Errata: Where’s the Love for Family Games?
We’re back! It’s been a little while for the Errata column, what with all the babies being born and all, but it’s time to dust off some questions and spread a little gaming perspective. Lets get to it!
Family Style asked, “I’ve seen games called ‘family’ games as though that makes them somehow inferior to ‘real’ games. Don’t most people play with their families? Shouldn’t that be the goal?”
Well, I agree with your sentiment about family games. I’ve seen some individuals say a game is suitable for family but “not much else.” For whatever reason, those of us who are really, really in to board games tend to go head over heels for longer, more complex games. While those games are awesome, they don’t often go over well in a family or casual gamer setting. With the fam, we tend to play games that are less complex and certainly less long. Because they aren’t the reviewers preferred game, sometimes they get short shrift.
But I think its important to keep in mind that a wide audience plays board games, not just the so-called “hardcore” gamers. I play different games in different groups. With my more serious gamer friends, it can be Power Grid or Le Havre that hits the table. But when I’m gaming with my family, I (and they) find Ticket to Ride, Tobago, and Mystery of the Abbey far more enjoyable. It’s all about the taste of the particular group. Some will prefer lighter fare, others heavier engagements. But both should be equally acceptable.
As for what the target audience should be, I’ll leave that up to the publishers. Just because family games are great doesn’t mean that heavier games aren’t. The market is big enough for all of them.
Got questions about strategy, specific games, or the hobby in general? Post them in the comments here, email them to geekinsight at gfbrobot dot com, or send them to @GeekInsight on Twitter and check back next week for answers!
I’ve never necessarily viewed the “family” label as equivalent to a lesser game. To me the family tag is descriptive of elements that would be found in “filler,” “light-weight,” and “gateway” games, yet designed more-so particularly towards adults and children playing together; perhaps like a Zooloretto. Whereas those other three lables cover different “tastes” in the hobby?