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Language levels of the top 250 (or can I buy this cheap foreign edition?!)
Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Are you a sucker for cheap (german) board games? Don't you know if the game you're wanting is language independent? Help is on the way!

Last year Grimwold launched the "Language Independence Project" with the purpose of tagging games with a tag indicating their degree of language dependency (see: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/15467).
Thanks to the hard work of Grimwold and many other BGG users (amongst them Kris Verbeeck), many games have been tagged.

Though some people have made geeklists about language independency, fx Jon's list of language dependant games http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/5396 or Drzodiacus' list http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/9382, there isn't an easily accessible list of the top rated games. I hope this list will fill that gap!

Grimwold's language levels that will be used in this list are:

* Language Level 0: These games have NO text on the game components, so anyone familiar with the rules can play the game regardless of which language edition it is. This category can also include games where only numerals are used on game components.
* Language Level 1: These games have some text on in-game components, such as a few action cards. Anyone familiar with the rules can play the game, though may require a small cheat-sheet to decode such action cards etc. This will also include games with little or no in-game text, but that require each player to use a summary sheet.
* Language Level 2: These would be games that have a moderate amount of in-game text, such as a complete deck of cards with actions or abilities on. Any crib sheet would have to be quite extensive to allow play in a foreign language, although it could still be played with such a crib sheet, and would become easier as players become more familiar with the cards etc.
* Language Level 3: There is just too much in-game text for the game to be playable in a foreign language. Arkham Horror is a prime example of this, as are many of the BIG Fantasy Flight games. At this level, any thought of cribsheets goes out of the window, as chances are the cribsheets would be bigger than the games rulebook.
* Language Level 4: These games are fundamentally unplayable using a foreign version. This could be because the games components are language specific, so a foreign copy would be missing key components. Also category for games that are unplayable if you're not very fluent in language game is printed on.

I have added links to English rules for games with a language level between 0-2. Remember to give thumbs-up/tips to the people who uploaded the files ;)

Please comment on the classifications of the games, if you disagree. Feel free to add links to any useful files.
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The items in this list are ordered by overall database rank
Posted Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:42 am
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1. Board Game: Puerto Rico [Average Rating:8.32 Overall Rank:2]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language Level 2

Nicely made printable cards in English can be found in the file section:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=9913
If you are willing to print these and laminate them onto the building tiles, you may buy this game in a foreign language edition.

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=17949
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Edited Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:49 pm
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Andrés F. Pabón L.
Colombia
Bogotá
DC
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I'd say this one is level 2 until you recognize all buildings. Once you know them well enough, it could drop to level 1.
2. Board Game: Power Grid [Average Rating:8.20 Overall Rank:3]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=15841
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3. Board Game: Twilight Struggle [Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:4]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 3
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4. Board Game: Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization [Average Rating:8.31 Overall Rank:5]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 2

English rules: No rules available
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5. Board Game: Tigris & Euphrates [Average Rating:8.01 Overall Rank:9]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=18369
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6. Board Game: El Grande [Average Rating:7.99 Overall Rank:10]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 1

English cards for the base game can be bought seperately. If you are willing to buy them, only the box will be different from the English edition.

English rules: http://www.gamecabinet.com/rules/ElGrande.html
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Edited Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:05 pm
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7. Board Game: Caylus [Average Rating:7.99 Overall Rank:11]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
Denmark
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.ystari.com/caylus/Caylus72E.pdf
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8. Board Game: Age of Steam [Average Rating:7.98 Overall Rank:14]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
Denmark
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Language level 0

Player aid: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=17461
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9. Board Game: The Princes of Florence [Average Rating:7.86 Overall Rank:18]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 2

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=23484
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10. Board Game: Commands & Colors: Ancients [Average Rating:7.97 Overall Rank:16]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 2

Different reference sheets are available in the file section.
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Christian Becker
Germany
Herne
NRW
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My copy (bought in Germany) has a set of cards both in English and in German meaning I can play the game twice as long without having to replace the cards.:cool:
11. Board Game: War of the Ring [Average Rating:7.93 Overall Rank:17]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 3

English rules: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/PDF/warofthering.pdf
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Edited Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:06 pm
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roberto carbone
Italy
Rome
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Due to the large number of cards (with a lot of text) i think it's a level 3.
Hans Christian Kirketerp
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I bought a German version of the game and has actually been able to play it without too much trouble, because I found some cribsheets the developers made with a list of all the event cards. However, I couldn't find a link to the cribsheets when I made this list. Perhaps somebody else knows where to find them?

Apart from that I agree with you, this is a 3. I was probably rationalising that I bought the game in German when I rated this a 2 :shake:
12. Board Game: Paths of Glory [Average Rating:8.08 Overall Rank:20]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 3
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13. Board Game: Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage [Average Rating:7.99 Overall Rank:21]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
Denmark
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Language level 3
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14. Board Game: Goa [Average Rating:7.82 Overall Rank:22]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0-1 (some tiles have text)

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=5394
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Edited Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:00 pm
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Andy Leighton
England
Peterborough
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Surely this is level 1. In game components have text on them. Having played German versions of both El Grande and this I would put them on a par.
Breno Kümmel
Brazil
Brasília
Distrito Federal
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This is definitely Level 1
Ben .
United Kingdom
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Surrey
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Although I normally err on the high side, I actually have this as a Level 0 (and El Grande as level 1).

