Fortunately, set collection board games allow you to collect to your heart’s desire for very little space or cost. Many modern board games use the set collection mechanic, and it’s quite straightforward to understand. Learn how it works below. Then, check out our favorite set collection board games.

Set Collection in Board Games

Set collection is almost exactly what you think it would be in board games. In set collection board games, players collect pieces in the game to make a set of them. These pieces can be anything, but they are usually cards or tiles. Completing sets will earn players extra points, which in turn will help them to win the game.

These sets can score you points either by having a specific number of them or by having the most. Sushi Go! Party models this well. In the “My First Meal” deck, you can earn points by having sets of tempura or sets of sashimi. The tempura set must come in pairs to score, while you have to have three sashimi cards to complete a set. Maki, on the other hand, simply requires having the most. If you play the most maki rolls, then you’ll earn extra points.

While many games use the set collection mechanic, not all games focus on it. Instead, other mechanics come into play. Again, Sushi Go! Party is a great example. It’s primarily known as a drafting game since that’s how the play moves. However, it is also a set collection game because that’s why players choose certain cards during the drafting phase.

Think of set collection like this: other mechanics usually answer the how of playing a game. Set collection often answers the why behind particular choices.

5 Set Collection Board Games for Newer Players

Set collection is so popular and enjoyable, many games feature this mechanic. This list only scratches the surface of the possibilities. The ones here rank well on Board Game Geek by players like you. They also happen to be some of our personal favorites.

Ticket to Ride

Set collection in its purest form, Ticket to Ride will help you understand this mechanic in no time. Players draw cards to get sets of train colors. Once they have a completed set, they can play the cards to claim a “route.” A completed set will consist of anywhere from 2 to 6 cards of one color. Players may also use wild cards, or “locomotives” to complete their route.

This set collection game is so popular, there are many expansions, maps, and a children’s version you can enjoy, too.

Azul

In Azul, players will work to make the most beautiful and complete tile mosaic wall they possibly can. They do this by collecting tiles from decorative circles called “factory displays” and placing them in the row of their choosing. If they complete the row with a set, then they will score a tile for that row.

Like Sushi Go! Party, this game also relies on drafting for the “how” of the game, while focusing on set collection for the “why.”

Splendor

Players aim to create a thriving gem-trading business in Splendor. To do this, players must collect gem tokens and gem cards, which will allow them to buy more valuable cards along the way. Nobles may come to visit their thriving business if they collect enough of certain sets, and this may help a player win the game.

Set collection appears in two ways in Splendor. First, players can collect tokens. Second, players can collect cards. While tokens can only be used once when collected, cards have reoccurring benefits. That makes them more powerful… and more expensive.

Pandemic

Panic and chaos have spread among citizens of the world as diseases attempt to kill the entire population of Earth!

The players of Pandemic must stop this catastrophe by working together and collecting sets of cards to “cure” diseases. The sets must match the color of the diseases they cure. Then, players can play a set of five cards while at a research station to cure that disease.

If they manage to cure all four diseases before any one of them becomes too widespread, then they win! Otherwise, the world may be doomed.

Tokaido

Players travel along the Tokaido road in this beautiful set collection board game.

Known as a “point salad” game, you can earn points by collecting sets of almost anything in this game. Having the largest sets of certain kinds of cards will get you bonuses at the end of the game. You can also earn sets to complete panoramas, or you can buy sets of souvenirs.

Tokaido truly is a set collector’s dream.

Many popular games, such as Terraforming Mars and Spirit Island, also use set collection. If you are already familiar with the games above, check out these more in-depth options.

Set collection is everywhere in board games. It’s straightforward and fun! Again, many more board games feature set collection. These offer a great place to start.

What are your favorite set collection board games?

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post Board Game Mechanics: Set Collection appeared first on Cats and Dice.

What are Trick-Taking Games?

Although we include it in board game mechanics, trick-taking is really a card game mechanic. It requires cards with suits and numbers. More often than not, a game with trick-taking involves a standard 52 card deck or a deck that looks quite similar to one.

