Choosing the wrong board game due to unclear classification wastes time and money—worse, it can hurt customer satisfaction and sales. Here’s the solution.
The classification of board games includes strategy, party, family, and thematic games. Rankings on BGG (BoardGameGeek) highlight the best board games through user scores, complexity, and engagement.
Continue reading to learn how the right classification and ranking improve sales and brand positioning for any board game manufacturer.
Classification of Board Games
Understanding the classification of board games is essential for consumers, publishers, and any board game manufacturer like HOBON. It influences gameplay experience, target audience, and market strategy. Board games are typically grouped into these major types:
- Strategy Games: Focused on logic, planning, and long-term thinking. Examples include Catan, Scythe, and Brass: Birmingham. Ideal for seasoned gamers.
- Family Games: Simple mechanics and rules make these games accessible across age groups. Popular titles include Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne.
- Party Games: Designed for groups and social fun, often with humorous or fast-paced gameplay. Think Codenames, Just One, or Exploding Kittens.
- Thematic Games: Rich in storylines and immersive themes, such as Gloomhaven or Arkham Horror. These games often feature miniatures and detailed components.
- Cooperative Games: All players work toward a common objective. Pandemic and Forbidden Island are prime examples.
- Abstract Games: Minimal themes but deep in strategy, like Azul, Blokus, and Hive.
This classification system helps retailers and board game manufacturers segment their audience and design products accordingly.
Board Game and BGG
BoardGameGeek (BGG) is the leading online platform for tracking and ranking board games globally. It serves as a go-to hub for enthusiasts, retailers, and board game manufacturers alike. For anyone seeking the best board games, BGG’s rankings offer valuable insights.
BGG uses several metrics to rank games:
- User Ratings: Community members rate games from 1 to 10, providing qualitative feedback.
- Bayesian Average: Balances quantity and quality of ratings to avoid ranking distortions.
- Complexity Rating: Helps users assess the learning curve and strategic depth of a game.
- Community Engagement: Photos, playthroughs, and discussions provide social proof and increase visibility.
A board game that performs well on BGG typically enjoys higher sales and visibility. Manufacturers like HOBON often monitor BGG to align with market trends and consumer preferences.
The Differences Between Board Games and Video Games
Though both board games and video games offer interactive entertainment, their design and consumption are fundamentally different—each suited for specific user needs and production considerations.
- Physical vs. Digital: Board games are tangible, with pieces, cards, and boards. Video games are entirely digital.
- Social Experience: Board games often encourage face-to-face interaction. Video games may be solo or online.
- Learning Methods: Board games rely on printed rulebooks, while video games include interactive tutorials.
- Replay Value: Board games depend on randomness and human behavior. Video games offer updates and new content.
- Cost Structure: Board games are a one-time purchase. Video games may include microtransactions or downloadable content (DLC).
From a manufacturing standpoint, HOBON, as a board game manufacturer, focuses on high-quality materials, packaging, and customization to elevate the tactile and visual aspects of board games—something digital games cannot replicate.
The Top-Ranked Board Games in Recent Years
When looking at the best board games based on BGG rankings in recent years, several titles stand out for their innovation, depth, and popularity:
- Gloomhaven: A deep tactical game with campaign-based legacy mechanics. Known for excellent storytelling and strategic play.
- Brass: Birmingham: A heavy economic strategy game praised for historical depth and challenging decisions.
- Pandemic Legacy (Season 1): Elevates cooperative play with evolving rules and components over multiple sessions.
- Wingspan: Combines engine-building mechanics with beautiful bird-themed artwork. Suitable for families and enthusiasts alike.
- Terraforming Mars: A science-driven game where players compete to develop Mars, rich in strategy and replayability.
- Ark Nova: A newer title where players manage a zoo, blending card drafting and tile placement mechanics.
For a board game manufacturer like HOBON, analyzing these top-ranked games reveals design trends, component expectations, and customer preferences that guide future product development.
Summary
Correctly classifying and ranking board games helps customers and board game manufacturers like HOBON succeed in a growing global market.
About Hobon Printing
Established in 1995, the predecessor of Hobon is Weidong Arts and Crafts Factory, which mainly produces decal paper for ceramics, wood products and so on. With the development of The Times, Hobon Printing Brush continues to introduce new equipment and technology, products also cover board games, puzzles, cards, paper packaging, etc., to become a comprehensive printing enterprise.For inquiries, collaborations, or customer support, feel free to contact the team at se*****@***********ng.com
