Board games and card games, explained simply

Welcome to Collapse Game. Five sections cover the games people actually play at a grown-up table: the gear that fills a games shelf, the sites worth reading, the classic card games, the communities around them and the board games that bring a table together. Everything here is plain-English and brand-free, so you can decide for yourself.

A table set out with board games, cards, chips, dice and playing pieces

Five sections

  • Game Gear

    Game Gear

    The equipment behind the game: playing cards, dice, chips and counters, plus storage and care for the kit that surrounds a serious table. How to judge quality, keep it in order and collect pieces worth keeping.

  • Game Web Sites

    Game Web Sites

    How to find, read and organise the websites that cover games: reviews, news calendars, beginner guides and the small handful of sources worth returning to.

  • Card Games

    Card Games

    The classic families of card games explained in plain language: trick-taking, shedding, matching and patience games, plus the simple courtesies that keep a table friendly.

  • Game Chat & Forums

    Game Chat & Forums

    Where players meet online: how to find a good community, ask your first question, keep conversations friendly and get real answers instead of guesses.

  • Board Games

    Board Games

    Board games for an adult table: party games, modern strategy titles and beginner-friendly designs, plus how to choose one that suits your group, set up a game night and keep everyone at the table happy.

Start reading

  • Choosing Quality Playing Cards

    Game Gear

    Choosing Quality Playing Cards

    How to judge a deck by its stock, finish and cut, why the feel of the cards shapes an evening of play, and how to keep a good deck good for years.

  • Reading a Game Review: What Actually Matters

    Game Web Sites

    Reading a Game Review: What Actually Matters

    Which parts of a review help you decide, which parts are just opinion, and the handful of facts worth checking before a game reaches your table.

  • Trick-Taking Card Games Explained

    Card Games

    Trick-Taking Card Games Explained

    How trick-taking works, why the decisions are harder than they look and the small habits that help a beginner improve quickly.

  • Getting Started in Online Game Forums

    Game Chat & Forums

    Getting Started in Online Game Forums

    How to introduce yourself, where to post your first question and the small habits that turn a newcomer into a regular member.

  • How to Choose a Board Game for Your Group

    Board Games

    How to Choose a Board Game for Your Group

    A practical method for matching a game to the people who will actually play it, using player count, time, complexity and luck.

  • Collecting Out-of-Print Games

    Game Gear

    Collecting Out-of-Print Games

    A grown-up's guide to collecting older games: how editions differ, what condition and completeness really mean, and how to build a collection that gets played.