Episode 393 – Board Game Terms: Asymmetric, Auction, Bidding
It's been a long time since we defined some board game terms (/tag/terms/) . Let's do that again!
0:00 Fact for 393
The TV show Star Trek: Voyager uses the phrase “some kind of” 393 times over the seven seasons. There's a fan-made video that documents them ALL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZiezIxCVU
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04:00 What We've Been Playing
Medieval Academy (both the 2014 version and the 2023 version)
Power Plants – inspired to play after last episode!
Royal Visit
Project L
Mezen – review coming soon
Anitra's solo plays: Mezen, Strato (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/strato/) , A Gentle Rain (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/a-gentle-rain/) , A Nice Cuppa (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/a-nice-cuppa/) )
more Floristry (our review (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/floristry/) ) – Anitra predicts this will be TFG's top game of 2025.
Obelus (our review (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/obelus/) ) – love the table presence on this tiny game.
S'mores Galore – “exactly what I've been hoping for in a s'mores themed game”
17:00 The Family Gamers Community
Even Alex Trebek is glad you're here! Stop in and say hi. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/familygamersaa/posts/3972529609703166/)
18:20 SNAP Review – Strato
Learn more about this solo or cooperative game of controlling the weather.
Watch the video or read the transcript of our Strato review (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/strato/) .
What Does That Word Mean?
24:35 Asymmetric (and Asymmetric Player Powers)
What's asymmetry? Well, it's the lack of symmetry, which would be when two halves (or two items) are identical. You're probably played both symmetric and asymmetric games, without realizing it.
Asymmetric games means that players DON'T have the same actions or the same goals. This goes beyond the luck of the draw or making different choices: in asymmetric games, players literally CANNOT do exactly the same things as other players.
What's good about them?
• They're more interesting. It feels really powerful and special if you have a power that breaks the rules that everyone else has to follow.
• Can have better replayability. Because of different powers, playing it again can feel both familiar and new – exploring new ways that characters interact.
And the bad?
• Asymmetric games are harder to TEACH (especially to kids) because everyone can do slightly different things.
• Can feel unfair (“why do you get to do that and I don't?”)
• Some asymmetric games feel very unbalanced or require a specific character to be played to work at all.
Let's talk examples!
Some of our favorites are 2 player asymmetric games like Skulk Hollow (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/skulk-hollow-a-hulking-masterpiece/) / Maul Peak (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/maul-peak/) , The Hunt (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/the-hunt/) , Watergate (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/watergate/) , Jekyll vs. Hyde (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/jekyll-vs-hyde/)
One-vs-many games: one person has a very different role (like villain or clue-giver) and everyone else is working together (kind of). Examples: Scotland Yard, Pyramid of Pengqueen (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/pyramid-of-pengqueen-curse-of-the-mummy/) , Visitor in Blackwood Grove (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/visitor-in-blackwood-grove/) (three roles, two of which cooperate). We argue that most clue-giving games fit into the one-vs-many asymmetric style. You can make them feel more symmetrical by taking turns being the clue-giver. Hidden identity / hidden traitor games (Spyfall) fit into this idea as well.
When we think of asymmetric games, we immediately think of these character-based options: Dice Throne (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/dice-throne/) , Unmatched (https://thefamilygamers.com/tag/unmatched) , Pocket Paragons (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/pocket-paragons/) , or Disney Villainous (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/disney-villainous/) .
CCGs and constructed-deck games are obviously asymmetric – everyone has a different idea of what makes a “good” deck. Examples: Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Compile (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/compile/) , Windup War (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/windup-war-cute-cards-cataclysmic-combat/) )
Asymmetric games are as old as board games themselves. Anitra thinks of Fox and Hounds or Fox and Geese (find out more (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148180/fox-and-hounds) ), an old checkers-like game.
Cosmic Encounter is often held up as o...
