Engagement Design in Board Games

Board Games are a great lab for observing and refining the psychology and dynamics of engagement.

Let's look at:

• Common pitfalls that prevent games from being consistently engaging

• Strategies that build and maintain engagement

• Specific examples of game designs illustrating those strategies

Our "strategies" will range from specific mechanics to broader design principles and dynamics to consider.

There is good food for thought here for anyone trying to design engaging interactive experiences of any kind. And for anyone not in the hobby, the range of games we cover might surprise you.

(photo credit: @thegametable https://www.instagram.com/thegametable/)