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TaxonomyOfPiecepackGames

A Taxonomy of Piecepack Games

This page was inspired by the [WWW]Taxonomy of Icehouse Games page by Glenn Overby. He in turn was inspired by [WWW]David Parlett.

The categorisation is an extension of David Parlett's groundbreaking taxonomy in his [WWW]Oxford History of Board Games. His basic categories of board game are Race, Space, Chase, and Displace. His fifth category, Theme, has been extended to also include non-board games with a clear theme. A sixth category, Non-board Games, includes games with neither board nor theme.

A special section for Solitaire games was added because many of them do not easily fit in any of the other categories and to make then easy to find. If a solitaire game does fit a given category, it should be listed both places. Also added are special categories for games especially good to play with young children and games on the recommended list as nominated by the mailing list members.

A less detailed list can be seen at the /Summary page.

This page is now automatically generated based on category tags placed in each game description page. To add a game to a taxonomy category simply add the category tag found at the bottom of each grouping anywhere in the game's description page. Please use only the above procedure for adding new games to the taxonomy. Click here for HowToCreateNewTaxonomyCategories.

A reasonably well-known non-piecepack example is shown for many categories, to help people find games of related mechanics or objectives. Several games could be classified in more than one place and a best attempt has been made to put all the games into all the proper categories where they belong. Like Parlett in his book, we have done the best we could as a guide.

You should be able to find all the game rules at http://www.piecepack.org.

This data is also in Excel format (not necessarily up-to-date):

Table of Contents

  1. A Taxonomy of Piecepack Games
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Race
    3. Space
    4. Chase
    5. Displace
    6. Theme
    7. Non-Board
    8. Solitaire Games
    9. Games for Children
    10. Recommended Games

Race

A race game frequently features dice, a linear field, ousting opponents, and a positional objective.

Race | Complex (a few pieces): Pachisi

  1. Berlin . . . . 1 match
  2. DivorcedBeheadedDiedDivorcedBeheadedSurvived . . . . 1 match
  3. FourBlindMice . . . . 1 match
  4. PieceChisi . . . . 1 match
  5. RoyalRacers . . . . 1 match
  6. SailboatRegatta . . . . 1 match
  7. Scavenge le . . . . 1 match
  8. ScavengerHunt . . . . 1 match
  9. WormDerby . . . . 1 match

[RaceComplexCategory]Edit
Race | Multiplex (many pieces): Backgammon

  1. PawnsCrossing . . . . 1 match
  2. PiecepackDodgem . . . . 1 match
  3. Telic . . . . 1 match

[RaceMultiplexCategory]Edit
Race | Simple (one piece): Snakes and Ladders

  1. LabRats . . . . 1 match
  2. TAG . . . . 1 match
  3. TheMartianAssassinationGame . . . . 1 match
  4. TheWanderingMerchant . . . . 1 match
  5. Triactor: A Day at the Piecepack Downs . . . . 1 match

[RaceSimpleCategory]Edit
Race | Strategic (non-random movement): Hare and Tortoise

  1. ChaosCruisers . . . . 1 match
  2. Chariots . . . . 1 match
  3. CheminMontagneux . . . . 1 match
  4. CoyoteMoon . . . . 1 match
  5. Everest . . . . 1 match
  6. FroggyBottom . . . . 1 match
  7. Racepack . . . . 1 match

[RaceStrategicCategory]Edit

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Space

A space game generally features a field of areas, blocking or capturing opponents, and an objective involving position/pattern/territory.

