Everyone has been there: A person picks up a new board game and excitedly lifts the top, only to reveal a 10-page instruction manual that’s both difficult to follow and somewhat incomplete. Unless a player is so lucky as to have someone who’s well-versed in the game, it quickly loses its intrigue and may very well become lining for a bookcase until it’s either sold or given to a friend to have the same thing take place. So goes the cycle of many board games or card games.
The unfortunate side to having more open-ended, complex board games and card games is that they are not so simple as “roll the dice, move the person” and are thereby difficult to pick up on one’s lonesome. This is especially true due to upkeep steps and the mistakes that players can easily make. Playing with others who are similarly ignorant of the rules may lead to the game being far too easy or too difficult. Thankfully, there is a simple solution to all of this. Many board games and competitive card games now feature a prominent online or digital version. The digital versions of these tabletop games simplify upkeep and make playing them easier so that players can focus on the game itself.
Digital Competitive Games Smooth Out Forgetfulness
Collectible card games like Pokémon: The Trading Card Game and Magic: The Gathering have complex effects and upkeep steps that require careful attention to detail and accurate math. For a new player, being unaware of the meanings and requirements of the flavor text can cause confusion, especially when taken among the many, many steps that just one turn involves. The online versions, however, cater to new players. The majority of online games allow players to get into the game without spending a cent, essentially letting players figure out the rules and playstyles without having to make the cost commitment that’s inherent to CCGs.
In Pokémon, for example, the player starts out with three complete decks and defeats digital players to gain more cards and ultimately learn the functions of the game. Unlimited energy cards and different playstyles allow players to see what they enjoy and how they like to play before putting a single cent in. Magic: The Gathering Online works similarly, and trying either one is a great way for players to gain an understanding of how CCGs work.
Digital Board Games Offer Substantial Hand-Holding
Digital board games similarly help to ease the pain of learning a new game. With extensive tutorial modes that go into the particulars of game functionality, digital board games can effectively convey the objective of a game and the way that players achieve said objective without needing a veteran of the game present. Similarly, the online community and computer-controlled opponents put up enough of a challenge to allow players to have fun even when they can’t play with their friends.
Unlike digital CCGs, digital board games do generally have an associated price. Intriguingly, however, the cost savings from avoiding printing are generally passed onto the players. For example, the physical base game version of Catan costs $25 to $50. The digital base game costs $5, with a free-to-play version available. Even the VR version is a mere $15.
What’s more, since, once again, the costs to the company are far lower, digital board games go on sale frequently. Making a minor investment in the digital edition allows for a more mobile version, as most of the games require the processing power just north of a toaster. Trying the digital version can help players determine whether a game is worth the many-times-larger investment of the physical version.
By keeping players engaged through strong tutorials and offering a low-cost alternative, digital editions are a great way for gamers to determine if they want to take on the cost of a physical version. If they do make this decision, they will be better educated on game structure and play. From Uno to Ticket to Ride, digital versions are an excellent way for new players to get into tabletop games.
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