How we test board games at GamesRadar+

Tabletop GamingHow we test board games at GamesRadar+When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. Tabletop GamingHow we test board games at GamesRadar+When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Future) Jump to:The criteriaFeatures & designGameplayShould you buy Jump to:The criteriaFeatures & designGameplayShould you buy It’s our job at GamesRadar+ to advise you on which products are worth your hard-earned cash (or not, as the case may be), so how we test board games is an important piece of the puzzle. Our reviews are supposed to help you decide whether you should or shouldn’t buy something, after all, so it’s vital that they’re up to snuff. That means a rigorous testing methodology is needed, applied in as objective a way as possible for every brand, use-case, genre, and price point. You can swot up on our entire process here, including how we justify what deserves a place amongst thebest board games. While there’s some crossover with our widerreview policy, you’ll also find specific details on the way in which we tackle this unique and vibrant industry. Simply put, our tabletop coverage is designed for everyone. Yes, we cater to longtime fans who know the difference between Prospero Hall and Avalon Hill. But we also strive to serve newcomers and more casual players as well. This means we won’t ever assume knowledge or lean on insider references that may leave any part of our audience feeling lost. As with all GamesRadar+ content, the goal is to educate, entertain, and inform without judgment. “Inform without judgment” doesn’t mean we avoid criticism, though. Board games can be expensive and are also a significant time investment, so we will always be honest about the lows of a product as well as its highs. Keeping it topical(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)It’s worth pointing out that we revisit reviews on an annual basis, especially if updates are added to the original game. Tabletop is a world of constant iteration, and it’s common for new additions to hit the shelves with quality-of-life improvements. As such, it’s only fair to make sure our critique reflects this. Keeping it topical (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)It’s worth pointing out that we revisit reviews on an annual basis, especially if updates are added to the original game. Tabletop is a world of constant iteration, and it’s common for new additions to hit the shelves with quality-of-life improvements. As such, it’s only fair to make sure our critique reflects this. (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott) It’s worth pointing out that we revisit reviews on an annual basis, especially if updates are added to the original game. Tabletop is a world of constant iteration, and it’s common for new additions to hit the shelves with quality-of-life improvements. As such, it’s only fair to make sure our critique reflects this. On much the same note, we cover games that are readily available in your area. It’s all good and well waxing lyrical about a beloved classic, but that advice isn’t much help to anyone if the product in question has gone out of print. A final note before we dive in; all reviews are someone’s opinion. It’s impossible to be completely, dispassionately objective aboutanyproduct, so even though we strive to be as balanced as possible, it’s OK if you disagree with our decisions. Ours isn’t the final word on a game – it’s just what we, the GamesRadar+ team, think. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more The criteria (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott) To make sure a consistent testing methodology is being applied to every critique on the site, our reviewers consider the following categories seen below. These boil down to how easy a board game’s rules are to understand (listed as ‘accessibility’), how replayable it is, its setup and pack-down, component quality, and gameplay – AKA the all-important ‘fun’ factor. We rank all these out of five stars. Here’s an example of the table as it appears on buying guides and reviews. Swipe to scroll horizontallyGameplay⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Accessibility⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Replayability⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Setup and pack-down⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Component quality⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Swipe to scroll horizontally Gameplay⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Accessibility⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Replayability⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Setup and pack-down⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Component quality⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Features & design (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott) You can see an example here: Swipe to scroll horizontallyPriceApproximate, listed as $, $$, or $$$AgesRecommended age-rating, e.g. 12+Game typeA short description of the game’s categoryPlayers1 - 4, etcLastsRough playtime per sessionComplexityLow, moderate, or highDesignersThe person/people who created the gamePublisherE.g. Asmodee, RavensburgerPlay if you enjoyA list of similar board games Swipe to scroll horizontally PriceApproximate, listed as $, $$, or $$$AgesRecommended age-rating, e.g. 12+Game typeA short description of the game’s categoryPlayers1 - 4, etcLastsRough playtime per sessionComplexityLow, moderate, or highDesignersThe person/people who created the gamePublisherE.g. Asmodee, RavensburgerPlay if you enjoyA list of similar board games We then move on to its features and design in a broader sense – both artistic and mechanical. What is the game’s ‘elevator pitch?’ If it’s a sequel or follow-up, what does it do differently? Does it have a particular art style or theme, and do we think these are used effectively? Component quality is also discussed at this stage. We pay particular attention to their workmanship and how long we think the pieces will last, not to mention how good a game’s component storage solutions are. Gameplay (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott) We spend the vast majority of our time playing – and living with – board games when testing them. That’s what you’d be doing if you bought the product, so it’s only right that we focus our attention on gameplay too. This feedback will let you know whether a product is actually worth the time you’ll spend learning it… and if it’s easy to get your head around in the first place. That’s why we always include complexity ratings in our work; it offers an idea of what you’re letting yourself in for before hitting checkout. A note on Legacy games(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)Although completing every part of a hundred-hour experience with a full complement of players isn’t always practical, our reviewers will have run through more than enough to definitively comment on whether it’s a worthwhile purchase or not. A note on Legacy games (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)Although completing every part of a hundred-hour experience with a full complement of players isn’t always practical, our reviewers will have run through more than enough to definitively comment on whether it’s a worthwhile purchase or not. (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott) Although completing every part of a hundred-hour experience with a full complement of players isn’t always practical, our reviewers will have run through more than enough to definitively comment on whether it’s a worthwhile purchase or not. We then play the board game in question multiple times to get an understanding of how the experience holds up after repeat use. This gives us a better sense of its longevity, and whether you’ll want to return or not. In addition, our reviewers will be able to comment on the setup / pack down process with more insight as a result. Another focus for our tabletop reviewers is design quality and how a product compares to the competition. For example, has a particular idea been implemented better elsewhere? Our aim is to give the best possible advice, and this includes weighing up where a product falls in the wider world of board games. There’s a lot of choice out there, so we want to make sure the investment isn’t going to give you buyer’s remorse. Are the game’s tokens of a high quality or do they pale in comparison to rivals from the same price range? Does it offer a similar experience, but at a lower cost? We aim to find out with each and every write-up. That’s why you’ll often see ‘VS’ pieces on the site comparing similar items. Finally, we put a lot of stock in the most important criteria of all – good old-fashioned ‘fun.’ Board games are meant to be enjoyed, so we’ll always report back on our experience and let you know whether we think players will have a good time with the product. Should you buy it? (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott) We always include a ‘should you buy’ section at the end of each review, so that question is definitely on our minds when testing. This is the time for real talk: is the product worth what you’ll pay for it? And is the price reasonable considering what you get? If we think something else is better value on the whole, we’ll flag it here. Our team also provides ‘buy if’ and ‘don’t buy if’ boxes for each review that break things down into bitesize chunks, so we bear these at-a-glance summaries in mind during tests. They normally look like this: Buy it if… ✅ You want a team experienceGame XYZ is all about working together to complete a shared objective, so it’s perfect if you don’t like competitiveness around the table – or just want a more collaborative experience. ✅ You want a team experienceGame XYZ is all about working together to complete a shared objective, so it’s perfect if you don’t like competitiveness around the table – or just want a more collaborative experience. ✅ You want a team experienceGame XYZ is all about working together to complete a shared objective, so it’s perfect if you don’t like competitiveness around the table – or just want a more collaborative experience. ✅ You want a team experienceGame XYZ is all about working together to complete a shared objective, so it’s perfect if you don’t like competitiveness around the table – or just want a more collaborative experience. ✅ You want a team experienceGame XYZ is all about working together to complete a shared objective, so it’s perfect if you don’t like competitiveness around the table – or just want a more collaborative experience. ✅ You want a team experienceGame XYZ is all about working together to complete a shared objective, so it’s perfect if you don’t like competitiveness around the table – or just want a more collaborative experience. Don’t buy it if… ❌ You want something quickIf you’re looking for a 10-minute party game, XYZ isn’t going to cut it; it normally lasts for half an hour or more, and is a lot more involved. ❌ You want something quickIf you’re looking for a 10-minute party game, XYZ isn’t going to cut it; it normally lasts for half an hour or more, and is a lot more involved. ❌ You want something quickIf you’re looking for a 10-minute party game, XYZ isn’t going to cut it; it normally lasts for half an hour or more, and is a lot more involved. ❌ You want something quickIf you’re looking for a 10-minute party game, XYZ isn’t going to cut it; it normally lasts for half an hour or more, and is a lot more involved. ❌ You want something quickIf you’re looking for a 10-minute party game, XYZ isn’t going to cut it; it normally lasts for half an hour or more, and is a lot more involved. ❌ You want something quickIf you’re looking for a 10-minute party game, XYZ isn’t going to cut it; it normally lasts for half an hour or more, and is a lot more involved. In essence, it’s vital to the GamesRadar+ team for our work on how we test board games to be transparent. We love board games just like you, and that’s what we’d want from review coverage or buying advice. For more insight on our process, be sure to check out the widerGamesRadar+ hardware policy. 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“Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future Most Popular “This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit I’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games? This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chance Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics” Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé 17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding” Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over Christmas Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far One of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strength How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”