Board Games as Art: Why Beautiful Design Matters on the Table
February is National Arts Month. Full honesty: I only became fully aware of it because of our partnership with Fundacion Sansó. And that realization sent me down a very on-brand rabbit hole: art in board games and why it matters more than we think.
We always talk about gameplay first, and rightly so. But good graphic design and illustration do something quietly powerful. They teach the game before the rulebook does. Clear iconography makes turns smoother. Thoughtful layout reduces cognitive load. Great art pulls people to the table. I find that it is easier to understand and teach a game if the art, the layout and the iconography is good. A beautiful production will not fix a bad game, but it will elevate a good one. And on the flip side, even a solid design can struggle if the visuals make it harder to read, parse, or emotionally connect with.
A beautiful production will not fix a bad game, but it will elevate a good one.
This is also why we keep seeing refreshed and deluxe editions of classic titles. New art brings older games into the present and introduces them to a new generation of players. Just look at what Awaken Realms did with the Special Edition of Agricola, Castles of Burgundy and Puerto Rico, or the continued table presence of highly produced miniature games from CMON.
Presentation changes perception.
And just like in the traditional art world, many of us follow specific artists.
- When a game is illustrated by Ian O'Toole, you already expect razor-sharp iconography and that sleek, gallery-on-your-table energy, like in Lisboa and On Mars.
- A Kyle Ferrin box, whether it’s Root or Oath, instantly opens a storybook world full of personality, while Ryan Laukat gives you that soft, painterly sense of adventure in Above and Below and Sleeping Gods.
- A Beth Sobel landscape, from Wingspan to Cascadia, feels calm, breathable, and quietly inviting.
- With Andrew Bosley, you get warmth and storybook detail that makes the tableau come alive, just like in Everdell and Tapestry.
- And a Kwanchai Moriya production, think Dinosaur Island or Cryptid, doesn’t just sit on the table, it glows from across the room and calls people over
That kind of visual authorship matters. It creates identity. It builds emotional connection before the first turn even begins.
Having dabbled in production and art direction myself, I’ve become more aware of the care behind every visual choice. It also explains why some games are easier to bring out with family than others. There are brilliant heavy euros I love that never make it to my siblings’ table because the visual presentation feels intimidating. Meanwhile, a well-illustrated game becomes an instant invitation.
At home, I don’t have an art gallery. But I do have shelves of board games that function the same way. Each box is a curated piece. Each table setup is an exhibition you can interact with. Sharing with you some board games that I would put in a gallery.
Canvas
Bohemians
Gallerist
Modern Art
Harmonies
Parks
Root
Wingspan
Dixit
Flamecraft
Stardew Valley: the Board Game
Unmatched
Scythe
Rising Sun
On Mars
Bitoku
Of course, taste in art is subjective, so consider this an open conversation. I’d love to hear which games you think are the most beautiful.
Art inspires. Art evokes. Art gives texture to experience.
Without it, games are just systems. With it, they become stories.
And that’s why this moment feels extra special for us. With Modern Art: Philippine Edition, a game originally designed by Reiner Knizia, we are quite literally turning the table into a playable gallery of Filipino art.
Modern Art: Philippine Edition is now up for pre-order.
Also, we’re excited to welcome Maeva da Silva, illustrator of Harmonies, at ALL ABOARD EXPO.