When playing a trick-taking game, each player will have a hand that contains several numbers and suits. When a player plays a card — and therefore starting the “trick” — each player must then follow suit if they can. Then, whichever player plays the highest card in the leading suit will take the trick.

For example, say Mary plays a Seven of  Spades. The suit for this trick that everyone else must follow if possible is spades. John then follows with a Ten of Spades. Emily does not have a spade, so she plays a Queen of Hearts. Finally, Tom plays a Three of Spades. John wins the trick since he played the highest spade. Even though Emily played a Queen, it does not matter because it was not a Spade, which led the trick.

Trump Suits

In many (but not all) trick-taking games, there is also what’s called a “trump” suit. A card is flipped up from the top of the deck, and the suit of that card is considered “trump” or the highest suit. While all the rules of tricks still apply, if a certain player cannot follow the original suit of the trick, they may play a card of the trump suit to win the trick.

For example, John, having won the last trick, would now lead. He leads a Jack of Clubs. Emily follows suit with a Three of Clubs. Tom, having no clubs to play, decides to “trump” the trick instead by playing a Seven of Diamonds. At the beginning of the round, a Two of Diamonds was flipped up from the deck. This means Diamonds are trump. Mary plays a Four of Clubs as her final card. Even though Clubs started the trick and John played the highest Club, Tom wins the trick because he played the highest card in the trump suit.

Too Long; Didn’t Read

In short, trick-taking games work like this: a player leads by playing a card. All other players take turns playing a card. Each player must follow the suit of the leading card if they can. Whoever plays the highest card of that suit wins the trick and leads the next one.

If anyone played a trump card, the person who played the highest trump card wins the trick. The round continues until all the cards in each player’s hand are gone.

How to Win Trick-Taking Games

In most trick-taking games, players want to win as many tricks as possible. The tricks will earn them points and players (or teams) with the most points will win. However, in some trick-taking games, players want to avoid taking tricks, such as in the game Hearts. Finally, some trick-taking games call for a balance of taking tricks and avoiding them.

Taking a Trick

To take a trick, a good strategy is to use your high-numbered cards or your high trump cards. It is also important to remember that lower-numbered trump cards can have a lot of power, too, when played at the right time. For example, a two of the trump suit can often take a trick when played on a trick of a different suit. So, if you are low in clubs and have a Two of Hearts, which is trump, there’s a good chance that you could play that Two of Hearts on a club trick.

Avoiding a Trick

To avoid a trick, you can use a similar but opposite strategy. Low cards and cards that are not trump are likely to not take tricks. If you are low or empty in a certain suit, you can use the opportunity to play a high card of a different suit (that is not trump). For example, if you have no spades, when spades are lead, you can use the opportunity to play your King of a suit that is not spades and not trump. You will not take the trick but get rid of a high card. This is known as “throwing off.”

Classic Card Games That Use Trick-Taking

Again, trick-taking is a fairly old mechanic. Most games that use it are classic card games. Some of the most classic trick-taking card games include:

• Hearts
• Spades
• Bridge
• Euchre
• Pinochle
• Rook

Many of these board games can be played online for free if you’d like to get a sense of how to play. Hearts is a great place to start for a competitive trick-taking game, while Euchre is a great choice for a team trick-taking game.

Modern Trick-Taking Games

Many of these trick-taking games require a unique deck to play, and each one is definitely worth it.

The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

The top-ranked trick-taking game on Board Game Geek, this 3-5 player trick-taking game is a must. First, it’s incredibly unique in that it is both a cooperative game and has a storyline to go with gameplay. Second, it is challenging and addicting at the same time.

Each round will consist of a unique trick-taking goal that must be completed before moving on to the next round. That means each round can take several tries depending on the difficulty. For example, one round might require a trick to be taken with a 1. Another might require a player to take a card in a suit they don’t have. Only a little communication can be communicated each round, though. If your crew can complete all 50 rounds, you win the game.

Diamonds

Diamonds doesn’t refer just to the suit. In the game, players can actually earn small diamond pieces when they win certain tricks. Their diamonds have greater value in their vault then outside of it. So, playing tricks with some suits will allow you to earn the diamonds, while others will allow you to place diamonds in your vault. Rather than winning with the most tricks, the player with the highest value in diamond pieces wins.

