These games are all sorted into categories based on disciplines or learning skills. Within each category, the games are ranked by difficulty, from easiest to most difficult. The difficulty rating is for the person who has an average familiarity with games, so those students who are studying courses related to the games will tend to have a better understanding of the gameplay and game content. The difficulty ranking of these games is based on factors such as the rules (how many, how complex), the skills required for competent gameplay, the amount of thought (decision-making) that is involved in a player turn, the amount of luck, the length of the game, and the complexity of the gameplay.
A line has been drawn between the games to show which games are considered as beginner, intermediate or advanced. Some of these games have easy rules, but are still ranked as difficult. For instance, chess is an easy to learn game but is extremely hard to master, because the skills and strategies involved are numerous and complex. The game rankings have also taken into account the following two factors:
Analysis Paralysis:
This is a state during a game in which a person is frozen in thought when confronted with either too many choices during a game, or the decision to be made during a game turn is too complex in terms of its possibilities or its consequences. This is a common phenomenon for some people during gameplay, as they become unable to process the information presented during a game situation to the extent that no move is made.
Emergent Behaviour:
This refers to a form of game-related decision-making that emerges with a greater familiarity with the rules, and reflects optimal gameplay and strategies that are not explicitly stated in the rules of the game. Emergent behavior is the critical thinking and strategy that players will display as they optimize their play of a game (or as they adjust to the constraints imposed by the rules) in order to figure out how to win the game.
Biology (+ Chemistry) Living Learning Communities
These are games that exercise knowledge of biological or chemical concepts and constructs such as molecular structures or evolution.
- Evolution: Flight
- Evolution: Climate
- Primordial Soup
- Pandemic: In the Lab
- Pathogenesis
- Bios: Megafauna
- American Megafauna
- Alchemists
- C02
- Dominant Species
- CO2 (second edition)
- Bios: Genesis
Economics & Commerce Living Learning Communities and FSGs
- Sheriff of Nottingham
- Hoax
- Space Empires
- Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
- Chinatown
- Modern Art
- Vegas Showdown
- California Gold
- Kraftwagen
- Glory to Rome
- Schoko & Co
- Glass Road
- Race for the Galaxy
- Haspelknecht
- Merchant of Venus
- Outpost
- Power Grid
- Container
- Haspelknecht: The Ruhr Valley
- The Ruhr
- Cuba
- Puerto Rico
- Imperial 2030
- Warrior Knights
- Automobile
- Wealth of Nations Expansion War Clouds
- Imperial
- La Granja
- Wealth of Nations
- Tzolk’in The Mayan Calender
- Le Havre
- Planet Steam
- Caylus
- Wildcatters
- Brass: Lancashire
- C02
- Fields of Arle
- Indonesia
- Brass: Birmingham
- Lignum
- Roads and Boats
- Vinhos
- CO2 (second edition)
- Food Chain Magnate
- Kanban
- Arkwright
Cooperative/ Teamwork Building
These games involve working as a team, either against others or for a common cause. As such they promote communication.
- Codenames: Pictures
- Codenames
- Cranium
- Hanabi
- Santorini
- Frontier Stations
- Tack-Tics
- Wok Star
- Captain Sonar
- Unlock! The Nautilus’ Traps
- Unlock! The Island of Doctor Soorse
- (Black Orchestra?)
- 2.43 Pandemic
- Pandemic: On the Brink
- (Runebound Second Edition?)
- Pandemic: State of Emergency
- Pandemic: Legacy
- Pandemic: In the Lab
- Freedom: The Underground Railroad
- Space Alert
- This War of Mine
- Robinson Crusoe Expansion Voyage of the Beagle
- Robinson Crusoe
- Spirit Island
Mathematics/Logical Reasoning Living Learning Communities and FSGs
These are games that focus on probabilities and/or thinking multiple steps ahead, either way it promotes thinking of the possibilities. Numbers are typically a part of most of these games but not all. There are currently no advanced games for this section.
- Code: On the Brink
- Code: Rover Control
- Code Master
- Camel Up!
- Hi-Q
- Santorini
- Splendor
- Azul
- Gobblet
- Through the Desert
- Sentient
- Hive
- Cities of Splendor
- Hive Pocket
- (Twixt?)
- Richocet Robots
- Robo Rally
- Hive Pillbug Expansion
Gateway Games for Orientation
These are games that are easy to run, quick to learn, and have a relatively short run time.
