The Six Characteristics of a Good Game

As I was writing last week's review of Rampage / Terror in Meeple City, I started thinking about how I had only just recently introduced into my board game reviews the Six Characteristics of a Good Game. More to the point, I was thinking about how those six characteristics don't always map exactly to how well I like a game.

So, I thought that today, I would take a quick look back at all of the games I've reviewed on this blog in the past. I want to do this for two reasons:

1. I want to go back and add these characteristics to those games that don't yet have them, on account of I wrote their reviews before I started including the characteristics.
2. I want to compare the characteristics to my personal ratings of those games.

Note that in that last one, I'm comparing the ratings to my personal tastes. I'm only doing this for demonstrative purposes. I want to show that just because a game has all six characteristics, it won't necessarily be a game that you like. Contrariwise, if a game lacks most (or all) of these characteristics, it may still be a game that you enjoy. So whatever ranking you give to these games, similar to mine or different, the point remains the same.

Let's go!

Games I've Reviewed Before

Below is a table (which is, admittedly, pretty large, as I've reviewed quite a few games here over the years) that contains the six characteristics as well as my rating. For purposes of this chart, I will be borrowing the suggested 1–10 rating system used on Board Game Geek. That is:

1. Defies description. You won't catch me dead playing this game.
2. Extremely bad. I won't play this again.
3. I likely won't play this again, though I might be convinced.
4. Not so good. I might be talked into it on occasion.
5. Average. Slightly boring. Take it or leave it.
6. Ok. Some fun or challenge. Will play if in the right mood.
7. Good game. Usually willing to play.
8. Very good game. I'll probably suggest it, and won't turn down a chance to play.
9. Excellent game. I always want to play.
10. Outstanding. I always want to play, and I expect this will never change.

Game
The Order of the Stick: The Dungeon of Dorukan	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Carcassonne	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4
Labyrinth	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Betrayal at House on the Hill	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Settlers of Catan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Kill Dr Lucky	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	3
Tara	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Bananagrams	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
The Three Musketeers: The Queen's Pendants	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Dominion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5
The Princess Bride: Storming the Castle	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	2
Citadels	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Hive	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Anima: Shadow of Omega	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
The Resistance: Avalon	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Puerto Rico	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Hanabi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Dominant Species	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	10
Clans	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Asphodel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Eclipse (Gigamic)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Elysium	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5
Panic on Wall Street	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
The Red Dragon Inn	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Colosseum	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Sushi Go!	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
The Lord of the Rings	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Scoville	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Star Trek Road Trip	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	6
Scotland Yard	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
T'zolkin: The Mayan Calendar	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	5
Gloom	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Alchemists	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	4
Stratego	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Theseus: The Dark Orbit	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Balderdash	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	10
Area 1851	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Firefly: the Game	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Tsuro	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	8
Coup	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
51st State	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Ghost Stories	Yes	Usually	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Between Two Cities	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Eclipse (Asmodee)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Kingsburg	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Dead of Winter	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Imhotep	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Oceanos	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Hot Tin Roof	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Tell Me a Story	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
CV	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Simon's Cat	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	4
I Hate Zombies	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	4
Bill and Ted's Excellent Board Game	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	4
Terra Mystica	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	5
Tides of Madness	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Harbour	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
...and then we held hands	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	6
GeoQuest	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	5
Push a Monster	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Caverna: The Cave Farmers	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	5
Power Grid	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Apples to Apples	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4
Dead Last	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Wrong Chemistry	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Hoyuk	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
The Goonies: Adventure Card Game	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	6
Kingdom Builder	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Blood Rage	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	8
Captain Sonar	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Abyss	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	8
Conspire	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	9
Skull	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Tiny Epic Galaxies	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Plague Inc	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6
Terraforming Mars	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	5
Near and Far	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	10
Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal	Maybe?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	5
Azul	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7
Rampage / Terror in Meeple City	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7

As you can see, I don't always like games that have a perfect rating in the six characteristics, nor do I always dislike games that don't have a perfect rating.

I know this isn't a terribly deep entry, but I felt it was kind of important to analyse this topic. I hope at least that you found it interesting. And in the meantime, please remember to

Game on!