Indulgence

In Indulgence, players will place bets on whether or not they think they can take tricks based on the rules proposed for that round. For example, a player can bet that they will not take any twos as the rules suggest. But if you want to “indulge” yourself, you can bet that you will take all of them instead. This trick-taking game offers a nice mix of skill and luck.

Fox in the Forest

Fox in the Forest is a two-player only trick-taking game. There are three suits with cards numbered one through eleven. Each hand, players are dealt out cards, and rounds are played through tricks. Every odd-numbered card, however, has unique abilities that players can use to their advantage.

It might be an old mechanic, but it’s lasted a long time for a reason. Trick-taking games allow you the opportunity to make smart choices that can be thwarted at any moment. Try it out with one of these games, and tell us about your favorite trick-taking games in the comments.

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post Trick-Taking Card Games: How to Play and the Best of the Best appeared first on Cats and Dice.

But this is not the case with drafting. Drafting has become a popular board game mechanic in recent years, so it’s worth knowing. It’s fun, plus it’s easy enough to understand once you try it once or twice.

What is Drafting in Board Games?

Drafting is often found in card games. In many drafting games, each player is dealt a hand. Players choose a single card from that hand and place it in front of them. Then, at the same time, players will give the player next to them their entire hand. In this way, they lose their original hand and will then choose another card from an entirely new hand. Play will continue like this until all the cards are gone from every hand.

Sometimes, though, drafting means choosing from a pool of options. Players might have a limited set of dice or tiles they take turns selecting. A round usually ends when all the options are gone.

More often than not, in drafting games, players will score points based on their selection of cards and how well they pair with previously selected cards. For this reason, drafting as a board game mechanic often works best with a strong theme. Check out this list of popular card and board games that use the drafting mechanic to better understand how it works and to find some great new games.

Card and Board Games that Use Drafting

Sushi Go

If you have never played a drafting game before, Sushi Go may be the best place to start. Drafting is the only mechanic used in Sushi Go. Each player will receive a hand of cards. The exact number will depend on the number of players. The cards contain different kinds of things you’d enjoy in a sushi meal, such as maki rolls, nigiri, wasabi, green tea, and more.

To play the game, simply choose a card from your hand, play it, and pass the rest of the hand. Continue on like this until all the cards have been used, and then score your sushi meal! This is drafting at its finest. Players will score points for combinations such as pairing wasabi with nigiri, having sets of sashimi, and more. So choose what you order wisely! And for those interested in a bigger meal, Sushi Go Party offers more decks, and therefore a wider variety of foods to choose from.

Related Post: The Best Food-Themed Board Games

7 Wonders

For those who feel ready for a more intense drafting experience, 7 Wonders is the way to go. There are many choices players can make in 7 Wonders. They can build up armies, develop their society’s science and technology, collect resources, and more. All the choices made from the drafting in 7 Wonders will help players develop their civilization and build their unique wonder.

This drafting game gained so much popularity, there’s even a two-player version of it called 7 Wonders Duel. Players do not have individual hands in 7 Wonders Duel, though. In this version, cards are arranged like a pyramid for each of the three rounds, and players draft from the flipped up cards.

Sagrada

Rather than using cards, Sagrada uses dice for drafting. Players each have their own board that represents a stained-glass window. Instead of players having a unique set of dice in front of themselves, each round will consist of a pool of dice players can choose from.

On their turn, they will choose one die from the pool to place in their window based on color and number. Again, this requires players to choose wisely. They won’t know what will be available to them in future rounds, and each stained glass window has certain requirements to complete them.

Mesozooic

Players build up their own dinosaur zoo in Mesozooic! There are three steps to each round, the first of which requires drafting. Players are dealt 11 cards each (no matter how many people are playing this 2-6 player game). Then, each player selects two cards to play in front of themselves. After that, the drafting continues as normal until all the hands are empty.

Mesozooic differs from other drafting games, though, in that cards aren’t simply scored up based on what players chose. Instead, players must arrange the cards in front of them in the second round like a puzzle and rearrange them within 45 seconds to score points.

