Don’t Panic About the Jargon
Ever joined a game night and felt like everyone was speaking in code? “This is a great engine-builder with some worker placement, but watch out for analysis paralysis!” If just getting started and wondering what any of that meant, you’re definitely not alone.
The good news? Board game terminology isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. Most of these terms developed naturally as players needed ways to describe the clever mechanics and experiences that make modern games so engaging. Think of it like learning the vocabulary for any hobby you care about – once you know the basics, everything starts making much more sense.
This guide will walk you through the essential terms you’ll hear around game tables, from the fundamental concepts to the specific mechanics that make games tick. By the end, you’ll be confidently discussing “worker placement eurogames” and understanding exactly why someone might warn about “analysis paralysis.”
The Big Picture: Game Styles and Categories
Understanding broad game categories helps you figure out what kind of experience you’re in for before you even open the box.
Eurogames vs. American-Style Games
These are the two major “families” of board game design philosophy:
Eurogames (or Euro-style games) emphasize clever mechanics over flashy themes. They typically feature:
- Indirect competition (you’re racing to build the best engine, not attacking each other directly)
- Victory points as the main way to win
- Limited randomness
- Economic themes or abstract strategy
Think Settlers of Catan, Splendor, or Azul. You’re usually building something or managing resources efficiently.
American-style games (sometimes called “Ameritrash,” though many find this term outdated) focus on theme and direct interaction:
- Rich storytelling and immersive themes
- Direct conflict between players
- More dice rolling and luck-based elements
- Often feature miniatures or detailed artwork
Examples include Space Base, King of Tokyo, or classic Risk.
Neither style is better – they just offer different experiences. Many modern games blend elements from both approaches.
Cooperative Games: All for One
In cooperative games, everyone wins or loses together. You’re fighting the game itself rather than each other. Popular examples include Pandemic (save the world from diseases) and Forbidden Island (escape with treasure before the island sinks).
These are fantastic for new players because experienced gamers can help without eliminating anyone from winning.
Abstract vs. Thematic Games
Abstract games focus purely on mechanics without trying to tell a story. Chess is the classic example, but modern abstracts like Azul or Qwirkle can be just as engaging.
Thematic games wrap their mechanics in a story or setting. The theme might be light (like building railroads in Ticket to Ride) or heavy (like surviving a zombie apocalypse in Dead of Winter).
Core Game Mechanics: How Games Actually Work
These terms describe the fundamental ways players interact with games:
Worker Placement
You have a limited number of “workers” (usually meeples or cubes) that you place on the board to take actions. Once someone places a worker somewhere, others usually can’t use that spot. It creates interesting decisions about priority and timing. Stone Age is a good example.
Why this matters: Worker placement games reward planning ahead and adapting when someone takes the action you wanted.
Engine Building
You start with basic abilities and gradually build up combinations that become more powerful over time. Like constructing a machine that gets better at producing what you need.
Splendor is a perfect example – you buy gem cards that make future purchases cheaper, eventually letting you afford the most valuable cards.
Deck Building
Everyone starts with identical weak decks and gradually adds better cards during the game. Dominion popularized this mechanic. Challengers is another good example.
Key insight: Unlike collectible card games where you bring a pre-built deck, deck-building games have you construct your deck as part of the gameplay.
Area Control
Players compete for dominance over territories or regions. Risk is the classic example, but modern games like Small World offer more strategic approaches to the same basic idea.
Resource Management
You collect various resources (wood, grain, money, etc.) and spend them efficiently to achieve your goals. Almost every Eurogame involves some resource management.
Essential Components and Terms
Understanding what people mean when they reference game components helps you follow along with explanations and reviews:
Meeples
Those cute little wooden people-shaped pieces that represent you in many games. The term comes from “my people” and was popularized by Carcassonne. Now it’s used for almost any person-shaped game piece.
Victory Points (VP)
The most common way to determine winners in Eurogames. You accumulate points through various actions, and whoever has the most at the end wins. Sometimes abbreviated as VP in discussions.
Dice Notation
When people write “d6” they mean a six-sided die, “d20” means a twenty-sided die, etc. The number after ’d’ indicates how many sides.
Player Behavior and Game Flow Terms
These describe common experiences and behaviors you’ll encounter:
Analysis Paralysis (AP)
When someone overthinks their turn, taking much longer than necessary to make a decision. Everyone experiences this occasionally, but some players are more prone to it.
Pro tip: If you’re prone to AP, try setting a gentle time limit for yourself, or start thinking about your turn while others are playing.
Alpha Gaming
In cooperative games, when one experienced player makes all the decisions for the group. This can ruin the fun for others who want to contribute to the strategy.
Take That
Mechanics that let you directly hinder opponents – stealing their resources, forcing them to discard cards, etc. Some people love it, others prefer games with minimal direct conflict.
Tutorial Perfectionism
When someone learning a new game gets so focused on trying to win that they miss the point of their first playthrough. They’ll agonize over every decision trying to find the “optimal” move in a game they don’t even understand yet.
Gentle reminder: Your first game is your tutorial – focus on learning how everything works, not on winning. You can’t optimize what you don’t understand!
Putting It All Together: Why This Matters
Understanding these terms helps you in several practical ways:
When choosing games: If someone recommends “a light worker placement Eurogame,” you’ll know to expect strategic resource management without a lot of direct conflict or complex rules.
During gameplay: When someone explains a rule using these terms, you’ll understand immediately instead of needing additional clarification.
In communities: Whether you’re reading BoardGameGeek reviews or chatting in our Discord, you’ll be able to follow discussions and contribute meaningfully.
For shopping: Game descriptions and reviews use this vocabulary constantly. Knowing what “engine-building” or “area control” means helps you find games you’ll actually enjoy.
A Quick Reference for Game Night
Here are the terms you’re most likely to encounter in your first few game nights:
Before playing:
- “This is a Eurogame” = Expect strategy and resource management
- “It’s cooperative” = We all win or lose together
- “Light/Medium/Heavy” = How complex the rules are
During play:
- “That’s a good engine” = Your combination of abilities is working well
- “Analysis paralysis” = Someone is overthinking their turn
- “Take that!” = Someone just made a move that hurts opponents
Components:
- Meeples = Little wooden people
- VP = Victory points
- D6 = Six-sided die
What’s Next?
Don’t worry about memorizing all of this at once. Like any specialized vocabulary, you’ll naturally pick up terms as you encounter them in context. The most important thing is not to be intimidated – everyone started somewhere, and the board gaming community is generally very welcoming to newcomers.
In our next post, we’ll dive into specific game recommendations for beginners, using some of this terminology to help you understand what makes each game special and approachable.
The beautiful thing about modern board games is that once you understand the basic language, you can appreciate the clever design decisions that make each game unique. Every new term you learn opens up more games to explore and enjoy.
Want to practice using this terminology? Join us for our Friday night game sessions where you can ask questions and learn in a supportive environment. Check our upcoming events to get started!
Got questions about specific terms or want us to cover additional vocabulary? Let us know in the comments or bring it up during one of our game nights.