Analog Game Studies

This paper explores the current market of Taiwanese board games to interrogate how these games present a conflicted image of Taiwan. Many designers in Taiwan strive to create "Taiwanese board games" but often replicate Western models and ideologies. Is there a different way to interpret this predicament when the history of Taiwan was predominantly formed in the maneuvers of colonial power? How can Taiwanese games counter the imperial influence when its presence seems to hold dominance in the creation and consumption of these games? Looking at games like Uncle Wang's Richman, this paper addresses the ways Taiwanese game appropriate figures of Western empire, yet the more organic and original scenes of Taiwan tend to be poorly depicted.