Resources

Last updated January 18, 2024

Here is a list of general resources for Abstract Games that I have used.
A resource for a particular game will be noted in the article for that game.

Game Playing Websites

  • Top of the list must be BoardSpace for  PC, Mac, Linux, Android and IOS devices, run by Dave Dyer. This is where DrDave and I, as Alfiesboy, have been learning and playing games together online throughout the pandemic.  There are no costs involved, just an online registration required.  Most of the games are abstract, though there are also some commercial board games.  I particularly like that for almost all of the many games there is a computer opponent to play with which greatly assists the learning process for new games.  For some games there are 4 bots (Weak, Dumb, Smart & Best)  and I prefer playing them to random opponents from around the world.  Yes, I have been called unsociable.

  • The first general abstract games site I used was Zillions of Games.  I discovered it after I retired, perhaps in 2015, whilst searching for info on Monster Chess. I loved it because it gave me a computer opponent to play against, no longer having school pupils as opponents.  There is an underlying games engine that does all the game controls and tree search stuff, with an overlay of a rules file (.zrf) for each particular game.   These zrf files are open for the user to inspect and modify.  I edited a Phutball.zrf file to create a 1-D Phutball variant (articles coming soon).  The Zillions demo comes as a free download with lots of games immediately available.
    Zillions Menu.jpg
    However, I purchased a key to unlock the full version for about £20.  This gives access to a library of over 3000 zrf files to download, mostly abstract games coded by users, but some puzzles and miscellanea.  These can be seen on the Zillions site, but I created a basic Zillions Game Listing.txt, which can be loaded into a spreadsheet or text editor.  When introducing the site to DrDave, we discovered that this payment system for unlocking was no longer available, but it seems that it has now been replaced by a voluntary donation of an unspecified sum, though I have not tested this procedure.  I really like the flexibility of the computer AI which shows the depth of tree search and a position evaluation as it 'thinks' - useful for analysis and can be set to think on a move forever!

  • I have recently started looking at igGameCenter There are several games of interest that are not implemented on Boardspace - Amazons, Camelot, Dots & Boxes, Epaminondas, Hex, Oware and Phutball.  Since there are 148 games in all, no doubt DrDave and I will find others we like.  On first impressions, it is not as friendly as Boardspace and it only has a computer opponent for a few games.

  • Even more recently I discovered Ai Ai.  This is a similar site to Zillions of Games in that (if I understand correctly) there is an underlying gaming engine that does all the tree search stuff, with an overlay of the rules for a particular game that could be set up by a technical user.  Not as friendly as Boardspace but looks as though it may have lots of sophistication - I need to have a good look.  Perhaps more of a research site, but all games have PvP or computer opponents, so good to just play - oodles of games!

General Info Websites

  • It sometimes feels like all the knowledge in the world resides on Wikipedia, and abstract games are no exception!  Here is a grouped list of abstract games - Wikipedia's List of Abstract Games.  Even if not in this list, I would be surprised if any game did not have a page in Wikipedia
     
  • Here is a current online magazine devoted to abstract games - The New Abstract Games.  I only recently came across it by accident and it has so much of interest!
     
  • BoardGameGeek is an incredibly comprehensive site for all kinds of board games.  Enter the name of a game in its search box and I'd be very surprised if there was not already an article on it.  A free but invaluable resource.  Abstract games are only a small part of the site, but there is so much information.

Books

  • Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions - Martin Gardner, Penguin Books, 1965.
    This book was published in the UK, collecting articles from Martin Gardner's column in Scientific American magazine.  He is widely revered in the field of recreational mathematics and this book, together with his many other books, were the inspiration for my lifelong love of recreational mathematics (and games).
     
  • Winning Ways for Your Mathematical Plays - Berlekamp, Conway & Guy, Academic Press, 1982.  Initially published in 2 volumes, they later became a 4 volume set and 'bible' for mathematical game players.  Often referred to just as Winning Ways.  They introduce Combinatorial Game Theory in a light hearted way, though it is tricky to get down to the nitty gritty of the theory.  Many, many, abstract games are discussed, mainly simple pencil & paper games, but others as well.  Expensive to buy the books, but online versions seem to be available.
     
  • The Mathematics of Games - John D Beasley, Oxford University Press 1990, reprinted Dover, 2006.  Covers a large proportion of the fascinating results that I love so much about general games and puzzles.  Chapters 8,9,10 are devoted to abstract games with overlaps of Winning Ways above, but as bedtime reading rather than being academic. 

More websites, books, articles, suppliers . . . to follow (slowly . . .)