Game categories and tags

Explore and recommendations use gameinfo.categories on each game: hierarchical tag ids such as goal>align, mechanics>capture, board>connect>hex, and components>pyramids. Set them on the static gameinfo object in each src/games/<uid>.ts file. See gameinfo metadata and Explore on the front client.

Player-facing tag labels live in front English i18n (categories.* in apfront.json). When you add a new tag id, add matching i18n keys there in the same PR.

The games listed under each tag are generated at docs build time from the registry (npm run gen-docs-catalog). Edit this file (categories.prose.md) for narrative sections; do not hand-edit docs/categories.md.

Goals (goal>…)

Win-condition families (what determines who wins). One game may map to multiple goals in authoring; production tags use the goal> prefix.

Concept Meaning
Align Create a particular configuration (often N-in-a-row or a shape)
Annihilate Destroy all opposing pieces
Area control Control more area than the opponent
Breakthrough Reach the opposing home row or space
Connect Connect edges or regions
Cripple Destroy a critical subset of pieces
Evacuate Remove your pieces from the board
Immobilize Leave the opponent unable to move
Majority Hold more pieces than the opponent
Royal capture Capture a specific piece
Royal escape Move a specific piece to safety or off the board
Score (race) Be first to a score threshold
Score (at EOG) Highest score when the game ends
Set collection Collect sets of pieces or symbols
Unify Join all your pieces into one group

Mechanics (mechanics>…)

How play proceeds — movement, capture, randomness, and similar. Tags describe mechanisms, not goals.

Examples used in the catalog:

Mechanic Meaning
Asymmetry Goals or rules differ by side (metadata, not a single move type)
Bear off Remove your own pieces from the board
Block Block cells or paths
Capture Remove opposing (sometimes own) pieces
Convert Change piece ownership during play
Co-opt Place or move opposing pieces
Differentiate Piece types with distinct rules
Displace Moves cause consequential movement of other pieces
Enclose Enclose areas or groups
Hidden information Opponents' pieces or resources are concealed
Manage economy Shared bank of resources outside the board
Move Move existing pieces (general, group, or sowing)
Merge/Split Combine or split stacks beyond basic stacking
Network building Build a network on the board
Place Place new pieces
Programmed actions Pre-programmed moves (e.g. Robo Battle Pigs)
Randomize Random setup or random outcomes during play
Set collection Collect configurations as a mechanic
Share Shared pieces between players
Simultaneous Simultaneous action in at least one phase
Stack Stack manipulation is central

Board (board>…)

Playing surface — connectivity, shape, dynamic growth, mancala boards, or no fixed board.

Concept Meaning
None No fixed board (e.g. free placement)
Dynamic Board grows or changes during play
3D Three-dimensional layout
Mancala Traditional mancala-style pits
Cell / connectivity Square, hex, rect, snubsquare, linear, pent, or other cell connection
Shape Overall board shape (rect, hex, tri, circle, …)

Most rect-grid games share board>connect>rect; hex games use board>connect>hex, and so on.

Components (components>…)

Physical or logical piece sets the game expects.

Component Meaning
Decktet Decktet deck
Dice Dice-driven
Looney pyramids Icehouse / Looney pyramids
Piecepack Piecepack set
Polyominoes Polyomino pieces
Shibumi Shibumi set
Simple Uniform coloured pieces (most abstract games)
Simple: paper & pencil Paper-and-pencil style
Other specialized Custom or multi-type components

Generated tag index

Tags below are taken from gameinfo.categories on each game class. Explore labels come from front categories.* i18n.

goal tags

board tags

components tags

other tags

Generated games by tag

board>3d (Board: 3D)

board>connect>hex (Connect: Hex)

board>connect>linear (Connect: Linear)

board>connect>other (Connect: Other)

board>connect>pent (Connect: Pent)

board>connect>rect (Connect: Rect)

board>connect>snub (Connect: Snub)

board>dynamic (Board: Dynamic)

board>mancala (Board: Mancala)

board>none (Board: None)

board>other (Board: Other)

board>shape>circle (Shape: Circle)

board>shape>hex (Shape: Hex)

board>shape>oct (Shape: Oct)

board>shape>other (Shape: Other)

board>shape>pent (Shape: Pent)

board>shape>rect (Shape: Rect)

board>shape>tri (Shape: Tri)

components>chess (C: Chess)

components>decktet (C: Decktet)

components>dice (C: Dice)

components>dominoes (C: Dominoes)

components>piecepack (C: Piecepack)

components>poly (C: Polyominoes)

components>pyramids (C: Looney Pyramids)

components>shibumi (C: Shibumi)

components>simple (C: Simple)

components>simple>1c (C: Simple, 1 colour)

components>simple>1per (C: Simple, 1 per)

components>simple>2c (C: Simple, 2 colours)

components>simple>2per (C: Simple, 2 per)

components>simple>3c (C: Simple, 3 colours)

components>simple>4c (C: Simple, 4 colours)

components>simple>5c (C: Simple, 5 colours)

components>simple>7c (C: Simple, 7 colours)

components>simple>pnp (C: Simple, P&P)

components>special (C: Special)

goal>annihilate (G: Annihilate)

goal>area (G: Area Control)

goal>arrange (G: Arrange)

goal>breakthrough (G: Breakthrough)

goal>connect (G: Connect)

goal>cripple (G: Cripple)

goal>evacuate (G: Evacuate)

goal>immobilize (G: Immobilize)

goal>isolate (G: Isolate)

goal>majority (G: Majority)

goal>royal-capture (G: Royal Capture)

goal>royal-escape (G: Royal Escape)

goal>score>eog (G: Score (EOG))

goal>score>race (G: Score (Race))

goal>set (G: Set Collection)

goal>unify (G: Unify)

goal>vigil (G: Vigil)

mechanic>asymmetry (M: Asymmetry)

mechanic>bearoff (M: Bear off)

mechanic>block (M: Block)

mechanic>capture (M: Capture)

mechanic>convert (M: Convert)

mechanic>coopt (M: Co-Opt)

mechanic>differentiate (M: Differentiate)

mechanic>displace (M: Displace)

mechanic>economy (M: Manage Economy)

mechanic>enclose (M: Enclose)

mechanic>hidden (M: Hidden)

mechanic>merge (M: Merge/Split)

mechanic>move (M: Move)

mechanic>move>group (M: Move (Group))

mechanic>move>sow (M: Move (Sow))

mechanic>network (M: Network)

mechanic>place (M: Place)

mechanic>program (M: Program)

mechanic>random>play (M: Random (Play))

mechanic>random>setup (M: Random (Setup))

mechanic>set (M: Set Collection)

mechanic>share (M: Share)

mechanic>simultaneous (M: Simultaneous)

mechanic>stack (M: Stack)

other>2+players (O: 2+Players)

other>traditional (O: Traditional)