Let’s answer this fast, the answer is yes pretty board games are better than ugly board games.

Okay, article done. Well, maybe not because why is that the case, I think we can figure that out. And maybe it is also a situation where we shouldn’t be judging a book or a box by it’s cover.

Why Are They Better?

Now, better in this case can mean two things. I am going to say that pretty board games are better because that means that they get played more often. And a played board game is better than a board game sitting on a shelf. On the flip side, just because a game looks aesthetically pleasing doesn’t guarantee it’s a compelling game.

But why do they get played more often. It’s a thing called table presence and we do it with food as well. If you go to a potluck, something pretty common here in Minnesota or at least when I was growing up, if the food looks good, we assume that it’s better tasting. Again, might not be true, but visually appealing plating of the same food will “taste” better because it looks better.

The same is true for board games. If I put a board game out on a table that looks like Monopoly, it could be a great game, but it doesn’t look as visually appealing. If I put out a game with bright colors, cool 3D pieces, and more, it looks more interesting. And people will want to play those games more often.

But Are They Better Games?

So this goes back tot he second point, the answer is maybe. It depends on what you consider a better game? If I put out a game to play but it doesn’t look good so it gets played once and then not again, does it matter how mechanically good the game is? Or if a game looks great but is just average and it gets played a lot, is that a better game?

For me, Splendor is a game that I think is just okay. It’s a bit too simple for what I want to play now. However, it has good artwork and nice poker chips. So people like that game a lot because of the weight and feel of the poker chips. Splendor can then get played more often because of that.

Is Splendor a better game than a more boring looking engine building game, let’s say Homebrewers. Homebrewers doesn’t look bad but not as good as Splendor. I think that Homebrewers is a much better game. But, on the flip side, more people will play Splendor because it looks nicer. So is a game that is played more often better?

Don’t Judge A Box By It’s Cover

I think this is something we can all agree with. We shouldn’t judge a box by it’s cover. However, this is something that I’ve written about. Why limit the board games that you’ll play? I talk about miniature games or card games or Kickstarter games that people will thumb their noses at and not play. On the flip side of that, and this one is harder for me, games that look boring. I judge a board game by it’s box cover and maybe the back as well.

If a game looks better I am more apt to buy it, and I’m more apt to get it to the table quickly. Kohaku, for example, just came in the mail. That game looks amazing. The tiles are beautiful with how it’s printed in the acrylic to give it depth. Now, it’s a simpler game, but because it looks good, that means that I’ll get it to the table more easily.

Is This A Bad Phenomena?

Nope, it’s not bad. In fact, it should be pushing some game companies who maybe make more boring games to make better looking games. It makes them more money if the game looks better, a game gets easier buzz if it looks better. Now, on the flip side, if it’s a bad game it can disappoint more, but don’t make bad games solves that issue.

The negatives come in when it keeps someone from playing a game. We don’t want the looks of a game to determine if it is played or not. But that goes back to my question and thought of not limiting the games one plays. Now, I might not buy what I consider to be an ugly looking game or more boring looking game. But I don’t want to say no to playing a game like that. And sometimes I do buy them.

Terraforming Mars is a perfect example of this. That game looks ugly. Now, not hideous, but I didn’t buy it for a long time because it didn’t look fun. Now, I do own it and I still need to play it. Why, because I haven’t owned it that long, but also because it looks boring. Still, it’s one of the top rated games on Board Game Geek and loved by the community. So I want to play it.

What is the best looking game you own that isn’t that great? What is the worst looking game that you own that is amazing?

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