Award Categories
Marketability
- Broad demographic appeal
- Instantly recognizable design
- Most suitable for distribution
Innovation
- Creative player experience
- Unique gameplay mechanics
- Pushes the boundaries of board gaming
- Uses old/underused ideas or mechanics in fresh ways
Visual Design
- Strong visual theme
- Appealing artwork
- Excellent typography and content layout
Replay Value
- High variability of game layout
- Fast-paced and easy to start again
- Gameplay experience is universally rewarding
Craft
- Masterful detail work
- Physical components support gameplay and theme
- Innovative use of materials
Enrichment
- Promotes critical thinking through strategy
- Enriches and/or teaches the players
- Fosters interest in real world issues
Theme
- Gameplay, mechanics, and design are cohesive
- Creates a great narrative or story
Accessibility
- Rules are easy to learn
- Experts and novices can play together
- Can be played by many or few people of different abilities