What is an Engine Building Game?
Engine building games have become a popular genre in modern board gaming, and it’s easy to see why. These games combine elements of strategy, resource management, and complexity to create a unique and engaging gaming experience. But what exactly is an engine building game?
Direct Answer
An engine building game is a type of board game that focuses on building and upgrading a player’s "engine" – a term used to describe the mechanisms and resources that allow players to generate and manage the actions, points, or resources needed to win the game. In engine building games, players start with a basic engine and gradually add components, abilities, and upgrades to enhance its capabilities, creating a more efficient and effective engine that allows them to score points, take actions, or accomplish goals more efficiently.
Key Features of Engine Building Games
While engine building games share some common characteristics, there are certain key features that define this genre. Some of the most important elements of engine building games include:
- Initial Simple Base: Engine building games often start with a simple, basic engine or setup that provides the foundation for players to build upon.
- Resource Generation and Management: Players must generate resources (such as tokens, cards, or abilities) to use for engine upgrades and to score points.
- Engine Upgrades: Players can upgrade and enhance their engine by adding new components, abilities, and upgrades, which can change the way they play and generate resources.
- Complexity and Depth: As players add upgrades and components, the game’s complexity and depth increase, allowing for a greater range of strategic options and replayability.
- Dynamic Game Play: Engine building games often have a dynamic game play experience, where players must adapt and adjust their engine to respond to changing circumstances, such as new player actions or game state.
Sub-Genres and Examples
While engine building games share common characteristics, there are many sub-genres and examples within the genre. Some notable examples include:
- Card-Based Engine Building: Games like Dominion, Ascension, and Legendary, where players build and upgrade their engine using cards, abilities, and upgrades.
- Mechanic-Focused Engine Building: Games like Gloomhaven, where players build and upgrade their engine around specific mechanics and abilities.
- Theme-Based Engine Building: Games like Castles of Burgundy, where players build and upgrade their engine around specific themes, such as agriculture, trade, and exploration.
Benefits and Appeal
So why are engine building games so appealing? Some benefits and characteristics that contribute to their popularity include:
- Deep Replayability: Engine building games offer a high level of replayability, as players can experiment with different engine upgrades, components, and strategies.
- Increased Complexity and Challenge: As players upgrade and enhance their engine, the game’s complexity and challenge increase, providing a more engaging and rewarding experience.
- Player Agency and Customization: Engine building games allow players to build and customize their engine to suit their playing style and preferences, providing a high level of player agency and engagement.
- Strategic Depth: Engine building games require players to think strategically, making tough decisions about engine upgrades, resource management, and action taking.
Conclusion
In conclusion, engine building games are a unique and exciting genre that offers a high level of complexity, replayability, and strategic depth. By understanding the key features, sub-genres, and benefits of engine building games, players can appreciate the nuances and appeal of these games and experience the thrill of building and upgrading their own engine. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the world of board gaming, engine building games offer a rich and engaging experience that is sure to captivate and challenge you.