What board game should I play is a question you might find yourself asking if you are just getting into board games or just don’t know which one to pick from your wide selection. With there being over 100,000 board games and dozens of different categories of games, how does one pick the right board game to play or even purchase?
Picking what board game to play is hard, narrowing the selection with a few questions can make your decision much easier. What games are available to you? Are you in a social mood? Do you want a simple or advanced game? Do you prefer competition or cooperation with others? Strategy or luck? By default the answer is Codenames.
Narrowing the selection of games you would like to play is a good start to choosing the right board game. If you have gone through the questions above and still don’t have an idea of what game you would like to play, keep reading. I will help you make the choice. If by the end the choice is unclear, the only answer left is Codenames.
How To Pick What Board Game To Play
In order to pick the right board game to play you need to do some assessments. A quick assessment is the best method to select the right board game for you.
If you are still having a problem with choice overload you can run the assessment with the mindset of others. You might not have a preference to what game you will be playing and that could be part of of the reason why the choice is difficult. Considering your options with others in mind is not only considerate, it can also help you pick the best board game to play.
Some quick assessment questions you can ask yourself when you are trying to decide what game to pick, questions you can consider for others are:
- What board games are available to play.
- Do you want to play board games with others or by yourself?
- Do you want to play a competitive or coopertive game?
- Do you want to play a simple or a complicated board game?
- Do you want to play a board game that is based on luck or skill?
Asking yourself these questions will sift through the thousands of possible board games to choose from and help you make your choice of what board game to play. If you have gone through the questions for yourself and others and can still not decide on what game to play then let me make this easy for you. The game that checks all of your boxes is Codenames.
What Board Games Are Available To Play
What board games are available is the first assessment because this is a great filter. The 100,000 different board games become irrelevant when you only take into consideration what you have access to. This could be from your collection, a fellow player, or it could be a game you have access to via a board game cafe or something like that.
Personally, I have around 18 board and card games in my collection. However, there are a couple of board games cafes close by where I can expand my access to games quickly if I’m willing to pay the cost of entrance. For convenience, I’m going to stick with the games that I have.
Limiting your choices to only what is available is a great strategy to help you choose what board game to play. This could still leave you with several options so the next step is to reduce your options more.
What games are available for you to play? If you don’t have the game does some you know have it, or is there a board game cafe that has it?
My Collection includes Magic the Gathering: Arena of the Planeswalkers, Smallworld, Codenames, Dragonwood, Chess, Checkers, Scrabble. Unstable Unicorns, Sushi Go, Exploding Kittens, Cover Your Assets, Boggle, Five Crowns, Pirate King, Uno, Bounce Off, Zombicide: Black Plague, and Spot It.
You Don’t Need to Have Codenames to Play Codenames
You may be very limited on resources. If you don’t have the means, but have the time and desire you could very well make a simple version of Codenames or you could even do an online session. Codenames is a very real possibility to play even if you don’t have the physical game https://codenames.game/ allows you to play online with friends.
Do you want to play board games with others or by yourself?
Are you in the mood to play games with others, or would you rather play by yourself? Most likely you are looking for a board game to play with others. If that is the case then this question might not limit your choices that much. However if you are looking for games to play on your own that can greatly reduce your choices.
This assessment question is the second because your answer can have a major influence on your choices. Especially, if you decide you are in the mood to play your board game alone.
Most board games are designed to be played with others. There are a select few however that are just fine to play alone. There are even some board games that can be played either solo or with others.
Some popular games that can be play solo or with others are Gloomhaven, Zombicide, Rerraforming Mars, Scythe, Mage Knight, and with some creativity Codenames.
Running through the assessment, with my given library if I choose to play with others I will still have 18 games to pick from. If I want to play on my own that now limits me to 2 games.
Codenames Can Be Played Solo Or With Others
Codenames Versitility allows it to be played with a group of people or by yourself. However by choosing to play by yourself you need to alter how the game is played.
Do you want to play a competitive or coopertive game?
Are you in a competitive mood or a cooperative mood? This question has the chance to reduce your choices significantly as well. This question is much like the above assessment. Most likey you own game that are competitive in nature. You are trying to beat others. However, there are games where cooperation is the only way to win. You and those playing with are working together to win.
The chances are you don’t have a lot of coop board games. This is still an important factor to consider. Much like your preference to play alone or with others, this decision greatly influences the type of game you will be playing and could very well reduce your choices.
Popular Coopertive Play Style Board Games
Coopertive board games are board games where you are working with others to win. You are on the same team as other players, not playing against them. Some populare coop games are: Mage Knight, Codenames Duet, Mysterium, Pandemic, The Mind, 5-minute Dungeon, Cloomhaven, and to and extent Codenames.
Continuing with the assessment, in my case if I choose I want to play a competitive game, then I still have 17 choices. If I choose to play a cooperative game, then my options are greatly reduced. Based on my available games, I have 4 choices, Zomibicide, The Mind, Codenames, and because of team play Magic the Gathering: Arena of the Planeswalker.
Codenames Is A Great Coopertive and Competive Game
Codenames allows you to play on a team, these team play qualifies it for a coopertive type of game play. At the same time you are competing against another team. It’s a stretch, but for the sake of the article, I’m going to say Codenames fits both molds.
Do you want to play a simple or a complicated board game?
