Week 1 · Empathize · Part One of Two

Analyzing Board Games: How It's Built

In small groups, students will play one of the board games that can be found in the stack in the classroom. Your Job: To learn to identify the game components and game mechanics. Save it as a PDF copy on your laptop to share with your group.

Players in my groupDateName of the Board Game

Part 1: First Impressions

Before you begin playing, look at the game materials.

What do you think this game might be about?

Based on the box, board, cards, and pieces, who do you think this game is designed for?

What feeling do you predict the game will create?

Part 2: Game Components

Look carefully at everything included in the game.

Component or game piece	How many?	What is it used for?	Where do you see it used?
Board or game space
Cards
Player pieces/pawns
Dice or spinner
Tokens, cubes, coins, or markers
Score tracker
Player mats or reference cards
Other important piece

Choose one component that seems especially important.

Part 3: The Goal

Identify goals players are trying to obtainHow does someone win, or how does the group succeed?

Is this game:

Part 4: What Happens on a Turn?

Watch or play through one complete turn.

A player's turn usually looks like this:

First, the player

Then, the player

Next, the player

Finally, the player

Does every player take the same kind of turn?

How long does one turn usually take?

Do players have to wait a long time between turns?

What is one choice a player gets to make on their turn?

Part 5: Game Mechanics

A mechanic is an action or system that makes the game work. Check every mechanic you notice.

Mechanic	I see it	Evidence: where or how does it happen?
Roll dice or spin
Move along a path or board
Collect resources or items
Spend resources or items
Draw cards
Play cards
Build or place pieces
Trade or negotiate
Race to a goal
Answer questions or solve problems
Match patterns, colors, or symbols
Take risks or gamble
Bluff, hide information, or guess
Work together
Attack, block, steal, or interfere
Earn points
Other mechanic

What mechanic seems most important to this game?How does that mechanic make the game interesting, challenging, or fun?

Finished Part One?

Before you continue, save a PDF copy on your laptop to share with your group.

Part Two looks at how the game actually plays — choices, theme, rules, and fun.

Continue to Part Two →