They say that art is subjective, and rightfully so. I don’t consider myself any kind of art connoisseur but I know what I like and no matter how popular certain pieces or art may be, sometimes I just don’t get it. There are however, masterpieces that come along every now and then that regardless of personal taste, people cannot dispute just how magnificent they are. It’s obvious the amount of blood, sweat, tears, and passion that the artist has dedicated to it over the years and these projects live on throughout the centuries.
Art can be found in more than just paintings and sculptures. Music has been called art for many years, and as media and forms of entertainment have evolved, so too has the definition of what qualifies as art. Some movies are called pieces of art, as are video games.
By that logic, can certain board games not be classified in the same way? Wherever you stand on the debate, it’s hard to deny that like music, cinematography, and video game design, there are always certain representatives that stand out and look more dazzling than the others in some respect.
The way the game looks can complement the theme and gameplay and enhances the experience significantly with beautiful illustrations.
Below are a selection of aesthetic board games that stand out amongst the crowd for their looks alone. They’re all solid games as well, but if we were to go by how eye-catching a game was and nothing else, these are some of the best in the market today.
What are the Best Looking Aesthetic Board Games?
Sagrada
Players: 1-4 Time: 30-45 minutes Age: 14+
In this dice drafting game, players are tasked with creating the most beautiful stained glass window possible. The different colored dice represent pieces of glass that players must strategically place on their window card, adhering to the rules and restrictions of placement at the same time.
Played over ten rounds, players will take dice blindly from a bag and set them on the spaces on their window card. Dice must be placed adjacently but must also match the color and/or number represented on the space.
Players will have objectives to try and complete and, if in a bind, can use tool cards to assist with placement.
At the end of the ten rounds, the player with the most victory points is the winner.
A truly beautiful game, Sagrada does an excellent job of combining a solid game mechanic with a unique theme. With the dice being so vibrant and the window card looking just like the real thing, taking in how stunning the windows look at the end of the ten rounds is a real joy. The beautiful stained glass windows are a core part of the game’s appeal.
Photosynthesis
Players: 2-4 Time: 30-60 minutes Age: 10+
Plant and shape the ever-changing forest as you cultivate your seeds and your strategy. Carefully pick where you sow and when you grow, as you take trees from seedling to fully bloomed.
Using 3-D components, players will try to score as many points as possible over a series of rounds, each with two different phases.
There is a scoring phase where players determine how many points they gain based on where their trees are in relation to the sun (which is constantly moving around the board) and shadows being cast by other trees.
This is followed by a life cycle phase where players can buy or plant seeds, and see their tree grow larger and larger.
After the sun has performed three rotations of the board, the game ends and the player with the highest score is the winner.
Simple yet employing a decent level of strategy, Photosynthesis comes with well-crafted, good-looking components that add to the fun of the game. Decorating the game board with the 3-D trees and seeing them grow over time makes for a fun and immersive experience.
Dixit
Players: 3-8 Time: 30 minutes Age: 8+
A picture is worth a thousand words, but can you find the right one to describe your card perfectly? Using creativity, imagination, and communication, players work their way through a series of abstract cards and try to explain what exactly is going on.
Players take turns being the storyteller, where they select one of their cards and use a word or phrase to describe it. Keeping it hidden, other players then search through their cards to find which one they feel best describes the storyteller’s description.
Once all cards are faced down, they’re mixed up and revealed one by one. The players then guess which card is the storyteller’s. If all or none of the players guess correctly, the storyteller gets no points.
As long as at least one player’s guess is incorrect, the storyteller will receive points, as will any player whose card is selected as the right one. Play continues until one player has won enough points to be declared the winner.
Dixit is a charming card game that challenges players to be creative and has very little in the way of rules to keep things simple. Each card is wonderfully illustrated and poses a unique challenge when describing it. With almost 100 cards in the base game and plenty of expansions, Dixit offers much fun and replayability.
Read: Dixit Board Game Review
- Encourages creativity and storytelling.
- Easy to learn, great for all ages.
- Visually stunning with unique art.
- Limited strategy, more reliant on imagination.
- Can feel repetitive after several plays.
- Best with larger groups, less exciting with fewer players.
Parks
Players: 1-5 Time: 40-70 minutes Age: 10+
Celebrating the National Parks of the United States, players act as hikers trekking across various trails during each of the year’s four seasons. Take photos and collect memories to gain points and move on to visit more Parks. The four seasons represent the four rounds of the game, with each player visiting a new Park each time.
On their turn, players can move one of the two hikers they control along the path and carry out actions at the site they rest at. Players will take photos to increase their scores, buy equipment to enhance their experience, collect various tokens to trade in at a later time, and have various personal objectives to complete before the game ends.
At the end of the final season, whoever has tallied the most points wins the game.
Parks is a really fun and entertaining game with lots going on and plenty to do. One of it’s biggest appeals is it’s visuals, with dozens of different artists having worked on the game and contributed to it’s development. Each Park card is beautifully illustrated and along with the other cards and components included, makes for a visually stunning game to say the least. Parks is so visually appealing it could be a coffee table centerpiece.
