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Think the world of board games is just Monopoly, Risk and Ludo? Think again! There's a whole universe of different board games out there, from epic campaign games where you’re unfolding a story over multiple sessions, to dexterity games all about skill and coordination.
Once you get into the world of board games you’ll hear terms like ‘Eurogame’, ‘Deck-building’, ‘Trick-taking’ and ‘Worker placement’ thrown around, but what do they all mean? And how do you know which kind of games you’ll enjoy? Well we’re here to help. Here’s a quick guide on the different types of board game you might hear about, along with some great games from each genre to get you started!
Area Control games
In area control games, it's all about being the boss of the board! You're vying for dominance over key locations, whether it's fertile farmlands, bustling cities, or strategic mountain passes. It's like a game of king of the hill, but with more strategy and less pushing (usually). You'll be deploying your forces, expanding your territory, and trying to hold onto your hard-won gains.
If controlling different factions of woodland creatures vying for power is your style, check out Root.
Small World is also a great introduction to the genre, where you’ll use random race-power combinations to try and dominate. Small World’s interesting “decline” mechanic also means you get to try out multiple combos in a single game!
Campaign games (also known as ‘legacy’ games)
Imagine a board game that evolves and changes as you play it. That's the magic of campaign and legacy games! These games tell a story over multiple sessions, with each game building upon the last. Your choices have consequences, stickers get permanently placed on the board, cards get torn up, and the game world changes forever. It's like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but with dice and meeples!
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion provides an accessible entry into this genre. Team up with friends and work as a group of mercenaries to complete increasingly difficult scenarios.
Or discover dark forces and unspeakable horrors throughout the city of Arkham, Massachusetts in Arkham Horror: The Card Game.
Deck-building Games
Deck-building games are all about strategic growth. You begin with a humble collection of cards, but with each turn, you have the opportunity to improve it. You'll be acquiring new cards with different abilities, creating powerful combinations, and refining your strategy as you go. It's like building a finely tuned engine, card by card.
CLANK! A Deck-building Adventure has players build an increasingly powerful deck to help them sneak into an angry dragon’s mountain lair to steal precious artifacts. Delve deeper to find more valuable loot, but be quick and be quiet, or you risk angering the dragon and mind not make it out alive!
Dexterity Games
Dexterity games are all about physical skill and coordination. Whether you're stacking blocks, flicking discs, or balancing objects, these games challenge your fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination in a fun and engaging way.
KLASK is a unique dexterity game you can play with anyone! Air hockey meets ping pong in this tabletop test of skill and control. Fun for all ages, KLASK is easy to learn and fast to play.
Eurogames (or Euro-style game)
Ever heard the term "Eurogame" and wondered what it meant? These games are all about strategic planning, carefully managing resources, and trying to outsmart your opponents in a friendly, low-conflict way. That's the essence of a Eurogame!
These games focus on clever mechanics, engine-building (creating efficient systems to generate resources or points), and indirect interaction, rather than direct combat or "take-that" mechanics. Think more brain-burning puzzles than outright battles. If you want a game to sink your teeth into a game without the risk of arguments that’ll ruin friendships… this is the type of game for you!
You’ll struggle to find a board game hobbyist who hasn’t played The Castles of Burgundy. In this game you’re competing to try and build on a hexagonal patch of land you’ve inherited in Burgundy, France. This ‘New Edition’ is the same, wonderful title from 2011, but with eye-catching artwork from Antje Stephan and Claus Stephan.
If space is more your style, then check out Pulsar 2849. Humankind has successfully tested the first Stellar Mirror and harnessed enough power from a Pulsar to open the first space gate. Draft dice to explore the universe, set up satellites, and complete your HQ.
Push-your-luck Games
Do you like taking risks? Push-your-luck games are all about deciding how far you're willing to go. You'll be faced with choices: do you stop now and take what you've got, or do you push your luck for a chance at even greater rewards (but with the risk of losing it all)? It's a thrilling balance of risk and reward!
Stomp the Plank is a simple but thrilling push-your-luck adventure for the whole family. Try to steal treasures from captain Giraffe’s chest while accusing your fellow pirates. But be careful because if you get caught, you’ll walk the plank! For each treasure you manage to steal, your opponent will end up with a crate at the end of their plank which might just tip over... The first one to fall loses the game!
Roll (or draw) and Write Games
Roll-and-write games are exactly what they sound like: you roll dice, or draw cards, and then you write (or mark) the results on a scoresheet or game board. It's a simple concept, but it leads to surprisingly strategic and engaging gameplay. Think of it as a personal puzzle where you're trying to optimise your score based on the options you have.
