Showerthought: Does a game's theme matter more than its mechanics... or the other way around?

I was talking to a buddy Dave last weekend after we played a heavy euro game that had a theme pasted on so thin you could see through it. He said theme is just window dressing, it's the mechanics that make a game last. But then I pointed out how my group always comes back to games like Betrayal at House on the Hill because the crazy story moments stick with us, even if the rules are a mess. It got me thinking - which side do you lean on when you're picking a game to buy or bring to game night?

2 comments

2 Comments

milesbailey12d ago

Ain't that the truth @miles_young59, you nailed why I love both sides.

miles_young5913d ago

Huh, I actually just read an article from a game designer who said theme is what gets people to the table but mechanics are what keep them coming back. Made sense to me. For me it depends on the group - if we're drinking and joking around, theme carries the night. But when my serious gaming crew meets, we strip that stuff off and just want tight mechanics that reward good decisions. Both have their place.