Wingspan
Players: 1-5 Time: 40-70 minutes Age: 10+
Featuring over 170 different birds, players become bird enthusiasts who are out to attract and collect the best birds to their wildlife preserves. A competitive card-driven, engine-building game, players must strategize to chain combinations in order to maximize actions each turn and the points they can gain.
Players will play action cubes to place birds from their hands, along with its food and egg cost. They may then gain food, lay eggs, and perform special actions as dictated by their bird cards. Action cubes dictate how much a player can do on their turn, and over the four rounds of the game, players will have less and less available to use.
This is when each bird’s powers come into play. Placing them strategically and linking their abilities allows players to do more each turn. Points are decided by how many eggs or birds are in a specific type of nest or habitat. The player with the highest score after four rounds is the winner.
Nature lover or not, there’s no denying how beautiful Wingspan is and it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular game. From the 3-D birdbox like dice tray, to the cards themselves, everything in this games has been crafted wonderfully. In fact, you might find yourself spending more time looking at the bird cards themselves than playing the game as each picture looks like they’ve been taken from a nature encyclopedia. The detailed design of the player boards also adds to the immersive experience, showcasing the game’s commitment to quality components.
Everdell
Players: 1-4 Time: 40-80 minutes Age: 10+
Within the charming valley of Everdell, a civilization of forest critters is thriving and expanding. Players become a leader of a group of forest dwellers and help them construct buildings, host events, and meet others who reside in Everdell.
The game takes place over several seasons, starting in the winter and ending in the following year’s winter. Throughout the game, players will be placing workers at various destinations, locations, and events, which will in turn allow the player to gather resources, draw cards, and take special actions.
Cards come in a variety of types and generate resources, grant abilities, and score points. Once all workers have been played, they can return home and prepare for the next season and phase of the game. The game also features high-quality wooden resources, including charming wooden animeeples and customized disks, which add to the overall appeal.
The goal in Everdell is to create the biggest city; the more buildings, the more points. Players will have to use their cards and place their workers as best as possible to generate as many points as possible.
An excellent worker placement game that’s the definition of cozy. Everything is delightfully illustrated with charming characters and the 3-D board makes you feel like you’re actually in Everdell. There are plenty of expansions that expand the board and experience, all of which are just as well-crafted as the base game.
Tokaido
Players: 2-5 Time: 45 minutes Age: 8+
In Tokaido, each player embarks on a trip, traveling across the “East sea Road,” one of the most magnificent roads in Japan. On their travels, players will meet people, taste fine meals, collect beautiful items, and visit temples and wild places.
At the end of the day when everyone reaches the end of the road, whoever has seen the interesting and varied things wins. Whoever is furthest away from their destination always goes first and can move to any of the spaces they wish, and as many as they wish as long as they are furthest behind.
There are many different kinds of spaces, each offering different kinds of benefits. Farms, for example, allow players to take three coins from the bank, stopping at the hot springs to relax gets a player two or three points, and paying a tribute at a temple will earn a player just as many points.
Meeting fellow travelers along the way and sampling different meals will also net the players various rewards. When players arrive at their inn, the game is over and the one with the most points wins.
Tokaido is stunningly beautiful, from traveling the road, to unveiling all the travelers and experiencing the panoramic views, there’s always something new to see. Although a relaxed game, there is an element of strategy involved with moving up the road and seeing the most sights, which is pretty cool.
Conclusion: Play a Good Looking Board Game (with great game play)
It’s hard to argue that board games aren’t a form of artwork these days. With so many being lovingly crafted and so much dedication and passion behind them, it’s evident in the outcome that developers wanted to make something special. Recently played games can enhance social gatherings by incorporating unique elements and creating memorable experiences. These are just some of what we would consider to be the most aesthetic board games out there, but if there are any you’ve played with equally impressive visuals, let us know all about them.
FAQ
Q: What types of board games are featured in this article?
A: The article highlights visually stunning aesthetic board games that offer diverse gameplay experiences, focusing on strategy, card-driven mechanics, and worker placement.
Q: Are these aesthetic board games suitable for family play?
A: Yes, all of the games mentioned are suitable for players aged 8 and above, making them ideal for family game nights.
Q: How long do these games typically take to play?
A: The playtime for these games ranges from approximately 40 to 80 minutes, allowing for a flexible gaming experience that can fit into various schedules.
Q: Can these games be played solo?
A: Yes, several of the games, such as Wingspan and Everdell, offer solo play options, enabling players to enjoy them even when playing alone.
Q: Where can I purchase these games?
A: These aesthetic board games can be found at local game stores, major retailers, and various online platforms specializing in board games.
Q: What is the quality of the physical components in these games?
A: The games feature high-quality physical components, including wooden resources like wooden animeeples and customized disks, which enhance the overall gaming experience.