<p>There is a fantastic article on this topic by Miguel Sicart called <em><a href="http://gamestudies.org/0802/articles/sicart" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Defining Game Mechanics</a></em>, it is mostly related to Video Games, but the the same definitions can broadly be applied to Board Games as well.</p>

<p>Essentially <strong>Game Mechanics</strong> are actions that modify the game state, and it is this modification of the game state that results in <em>gameplay</em>.<br>
While Game Mechanics can, and should, be defined by rules, they are not themselves rules.</p>

<p>In a more colloquial form, if you're changing anything in the game, whether physical or conceptual, you are implementing a Game Mechanic.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-02T22:26:16.987Z
2019-12-02T22:26:16.987Z
KMR
<p>Game mechanics are the the building blocks of a game.  The basic actions players can make in a game.  For example, a game can implement randomness in several ways: rolling a dice, card drafting, a spinning top, etc.</p>

<p>Some known mechanics:</p>

<ul>
<li>Worker Placement</li>
<li>Area Majority</li>
<li>Auction (many different kinds)</li>
<li>Cooperative Game</li>
</ul>

<p>See <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamemechanic" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BGG-Game-mechanics</a>, for the full list of game mechanics in board games.</p>

<p>Further reading: <a href="https://www.bunchball.com/gamification/game-mechanics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">What are Game Mechanics</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-03T07:04:08.047Z
2019-12-03T07:16:39.313Z
2019-12-03T07:16:39.313Z
Cohensius
<p>What are <strong>game mechanics</strong>?</p>

<p>Conceptually I think of the mechanics of the game as <em>how it's played</em> but the definition is a little fuzzy.  I don't think rules and mechanics are the same - although I think they're related.  Help me sort this out in my head.</p>

<terminology><mechanics>
What is meant by "game mechanics"?
nick
# What is meant by "game mechanics"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-02)

What are **game mechanics**?

Conceptually I think of the mechanics of the game as *how it's played* but the definition is a little fuzzy. I don't think rules and mechanics are the same - although I think they're related. Help me sort this out in my head.

**Tags:** terminology, mechanics


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-02. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

There is a fantastic article on this topic by Miguel Sicart called *[Defining Game Mechanics](http://gamestudies.org/0802/articles/sicart)*, it is mostly related to Video Games, but the the same definitions can broadly be applied to Board Games as well.

Essentially **Game Mechanics** are actions that modify the game state, and it is this modification of the game state that results in *gameplay*.  
While Game Mechanics can, and should, be defined by rules, they are not themselves rules.

In a more colloquial form, if you're changing anything in the game, whether physical or conceptual, you are implementing a Game Mechanic.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-12-03. Score: 1

Game mechanics are the the building blocks of a game. The basic actions players can make in a game. For example, a game can implement randomness in several ways: rolling a dice, card drafting, a spinning top, etc.

Some known mechanics:

* Worker Placement
* Area Majority
* Auction (many different kinds)
* Cooperative Game

See [BGG-Game-mechanics](https://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamemechanic), for the full list of game mechanics in board games.

Further reading: [What are Game Mechanics](https://www.bunchball.com/gamification/game-mechanics)


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