Board games with emergent complexity? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Some games are complicated - they have really complex rules. Examples of this are games where you have to track many different types of tokens, with different rules for each.

Other games have really simple rules, but still manage to produce extreme complexity in they way they are played.

Go is the perfect example of this. It literally has 2-3 rules, but because you can play anywhere, the complexity it can produce is wide and deep, to the point that tomes have been written on how to play it.

What other boardgames exist that have very simple rules, but produce complex and interesting game play?

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[-] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I wouldn't necessarily describe blood bowl as simple, but it definitely has emergent complexity. The core rules of movement and blocking are straightforward once you wrap your head around them, but layering on team asymmetry, skills, probability, and the game state can lead to some seriously crunchy tactics.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Thank you. I think my sportsballphobia might get in the way a bit. Are the rules really that simple? It looks on the order of warhammer or MTG?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It's a Warhammer game, based on American football. They've made video game versions of it going back to the mid-90's as well.

It's a turn-based strategy game, not particularly simple, but easy to learn.

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this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2025

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