The 'light strategy' label on board games drives me nuts

I keep seeing people call games like 'Wingspan' or 'Ticket to Ride' heavy strategy, and it's just wrong. These are gateway games, not deep strategic puzzles. A true heavy game, like 'Twilight Imperium' or 'Food Chain Magnate', has way more moving parts and long-term planning. This mix-up matters because it sets wrong expectations for new players who might get scared off. I've been in the hobby for ten years and see this at my local game cafe in Seattle all the time. What's your line between a medium and heavy strategy game?

3 comments

3 Comments

fisher.paige23d ago

You mention setting wrong expectations for new players. But isn't a "heavy" game also about how much mental work it feels like in the moment? A simple game can feel heavy if you're new.

ward.piper23d ago

Okay but that "in the moment" feeling is just new player nerves, not actual game weight. If we call every tough learning curve "heavy," then the term loses all meaning. A simple game might fry your brain at first, @fisher.paige, but that's not the same as a game with deep, complex systems that stay demanding for fifty plays. We need clear labels so people know what they're getting into long-term, not just how they felt on day one.

spencer6645d ago

My local group in Portland had this exact fight over Scythe last month. I mean, it looks heavy with all those pieces, but the actual choices are pretty straightforward after a few rounds. The real weight comes from games where your early decisions still haunt you two hours later, like in Brass Birmingham. Calling everything heavy just makes it harder to find the right game for the right night.