Eurogame

Eurogames (Or alternatively, Designer Board Games or German-Style Board Games) are a classification of board games that are very popular on BGG. Though not all eurogames are European and not all of them are board games, they share a set of similar characteristics. A game need not fit ALL the criteria to be considered a Eurogame.

Most Eurogames share the following elements:

• Player conflict is indirect, and usually involves competition over resources or points. Combat is extremely rare.

• Players are never eliminated from the game (All players are still playing when the game ends.)

• There is very little randomness or luck. Randomness that is there is mitigated by having the player decide what to do after a random event happens rather than before. Dice are rare, but not unheard of, in a Euro.

• The Designer of the game is listed on the game's box cover. Though this is not particular to Euros, the Eurogame movement seems to have started this trend. This is why some gamers and designers call this genre of games Designer Games.

• Much attention is paid to the artwork and components. Plastic and metal are rare, more often pieces are made of wood.

• Like an Ameritrash game, Euros have a definite theme. However, the theme is usually suggestive more than simulation: 2 games with the same theme may have totally different mechanics, and the same game may be published with different themes but identical gameplay. The focus is on strategy and gameplay, and less on chrome and dramatic effect.

Examples of eurogames include the following:

The Settlers of Catan
Puerto Rico
Carcassonne
Tigris & Euphrates
Caylus
Power Grid
Ra
El Grande

And Examples of prominent Euro Designers:

Karl-Heinz Schmiel
Reiner Knizia
Martin Wallace
Wolfgang Kramer
Alan R. Moon
Uwe Rosenberg
Klaus Teuber
Stefan Dorra
Leo Colovini
Michael Schacht
Bruno Faidutti