What Is A Real-time Board Game? Examples and More

If you’re like me, when you hear “real-time games” you think of things like video games or computer games—where players are all building civilizations or working on teams to hunt down and kill their opponents. Obviously, though, you’ve realized that’s not the case, which is why you’re here. When I came to this realization, I decided to do some research to understand better what real-time board games are and how they work. Recently I decided to write it all down and share it with you. Here we go.

What is a real-time board game? A real-time board game is one in which players all take turns simultaneously throughout the game. Usually a game (or a round) begins and all players complete their actions or make their moves at the same time as the others. It can be the main mechanic of a board game, or merely a supporting element.

This gives us the core idea of what a real-time board game is, but let’s take a deeper look. Also we have a full list of our very favorite games (including our favorite real-time games) that you can access here. You can support our website by navigating to our resources page and clicking on the links if you are thinking of buying one of the games.

Detailed explanation of real-time time board games

Okay, let’s drill down into what a real-time board game actually is. In essence it is a game in which players all take turns at the same time throughout the entire game. So typically when the game starts all players are engaged and involved until that round is over. In some cases, however, the entire game is played out in one segment. Which means that all players are engaged the whole game. These games are usually much shorter that others.

To give an example, we’ll use Dutch Blitz. It is a real-time game in which players attempt to get rid of the cards they are dealt as fast as possible. When the game starts, all players build communal piles in the middle of the table. They stack cards in ascending order of the same color. The first player to empty her own deck into the middle wins that round. The cards are then given back to the respective players and another round begins.

This is a great example of a real-time game because players begin playing at the same time, and they continue playing until one player has emptied his entire deck. There is no turn taking or waiting around to play. The very nature of how the game works requires players to interact with one another and play together. If they don’t take their turns with everyone else, they will certainly lose.

Obviously, games can include only elements of real-time play. In other words, sometimes players only play some turns or parts of their turns in real time. The rest of the game may be a more traditional turn-taking style. In these games, the real-time elements are a less direct and impactful on how the game feels. These game creators use this game mechanic to supplement a game’s primary structure, instead of having it be the primary structure.

Because players all play at the same time, they usually must have some sort of prompt to start the game—that way all players are aware of what is happening and they can be ready to take their turns. This usually comes in the form of a timer that gets flipped or one player saying “start”. Only at that point can players begin to complete their actions.

What makes them different than other types of games?

Real-time board games are different from traditional board games in one major way. As previously mentioned, real-time board games throw out the traditional style of taking turns. In these traditional games, the rules dictate who goes first. Sometimes it’s just the person left of the dealer; while other times, more creative methods for determining the starting player are used. I’ve seen games that start with

The last player to have traveled to Europe
The player that most recently broke the law
The youngest player or oldest player

In real-time board games, this doesn’t happen. All players begin at the same time, so there is no reason to choose a starting player. Consequently, there is no sequence that players must follow in turn taking. The begin together, they play together and they finish the game together. Obviously, this is referring to true real-time games. Games that only play in real time during part of the game would likely still have some element of turn taking.

A few types of real-time board games

Speed games

Speed games are one major form that real-time board games take. In these types of games players usually attempt to be the first to accomplish some goal or task. Sometimes that means getting rid of all the cards in a hand. Other times it means collecting all of one type of commodity. Whatever it is, players usually compete with one another in a timed competition. If a player manages to complete the task before the other players, he wins that round (or they win that game). Some speed, real-time games may deviate from this definition, but this holds true as a general definition. A few real-time speed games are listed below:

Dutch Blitz
Speed
Pit

Cooperative games

Cooperative games are another type of board game that we see within the real-time genre. In these games players are working together, instead of competing with one another. Though it isn’t a rule, these games are often timed—where a team is working together to complete a specific objective. If it manages to do it on time, the team wins, If not, they can try again and attempt to do better. A few cooperative real-time board games are included below:

Magic Maze
Escape: The Curse of the Temple

Competitive games

Competitive games, at least within the sphere of real-time games is the last common category. In these board games, players are competing with one another, but not necessarily in a speedy manner. They are simply trying to outperform the other players throughout the game. They may still be timed, but they aren’t competing to be the first to accomplish a task—that when doing so—triggers the end of the round or game.

Boggle
Telestrations

Games with only elements of real-time play

There are many games that make use of real-time play, but that also don’t use it as the main things that happens during the game. In these types of games, the group only plays part of the game in real time. Usually that is during a phase of the game or during a part of a specific player’s turn. Whatever it is, the games usually revert back to the original turn format, and play continues. A few games that fit this description are

Pirates’ Cove
Deadwood 1876
Wits and Wagers

Common real-time board games

Though we have listed a few real-time board games above, it is useful to explain a few of the most famous games in more detail. Below we have listed three of the most popular games and how they play.

Pit

Pit is a very well known game that has been around for a long time. In Pit players are attempting to collect all cards of a specific commodity before any of the other players. Players simultaneously trade cards with one another in sets. They can only trade with another player that is trading the same number as they are; and they can’t tell the other player what the commodity is that they are trading. Additionally, any cards that a player trades must all be the same. For example, if a player wants three cards from another player, any cards he gives away must be the same commodity—like wheat. He can’t give one wheat and two barley. After a player “corners the market” on a commodity, he or she wins that round. The first player to 500 points wins the game.

Boggle

Boggle is another popular game that has been around for many decades. And there’s a reason it’s popular! In Boggle, players use a set of dice that have letters on the sides instead of numbers. Ensuring random letters are face up on each dice, players simultaneously look at the 4×4 grid of letters and attempt to find words. After three minutes, the round is over and players compare words. Any words that were found by more than one person are crossed out. Only unique words—those found by no other player—are counted toward a player’s score. The player to have the most points wins that round.

Wits and Wagers

Wits and Wagers is a game that most people probably wouldn’t think about when they are discussing real-time board games, but it definitely is one! Wits and Wagers is a betting trivia game played over seven rounds. At the beginning of each round a player reads a question, after which, all players write down their guesses at the same time (always quantitative). Once everyone has submitted a guess, all guesses are revealed and placed in ascending order. All players then place bets on which guesses they think are closest. Player with the most money by the end of seven rounds wins.