The Ugliest Board Games We Love
boardgamequest.comMany board gamers are shallow. All they care about is how things look. It’s not what’s on the inside that matters (unless you’re talking components and then we’re back to high snobbery with supreme deluxe big box editions).
Oh. My. God. Look at the size of that box.
I like big boxes and…
*Tony coughs and glares*
Right, but not the Board Game Quest team. Today we’re going to embrace substance over style, function over beauty, and we’re going to celebrate the ugly games we love. Don’t get us wrong we love games full of plastic minis, deluxe resources, and exquisitely drawn artwork. Yet sometimes, none of that matters because the game is just so much fun. So cuddle up with your beige euro game, hug that train game, and invite any Splotter game to join you on the couch as we share our ugly favorites with you.
Chosen by Tony:
A couple of years ago I discovered the hidden gem Breakaway Football. I tried it on a whim when it was offered to me and fell in love immediately. I’ve yet to play a tabletop game that so perfectly captures the spirit of American Football. Yet, as the game is a print on demand Gamecrafter title, its components never really lived up to the amazing gameplay. The art could best be described as…utilitarian… boarding on 18xx bland. The playmat begging to be a gameboard or neoprene, and the text can be garish at times. Yet underneath that rusted-out Ford Fiesta of a paint job is the engine of a Ferrari. The game is a tense back and forth battle of strategically choosing the right cards with just the perfect amount of luck thrown in to keep things exciting. If you are a fan of Football, there is no better game than Breakaway Football. I really hope someday it gets the deluxified version it so richly deserves.
