Finance Mechanic
Finance Mechanic
Finance Mechanic
By Jared Richardson
August 26, 2023
Summary
Most recognizable are the games that utilize real-life currencies to be managed, but the idea of finance as a game mechanic has a long reach, extending across the board to even affect games like Settlers of Catan, which loosely uses resources as currency that should be financially managed.
Let's look into how including finance as a game mechanic can help us improve the games we design and create.
Finance as a tabletop game mechanic can include investment, loans, stock management, and other structures, and most generally describes including anything as a perpetual currency throughout the game.
Much of the value of including finance in a game is that most people are already familiar with the basic concept of finance management, and money is already a desirable commodity for many people and as such, game scenarios where money is accumulated and spent without worries about real-life risks and consequences can be an enjoyable goal for many players.
See below for some ideas of how to identify and use finance in the games you play and create! What are some of your favorite games with finance as a contributing mechanic?
Unless managed well, finance games are often in danger of requiring players to make calculations or remember sums throughout the game, which can become a barrier to players enjoying the game and can divert attention away from the game's focus.
What are some interesting ways you have seen finance be used as a part of a game? How else can finance be used to strategically enhance game play? Please comment below with your thoughts!
Reference
Richardson, J. (2023, August 26). Finance mechanic. Circle J Games. https://circlejgames.com/finance-mechanic/