The On Board Rating System
Mostly we rate games that we have in our collection, though we will also rate games we’ve played at our local game groups or events we’ve attended. Some of the games we review have been given to us by publishers. It is our goal to provide objective reviews regardless of how we get the games. We are creating our reviews for the listeners and not for the companies, so will attempt to remain impartial and honest. While we welcome game submissions from companies, we do not guarantee that a game submitted will be reviewed.
On Board Games uses a simple Red, Yellow, Green three-tier gaming rating system. The Red, Yellow, Green systems is not a Ranking system, we don't give a final judgment on games in relation to each other. Instead we rate the game based on whether we are likely to play it again and how often.
Red games are those
we don't like and can't recommend. It is unlikely that just one issue dragged
this game down into the red. Multiple elements, be they mechanics, balance,
presentation, dead time, incomprehensible rules, or similar problems prevent
red rated games from being successful. If games we rate red still interest
you after our reviews, then you might want to find someone with a copy and
give it a test run before you buy them.
Games we rate yellow are good games that the reviewer will play when someone else requests to play them. A game being rated yellow may have a significant flaw or be on the brink of greatness, but it is neither spectacularly good nor spectacularly bad. Games rated yellow are excellent games to have in the collection of a game group, or good fun for one shot plays at conventions. However, they probably wont see weekly play around our tables at home.
Games with a green rating are games we recommend wholeheartedly. These are the games we are likely to trot out of the game chest when someone asks “what do you want to play?”, or the ones we would take to gaming events. These are perfect for their target audience, uniquely appealing games that are worth investing in and able to support repeated play. The “fun for time invested” factor is appropriate. Green rated games are finely crafted works of art for some of the best games for a genre or theme.