Are you looking for a quick easy game to play that can be set up in a couple of minutes with little explaining that needs to be done? Or do you want a longer game that takes more time to set up and has many rules? Maybe you are looking for a game that is a little bit of both. Simple in nature but complex at the same time.
Deciding on the simplicity of the type of game you want to play can significantly reduce your options. Unlike the last two assessments, this will narrow down your choices either way you decide. Some board games take a while to set up or explain. You or your group might not be committed to that type of game, or that could very well be the type of game you are looking for.
Types of Simple Coopertive Games
Simple Coopertive board games take less than five minutes to set up and explain. Two examples of this type of games are Codenames, and The Mind. These types of games usually only take about 15 minutes to play with the option to play multiple rounds.
Types of Advanced Coopertive Games
Advanced cooperative games will involve more time to set up and explain the rules. This could take anywhere from 10-15 minutes or even more. Usually you are looking to play this type of game if you have committed group that knows exactly what they signed up for. Types of Advanced cooperative games are Zombicide, Dungeons and Dragons and Gloomhaven.
Types of Simple Competive Games
Simple competitive games are games that are easy to set up and explain that pit you and your group against eachother. These games take little time to set up and playing through the game is about fifteen minutes. Games that fit this description are, Uno, Spot it, Scrabble, Chess, Checkers, Bounce Off, Farkle, and Dragonwood.
Types of Advanced Competitive Games
Advanced competitive games are similar to advanced cooperative games with the difference being your group is competing against eachother instead of playing on the same team. These types of games will take longer to set up and play through. Some examples of advanced competitive games are catan, ticket to ride, Arena of the Planeswalker, Risk, Evolution, and Pirates Cove.
With the assessment in mind this question paired with the previous assessment has the ability to cut out 50 to 90 percent of my options depending on what my preference is. If it is simple comepetive game I am looking at then I will want to pick a game that take litlle to no time to start. In my game collection I have more simple games than advanced.
If it is strictly a board game though, the answer gets real simple I have Chess, Checkers, Scrabble, Dragonwood, and Codenames. Depending on the amount of players Chess and Checkers and be easily eliminated.
Codenames is a Simple and Avanced Board Game
Codenames while catorgized as simple also has advanced game elements to it. Learning how to connect words, time your clues, and takie advantage of the other teams mistakes are just some of the strategies that display the deep gameplay that is offered by codenames.
Do you want to play a board game that is based on luck or skill?
Do you enjoy the luck of the dice or would you rather depend on your wits to win you the game? At this point in the assessment your options should be a lot less. Now it is a matter of deciding the actual game you will be playing. So it comes down to game of luck and chance or games of skill and strategy.
It could be that you don’t want to have to focus much on the game and would rather enjoy your company while playing. In that case a luck based game might be you best option. If you aren’t looking for much interaction unless it be trash talk, then displaying your skills through strategy is probably what you are looking for.
Luck Based Simple Coopertive Board Games
These will be lowkey games where you can talk with eachother without having to worry much about strategy.
Skill Based Simple Coopertive Board Games
These are lowkey games you play on a team that are simple to playthrough. Codenames, and The Mind both fit this category.
Luck Based Advanced Coopertive Board Games
These will be more complicated games that focus more on luck, and less on strategy. This allows for advanced gameplay while at the same time you are able to interact with others. A good example of this type of game is Zombicide.
Skill Based Advanced Coopertive Board Games
With this type of game you are looking for strategy and cooperation of others. You are looking for more enjoyment from the gameplay than social interaction. Two good examples of this would be Mysterium and Gloomhaven.
Luck Based Simple Competitive Board Games
Luck based simple competitive games are social and competitive games. You are focusing much on your strategy and the gameplay is simple. These types of games are games like Farkle, Uno, Sorry, and Dragonwood.
Skill Based Simple Competitive Board Games
Simple skill based competitive games are games that are simple to play but involves more strategy. You are looking more for quick skilled gameplay sessions. Games that fall into this category are games like Codenames, Chess, Checkers, and Scabble.
Luck Based Advanced Competitive Board Games
These typ of games are looking more for advanced games while at the same time allowing people to socialize and not worry much on strategy. This is a harder category to find because as games get more advanced they usually involve less luck. Some games that fit this mold are Unstable Unicorns, Pirates Cove, and Catan.
Skill Based Advanced Competitive Board Games
Advanced skill based games are going to be games that require a lot of strategy. The focus will be on the extended gameplay and less on social interaction. These will still have elements of luck, but will heavily reward good strategies and skill. Good examples of advanced skilled based competitive games are Magic The Gathering: Arena of the Planeswalker, Risk, Ticket to Ride, Seven Wonders, and Small World.
As this point of the assessment you should have a clearer idea of what board game you want to play. You might have one or four options left depending on the size of you game collection and your categorzing. Now is a good time to consider your group and what games they will enjoy playing the most.
Codenames is Skill and Luck Based
Just as in all the other categories Codenames allows you to experience both skill and luck on you play sessions. The clue giver employes strategy when giving clue. The randomness of words plays into the luck. The interaction allows for talking and thinking.
The Right Board Game for You to Play
The right board game for you to play is the board game that is going to allow you and your group enjoy your gaming experience. Following the assessment you will have a clear understanding the of the type of game you and others want to play.
Once a decision is made, commit to the game and enjoy it. Be in the game, have fun, and win. Or don’t the choice is yours.
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