- Uno
- Jenga
- Love Letter
- Rack-o
- Tsuro
- Codenames: Pictures
- Codenames
- Once Upon a Time
- Concept
- Skullduggery
- Tsuro of the Seas
- Cranium
- Mascarade
- Ubongo
- On the Dot
- Hanabi
- Hoax
- Rumis (2004 Educational Insight Edition)
- Resistance: Avalon
- Ubongo: Duel
- Frontier Stations
- Micro Robots
- Ubongo Extreme
- Quoridor
- Quarto!
- Ubongo 3-D
- Settlers of Catan (German)
- Dominion
- Settlers of Catan: Seafarers (German)
- Dominion Intrigue
- Shadows Over Camelot
- Laser Maze
- Settlers of Catan Cities and Knights Expansion (German)
- Space Alert
- Chess
- Go
English
- Urban Myth
- Codenames: Pictures
- Codenames
- Once Upon a Time
- Concept
- Cranium
- Tales of the Arabian Night
History
These games take place in a different historical time. This would include using technology for the given time-period and putting yourself in the mindset of someone from that time-period. There are currently no advanced games for this section.
- Santorini
- Summit
- The Game of Nations
- Dominion
- Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War
- Dominion Intrigue
- Innovation
- (Konig Von Siam?)
- Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
- (Gumshoe?)
- Innovation: Figures in the sand
- Cuba
- Diplomacy
- Twilight Struggle
Political Science
These are games that involve negotiation and working together while it is convenient. This is about accessing what others can offer and making deals based on that while not giving up what is valuable to oneself. There are currently no advanced games for this section.
- Sheriff of Nottingham
- Hoax
- Resistance: Avalon
- Summit
- Citadels
- The Game of Nations
- Settlers of Catan (German)
- Settlers of Catan: Seafarers (German)
- Cosmic Encounter
- (Runebound Second Edition?)
- (Konig Von Siam?)
- Settlers of Catan Cities and Knights Expansion (German)
- Battlestar Galactica the Board Game
- Cuba
- Puerto Rico
- Diplomacy
- Warrior Knights
- Twilight Struggle
Other
These are games that do not necessarily fit into one of the categories above, although some of these games do touch on the subjects above. There are currently no advanced games in this section.
- Mississippi Queen
- Formula De
- Speed Circuit
- Regatta
- Blue Moon
- Ace Detective
- Twixt
- Conquest of Paradise
- Pursue the Pennant
- Lords of Xidit
- Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
- Galaxy Trucker Anniversary Edition
- Gumshoe
- Java
- Doomtown: Reloaded
- Android
- Spinnaker
UTM LIBRARY GAMES
Biology (+ Chemistry) Living Learning Communities
Only beginner games in this category.
Economics & Commerce Living Learning Communities and FSGs
No advanced games in this category.
Cooperative/ Teamwork Building
Only beginner games in this category.
Mathematics/Logical Reasoning Living Learning Communities and FSGs
No advanced games in this category.
Gateway Games for Orientation
No advance games in this category.
English
Only beginner games in this category.
History
Only intermediate games in this category.
Political Science
No advanced games in this category.
Hart House Games
Biology (+ Chemistry) Living Learning Communities
Only beginner games in this category.
Economics & Commerce Living Learning Communities and FSGs
Only beginner games in this category.
Cooperative/ Teamwork Building
Only beginner games in this category.
- Codenames: Pictures
- Codenames
- Ultimate Werewolf
- Hanabi
- Forbidden Island
- Betrayal at House in the Hill
- Pandemic
Mathematics/Logical Reasoning Living Learning Communities and FSGs
Only beginner games in this category.
Gateway Games for Orientation
No advanced games in this category.
- Animal Upon Animal
- Exploding Kittens
- Anomia
- Jenga
- Uno
- Sushi Go!
- Love Letter
- Battleship
- Dixit
- Codenames: Pictures
- Superfight
- Codenames
- Bananagrams
- Coup
- Ultimate Werewolf
- Micropolis
- The Resistance
- Hanabi
- Blokus
- Munchkin Deluxe
- Ticket to Ride
- Star Realms
- Smash Up
- Settlers of Catan
- Pandemic
English
Only beginner games in this category.
- Pass the Blame
- Think It Up!
