Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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What has impacted the board game industry the most? We answer this question for all tabletop games except TTRPGs through the lens of game mechanics. Although Euros like Catan have had amazing cultural impact, it isn’t necessarily at the top of this list! We take a trip down board game history in seeing classics like Chess and Monopoly and how they affect the way we view and play games. And don’t count out the TCG originator: Magic the Gathering, which not only spun off LCGS but also board games with their own drafting mechanisms and free for all play akin to commander! A huge range of mechanics are covered like auctioning and deckbuilding, but we don’t get to cover everything like worker placement which may require a follow up video some day!

Notable games mentioned: Eclipse 2nd edition, Dominion, Gloomhaven, Heroquest, Human Punishment: The Beginning, Deliverance, Cuba Libre, Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set, Cosmic Encounter, Among Us, Werewolf, Mafia, Battlestar Galactica, Shadows over Camelot, Lost Ruins of Arnark, Dune Imperium, 7 Wonders, Blood Rage, Chess, Monopoly, Oathsworn, Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy, Risk Legacy, Betrayal Legacy, Go, Cards Against Humanity, Forbidden Island, Spirit Island, Eldritch Horror, For Sale, Ghost Stories, Smallworld, Flash Point, Munchkin, Cutthroat Caverns, Catan, Kemet

Support us:
patreon.com/shelfside
ko-fi.com/shelfside

Table of Contents:
Intro & Rules - (0:00)
Honorable Mentions - (1:03)
10 -(3:00)
9 - (3:48)
8 - (5:37)
7- (6:38)
6- (7:15)
5- (8:18)
4- (9:27)
3- (10:49)
2 - (12:09)
1- (14:19)

Our Website!
shelfside.co

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames
facebook.com/ShelfsideYT
discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Grand Archive Photos: flickr.com/photos/199286168@N06/53728083702/in/album-72177720317078864

How to Play - Magic: The Gathering
youtube.com/watch?v=6AGzsQcLpzA


the greatest Among Us IMPOSTOR game ever...
youtube.com/watch?v=F6nMSY3UaE0

MTG - The New Player's Guide To Drafting Magic: The Gathering Cards
youtube.com/watch?v=fUqPxSYPfrA

The Complete Guide to Commander | EDH | How to Play | Magic the Gathering | Commander
youtube.com/watch?v=3gdozNO_jIs

Ben Brode is compensating with a GIANT Commander! | Ep 37 feat Joey Schultz | Magic the Gathering
youtube.com/watch?v=j4Y1xYBSaFw

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames