How Classic Games Conquered the Digital World

Each board game represents a different generation for its strategy and competition, but has one thing very similar, the evolution they’ve undergone and the adaptation they had to implement to overcome oblivion.

These tabletop experiences first started as tactile pieces and physical cards, and in-person competition and rivalry, but have turned into a worldwide, digital experience. The conversion of "classic" board games to mobile devices or PC has kept the brand alive while reaching audiences once considered impossible to reach.

So what caused some games to be successful and others to fade away in the move to digital? The answer is in how well the company captured the spirit of what made the original board game experience engaging, but also optimized that experience for the screen.

Take Catan, for example. When Catan Universe launched it retained the core experience of trading resources and building settlements that made the original board game engaging. In addition, it also decided to add online sync, matchmaking, player profiles, quick-play, and story visuals to engage the players. The combination of fidelity and efficiency ended up engaging millions who would never pick-up the physical board game and go through the entire experience.

Monopoly also resembled this path, but the game relied on nostalgia. It used animations, voiceovers, and customizable house rules to replicate the experience of spending time with family while also incorporating visuals. Watching digital tokens glide across a 3D playing board revived the happiness players felt when enjoying an afternoon playing inside on a rainy day with family and friends.

Not all transitions were successfully executed. A number of early conversions of analog board games to digital showed little merit. They merely converted analog play to the PC or mobile without adequate user interfaces, and they quickly bored their players to the point that the players didn’t even want to explore aesthetics. The message was clear: nostalgia might attract attention, but innovation drives play.

Of all the successful transitions, the Yu-Gi-Oh! transition is arguably the strongest. Its transition from a trading card game, into a digital platform, has served as a great example regarding transition from one medium to another. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is one title which has both digitized the card mechanics, but also incorporated competitive ranked ladders and effects which really made every duel feel cinematic. The digital space was instrumental in bringing Yu-Gi-Oh! into a new age and expand the community beyond local card shops and tournaments.

Contrastfully, chess pursued a thoroughly distinct trajectory toward digital popularity. Its classic design and infinite strategic depth made it perfectly suited to be played online. Chess.com, in particular, took a centuries-old game and turned it into one of the most analyzed and viewed digital sports of today. Free online play, along with coaching tools made both learning and pure entertainment a viable, and accessible option.

The sudden surge in the popularity of chess after the release of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix shows that even the most traditional games can achieve viral success with the right types of digital tools and cultural moments. Chess apps are now daily-used products by millions of users, many of whom may have never played a game of chess on a physical board.

These games are also broader in their lessons for developers, marketers, and entertainment brands. The first insight is that digital adaptation is not simply a convenience factor. In fact, it is about "reimagining interaction." In a face-to-face mode, these games engaged players with social cues of interaction, bluffing, and negotiation.

Another aspect that games get right is a balanced approach to monetization. Developers who studied what mobile games did found that when microtransactions were added from a responsible and optional perspective, player engagement improved. Cosmetic skins or alternate boards can provide player personalization without upsetting game balance. This reflects the same strategy we saw on platforms with slots to play for fun for free; allowing optional purchases for bonus play that ensures that users are engaged and entertained, without feeling obligatory to purchase.

Ultimately, cross-platform integration has become a necessity. Gamers want to be able to begin a match on a PC, then continue the game on a tablet and finish on a phone. The fluid connectivity of devices is representative of today's connected gamers. It is that seamless connectivity with a nod to tradition that keeps these digital versions alive.