Once-Per-Game Abilities in Board Games
Once-per-game abilities are special powers or actions available to players that can be used exactly one time during a game session. These abilities are typically powerful and can significantly impact the game's outcome.
Design Purpose
These abilities add strategic depth and complexity to games by providing players with a critical decision point: when is the optimal moment to deploy this game-changing power?
Strategic Impact
Players must balance the immediate advantages against potential future needs. This mechanic also introduces a psychological element, as opponents must anticipate the use and prepare for the effects of these abilities.
Examples in Games
- Pandemic: Special event cards represent unique, potent actions that can be game-changers when used appropriately.
- Twilight Imperium: Certain races have once-per-game abilities that can turn the tide of interstellar politics or warfare.
Considerations for Designers
When implementing once-per-game abilities, designers must ensure they are balanced and enhance, rather than detract from, the game's fun and fairness.
Conclusion
Once-per-game abilities are an exciting game mechanic that, when used judiciously, can provide memorable moments and elevate the strategic layer of board games.
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Hand Management games
Once-Per-Game Abilities games published by Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
Enchanted Kingdom – the first expansion pack for Seasons – features 40 new Power cards compatible with the 100 cards from the base game, 10 Enchantment cards to make every game an even more unique experience, and 12 Special Ability tokens that add a...
Seasons - Enchanted Kingdom Expansion
$28.00
Shape the historic skyline of New York City in this skyscraper building game. You will take on the role of land developers competing for glory and prestige in the city’s financial district as you acquire new land, demolish old buildings, and build up...
New York 1901
$59.99
$17.00
Team-Based Game with Once-Per-Game Abilities
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Dice Rolling games
Animals themed games with Once-Per-Game Abilities
Once-Per-Game Abilities games published by Stonemaier Games
Once-Per-Game Abilities games published by Fantasia Games
Endless Winter: Paleoamericans - Cave Paintings Expansion
-20%
$20.00
$16.00
This expansion brings a new action to the game: Cave Painting! Players use dry-erase boards to fill in spaces, draw lines, and unlock a variety of immediate and ongoing benefits. Plus, after each game, the boards look like unique animals!Mechanisms:4...
mostly positive, 77%
12 y/o +
1 to 4 players
60 to 120 minutes
Involved
Prehistoric
First Nation
Line Drawing
Once-Per-Game Abilities
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Variable Set-up games
Political themed games with Once-Per-Game Abilities
Solo / Solitaire Game with Once-Per-Game Abilities
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Tile Placement games
Strategy Game with Once-Per-Game Abilities
You’ve just been given a shot at being the head chef at the prestigious New York Slice pizza parlor. You and your fellow pizza chef wannabes just have to make the most amazing pizzas...one slice at a time!In this unique game, each player slices pizzas...
New York Slice
$29.95
$19.99
Players compete to serve as many customer orders as possible and earn the most tips by the end of the night. Sound simple? Well, with each passing round, unserved customers will get frustrated waiting for their food and become unhappy with the service...
Cryptid Cafe
$40.00
$28.00
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Line of Sight games
Castle Party
-20%
$19.99
$15.99
The Pumpkin King is throwing his annual ball for all the monsters in Nightmare World. It is a once-in-a-deathtime chance to show off your worst outfits! Flip over the cards and try to group the monsters on your board according to their families. Be sure...
mixed, 65%
8 y/o +
2 to 4 players
30 minutes
Light
Card Game
Fantasy
Holidays
Events
Flip and Write
Line of Sight
Once-Per-Game Abilities
Once-Per-Game Abilities games designed by Reiner Knizia
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Narrative Choice / Paragraph games
Aliens themed games with Once-Per-Game Abilities
The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away, and the Empire rules the galaxy by fear. Its newly constructed battle station, the Death Star, is powerful enough to destroy any opposition.Yet, there is a new hope. A brave few have chosen ...
Star Wars: Rebellion
$109.99
$79.99
Aliens have arrived to conquer Earth. Enemy ships fill the skies. Humanity retreats to underground bunkers across the globe, hopiong to develop a weapon that will stop the invaders.Buy yourself time by shooting down enemy ships. Dig your base deeper ...
Under Falling Skies
$29.95
$20.00
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Roll / Spin and Move games
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Variable Player Powers games
Solar Draft
-20%
$50.00
$40.00
These cute planets need a home, time to build.As a new Solar Architect, you will be put to the task of Drafting up a new plan for a Solar System. Plan out your solar system by drafting the universe’s cutest planets, moons, and comets, taking care where...
mostly positive, 70%
14 y/o +
2 to 5 players
20 minutes
Relaxed
Card Game
Science Fiction
Space
Once-Per-Game Abilities
Open Drafting
Set Collection
Variable Player Powers
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Deduction games
There is a bomb full of wires and the countdown has begun . . . Who are you gonna call? YOU, the Bomb Busters!To safely defuse each bomb, you'll need to collaborate with your fellow team of bomb disposal experts! Use the wires you have in front of you...
Bomb Busters
$39.95
$31.99
It is the 1820s and revolts are starting in Peru. The Viceroy of Lima has decided to move the city's wealth to Mexico for safekeeping. Captain William Thompson is responsible for transporting the treasure, but he and his crew turn pirate to take the ...
Loot of Lima
$28.95
$22.00
Once-Per-Game Abilities and Turn Order: Random games
An explosion in the basement of the Red Dragon Inn launches our heroes on the adventure of their lives! Evil schemes are in motion - can the adventurers thwart them before it's too late?No dungeon master or assembly required! Lay out your map and it'...
Tales from the Red Dragon Inn
$109.99
$60.00
"One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans." -Attributed to Otto von Bismarck, 1888June 28, 1914, the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Duchess of Hohenberg, plunged Europe...
Crisis: 1914
$85.00
$68.00
Once-Per-Game Abilities games published by Pridemage Games
7 Wonders Duel
-37%
$34.99
$21.99
Develop your science and your army, construct prestigious buildings and lead your civilization to victory!7 Wonders Duel is a stand-alone game in the world of 7 Wonders, made especially for 2 players. 7 Wonders Duel offers a whole new system of drafting...
very positive, 87%
10 y/o +
2 players
30 minutes
Relaxed
Strategy Game
Ancient Civilization
City Building
End Game Bonuses
Income
Layering
Market
Once-Per-Game Abilities games published by Plaid Hat Games
Specter Ops - Shadow of Babel
-27%
$75.00
$55.00
Stealth, the search, the fight, and the thrill of the hunt. Specter Ops: Shadow of Babel puts you and 1-4 friends in the middle of a war for society that's fought in the shadows.On one side, a lone A.R.K. agent infiltrates a Raxxon facility, seeking...
mostly positive, 70%
9 y/o +
2 to 5 players
60 minutes
Relaxed
Team-Based Game
Fantasy
Fighting
Deduction
Dice Rolling
Grid Movement
Hidden Movement
Puzzle themed games with Once-Per-Game Abilities
When you saw the code words Project Nightshade come across your desk, you insisted on the assignment... You were instantly reminded of the shadow operative who had slipped through the fingers of some of The Rigel Group's best agents. Now it's your chance...
Harsh Shadows
$25.00
The appointment of a new Aztec High Priest is imminent. In order to prove their value and merit, the contenders engage in a race for prestige to win the favor of the gods. Will you be able to make the most beautiful sculptures of feathered snakes (called...
Coatl
$44.99
$14.00
