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Different Types of Board Games Explained

Board Game
Jan 08, 2025
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Types of board games

Ever wondered how many types of board games are available to explore? Well, the variety is vast, there are 15 widely played board game types across the globe!

Whether you’re an experienced gamer or just a newbie looking to explore a whole world of different experiences to discover. If you’re tired of playing the same game over and over and looking to try something new, you’re at the right place! In this blog, we’ll explore the various forms so you don’t need to get bored of playing the same game every time.

Let’s get started and open up a whole new world of board games!

List of 15 Types of Board Games to Know

Whether you’re a master risk or fascinated by investigating the concept of Risk, here are the top 15 board game types to try in 2025.

Worker Placement

Worker placement board games are strategy games where players place workers (tokens) in specific spots on the board. By doing so players earn coins, and resources, or complete assigned tasks. Each location has a unique benefit like collecting materials or completing the goal. A unique point of this board type is that each spot can only be used by one worker per turn, so players must compete for the best options.

As the game progresses, the workers move to new locations, available spots become limited which requires brainstorming from players. These games require careful observation of opponents’ moves.

Popular examples: Agricola, Lords of Waterdeep

Set Collection

Set collection board games are games where players collect specific groups or sets of items (usually cards, tokens, or tiles) to score points. Each set typically has a particular rule or pattern, such as collecting a certain number of identical items or a variety of different items. The challenge lies in acquiring the right pieces while competing with other players for the same resources. The more complete or valuable the set, the more points it’s worth. Examples of set collection games include Sushi Go!, where players collect sushi cards, and Ticket to Ride, which involves collecting train cards to complete routes.

Set collection is another type of board game where players collect a single or a set of cards, tokens, or tiles to score points. Each set has some sort of rules or pattern such as acquiring a certain number of similar items or various items. The only challenge that players might come across is in the collection of the right pieces while competing against other players for the same resources. The more valuable a set is, the more points players get on obtaining it.

Popular examples: Sushi Go!, Ticket to Ride

Auction/Bidding

This board game type involves players getting items and resources by placing bids. The players in the game use limited resources such as money or tokens to bid on specific items. The player with the highest bidding wins the item, but the value of the bid fluctuates. This requires players to carefully judge how much they are willing to spend. The game typically revolves around increasing value and watching the moves of the other players.

Popular examples: Power Grid, Ra

Bluffing

Bluffing is a board game type where players attempt to fool other players while guessing their actions. These games focus on misdirections where players hide their information, make false claims, or mislead others. Bluffing games require a mix of strategy, psychology, and social interaction. The goal is usually to outwit opponents by either convincing them of anything untrue or by deducing their true intentions.

Popular examples: Coup, Liars Dice

City Building

As the name suggests, these board games involve players to construct a city which includes building infrastructure, resources, and population. Players are required to maintain a balance between economic growth, resources, and citizen needs. Mainly, the goal is to expand and optimize the city to earn victory points. These games usually feature a mix of strategy, planning, and sometimes competition for limited resources.

Popular examples: Suburbia and Cities, Skylines: The Board Game

Cooperative/Team

Cooperative board games require players to work together as a team with a common aim. The aim is often to defeat the game itself. Players here don’t compete with each other, Instead, they share knowledge and strategies to solve puzzles. The success or failure is determined by the collective actions of the team and not by the individual’s performance.

Popular examples: Pandemic, Forbidden Island

Investigation 

Investigation is a unique board game category where players solve mysteries or unveil secrets. Players act as detectives searching for clues, interviewing suspects, and compiling information to detect culprits or solve complex problems. Games of this type are often based on narratives. Players can either work solo or collaborate with other players. However, the focus is on critical thinking.

Popular examples: Clue (Cluedo), Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

Legacy/Campaign

Legacy and campaign board games provide a long yet evolving gameplay. Here, players participate in a series of connected games, with each session affecting the next season in some way like altering the game board, unlocking new components, or changing rules permanently. These games are also based on narratives the storylines that open as the players progress. Legacy games are mainly played over multiple sessions and the game evolves based on player choices.

Popular examples: Pandemic: Legacy, Gloomhaven

War Game

War games simulate military conflict, where players control armies or units to achieve specific objectives. The objectives usually require strategy, tactics, and resource management. They range from abstract and strategic games to historically detailed simulations, with mechanics like movement, combat, and taking control over territory. There are some war games that feature big-scale battles and some war board games feature small tactical scenarios.

