| You might have heard the term before, or another, | | | | and Puerto Rico. Both these games generate tension |
| less commonly used term - 'designer board games'. | | | | and interest for the game through the interaction |
| You might even have played a game or two of | | | | between players and the board, but without including |
| Settlers of Catan or Ticket to Ride and while looking | | | | impossible to plan for random events. |
| for games of the same calibre, came across the term. | | | | Other games, e.g. Carcassonne or Settlers of Catan |
| But what really are Eurogames and what is the | | | | do introduce random elements to the game, but allow |
| difference? | | | | players to make significant decisions to reduce the |
| The History | | | | effect of these random factors. In Carcassonne, |
| Eurogames were historically from Germany, a country | | | | players are able to choose where to place their tiles, |
| that has a thriving culture of playing board games. It's a | | | | providing them additional points, while the building of |
| national past-time, similar to video games in North | | | | settlements in Settlers of Catan on myriad locations |
| America and just as accepted. Because of the large | | | | help you reduce your chance of not getting any |
| industry, the board games in Germany evolved, | | | | resources. |
| becoming more competitive and streamlined to suit | | | | Compare this to Monopoly where the roll of a dice |
| their players taste. | | | | controls a players movement. Players in Monopoly only |
| The first major hit in North America was Settlers of | | | | have one significant decision to make (what properties |
| Catan - a multiple award winning board game. Still one | | | | to build up) and that is only available if players are able |
| of the most popular and recognisable board games, | | | | to land on the appropriate locations. |
| Settlers dominates sales of this type of game and is | | | | Low / Indirect Player Conflict |
| still the benchmark. It was the introduction of Settlers | | | | Eurogames generally avoid direct player conflict, |
| of Catan to North America that paved the way for | | | | allowing players to focus on their own strategies |
| other European board games and initiated the coining | | | | significantly while affecting other players only in the |
| of the word 'Eurogames' for the new wave of board | | | | most indirect ways. In Puerto Rico, players affect each |
| games arriving in North America. | | | | other by the choice and timing of roles and the |
| The Characteristics of a Eurogame | | | | purchase of buildings only, but are not able to, for |
| The list of what makes a game a Euro game (and | | | | example, send Pirates to destroy an opponents items. |
| many new 'Eurogames' are not just from Europe | | | | No Player Elimination |
| these days) varies depending on who you speak to. | | | | Player elimination is something that most Eurogames |
| However, most carry the following characteristics: | | | | attempt to avoid, allowing the full group to continue |
| Low Randomness | | | | playing throughout the game. This allows players to |
| Low / Indirect player conflict | | | | stay constantly engaged, with the focus on the game |
| No player elimination | | | | instead of forcing other, eliminated players, to await a |
| Theme is not the focus of the game but gameplay | | | | new game to begin. |
| and strategy in the game | | | | As a side effect of this, some Euro games either keep |
| Simple mechanics | | | | the victory point score hidden or seek to introduce |
| Low Randomness | | | | 'catch up' mechanisms in the game to allow lagging |
| Eurogames pride themselves on either have low or | | | | players a chance. Both Small World and Kingsburg are |
| highly controlled randomness in the game. Some | | | | great examples of these two instances. |
| games, after set-up, have no randomess - e.g. Agricola | | | | |