Getting to know a game. | The Dyslexic Gamer (2024)

1. Passing interest

I heard of the game. I know what kind of game it is. That is I know it’s a cooperative or whatever. I recognise the box in the library of a board game cafe or shop. However, for whatever reason I don’t want to investigate it any further. I don’t think it will suit my player style. Perhaps I don’t like the theme or art.

I would put Root in this category. I know it’s a skirmish game that has critters. The critters look kind of nice but I don’t think I would like to play it.

2. Looked at it, watched a run though

These are games I have investigated further. Maybe I’ve opened the box to look at the components at a board game cafe. I’ve watched a run through and I am kinda interested. I would put Paris in this category. It’s by one of my favourite designer duos Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. I know roughly what the mechanics are. I’d probably buy it if I saw it going cheap.

Bizarrely I actually have games in my collection that fit into this category. Games like Prêt-à-Porter or Kanban EV that are sitting on my shelf of shame. Or is that shelf of opportunity? This represents 7% of my collection.

3. Played it once

I have a whole bunch of games like this. Games I bought and played once and then thought it was ok but not really for me. These are the games I should sell. But for some reason I don’t. I know in my heart of hearts that I should give them a second chance. Games that I have in this section include games like Tinners' Trail. I’ve actually played this twice. Once at the Expo. Recently a friends bought it so perhaps we will get it to the table again soon.

I think my recent experience of Viscounts of the West Kingdom is an example of why you shouldn’t only play a game once. You might have made a mistake. Often I will read the rule book afterwards go check for mistakes. It’s so frustrating if it’s a game you don’t own and the rule book isn’t on BGG.

Often these games are owned by other people. Sometimes they might go on my wish list like The Princes of Florence or Great Western Trail. Sometimes I might never want to play them again. About twenty percent of my collection is in this category.

4. Played it a few times

Again I have a lot of games that fall into this category. Normally I can play them without consulting the rules too often. I am probably not familiar with the set up. I know roughly what you need to do to win but I am still exploring strategies. I know some of the cards but not all. Games in this category would include Architects of the West Kingdom or Concordia. About a third of my games fall into this category.

I played Concordia: Solitaria to day. I had to keep consulting the rule book so it was it a bit of a chore. I was a solid solo option and Contrarius beat me by one point. He was building a lot of buildings and taking cards. He actually starts with quite a few points baked in. The game was over in just over half an hour. I was surprised the expansion came with its own deck. I can image without a bigger variety of cards it would get stale petty quickly.

5. Played it a lot

I know the game well. I don’t need to consult the rule book other than for edge cases. I might have written a review or contributed to a thread about it. I am aware of the expansions and might even own the odd one. I know most of the cards in the game. Games like this would include The Isle of Cats, Obsession or PARKS. I have a preferred strategy. I subscribe to the game on BGG. I would say about a twenty five percent of my collection falls into this category.

A lot of longer or more complicated games fall into this category. Games like Ark Nova or Grand Austria Hotel I would like to play more often but are difficult to get to the table. It’s the category I am most excited to play.

There are a couple of games that I don’t own that fit within this category like Res Arcana or Dice Forge. I really like them but just nit enough to buy them.

6. Know it really well

There are very few games like this. The obvious example is Carcassonne, Wingspan or Agricola. I might well own the deluxe edition. I own most of the content for the game. It’s probably upgraded. I’ve almost certainly written a review for it. I keep banging on about it on my blog.

It feels like a loyal and trusted friend. A game I will take to board game club if I want a bomb proof experience. Like Istanbul or The Castles of Burgundy.

Other examples would include Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Rajas of the Ganges and Everdell. The odd house rule might have crept in.

As soon as any other content is released I am super excited. Take the recently published Mists over Carcassonne. I couldn’t wait to get my copy. I’d watched a run though. I might even (not in this case!) have watched an unboxing. A rare event for me. It didn’t disappoint either. I love the art on this and the co-operative gameplay is excellent. I have yet to try it as an expansion.

Of course games move from one category to another. Fillers can move right up very quickly, like Dice Miner or Fantasy Realms. (My most played game) My friend just got the deluxe edition with all new art, custom sleeves and the two promo cards.

Other people games won’t feature in this category. If I know it this well I own it.

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