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What sells better - 2 player or 4 player card games?

6 replies [Last post]
Fri, 01/01/2010 - 19:02
OPM
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Joined: 12/16/2009

I am going to ask this in more then one location, but I could not find the question through searching.

Does anyone know what tends to sell better -- two player or four player games?

I am developing a card game that I intend to publish, but naturally the four player version has more components and thus more expensive to produce. I am trying to figure whether to make it a smaller two player game that can be combined with a second game for four players, third game for six players OR just make it four players straight off.

Any suggestions or comments would be welcome.

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Fri, 01/01/2010 - 22:10
#1
kodarr
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Joined: 08/04/2008
I know when I purchase games

I know when I purchase games I steer clear of 2 player games since when I'm going to play a game I have a group of people over. I guess it matters how much different the cost of the game would be since 2 copies could play 4 people. Would 2 copies be much more than if the game originally supported 2?
The reality is if you have a game that is 2-4 players it fits both the person who plays games with just an so and the person who pulls a game out when a bunch of friends are around.

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Sat, 01/02/2010 - 00:37
#2
schtoom
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Joined: 08/31/2009
I pretty much agree. When

I pretty much agree. When I'm playing board games, there are usually 3-6 people (at least) involved. I don't think I'd look very closely at a game that was just for 2 players unless it was cheap and purchasing 2 copies of it would be enough for 4 players.

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Sat, 01/02/2010 - 11:40
#3
Benster
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Joined: 10/28/2009
When I design, I like to make

When I design, I like to make the game for a larger group, but always try to include a 2 person variant. It isn't always possible to do so, given the particulars of a game, but this hits both audiences. Admittedly, games designed for a larger group often leave a lot to be desired when played by only 2, and that might hurt your first impression. But as the two other posters have suggested, most gamers have gaming groups, so 4 players will help you sell to the main demographic that buys games.

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Sat, 01/02/2010 - 14:38
#4
ReneWiersma
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If you have a game that works

If you have a game that works for two to four players, that's obviously going to sell better than a game for just two players. However, in the case of a game that works for either exactly two players or exactly four players I think the former will sell better.

Kosmos, for example, has a range of two-player games. There are a lot of couples on this planet that like to play board- and cardgames with eachother. Getting exactly four players together is somewhat tougher. If there's a group of players, you might have three players, or five and then your game won't work (neither would a two-player game in this case, obviously). But, there's definately a market for two player games.

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Sat, 01/02/2010 - 16:53
#5
larienna
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Joined: 07/28/2008
If you make you game playable

If you make you game playable with 2 or 4 players it is much more better than making it only a 2 player game or a 4 player game since it gives you more flexibility.

Now if you should make 2 different version of the game depends on the price difference between both version.

For example, to play a 4 player "lost cities", you only need to add 15 cards. This is really does not add much more to the cost and it should be included to the original game.

But if making a 4 player game cost almost double the price of your 2 player game, you should separate the games so that people who only wants to play 2 players, or want to try your game first could do it at a cheaper price.

It would also be nice if players could combine 2 games to play at 4 players so that if 2 different groups of players own a copy, they could mix both copies together to play a 4 player game.

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Sun, 01/03/2010 - 18:43
#6
OPM
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Joined: 12/16/2009
larienna wrote: It would also

larienna wrote:

It would also be nice if players could combine 2 games to play at 4 players so that if 2 different groups of players own a copy, they could mix both copies together to play a 4 player game.

That was how the game was designed to work. Simply combine the cards from both copies and you can have 4 player game. Add a third lot and have six player game, etc. Most game groups here tend to play with upwards of 6 or more players.

Making it 4 player alone means it is now 200 cards instead of 126, increasing production costs by 30%. That is the minimum I can justify and still keep the game playable. Plus it seems most small box packaging is either 150 card or 200 card oriented, or the 80 card CCG type packaging which does not work well.

Original plans for a MRSP 24.99 appears futile. The MRSP of 29.99 is still below a lot of stuff out there, but that is the reality.

However after ready on this and other forums I am still thinking that 4 player is best. Hard choice.

I have looked at modifying the design now so that combining two games can make a 5-8 player version, without upsetting the balance of play too much. So it looks like that is the route. Back to the testing table.

Thanks people.

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