- Reverse Charades
- Anomia
- Telestrations
- Wits & Wagers
- Dixit
- Codenames: Pictures
- Codenames
- Bananagrams
- Tribond
- Scattergories
Political Science
No advanced games in this category.
Political Science
Only beginner games in this category.
UTM Club/Society Games- Erindale Gaming Organization (EGO)
Biology (+ Chemistry) Living Learning Communities
This section only has one game and it is for beginners.
Economics & Commerce Living Learning Communities and FSGs
There are no intermediate games in this section.
Cooperative/ Teamwork Building
There are no advanced games in this section.
- Codenames
- Cranium
- Ultimate Werewolf
- Secret Trump
- Forbidden Island
- Last Night on Earth
- Elder Sign
- Betrayal at House on the Hill
- Pandemic
- Betrayal at House on the Hill: Widows Walk
Mathematics/Logical Reasoning Living Learning Communities and FSGs
There are no advanced games in this section.
Gateway Games for Orientation
There are no advanced games in this section.
- Monopoly (Planet Earth)
- Say Anything
- Zombie Dice
- Jenga
- Apples to Apples
- Bausack
- Clue Suspect
- Codenames
- Monty Python Fluxx
- Love Letter: Premium
- Coup
- Zombie Flux
- Cranium
- Ultimate Werewolf
- King of Tokyo
- The Resistance
- Zombies!!!
- King of Tokyo: Power Up!
- Blokus
- Munchkin
- Global Pursuit
- Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot
- Ticket to Ride
- Carcassonne
- Backgammon
- Smash Up
- Risk
- Othello
- Scrabble
- Galaxy Trucker
- Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Expansion
- Settlers of Catan
- Dominion
- Pandemic
English
This section only contains beginner games.
History
This section does not have any advanced games.
Political Science
This section does not have any advanced games.
- Coup
- The Resistance
- Bang!
- Sheriff of Nottingham
- Risk
- Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Expansion
- Settlers of Catan
Oscar Peterson Hall (Residence) Games
Biology (+ Chemistry) Living Learning Communities
This section only contains a beginner game.
Economics & Commerce Living Learning Communities and FSGs
This section only contains beginner games.
Cooperative/ Teamwork Building
This section only contains beginner games.
Mathematics/Logical Reasoning Living Learning Communities and FSGs
This section does not contain advanced games.
Gateway Games for Orientation
This section does not contain any advanced games.
- AntiVirus Mutation
- Deck of Cards
- Poker Set
- HedBanz
- CSI Miami: The Board Game
- Slapagories
- Bingo Case Set
- Trouble
- Exploding Kittens
- Operation
- Battle of the sexes
- Jenga
- Ghost Blitz
- 5 second rule
- The game of life
- Yahtzee
- Bamboozle
- Connect Four
- Taboo
- Dixit
- Codenames
- Monopoly Deal
- Bananagrams
- Concept
- Cranium
- Chinese Checkers
- Trivial Pursuit
- Clue
- Forbidden Island
- Resistance: Avalon
- Blokus
- Deal or No Deal
- Risk
- Chess
English
This section only contains beginner games.
- MAD GAB
- Slapagories
- 5 second rule
- Bamboozle
- Taboo
- Dixit
- Pictionary
- Codenames
- Bananagrams
- Scattergories
- Concept
History
This section only contains a beginner game.
Political Science
This section only contains a beginner game.
Other
This section only contains beginner games.
- Doctor Drill in Fill Play-Doh
- HedBanz
- Poker Set
- Sea Scapes Puzzle
- Operation
- Twister
- Dr. Eureka
- Ghost Blitz
- Scene it: Movie Edition
UTMSU
This section only contains beginner games.
- The Game of Life
- Monopoly
- Trivial Pursuit: Master Game Edition
- Uno
- Operation
- Scrabble
- Cards Against Humanity
- Taboo
- Scattegories
- Twister
- Chess
- Checkers
Living Learning Communities (Residence)
Economics & Commerce Living Learning Communities and FSGs
This section only contains beginner games.
Mathematics/Logical Reasoning Living Learning Communities and FSGs
This section only contains beginner games.
Gateway Games for Orientation
This section only contains beginner games.
English
This section only contains beginner games.
Political Science
This section only contains a beginner game.
Other
This section only contains a beginner game.