Game Jargon Definition: “Engine Builder”

Engine Builder (noun) – en·gine build·er /ˈenjən ˈbildər/

Engine builders are games that employ certain sets of mechanics that are designed to feed off of one another in subsequent game rounds in order to increase the in-game effects of game components such as tokens and cards. Engine-building mechanics tend to employ additive or multiplicative effects of particular game elements so that the future production of, for example, resources becomes greater in game round after game round. Thus, as players assemble specific game components to work together, they build an “engine” of sorts that ideally increases in productivity and efficiency. Another way to think about this is that players in engine builders are performing actions that will set up additional actions or results on later turns that will be beneficial to them within the context of winning the game. Some examples of engine builders are: Dominion (2008) by Rio Grande Games; Splendor (2014) by Space Cowboys; Wingspan (2019) by Stonemaier Games; It's A Wonderful World (2019) by La Boîte de Jeu; and Moonrakers (2020) by IV Games.