Space | Alignment/Line (three or more pieces in a line): Nine-mens Morris

  1. PowerLines . . . . 1 match

[SpaceAlignmentLineCategory]Edit
Space | Attainment (fewer than all pieces reach goal area/position): Epaminondas

  1. Blockade . . . . 1 match
  2. CultureWars . . . . 1 match
  3. SiegeByNumber . . . . 1 match
  4. The In Crowd . . . . 1 match
  5. Wormholes . . . . 1 match

[SpaceAttainmentCategory]Edit
Space | Configuration/Pattern (all pieces form given pattern): Agon

  1. BingoBattle . . . . 1 match
  2. BrainBurn . . . . 1 match
  3. EasySlider . . . . 1 match
  4. HangingGardens . . . . 1 match
  5. Quatri . . . . 1 match
  6. SlidesOfAction . . . . 1 match

[SpaceConfigurationPatternCategory]Edit
Space | Connection (line of pieces connecting across board): Twixt

  1. LeyLines . . . . 1 match

[SpaceConnectionCategory]Edit
Space | Occupation (occupying territory): Go

  1. CultureWars . . . . 1 match
  2. Landrush . . . . 1 match

[SpaceOccupationCategory]Edit
Space | Restriction (deny opponent ability to move/place): Pentominoes

  1. Blockade . . . . 1 match
  2. Decay . . . . 1 match
  3. GlobalWarming . . . . 1 match
  4. Iceberg . . . . 1 match
  5. KnightsTourRedux . . . . 1 match
  6. PenguinGame . . . . 1 match
  7. Proximity . . . . 1 match

[SpaceRestrictionCategory]Edit
Space | Traversal (all pieces cross board to opposite start): Chinese Checkers

  1. ChineseCheckers . . . . 1 match
  2. PiecepackDodgem . . . . 1 match

[SpaceTraversalCategory]Edit

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Chase

The main feature of Parlett's chase games category is substantial material asymmetry. Other features usually include a regularly-spaced field and capturing. Objectives can be positional like space games or overwhelming like displace games.

Chase

  1. ElephantRun . . . . 1 match
  2. TAG . . . . 1 match
  3. TheMartianAssassinationGame . . . . 1 match

[ChaseCategory]Edit

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Displace

Displace games generally feature capturing, with the object being to overwhelm.

Displace | Bean (pieces have common owner and function): Mancala

  1. CultureWars . . . . 1 match
  2. Mancala . . . . 1 match

[DisplaceBeanCategory]Edit
Displace | Differenced Pieces with Common Ownership

  1. Mathrix . . . . 1 match

[DisplaceDifferencedPiecesCommonOwnershipCategory]Edit
Displace | Differentiated pieces

  1. Activator . . . . 1 match
  2. Evade . . . . 1 match
  3. FourFieldKono . . . . 1 match
  4. JulGonu . . . . 1 match
  5. MagicMids . . . . 1 match
  6. MartianTreasureHunt . . . . 1 match

[DisplaceDifferentiatedPiecesCategory]Edit
Displace | Differentiated pieces, single target piece

  1. Chess . . . . 1 match

[DisplaceDifferentiatedPiecesSingleTargetCategory]Edit
Displace | Semi-differenced pieces through promotion

  1. Checkers . . . . 1 match

[DisplaceSemidifferencedPiecesPromotionCategory]Edit
Displace | Undifferenced pieces, different owners: Alquerque

  1. Reversi . . . . 1 match

[DisplaceUndifferencedPiecesCategory]Edit

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Theme

Parlett's original classifications were designed only for traditional abstract board games. We have extended the category to include non-board games where the theme is central and there is no clear abstract board game structure.

Theme | Adult

[ThemeAdultCategory]Edit
Theme | Business: Monopoly

  1. BlackPawnTrucking . . . . 1 match
  2. BlackThursday . . . . 1 match
  3. Castles . . . . 1 match
  4. ChoosySushi . . . . 1 match
  5. GalaxyExpress . . . . 1 match
  6. GoldRush . . . . 1 match
  7. KingsProgress . . . . 1 match
  8. SilverIsle . . . . 1 match
  9. SpaceTraders . . . . 1 match
  10. Takeover . . . . 1 match
  11. Taxicab . . . . 1 match
  12. TheWanderingMerchant . . . . 1 match

