The shelf
Browse by category.
The same shelf, arranged by occasion, number of players, complexity, theme and mechanics.
Occasions
- Good first game27 games
- Easy to teach in 10 minutes21 games
- Party / big groups19 games
- Two-player gem8 games
- Thinky evening28 games
- Quick filler51 games
- Date night54 games
- Strategic38 games
- Lots of laughter15 games
- Beautiful table presence21 games
- Campaign night18 games
- Language-light71 games
Player counts
- Solo60 games
- 2 players150 games
- 3 players131 games
- 4 players130 games
- 5 players62 games
- 6 players35 games
- 7 players11 games
- 8 or more players9 games
Complexity
Themes
- Fantasy40 games
- Science fiction17 games
- Cyberpunk3 games
- Post-apocalyptic9 games
- History20 games
- War and battle44 games
- Wild West7 games
- Nature and animals30 games
- Horror12 games
- Mystery and crime6 games
- Economic14 games
- Cities and building13 games
- Abstract10 games
- Humour11 games
- Pirates and the sea3 games
- Adventure and exploration31 games
- Japan and Asia13 games
- Trains and travel5 games
- Films, comics and games24 games
- Puzzle3 games
Mechanics
- Deck building14 games
- Worker placement17 games
- Engine building9 games
- Area control24 games
- Drafting29 games
- Tile laying15 games
- Dice47 games
- Push your luck20 games
- Bluffing11 games
- Deduction11 games
- Negotiation3 games
- Set collection39 games
- Roll and write5 games
- Legacy or campaign8 games
- Miniatures15 games
- Card game75 games
- Hand management62 games
- Take that35 games
- Programmed actions9 games
- Asymmetric powers43 games
- Memory6 games
- Auction8 games
- Pattern building14 games
- Simultaneous play12 games
- Storytelling9 games
- Player elimination17 games
Interaction
- Co-operative30 games
- Competitive133 games
- Team play11 games
- Solo-capable64 games
- Semi-co-operative6 games
- Traitor or hidden role7 games
How occasions are set
Occasions are not opinions. Each follows a fixed rule applied to data from BoardGameGeek and the owner's catalogue; a game with missing data simply does not receive the tag.
- Good first game: BGG weight under 1.8, plays in 45 minutes or less, a base game, not a campaign.
- Easy to teach in 10 minutes: BGG weight 1.5 or lower (learning time derived from weight).
- Party / big groups: Plays with 6 or more, and BGG lists it as a party game or its weight is under 2.0.
- Two-player gem: BGG community poll says best at 2 (or it is a two-player game) and the BGG Bayesian rating is 6.8 or higher.
- Thinky evening: BGG weight 2.8 or higher and at least 60 minutes.
- Quick filler: Plays in 30 minutes or less (BGG maximum time).
- Date night: Two players fit and the BGG poll recommends two, 60 minutes or less, weight under 2.8, not a party game.
- Strategic: BGG weight 2.5 or higher, not a party game.
- Lots of laughter: BGG category Humor or Party Game.
- Beautiful table presence: BGG category Miniatures, or a BGG honour for artwork, components or presentation.
- Campaign night: BGG mechanic Legacy or Scenario / Campaign, or plays 150 minutes or more.
- Language-light: BGG language poll: no or little in-game text; or the owned copy is a confirmed English edition (EN in the sheet or the order).
Complexity follows the BoardGameGeek average weight: under 1.8 Light, up to 2.4 Medium-light, up to 3.0 Medium, up to 3.6 Medium-heavy, above that Heavy. Learning time is derived from it.