So what the hell is the deal with “Eurogames” anyway? I’ve mentioned them several times in this column and some of you might be wondering what I’ve been going on about when I mention “Euro-style” mechanics or how utterly lame a lot of games in this particular genre are. So I thought it might be wise to clue those in who might be in the dark as to what a Eurogame is…as well as what it isn’t.

Over the past decade, there has been a tremendous shift in the board gaming hobby as games like SETTLERS OF CATAN, CARCASSONNE, and PUERTO RICO have not only attracted a lot of new gamers who might have otherwise balked at the baroque themes, longer playtimes, and more complex styles of play found in American style games (fondly called “Ameritrash” by their most vocal supporters), but they have also swayed a lot of veteran gamers away from the types of games common in the hobby prior to the advent of this new approach to game design.

The popularity of Eurogames is both a blessing and curse that has seen the hobby trade away some of its more dramatic, exciting, and atmospheric elements in a Faustian bargain for something called “elegance”, shorter playtimes, and accessibility.

(Stay away. Far away.)

There are some in my regular circle of gamers and debaters who suggested that I not even draw the distinction between Eurogames and other genres such as Ameritrash in this column; indeed, such discussions in other board gaming forums have resulted in hilariously exaggerated witch-hunt mentalities, hurt feelings, and a general sense that some people take playing games much too seriously for their own good. However, I believe that the Eurogame is a distinct genre that can be clearly identified as an entity that is separate from an Ameritrash game, a war game, or even an abstract game. Sure, we can say that all of these are “games” but to ignore that there are genre-based discrepancies between each is silly. It’s like trying to lump games like Civilization IV and Company of Heroes under a generic ”strategy game” umbrella. I think there’s a significant difference between the type of play, thinking, and interacting we do when we play a European-style game and a more thematic American one. So let’s get into the thick of it, shall we?

A “Eurogame” is a game that features fairly abstract mechanics (meaning that the theme, setting, or atmosphere may or may not be directly illustrated by the rules or procedure of play) with an emphasis on processes, efficiency planning, and roughly predictable outcomes. Further, Eurogames place a premium on shorter playtimes (often under an hour and rarely over two and a half hours) and simple rules free of excessive detail, specific circumstances, or exceptions. Eurogames also tend to feature themes that are not confrontational and are nonviolent in nature as well as indirect methods of portraying player conflict such as auctions or card drafting. Oh, and cutesy wooden bits fit in there somewhere, too.

So in other words, Eurogames tend to be very procedural games that de-emphasize luck, player interaction, and detail—all things that are and have always been characteristic of American-style hobby games. At their worst, Eurogames can come across as heartless, soulless, and lifeless clinical exercises in abstract, meaningless multiplayer puzzle solving, as players vie to impress a “Master Builder”, farm corn, or perform some other day-to-day task of a Renaissance peon.

The worst Eurogames are also derivative as the industry struggles to continue to provide completely uninventive and redundant product to ravenous game collectors and obssessives apparently unable to discern quality from quantity. However, at their best, Eurogames offer simple but fun games that are easy to get into, share with others, and enjoy in a very casual sense—think of GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS as an Ameritrash game and DINER DASH as a Eurogame. You’ll play them for entirely different reasons and with entirely different outcomes in mind. Likewise, you won’t play a game of BOHNANZA expecting the same experience you’ll get from a game of MAGIC REALM.

(Pillars is a classic example of a boring, repetitive, Euro design.)

Over the past several years though, board gaming has almost become synonymous with Eurogaming, largely due to their prominence in Internet forums and their relative accessibility. Many new gamers are likely to have never played some of the great Ameritrash classics from publishers like Avalon Hill and may in fact be prejudiced against them. It’s not uncommon to encounter a degree of condescension and derision from hardcore Eurogamers who decry the “luck element” or “childish” themes of American-style games. In sum, the Eurogame has created a new type of gamer that favors this particular style of game almost exclusively, which is another reason I believe that the genre distinction is important.

Although I’ve been known to speak out against the mediocrity and blandness of Eurogames on several occasions don’t get me wrong—I love a good Euro, and in fact I plan on sharing some of my favorites with you in a future column. I believe that the Eurogame’s popularity has had the residual effect of bringing a lot of new gamers into the hobby and the shifts, both subtle and tremendous, in terms of game design have resulted in some very interesting “hybrid” games that incorporate both American style theme and detail with European style ease of play and streamlining.