Planet

This unique drafting board game with incredibly cool pieces is all about building your own planet. Each player will have a magnetic dodecahedron to build into their own planet. They will draft different magnetic tiles that have different kinds of terrain, such as forest, desert, or ocean terrain. Having certain terrain tiles on their planet will entice different animals to come, which earn players points. The player with the most points from the best planet wins.

Time to Play!

The best way to understand a drafting game (or any board game mechanic) is to play one for yourself. Try out one of these games today, or subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch our latest how-to’s on drafting games. Who knows? You may discover that your favorite board games use drafting as the main mechanic!

What are your favorite board games that use drafting?

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post The Board Game Mechanics Series: Drafting appeared first on Cats and Dice.

Are you feeling lucky?

Press your luck games rely on that impulse we all have to go just a little bit further. A press your luck game is about choices. Either you can continue on in the hopes of earning more points (with the risk of losing them all), or you can stop and save what you’ve earned. Sometimes this mechanic is also called push your luck. The most important thing to understand is the choice; you choose whether or not to continue on.

If this mechanic sounds familiar, it’s probably because it is. Gambling games use it all the time. They practically rely on it. Game shows use it quite a lot, too. There’s an excitement to seeing if you could go just a little bit longer that people enjoy watching and participating in. It’s an old mechanic, but a good one.

So what’s the key to winning press your luck games? If there were an answer, it wouldn’t be called luck! You can keep a few tips in mind, though.

• Balance risk to reward. If what you have to lose is greater than what you have to gain, it might be a good time to stop.
• Keep the objective in mind. It’s fun to roll “well,” but if it doesn’t meet your goal, all sixes is not a good roll.
• Watch the odds. Know which rolls are more likely, and it will give you a better idea of whether you should stop or if you might continue on.

The best way to get better at press your luck games is to play a few. Some of these are even available to play for free.

Modern Press Your Luck Games

Casinos and game shows may use press your luck all the time, but the mechanic still has fresh takes. These press your luck games are some of our favorites. Some of them were made within the last few years.

Megaland

From the creators of Above and Below and Near and Far, Megaland drops you into a videogame-like world. “Run” the levels to gain as many resources as possible, but if you lose all your health, you’ll also lose everything you’ve earned! Stop at the right time, though, and you’ll have the resources to purchase different goods that’ll earn you coins and lead you to victory.

Can’t Stop

Every time I play this game, I know I should stop rolling but I just… can’t! Roll four dice and pair them together to make any number you can, then progress on that number. You can only progress on three numbers a turn, though. Roll as much as you can to keep that number going, or stop to save your progress. But if you can’t stop and you don’t roll one of your three numbers, you’ll lose your hard work. This out-of-print gem is available to play for free at Board Game Arena.

Celestia

Take to the skies with Gulliver in this press your luck game. Players will test the limits of their courage and their ability to fight off vicious foes as they ride an aircraft in search of Celestia. Roll a die to see what event happens on your travels, but can the captain overcome it? Players can choose to stay or abandon ship. The longer they last, the more rewards they might earn.

Zombie Dice

Braaains! Be the first zombie to eat 13 brains, but avoid the shotguns as you feast. Each turn, you’ll have the opportunity to eat more brains. If you get shot with a shotgun three times in a turn, though, you’ll lose the enjoyment of your cranial feast. Pace yourself and you’ll find yourself the winner of this press your luck game.

Pass the Pigs

Most press your luck games rely on dice as they offer the perfect balance between pure luck and odds. And while you do roll something in Pass the Pigs, it’s not dice. It’s pigs! You’ll score points based on how they land, but if they both fall on their side, you’re out of luck. There are no points for you, and the next player gets to roll the pigs.

Your dice rolls might be up to fate, but your odds of having fun with press your luck games are good. Share your awesome rolls with us on social media @catsanddice. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, too, to play some press your luck games with us in our stories!

What are your favorite press your luck games?

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post Board Game Mechanics: Press Your Luck appeared first on Cats and Dice.