Engine & Economy
Mechanics about building up resources and turning them into an ever-growing advantage. Slow to start, powerful once they roll.
// In this family
- Worker Placement
- Engine Building
- Set Collection
Grouped by feel
Five families
of mechanics.
Mechanics that share a feel cluster into families. Knowing the family tells you a lot about a game before you've read a single rule.
Space & Position
Mechanics played out on a board or map, where where you are matters as much as what you do.
// In this family
- Area Control
- Tile Placement
- Route Building
Cards & Hands
Mechanics built around a deck or a hand of cards — acquiring, timing, and drafting for the best play.
// In this family
- Deck-Building
- Hand Management
- Drafting
Risk & Timing
Mechanics where the big decisions are about when — when to push, when to stop, when to spend.
// In this family
- Push Your Luck
- Action Points
Info & People
Mechanics driven by hidden information and by reading the other players at the table.
// In this family
- Deduction