I’ve been working on my Board Games badge for almost a year now: I began it at the Bromsgrove meet up last February, and worked on it throughout the year at various meet ups. I’m not usually a fan of board games, unless they’re the party-game type with simple rules. I can’t really be bothered with complicated rules and complex games. However, I did enjoy the badge.
Learn about at least ten different categories of board game, and play at least one game from each category.
David Parlett’s Oxford History of Board Games (1999) defines four primary categories: race games (where the goal is to be the first to move all one’s pieces to the final destination), space games (in which the object is to arrange the pieces into some special configuration), chase games (asymmetrical games, where players start the game with different sets of pieces and objectives) and displace games (where the main objective is the capture of the opponents’ pieces).
Further research led me to a wider list of categories, from which I selected the below. I played at least one game from each category over the course of the year.
Abstract strategy games: These games have a minimal narrative theme, outcomes determined by player choice, and all players have perfect information about them. New York Zoo
Card games: These games use cards as their sole or central component. Kittens in a Blender
Cooperative games: Games in which players work together to achieve a common goal, rather than competing against each other. Players win the game by reaching a pre-determined objective, or lose the game by not reaching this objective before the game is ended. Forbidden Desert
Dexterity games: These games rely on players’ coordination and physical reflexes as an important factor in overall success. Rhino Hero
Fantasy games: These are games with a fantastical setting, such as Middle Earth or Discworld. Escape from Atlantis
Party games: These games are perfect for parties, with quick setup and simple rules. They are played quickly, can accommodate large groups of people, and encourage social interaction. Geistes Blitz
Race games: In race games the object is to be the first to move all your pieces to the end of a track. The earliest board games are race games: implements and representations date back to at least the 3rd millennium BC in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran. Race games often use dice to decide game options and how far to move pieces. Shark Chase
Single-player puzzle games: These are games designed for one player to work alone to achieve the game objective. Solitaire
Train games: These games represent the construction and operation of railways. Ticket to Ride
Word games: These games are designed to test ability with language or to explore its properties. Word Round
Hold a games night with friends, family or your local Rebellion.
I attended a board games afternoon at the Southbank Centre with the London Rebellion, and we played Kittens in a Blender, Forbidden Desert and Bug Bash.
Create and build your own board game.
I created a game called South!, inspired by Antarctica. The aim of the game is to be the first to reach the South Pole. I did have fun creating this game – particularly the game cards with different scenarios.
Play a board game created this year.
I asked for a fun game for Christmas called ‘Obey the Clay’, inspired by Aardman animations. I pretty much forced my family to play it on Christmas Day and it was silly, but highly amusing!
Play a board game popular in the decade in which you were born.
At a board games café in Croydon, with the London Rebellion, I played Survive: Escape from Atlantis, originally released in 1982.
Play a giant version of a board game.
I visited Monopoly Lifesized with a friend when she was down in London, and had a great time.
Visit a board games café and play at least three games you’ve never played before.
At Ludoquist in Croydon, as well as Survive I also played P for Pizza, Geistes Blitz, and New York Zoo.
Play a digital version of a board game.
I played the digital version of Paperback Vol. 2.
Date completed: 17 January 2024