames.com)|language=en|url=https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/8/31/star-wars-destiny-two-player-game|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121060129/https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/8/31/star-wars-destiny-two-player-game|archive-date=21 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref><!--No Wikipedia page exists for either game, therefore inline citations have been included.-->
<li>[[Ticket to Ride (board game)#Map collections|Map expansions]] of ''[[Ticket to Ride (board game)|Ticket to Ride]]''</li> 
</ul>
| <ref name="expansion_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Expansion for Base-game|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1042/expansion-for-base-game|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114041001/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1042/expansion-for-base-game|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Fan expansion
| Fan expansion board games are non-commercial enhancements made by people other than a base game's designers or publishers. These are also called "unofficial" board games.
| <ul>
<li>''[[Android: Netrunner#Null Signal Games releases|System Gateway]]'' (fan expansion for ''[[Android: Netrunner]]'');<ref name="system-gateway_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=System Gateway (fan expansion for Android: Netrunner) (2021)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345976/system-gateway-fan-expansion-for-android-netrunner|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118035027/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345976/system-gateway-fan-expansion-for-android-netrunner|archive-date=18 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Crabs Adjust Humidity: Volume One]]'' (fan expansion for ''[[Cards Against Humanity]]'');<ref name="crabs-against-humanity_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Crabs Adjust Humidity: Volume One (fan expansion for Cards Against Humanity) (2013) |website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/145418/crabs-adjust-humidity-volume-one-fan-expansion-for|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114034849/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/145418/crabs-adjust-humidity-volume-one-fan-expansion-for|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Switching Gears]]'' (fan expansion for ''[[T.I.M.E Stories]]'');<ref name="sitching-gears_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Switching Gears (fan expansion for T.I.M.E Stories) (2016)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/200443/switching-gears-fan-expansion-for-time-stories|access-date=7 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250209054529/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/200443/switching-gears-fan-expansion-for-time-stories|archive-date=9 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[The Crimson Scales]]'' (fan expansion of ''[[Gloomhaven]]'');<ref name="crimson-scale_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=
The Crimson Scales (2021)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/365186/the-crimson-scales|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250209051306/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/365186/the-crimson-scales|archive-date=9 February 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Atolla Modulis]]'' (fan expansion for ''[[Power Grid]]'');<ref name="atolla-modulis_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=
Atolla Modulis (fan expansion for Funkenschlag) (2006)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/22355/atolla-modulis-fan-expansion-for-funkenschlag|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122144202/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/22355/atolla-modulis-fan-expansion-for-funkenschlag|archive-date=22 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
<li>''[[Lost Wonders]]'' (fan expansion for ''[[7 Wonders (board game)|7 Wonders]]'')<ref name="lost-wonders_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title= Lost Wonders (fan expansion for 7 Wonders) (2012)|website=BoardGameGeek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/134849/lost-wonders-fan-expansion-for-7-wonders|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114034940/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/134849/lost-wonders-fan-expansion-for-7-wonders|archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
</ul>
| <ref name="fan-expansion_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Fan Expansion|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2687/fan-expansion|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171756/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/2687/fan-expansion|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| {{ill|Print-and-play|de|Print & play}}
| Print-and-play board games are those not published in a physical form but are those that require the players to download, print, and construct the game. Often, these games are downloaded electronically as a PDF file. 
| ''[[Air, Land, & Sea]]''; ''[[Corinth]]''; ''[[Evolution (board game)#History|Evolution: Climate]]''; ''[[Monikers]]''; ''[[The Resistance (game)|The Resistance]]''; ''[[Rolling Realms (board game)|Rolling Realms]]''; ''[[Root (board game)|Root]]''; ''[[Secret Hitler]]''; ''[[Tiny Epic Galazies]]'' 
| <ref name="game-types_board-games-land_2024"/><ref name="printplay"/><ref name="print-and-play_bgg_current(2025)">{{cite web|title=Print and Play|website=Board Game Geek (www.boardgamegeek.com)|language=en|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1120/print-and-play|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225171820/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1120/print-and-play|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live|df=dmy}}</ref>
|-

| Travel
| Travel versions of board games that are more amenable for packing and carrying while traveling, having smaller game components to make them more compact, and simplified rules to make them quicker to play. 
| Compact versions of [[chess]], or [[checkers]]
| <ref name="game-types_hero-time_current(2025)"/>
|}