[ThemeBusinessCategory]Edit
Theme | Civilisation: The Settlers of Catan

  1. AlienCity . . . . 1 match
  2. CityPlanning . . . . 1 match
  3. Colonization . . . . 1 match
  4. CultureWars . . . . 1 match
  5. KingdomsoftheMiddleSea . . . . 1 match
  6. New City . . . . 1 match
  7. Palazzo . . . . 1 match
  8. PharaohsHeir . . . . 1 match
  9. SilverIsle . . . . 1 match
  10. Skyscrapers . . . . 1 match

[ThemeCivilisationCategory]Edit
Theme | Fantasy: Talisman

  1. Castles . . . . 1 match
  2. DragonsHoard . . . . 1 match
  3. DungeonBuilders . . . . 1 match
  4. DungeonCrawl . . . . 1 match
  5. GalaxyExpress . . . . 1 match
  6. InterstellarConquest . . . . 1 match
  7. JorgeArroyo/MoinEditorBackup . . . . 1 match
  8. King's Cottage . . . . 1 match
  9. KingArthursCourt . . . . 1 match
  10. KingdomsoftheMiddleSea . . . . 1 match
  11. KingsProgress . . . . 1 match
  12. LeyLines . . . . 1 match
  13. Matrix . . . . 1 match
  14. MazeMakers . . . . 1 match
  15. OneManThrag . . . . 1 match
  16. SorcerersChamber . . . . 1 match
  17. TheWanderingMerchant . . . . 1 match

[ThemeFantasyCategory]Edit
Theme | Humour

  1. ArmyBrats . . . . 1 match
  2. KidSproutJumboree . . . . 1 match
  3. SnowmanMeltdown . . . . 1 match
  4. WhirlpoolPond . . . . 1 match

[ThemeHumourCategory]Edit
Theme | Miscellaneous

  1. Dominoids . . . . 1 match
  2. Everest . . . . 1 match
  3. K'Dak's Tower of Confusion and Camel Carwash . . . . 1 match
  4. Sarcophagus . . . . 1 match

[ThemeMiscellaneousCategory]Edit
Theme | Politics

  1. Conspiracy . . . . 1 match
  2. DelegateDash . . . . 1 match
  3. DivorcedBeheadedDiedDivorcedBeheadedSurvived . . . . 1 match
  4. Magistratvm . . . . 1 match

[ThemePoliticsCategory]Edit
Theme | Sport

  1. Baseball . . . . 1 match
  2. CastleCroquetnole . . . . 1 match
  3. CheminMontagneux . . . . 1 match
  4. ClimbingMan . . . . 1 match
  5. IceFloe . . . . 1 match
  6. Mark A. Biggar/MoinEditorBackup . . . . 1 match
  7. MotoX . . . . 1 match
  8. NineBall . . . . 1 match
  9. PiecepackLetterbox . . . . 1 match
  10. Ppolf . . . . 1 match
  11. Racepack . . . . 1 match
  12. Soccer . . . . 1 match
  13. TabletopBocce . . . . 1 match
  14. TabletopCroquet . . . . 1 match
  15. Triactor: A Day at the Piecepack Downs . . . . 1 match

[ThemeSportCategory]Edit
Theme | Trains: Empire Builder

  1. Tariffs . . . . 1 match

[ThemeTrainCategory]Edit
Theme | War: Risk

  1. CardinalsGuards . . . . 1 match
  2. CultureWars . . . . 1 match
  3. PiecePackingPirates . . . . 1 match
  4. SiegeByNumber . . . . 1 match
  5. SoloSalvo . . . . 1 match

[ThemeWarCategory]Edit

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Non-Board

Anything with no board, implied board or concrete theme goes here.