Popular examples: Risk, Twilight Struggle

Economic

Economic board games are board games involving financial strategy and focus on trading. Herein, players make decisions to manage money, invest, and expand their assets so they can generate profits. These games involve market fluctuations, investments, and competition for limited resources. Success in this genre depends on how players make strategies for growth while balancing risks. On the whole, economic board games promote long-term thinking and careful planning.

Popular examples: Monopoly, Power Grid

Deck-building

Deck-building games are different types of board games where players construct a deck of cards to improve their power and effectiveness. The game starts with a basic deck. Players start collecting new cards that offer abilities, resources, or points to strengthen their deck. These games demand strategic decisions from players about which card to get.

Popular examples: Dominion, Clank!

Dexterity

Dexterity board games are a unique form of board game that focuses on physical skill, where players use hand-eye coordination, timing, or precision to accomplish tasks or challenges. These games usually involve actions like tossing objects, flicking, and balancing. Such games can be light or competitive, depending on the player’s dexterity (skills) rather than depending on strategic thinking alone.

Popular examples: Jenga, Crokinole

Draft

In drafting board games, players select cards or items from a shared pool, usually in turns. The goal is to build a strong hand or collection by picking cards that complement one another while denying other valuable options. Drafting requires guessing what opponents will pick as well as taking into consideration what is available. These games have limited time for making decisions and encourage creative strategies.

Popular examples: 7 Wonders, Sushi Go!

Dungeon Crawler

Dungeon Crawler board games is a popular board game category that revolves around exploring dungeons, battling enemies, and collecting loot. All such activities are done through tactical combat and character progression in the game. Players usually control heroes with unique abilities, working cooperatively or competitively to tackle monsters, traps, and other obstacles that might appear in their journey. These games feature an evolving narrative and campaign-style play with missions that get revealed over time.

Popular games: Gloomhaven, Descent: Journeys in the Dark

Eurogame/Euro-style

The last type of board game on the list is Eurogame. These games primarily focus on making efficient systems to increase points through actions such as trading, building, or optimizing resources. They have simple rules but deep strategic decisions which makes them accessible yet challenging. Herein players don’t directly conflict but compete for limited resources or actions.

Popular examples: Catan, Carcassone

Also Read :- How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Board Game in 2025?

Board Game Trends in USA

The gaming market of USA is seeing emerging trends in board games. In 2025, the board gaming community is becoming more diverse and inclusive. There are advancements in board games in terms of themes and characters. Moreover, its pushing the boundaries of social gaming to allow for more enhanced ways to build relationships with others.

How Board Games are Evolving with Technology in the USA

In USA, board games are not only limited to digital screens. They are making way to new forms of gaming through the implementation of emerging technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to provide a more realistic experience as if a player is playing a board game in a traditional way. In the near future, we can see AR and VR board games in other gaming markets across the globe.

Final Words

From worker placement board games like Agricola to wargame board games like Risk to Eurogame board games like Catan, the category of different types of board games is extensive. If you haven’t tried any of them, try these games today to improve your board game skills.

In case you feel like becoming a gaming entrepreneur by developing online board games presented above in the list, contact a popular board game development agency to start your entrepreneurial journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How much time does it take to create a board game for Android and iOS?

Ans. It takes around two months to develop a board game for Android with optimum features and functions. However, the time depends on the type of project.

Q2. What is the actual cost of developing a board game online?

Ans. There is no fixed cost of online board game development as there are various factors influencing the actual cost. On average the cost to create a board game ranges between $8000 and $15000 with optimum features and functions. A renowned game development company can help you analyze the cost of your project.

Q3. What is the most popular type of board game?

Ans. Chess is the most popular board game in the world of different board game categories.

Q4. Which are the most popular board game types?

Ans. There are many types of board games available online. However, the most popular ones are placement, deck-building, cooperative, legacy, set-collection, combat, and area contro

Q5. What makes a board game successful? 

Ans. Creative graphics, immersive sounds, and a fascinating storyline are what make a board game successful.

Q6. How do legacy games differ from traditional board games?

Ans. A legacy board game differs from the traditional format by permanently changing the in-game components. The game’s session evolves the game through irreversible actions like writing on cards, sticking stickers, and even tearing the game. On the other hand, a traditional board game always resets to its original state after each play.

Q7. What is the difference between Area Control and Combat Games?

Ans. The major difference between these two games is that the area control games allows players to control a specific area on the board, whereas combat games allows players to fight against each other. 

Nitin Garg

I am Nitin Garg, founder of BR Softech PVT LTD - an award-winning mobile game development company known for its excellence in the gaming domain. We have a team of 180+ exceptional professionals & we have a satisfied clientele of 2.7k+ globally. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, I aim to elevate BR Softech to a billion-dollar company.

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