Making Sense of BGG's Rankings - Off The Table Jul 26, 2021

Going over the history, the methodology (that we know of) and how much importance we should place on the BGG rankings & top 100. Come talk to us on discord: https://discord.gg/6nGJsA6NNp

Our notes for the podcast:

What is it?

BGG founded in 2000 https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/BoardGameGeek_History#

By 2001 they had rankings

Uses an undisclosed algorithm that seeds some votes and incorporates user ratings

Ratings are not about quality, necessarily, but about desire to play https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/ratings

10 - Outstanding. Always want to play and expect this will never change.

9 - Excellent game. Always want to play it.

8 - Very good game. I like to play. Probably I'll suggest it and will never turn down a game.

7 - Good game, usually willing to play.

6 - Ok game, some fun or challenge at least, will play sporadically if in the right mood.

5 - Average game, slightly boring, take it or leave it.

4 - Not so good, it doesn't get me but could be talked into it on occasion.

3 - Likely won't play this again although could be convinced. Bad.

2 - Extremely annoying game, won't play this ever again.

1 - Defies description of a game. You won't catch me dead playing this. Clearly broken

What do we know about the methodology for ranking?

30 ratings to be eligible for ranking, seeded with 100 votes of 5.5, and apparently more dummy votes are added the more rankings a game has: https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/ratings

Entropy?

Moderation to avoid false fraud votes

Past # 1 games

Tigris & Euphrates

Puerto Rico

Agricola

Twilight Struggle

Pandemic Legacy Season 1

Gloomhaven

Of the top 100 - Jack’s played 56

Jack’s most surprising game that’s not in the top 100 - Kemet

John’s most surprising game that is in the top 100 - Nemesis

Other cool stuff:

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