The Most Popular Board Game in Japan, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the board game you think is the most popular!

Updated on Apr 30, 2024 06:31

In Japan, board games serve as a crucial social activity, bringing friends and families together. As new games continue to enter the market, it can be tough to figure out which ones hit the right note with gaming enthusiasts. A clear ranking based on popular opinion can help new players and experienced gamers alike find their next favorite game. This dynamic list reflects real-time preferences and changes as more people vote, providing an always fresh perspective on the gaming scene. By casting your vote, you contribute to a broader community effort in defining today’s top games. Dive into the list to see where your favorites stand and perhaps discover new gems to try at your next game night.

What Is the Most Popular Board Game in Japan?

1

45
votes
Shogi

Shogi is a traditional Japanese board game similar to chess. It is considered the most popular board game in Japan due to its deep strategy and popularity among all ages.
Shogi is a traditional Japanese board game that is often referred to as Japanese chess. It is a two-player game played on a board consisting of a 9x9 grid. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's king. Shogi is known for its complexity and strategic depth, making it one of the most popular board games in Japan.

Board Size: 9x9 grid

Number of Players: 2

Piece Types: 20 different types of pieces

Move Directions: Each piece has its own unique way of moving

Promotion: Pieces can promote to gain additional powers
2

38
votes
Go

Go is a strategy board game that originated in China, but is also very popular in Japan. It is known for its complex gameplay and requires a lot of concentration and skill.
Go, also known as Golang, is a statically typed compiled language designed to be efficient, expressive, and productive for building scalable and reliable software.

Concurrent programming: Built-in goroutines and channels for easy and efficient concurrency management.

Garbage collection: Automatic memory management with garbage collection.

Static typing: Statically typed language, providing better compile-time error checking and performance.

Compiled execution: Code is compiled to machine language, resulting in faster execution speed.

Simplicity: Language design emphasizing simplicity, readability, and ease of use.
3

36
votes
Mahjong

Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in China, but has become very popular in Japan. It is a game of skill and strategy, and is often played in social settings.
Mahjong is a traditional Chinese board game that originated in the Qing dynasty. It is played with a set of 144 tiles, typically made of bone or bamboo, although modern sets may also use plastic. The game involves four players and requires both skill and strategy to win. Mahjong has gained immense popularity not only in China but also worldwide.

Players: 4

Tiles: 144

Tile types: 3 suits (bamboo, character, circle), honor tiles (winds and dragons)

Game objective: To collect sets of tiles and form a winning hand

Value tiles: Flower and season tiles
4

16
votes
Karuta

Karuta is a Japanese card game that involves memorization and quick reflexes. It is often played in schools and is considered an important cultural tradition.
Karuta is a traditional Japanese card game that has gained immense popularity in Japan. It is primarily played as a competitive matching game, where players compete to be the first to identify and grab the correct card. The game consists of two types of cards - Yomifuda (reading cards) and Torifuda (grabbing cards).

Number of players: 2 or more

Age range: All ages

Cards: 100 Yomifuda (reading cards) and multiple sets of Torifuda (grabbing cards)

Objective: To be the first to grab the corresponding Torifuda card based on the information read from the Yomifuda card

Gameplay: Players listen to the reader who reads out a poem, proverb, or historical fact from a Yomifuda card. They have to identify and grab the matching Torifuda card from a spread of face-down cards.
5

11
votes
Hanafuda

Hanafuda is a Japanese card game that uses flower cards. It is a game of skill and strategy, and is often played in social settings.
Hanafuda is a traditional Japanese card game that originated in the 18th century. It is often played with a deck of 48 cards, divided into twelve suits each representing a month of the year. The cards are beautifully illustrated with different flowers, animals, and other symbols. The objective of the game is to collect cards and create specific combinations to earn points.

Number of Players: 2 or more

Deck Size: 48 cards

Card Categories: 12 suits representing months of the year

Card Illustrations: Flowers, animals, and other symbols

Objectives: Collect cards and create combinations for points
6

9
votes
Othello

Othello is a strategy board game that originated in England, but has become very popular in Japan. It is known for its simple gameplay and deep strategy.
Othello is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare. It tells the story of a Moorish general, Othello, who becomes consumed by jealousy and is manipulated into believing that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful to him. The play explores themes of love, betrayal, racism, and the destructive power of jealousy.

