Analog Game Studies

This essay provides close textual analysis of the rulebooks of many of Sid Sackson’s pioneering games arguing that Sackson’s games may not be rich in theme, but his selected themes are nevertheless sensible and significant because they amplify his desired play experience of outsmarting your opponent. This amplification may in turn help explain the enduring popularity of his designs. The essay begins with a consideration of Sackson as a designer and larger debates about theme in the eurogame genre. Then it turns to analyzing Sackson’s rulebooks, proposing the outsmarting of opponents as the link between these games’ designs and their various themes. Finally, the essay concludes with some reflections on how this analysis might contribute to considerations of theme in analog game studies.