When shopping for a new board game for game night, your interests and intent will always help decide how you pick the next box to add to your shelf. If you’re a collector, you’re probably looking for the newest game or the prettiest box to set up in your board game shelf.
If you’ve got consistent game nights, you’re probably looking for games that’ll mesh well with your friend group or table. You may even be looking for a game to play that piques your own interest and plan on talking your friends into giving it a try. Here’s what I look for when buying board games.
Casual Versus Competitive
The Perfect Blend For The Table
One of the first things I look for when picking out a board game is whether the game is going to be a casual starter of game night, or something that will have everyone yelling and screaming at one another by the end of the game. My friends are highly competitive, so games that will pit us against each other are almost always a win.
Of course, casual games can also be competitive, so something that won’t take too much time but will also allow for some competitive trash-talking and is sitll casual enough to move on from is a great balance.
Game Length
Finding The Perfect Balance
Right now, there are a ton of easy and casual games out there that last for less than 10 minutes. Some have rounds that can be completed in five minutes or less, and most don’t exceed 30 minutes. These are easy casual games for casual gamers. When I’m looking for a game, however, I’m usually looking for something my group can truly dive into. I’m looking for games at least 20-30 minutes long.
These create substantial play sessions, and replaying the game two or three times after the first practice round will fill up our entire game night, making me a happy host who doesn’t need to swap between games and ruin things with long setup and clean-up times. There’s also something fun about trying out some of the longest board games over several gaming sessions.
Cooperative Gameplay
Sometimes We Want To Be On The Same Team
It’s actually getting harder and harder to find cooperative games that are fun and worth playing. So many games aren’t made with cooperative play in mind, so any game that allows multiple players to play together, trying to reach the same goal.
If there’s a cooperative game with at least 4-6 player options (or even more), I’m definitely going to buy it. Even if those games start cooperative and end up competitive, such as Betrayal at House on the Hill, finding something where enough players can work together is a breath of fresh air in the tabletop space.
Player Count
Can An Uneven Number Of Players Have Fun?
When it comes to player count, sometimes there’s going to be an uneven number of players at my table, depending on who can make it for game night. Games that can be played with an odd number of players are always at the top of my list when buying a new one.
Anything flexible enough to go from two players to more ensures that it can be pulled out for just two friends playing or enjoyed by seven and still be a good time. An uneven number of players makes cooperative games of specific interest when looking for a new board game to try. Player count often goes hand in hand with that search.
A Cool Setup
How Cool Does The Actual Game Look?
Of course, everyone is going to be more interested if the game itself looks interesting. Try pulling out a dull-looking board or a generic setup and see the lights in the eyes of players fall flat as interest instantly wanes.
Presentation can be just as important when introducing a brand new board game to the table, so I definitely look for a game that looks as cool as it sounds. A bad presentation can actually lead to a bad execution of how the game is made.
Some Form Of Deduction
Either Against Each Other Or Together
One thing I love at my game nights is a game of deduction. It’s something I’m always looking for when buying a new board game, as it usually gets everyone at the table involved. If working together, everyone puts their sluething hats on and begins to throw out ideas or options because everyone gets to feel involved with deduction options.
This also works when working against one another. Trying to determine who is who, who’s lying, or who the killer is, brings out a raucous good time as everyone at the table accuses each other. Social deduction is a great genre I’m always looking for.
Brain Teasers
The Best Games Test Your Skills
Another thing I look for when choosing a board game is one that can test your skills. Games that allow you to really work your brain and work with friends are well worth your time. Games with math or reading comprehension are much more fun than you think, even as adults.
Having your friends work together and really crunch the numbers to solve equations on a board, or putting together words and clues to deduce the proper order or understanding of a situation, will allow everyone at the table to work together and stretch their brains. Also gives you a chance to see whether you’re actually smarter than a fifth grader.
Theme And Box Art
I Definitely Judge Games By Their Cover
It might seem a tad shallow, but pretty box art will always grab my attention. Of course, just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean it’ll be good, but I’m more than willing to learn the hard way.
I will also always grab a spooky or horror-style game, a cutesy Disney-style game, or anything in between. A sppoky theme or an adorable theme willg et me every time. Let me play as an adorable little critter or haunt a creepy house and I”m completely sold.