Non-Board | Deduction/Logic: Clue

  1. Deduction . . . . 1 match

[NonboardDeductionLogicCategory]Edit
Non-Board | Dexterity: Carroms

  1. Carroms . . . . 1 match
  2. CastleCroquetnole . . . . 1 match
  3. Mark A. Biggar/MoinEditorBackup . . . . 1 match
  4. NineBall . . . . 1 match
  5. Ppolf . . . . 1 match
  6. Soccer . . . . 1 match
  7. TabletopBocce . . . . 1 match
  8. TabletopCroquet . . . . 1 match

[NonboardDexterityCategory]Edit
Non-Board | Imperfect Information: Poker

  1. Clear . . . . 1 match
  2. Manipulation . . . . 1 match
  3. Multzo . . . . 1 match
  4. PackKub . . . . 1 match
  5. ThePiecePackPokerPartyParade . . . . 1 match
  6. War . . . . 1 match

[NonboardImperfectInformationCategory]Edit
Non-Board | Memory

  1. Matches . . . . 1 match

[NonboardMemoryCategory]Edit
Non-Board | Structure

  1. SanAndreas . . . . 1 match

[NonboardStructureCategory]Edit
Non-Board | Taking Pieces Without Space

[NonboardTakingPiecesNoSpaceCategory]Edit

Solitaire Games

Games played by a single person.

Solitaire | Puzzles: usually solvable

  1. BrainBurn . . . . 1 match
  2. CellManagement . . . . 1 match
  3. ClimbingMan . . . . 1 match
  4. Fuji-san . . . . 1 match
  5. Landlocked . . . . 1 match
  6. MarkGoadrich/MoinEditorBackup . . . . 1 match
  7. Mathrix . . . . 1 match
  8. PackSolitaire . . . . 1 match
  9. PieceGaps . . . . 1 match
  10. PiecepackKlondike . . . . 1 match
  11. PlansOfAction . . . . 1 match
  12. Skyscrapers . . . . 1 match
  13. TowerOfBabel . . . . 1 match
  14. Tula . . . . 1 match

[SolitairePuzzlesCategory]Edit
Solitaire | Themed Games

  1. TheWanderingMerchant . . . . 1 match

[SolitaireThemedCategory]Edit
Solitaire | Themed Games

  1. BlackPawnTrucking . . . . 1 match
  2. CardinalsGuards . . . . 1 match
  3. CoinCollectors . . . . 1 match
  4. CrocodileHop . . . . 1 match
  5. EpicFunhouse . . . . 1 match
  6. GalaxyExpress . . . . 1 match
  7. LabRats . . . . 1 match
  8. Mark A. Biggar/MoinEditorBackup . . . . 1 match
  9. Matrix . . . . 1 match
  10. OneManThrag . . . . 1 match
  11. PiecePackingPirates . . . . 1 match
  12. Ppolf . . . . 1 match
  13. SoloSalvo . . . . 1 match
  14. The Magic Bag . . . . 1 match

[SolitaireThemedGamesCategory]Edit

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Games for Children

Games especially good to play with young children

  1. BingoBattle . . . . 1 match
  2. Evade . . . . 1 match
  3. FroggyBottom . . . . 1 match
  4. Mark A. Biggar/MoinEditorBackup . . . . 1 match
  5. OneManThrag . . . . 1 match
  6. Ppolf . . . . 1 match
  7. Soccer . . . . 1 match
  8. TabletopBocce . . . . 1 match
  9. TabletopCroquet . . . . 1 match
  10. WormDerby . . . . 1 match

[GamesForChildrenCategory]Edit

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Recommended Games

For more details see the page: RecommendedGames.

Games recommended on the Mailing List

  1. AlienCity . . . . 1 match
  2. Chariots . . . . 1 match
  3. Evade . . . . 1 match
  4. FroggyBottom . . . . 1 match
  5. HangingGardens . . . . 1 match
  6. IceFloe . . . . 1 match
  7. KidSproutJumboree . . . . 1 match
  8. MotoX . . . . 1 match
  9. New City . . . . 1 match
  10. OneManThrag . . . . 1 match
  11. PharaohsHeir . . . . 1 match
  12. PowerLines . . . . 1 match
  13. Sarcophagus . . . . 1 match
  14. Tula . . . . 1 match
  15. WormDerby . . . . 1 match

[RecommendedGamesCategory]Edit

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