Welcome to Your Perfect Home is a great introduction to this genre. Draw cards and build out your perfect neighbourhood. You’ll be adding houses, pools, parks and more to score the most points!
Or if you prefer a fantasy setting, in Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale, Queen Gimnax has ordered the reclamation of the northern lands. As a cartographer in her service, you are sent to map this territory, claiming it for the Kingdom of Nalos. Players draw on their map sheets and earn reputation by carrying out the queen's edicts before the season is over.
Social deduction games
Social deduction games are all about reading people. Can you tell when someone's lying? Can you convince others that you're telling the truth, even when you're not? These games thrive on conversation, accusations, and shifting alliances. It's a fantastic way to test your social skills and see how well you can read (or manipulate!) your friends and family. Just remember, it's all in good fun (mostly)!
The Resistance: Avalon pits Arthur and his Knights against the Minions of Mordred and is one of the purest social deduction games there is. Two teams, one trying to succeed and one trying to sabotage. There are more ‘good guys’, but they don’t know who each other are. Over the course of up to five missions players try to figure out who is trustworthy and who isn’t.
If you’re looking for larger scale fun and a real challenge, check out Blood on The Clocktower. This game is perfect for anyone who loves strategy, deception, and the thrill of solving a complex puzzle. In Blood on the Clocktower, players take on the roles of villagers in a small town that has been cursed by an evil demon. Each night, the demon chooses a victim to kill, and it's up to the players to figure out who the demon is and stop them before it's too late!
Trick-taking games
Ever played Spades, Hearts, or Euchre? Then you've already dipped your toes into the world of trick-taking games! In these games, players take turns playing a card from their hand, and the highest card of the leading suit (or a trump suit, if there is one) "wins" the trick, collecting all the played cards. It's all about predicting what your opponents will play, cleverly managing your hand, and trying to win (or sometimes avoid winning!) certain tricks.
This genre has expanded beyond simple card games. ARCS: Conflict and Collapse in The Reach is an epic sci-fi strategy game underpinned with trick-taking mechanics.
Meanwhile The Crew: The Quest for Plane Nine takes trick-taking and makes it cooperative - you work with your friends to achieve “missions” by winning specific tricks and completing certain challenges to find the mysterious Planet Nine. Or, if you’d rather swap space exploration for deep sea adventure, check out The Crew: Mission Deep Sea.
Worker placement games
Imagine you're running a bustling medieval village (or a futuristic space station, or a chocolate factory – the theme varies!). In worker placement games, you have a limited number of "workers". These can be little meeples, cool miniatures, or whatever the game provides. Each turn you send out your workers to different locations, which lets you gather resources, build buildings, recruit helpers, or perform other actions. The catch? Usually once a spot is taken, no one else can use it that round! It's a race to get the best actions before your opponents do, making it a fun and strategic scramble.
Dungeons & Dragons: Lords of Waterdeep is regarded by many as the quintessential entry level worker placement game. Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, players are vying for control of a sprawling city.
Alternatively, fancy commanding a band of Vikings to trade, hunt, raid, pillage, and plunder in search of wealth and glory for your tribe? Check out A Feast for Odin and experience the Viking way of life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of board game is Monopoly? (H3)
Monopoly doesn’t necessarily fit into one of these categories. It is a classic example of a roll-and-move game, where you roll dice and move your token around the board. But it's also got elements of economic simulation, as you're buying properties, building houses and hotels, and trying to bankrupt your opponents. Or you might just call it a "friendship-ender".
If you’ve only played classics like Monopoly and Scrabble before, do we have some good news for you! The world of board games is immense and there’s a game out there for everyone. Take a look at the types of games in this article and see what piques your interest. Or, check out our How to Play section to quickly learn the rules for some new games.
What type of board game is Catan? (H3)
Catan is a Eurogame that focuses on engine-building (creating efficient systems to generate resources), indirect player interaction (trading and competing for space), and strategic decision-making. This makes it a great choice for players who enjoy thinking strategically and planning their moves carefully.
Catan is often called a "gateway game" because it's a great introduction to modern board games. It combines elements of strategy, luck (from the dice rolls that determine resource production), and negotiation. You're constantly making decisions about where to build, what to trade, and how to develop your settlements. It's a game that's easy to learn but offers plenty of strategic depth.
If you like Catan and want to add an expansion, or try a different version with similar mechanics (like CATAN Starfarers Duel) then check out our CATAN collection.
How many types of board games are there? (H3)
There isn't one definitive list of "board game types" but in this article we’ve tried to group them based on the kind of mechanics a game involves. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but gives you an idea of just how varied the world of board games is! Think of it like a board game buffet – there's a little something for everyone.