The text on the tiles that is actually mechanic text is quite minimal and the icons on the tiles are much more self-explanatory than the El Grande cards.
15. Board Game: Shogun [Average Rating:7.82 Overall Rank:24]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=21465
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16. Board Game: Die Macher [Average Rating:7.86 Overall Rank:25]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 1

The game is available in an international edition atm, so no need to use any cribsheets :cool:

Rules in English: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo/23411
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Edited Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:58 pm
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Steve Bachman
United States
Colonie
New York
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I think Die Macher is more of a level 1. The German is supplemented by a symbol system which makes it far easier to use. Also, the international (VG) edition you mention is not the one pictured nor the one I own. Most of the games above are also available in multiple languages, so why make a point of it for DM? If the point of the list is that "foreign language versions of these games can be found on the cheap", why add a comment to DM that says in essence, "no need for cheat sheets, go buy the VG edition"?
Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Ward wrote:
If the point of the list is that "foreign language versions of these games can be found on the cheap", why add a comment to DM that says in essence, "no need for cheat sheets, go buy the VG edition"?


Only because the international version as far as I know is the only available edition. But a valid point.

I will change the rating to 1. Thanks!
Edited Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:57 pm
17. Board Game: Railroad Tycoon [Average Rating:7.80 Overall Rank:26]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 1

English rules: http://www.eaglegames.net/products/rrt/RRT_Manual_r.pdf
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18. Board Game: Ra [Average Rating:7.74 Overall Rank:27]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=6057
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19. Board Game: Imperial [Average Rating:7.81 Overall Rank:30]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0 (a small amount of text on the board)

English rules: http://www.eggertspiele.de/down/imperial/imperial_regel_e.pd...
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20. Board Game: Combat Commander: Europe [Average Rating:8.01 Overall Rank:28]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 3
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21. Board Game: Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition [Average Rating:7.83 Overall Rank:31]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 3
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22. Board Game: Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery [Average Rating:7.79 Overall Rank:33]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 1

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=22472
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23. Board Game: Go [Average Rating:7.81 Overall Rank:36]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=4642
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Breno Kümmel
Brazil
Brasília
Distrito Federal
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Is there an abstract with a Language Level that isn't 0? I find that hard to imagine...
Ferdinando Woicickoski
Brazil
Porto Alegre
Rio Grande do Sul
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BrenoK wrote:
Is there an abstract with a Language Level that isn't 0? I find that hard to imagine...


Shogi and Xiang Qi, maybe?
Edited Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:44 am
Rock A.
United States
Minneapolis
Minnesota
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Ferdinand Took wrote:
BrenoK wrote:
Is there an abstract with a Language Level that isn't 0? I find that hard to imagine...


Shogi and Xiang Qi, maybe?


If you consider the ideograms to be just "squggly pictures", I think a level "0" could be appropriate (since they just name the piece, not describe any rules). Maybe a one since they technically ARE words...
Ryan McSwain
United States
Amarillo
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One of the first times I played Xiang Qi was against a person who could read Chinese--trust me, his not having to consult a cheat sheet was a huge advantage! :D
24. Board Game: YINSH [Average Rating:7.75 Overall Rank:40]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 0

English rules: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo.php?fileid=5438
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25. Board Game: BattleLore [Average Rating:7.70 Overall Rank:38]
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Hans Christian Kirketerp
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Language level 3
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Ben .
United Kingdom
Unspecified
Surrey
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Great list Hans. And especial thanks to Andy, who became my favourite BGGer by starting the language independence project! :)

One thing - after discussion with Andy about those games which people considered to be at different language levels, and therefore get tagged at multiple different levels (which happens in many cases) - at which I queried the validity of the tagging mechanism for it, Andy pointed out that the spread of language level tags actually helps locate the game within the scale.
For example, a game with 20 level 1 tags and 20 level 2 tags is probably a level 1.5. This made a great amount of sense of of the system, and means that it really helps me judge what games I can get the German editions for (my group has a language tolerance level of about 0.75).
As a result, however, I think that putting a precise integer language level on many games (as you have done in this list) could potentially be slightly misleading.

That is a minor gripe, though, and easily remedied by the individual by closer inspection of the individual game tags. Fantastic work compiling all this! Thanks! I shall be coming back to this one often, I'm sure!
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Edited Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:41 am
Ted Alper
United States
Palo Alto
California
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This is a great list; one thing I didn't see mentioned is when you actually want to use the game as a language tool -- we often play a foreign-language version of citadels at our house, sometimes mixing english cards in with non-english, sometimes using all non-english cards; sometimes trying to make all game statements in the foreign language. This is a fun exercise for us and our kids (age 8 and 14 -- only the 14-year old is fluent) -- now I know how to say useful phrases like "I assassinate the Bishop!".

But we bought a copy of Drakon in the same foreign language, having heard just that it was a great game -- which it IS, but it turned out to be pretty useless for the purpose of language learning.

Jesper Melchiorsen
Denmark

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Great list, HC. :)
Bjorn Kristinsson
Belgium
Gent
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That's a fantastic list! I normally buy my games in Dutch, living in Flanders in Belgium as I am, but I'm not native. Normally there's no way to know if a game is language independent until after you buy it. Those are especially valuable to me, because I can bring them with me and play with the family back home, where no one speaks a word of Dutch. :P

Incidentally, where would you place Agricola? Didn't see it on the list yet.
Hans Christian Kirketerp
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bjornkri wrote:
That's a fantastic list! I normally buy my games in Dutch, living in Flanders in Belgium as I am, but I'm not native. Normally there's no way to know if a game is language independent until after you buy it. Those are especially valuable to me, because I can bring them with me and play with the family back home, where no one speaks a word of Dutch. :P

Incidentally, where would you place Agricola? Didn't see it on the list yet.


Thanks a lot :) I am planning on updating the list soon to include the new games in the top 250. I think I would rate Agricola a 3 when played with the cards and a 0 in the family edition.
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