boardgame

A board game is a tabletop game in which players move or place pieces on a pre-marked surface according to a defined set of rules. Most board games are designed for two or more players and involve strategy, negotiation, or luck.

Common components include a playing board, pieces or tokens, cards, dice or spinners, and money or resource markers; many titles feature modular boards, variable setups, or solo modes.

Gameplay typically alternates turns with a goal such as accumulating points, reaching a destination, or defeating opponents. Notable examples include chess, go, Scrabble, Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, and Carcassonne.

The modern board game tradition blends ancient precursors with 19th- and 20th-century mass-market titles and the late-20th-century rise of designer games. The German-style or Eurogame movement emphasized streamlined rules, interaction, and economic themes.

Genres span abstract strategy, strategy, family or party games, and cooperative experiences. Common mechanics include tile-laying, set collection, deck-building, resource management, worker placement, and area control.

Board games are used for entertainment, education, and social interaction across households, clubs, cafes, schools, and museums. They form a global market with diverse publishers, designers, and a growing digital and hybrid scene.