Genre: Tragedy

First Performance: 1604

Setting: Venice and Cyprus

Number of Acts: 5

Language: English
7

16
votes
Chess

Chess is a strategy board game that originated in India, but is also very popular in Japan. It is known for its deep strategy and requires a lot of concentration and skill.
Chess is a strategic board game played by two players on a checkered gameboard consisting of 64 squares. It is believed to have originated in India around the 6th century, and later spread across the world. The objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king, putting it under attack in such a way that there is no legal move to escape. Chess is renowned for its deep complexity and has captivated players for centuries.

Players: 2

Board: 8x8 checkered gameboard

Pieces: 6 types - King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn

Movement: Each piece has specific rules for movement and capturing

Objective: Checkmate the opponent's king
8

7
votes
Uno

Uno is a popular card game that originated in the United States, but has become very popular in Japan. It is known for its simple gameplay and is often played in social settings.
Uno is a popular and highly engaging card game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is known for its simple rules and fast-paced gameplay, making it a great choice for both casual and competitive players. The objective of Uno is to get rid of all your cards by matching them with the top card of the discard pile. The game is played with a specially printed deck of cards featuring colored numbers and special action cards.

Number of players: 2-10

Recommended age range: 7 and above

Playing time: 10-30 minutes

Deck size: 108 cards

Card types: Number cards (0-9), Action cards (Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild, Wild Draw Four)
9

10
votes
Scrabble

Scrabble is a word game that originated in the United States, but is also very popular in Japan. It is known for its challenging gameplay and requires a good vocabulary.
Scrabble is a classic word game played on a square board, where players use letter tiles to create words and score points. It is a game that challenges vocabulary skills and strategic thinking.

Year of creation: 1938

Number of players: 2-4

Board size: 15x15 squares

Tile set: 100 letter tiles

Scoring: Points determined by letter values and placement
10

8
votes
Monopoly

Monopoly is a classic board game that originated in the United States, but has become very popular in Japan. It is known for its simple gameplay and is often played in social settings.
Monopoly is a classic board game that simulates the experience of buying, renting, and trading properties. The game is played on a square board with a stylized cityscape, featuring various properties, streets, railroads, and utilities. Players move their tokens around the board, seeking to acquire properties, collect rent, build houses and hotels, and bankrupt opponents. The ultimate goal is to accumulate the most wealth and become the last player standing.

Players: 2-6

Recommended Age: 8 years and above

Playing Time: 1-3 hours

Publisher: Hasbro

First Published: 1935

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Ranking factors for popular board game

Number of players / sales

The popularity of a board game can be measured by the number of people who play it as well as the total sales of the game. A popular game will have a higher sales volume and a larger player base.
Game reviews and ratings

Reviews and ratings by both critics and players can provide insights into the popularity of a board game. A highly rated game with many positive reviews is more likely to be popular.
Cultural significance

Board games that have historical or cultural significance in Japan can contribute to their popularity. For example, traditional games like Shogi, Go, and Mahjong have been played for centuries in Japan, making them popular choices for board game enthusiasts.
Accessibility and ease of learning

Games that are easy to learn and accessible to players of different ages and skill levels may be more popular than complex games with a steeper learning curve.
Versatility and re-playability

Popular board games are usually versatile in terms of the number of players they can accommodate, as well as having a high level of re-playability, allowing players to enjoy the game multiple times without it becoming repetitive.
Competitive tournaments and events

The presence of organized tournaments and events around the game can also be an indicator of its popularity. A game with an active competitive scene will draw more players and spectators.
Online presence

The presence of online communities dedicated to discussing and playing the board game can also be an indicator of its popularity. A game with higher levels of online engagement is likely to be more popular.
Adaptations and variations

If a board game has multiple adaptations, versions, or expansions, it may indicate its popularity, as these are usually created to cater to the growing demands of fans of the game.
Media coverage and endorsements

Popular board games may receive more media coverage, hosts events, or have celebrity endorsements, which can contribute to their overall popularity.
Word of mouth and personal recommendations

Personal recommendations from friends or family can greatly impact the popularity of a board game. A game that is frequently recommended by others will likely be more popular.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular board game in Japan. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or board game is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2058 views
196 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each board game once every 24 hours. The rank of each board game is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular board game in japan

Japan is known for its rich cultural heritage, cutting-edge technology, and unique entertainment industry. But did you know that the country is also home to a vibrant board game community? Board games have been a popular pastime in Japan for decades, with a variety of games catering to different tastes and preferences. From traditional games like shogi and go, to modern favorites like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, there is no shortage of options for board game enthusiasts in Japan. So, what is the most popular board game in Japan? Let's take a closer look.

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