Editing Board game (section)

===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>
|}