Board games often fall into two categories, ones where the game doesn’t change much, so you can master it. And then other games that are going to be different almost every time that you play it. And depending on who you are as a gamer, you might prefer one over the other, but is either better?

Mastering vs Variability

So let’s start out by defining our terms. It isn’t that complex a topic really, but I think it’s good to start out at the same point. Because, even more variable board games can be mastered to some extent, just in a different way. So let’s see how that works, potentially.

Mastering Board Games

Mastering a board game means that you can do something to get better at it. You can spend the time playing it to learn the strategy of the game and be able to pull off the most optimal strategy. What that means is that if you play against someone new, you probably need to rein it in somewhat, so that you don’t crush them. Or you need to play against players at a like level.

A lot of games can be mastered. Something like Icecool can be mastered just by practicing at flicking around penguins you can get better. Or something like Dominion, if you play it enough, even with different card combinations, you see the optimal patterns. This is what I mean with how a game can be variable, but still mastered with Dominion since it is set but the puzzle might change slightly.

Variable Board Games

Variable board games are going to focus on changing up what you do each time. And this might be because of the game, or it might be because of whom you play against. But most of the time people mean that a game can change how it is set-up and that a single strategy won’t work in the game every time.

So, an example of this, BoardGameCo gave it in his video on variability in games recently, would be chess. Chess isn’t variable, but it is, because you are interacting so directly with the person across from you the game is different each time you play it. The set-up doesn’t change, you don’t get new pieces, but that player interaction makes it more variable.

At the same time, a game like Res Arcana is also variable because you play with different cards each time. So while the puzzle might be figuring out how to activate your engine more efficiently to get points, how you do that will change up depending on your cards, your mage, the places of power, and monuments.

Is One Better?

Now, a lot of people are going to say that yes there is one that is better. And the answer to this question, for me, is that none of them are better. Sometimes I want something that is familiar and easy to set down with that I can master. Sometimes I want to play a game that offers me a new puzzle and a new experience.

Now, I might have one that I prefer more than others, and for me that is a game that is more variable. There is more reason for me to come back to a game and try a new strategy. And that new experience, that fresher experience is what interests me a lot about games.

I find a game that I can master generally moves on from my collection faster. I learn how to master it and either I need other players at my level of the game, or I need to move on from it. Playing a game that I’m very good at against someone who is very bad at it is not that fun. And it might just be because my experience with the game is greater, but for them, why continue trying to learn when they are going to get beat?

Which Do You Prefer?

Let me know in the comments below. Like I said, I think there can be reasons for each way of playing games. Sometimes you just want the sense of accomplishment from mastering something. Other times you can to be able challenge yourself with something new. And neither of those is a bad thing, neither of those is a better thing. They are just different ways of engaging with the board game hobby.

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