(as of May 07, 2025 07:38:18 UTC – Details)
Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: An Encyclopedia of Mechanisms, Second Edition compiles hundreds of game mechanisms, organized by category. The book can be read cover to cover and used as a reference to solve a specific design problem or for inspiration and research on new designs. This second edition collects even more mechanisms, expands on and updates existing entries, and includes color images. Building Blocksis a great starting point for new designers, a handy guidebook for the experienced, and an ideal classroom reference.
Each Game Mechanisms Entry Contains:
The definition of the mechanism
An explanatory diagram of the mechanism
Discussion of how the mechanism is used in successful games
Considerations for implementing the mechanism in new designs
From the Publisher
Publisher : CRC Press; 2nd edition (March 3, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 626 pages
ISBN-10 : 1032015810
ISBN-13 : 978-1032015811
Item Weight : 8.4 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 1.26 x 9 inches
Jimmy –
Excellent resource for any game designer!
I highly recommend anybody working on developing a game refer to this encyclopedia. It is comprehensive and will expand your vision.
Invigilium –
Really well put together.
Very organized. Succinct and to the point. Each concept is clear and short with great examples and even pictures.
Justin Tyme –
Excellent guide for board game terminology.
This book helps to provide insight into the terms that are commonly used in the board game design and development process. It also provides a list of games that use a game specific term or definition to allow someone to get a “hands on” feel for the terminology used in the creation process. My only disappointment is that when I received my copy, it was damaged. There was a 2-to-3-inch gash on the spine of the book. I double checked the packaging for the book, and the bubble wrapped envelope was intact. The damage had to have occurred prior to shipping.
Asia –
One if a kind
This is an excellent resource for the mechanics of tabletop games. There are very few similar references so it really fills a need. Itâs well written and organized.
David Garcia –
Amazing
Is one of the best books about board games, and the second edition improves it with more mechanics and examples, great job!
Caleb H –
Great Information but Poor Execution
This is past the window for returns but I would love a refund or the Kindle version for free! The information in this book is amazing for someone in board game design. But the book binding itself is horrible. As you read through this immensely thick book (586 pages) pages start to fall out because the spine and glue do not hold the pages in. I can’t take the book anywhere without fear that it will fall apart. For $65+ it should be better than this. Even the Kindle version is $20+! Find a better printer/publisher or give the Kindle version alongside the physical copy!**UPDATE** 10/07/23 The book has lost its spine! It is not a book any longer but a collection of pages! This is very DISAPPOINTING!
Anon y. mous –
A Book with No Purpose
I got this book hoping to gain some knowledge or insight into board game design, but was sorely disappointed. As the title says, it’s an “encyclopedia of game design mechanics.” OK, but who asked for this? Who is the target audience for a list of mechanics with no insight on how to use them?Experienced board gamers/designers already know all this stuff… the author is just labeling games. Any experienced board gamer can go into a game store and pick out examples of all these mechanics which can be found in multiple places online. On the other end of the spectrum, I don’t think new board gamers would be interested in this at all. It’s meaningless to tell someone who hasn’t played many games what these mechanics are.This book might have been useful if the author gave some advice on incorporating these mechanics into games or some info on how to use them together. But there’s none of that here. It’s just a soulless, sterile list of mechanics that won’t do anything to improve your game design or game playing aspirations.
TD –
For enthusiasts who delight in meticulously scrolling through BoardGameGeek’s extensive game listings, immersing themselves in the detailed mechanics each game offers, this book will resonate deeply. It serves as an invaluable complement to the BoardGameGeek wiki, offering insights that extend beyond what is already available online. However, there’s a noticeable opportunity for improvement in the book’s design and presentation. Incorporating visual elements, such as photographs illustrating game mechanics in action, would have significantly enhanced the reader’s experience, making the abstract concepts more tangible and engaging.
matt –
A great textbook for anyone studying boardgames.
JJ –
OK this is not a bad book for what it is, but I am interested in designing full scale battle games with model soldiers and most of this book is not applicable to this sort of game. Some of the mechanisms can be adapted and many are applicable to campaigns, but these are paper-based and effectively board games anyway. The work is a reference book, so will not be read from cover to cover. It certainly deserves a more thorough read than I have been able to give it to date and it is clearly and well organised, making it good as an encyclopedia.
Frank –
Bei einem Buch dass mehr als 50⬠kostet, hätte ich wesentlich mehr inhaltliche Tiefe erwartet. Der Titel ist auch irreführend, da hier der Begriff “Mechanisms” (Mechanismen) erwähnt wird. Leider fehlt eben genau dieser Teil, d.h. man findet weder logische, spieltheorethische oder gar mathematische Ausführungen, sondern nur oberflächliche Prosa Beschreibungen der Konzepte. Finger weg!