The Rise of Board and Video Games: Exploring the Czech Republic’s Journey to Gaming Supremacy

Some time ago, if someone had suggested that board games would become incredibly popular and spawn a new industry, complete with clubs, rental shops, and even gatherings for board game enthusiasts, plus tournaments, festivals, exhibitions, and summer camps for fans, you might have raised an eyebrow. Nowadays, exciting new games are released almost weekly, and it’s clear that board games are taking over the world.
Back in the day, when your options were limited to games like Man, Don’t Be Mad or the Czech version of Monopoly called Horse Racing and Betting, few would have predicted the current board game boom. But that boom is real, and board games are more popular than ever.
Join us in exploring board games—and we’re not referring to traditional games like chess, checkers, or go, but rather modern board games that have thrived in recent decades. Would you prefer to dive into computer games? Either way, come have fun with Which Way Out of Boredom!

Playing Prague: Build Your Own Prague

In the realm of games that blend fun with Czech culture, a new addition was launched in the summer of 2025—this one distinctly marked by its connection to Prague. The game, titled Playing Prague, allows you to construct Prague bit by bit. Prague City Tourism commissioned this game to honor creativity, inventiveness, and gaming through Charles Games studio. It’s free, available in Czech, English, and German, and has already gathered nearly 60,000 downloads in just two months. The game combines logical challenges with sightseeing and the rich history of the city, creating a unique celebration of Prague and its historical figures. Each aspect pays homage to the city’s millennium of culture, which once served as the seat of the Holy Roman emperors and the capital of the Czech Kingdom.
How Do You Play Playing Prague? Prepare yourself for six levels where you will complete specific patterns logically. With cards featuring iconic Prague buildings, you’ll gradually recreate famous landmarks like the Old Town Hall, the Charles Bridge towers, and the cable car to Petřín. Each level also shares stories of notable figures tied to Prague, such as Mozart, Einstein, and Franz Kafka, along with sports icons like the javelin thrower Dana Zátopková and gymnast Vera Čáslavská. By the end, you’ll gather a collection of not only well-known structures but also influential personalities who have put Prague on the global map. And since it’s all about creating an immersive experience, you can embody the spirit of a Bohemian and build your very own Prague.
This game is great for playing on a bus or train ride, though some players feel it might be a bit short. Charles Games Studio is already considering expanding it with more levels and stories in response to positive feedback. But remember, exploring Prague isn’t limited to the digital realm!

Dragon’s Den and BattleTech: Initial Inspirations

Some games, like Dragon’s Den and BattleTech, have not undergone significant changes over the years; they’ve simply evolved into more modern versions and continue to be played widely. BattleTech debuted in 1984, while its predecessor, Dungeons & Dragons, the most renowned role-playing game, is actually a decade older. Both made their way into the Czech market in the 1990s due to Altar Publishing House. Many seasoned players still enjoy the old editions, often bringing their younger relatives or children along for the fun.

Especially BattleTech, a sci-fi strategy game filled with colossal battle robots, features a surprising connection to the Czech Republic. In its fictional backstory, Czech is named as one of the official languages, and locations like the planet Satalice, along with continents named Boleslav and Liberec, can be found on its universe map.

The capital of this fictional world is named New Prague, and it also includes the Duchy of Tabor, a city called House of Horrors, and a military unit called the Czech Lancers. At the forefront of a federation named the League of Free Worlds stands Tomas Marik, allegedly a descendant from the Marik family of Czechoslovakia—has childhood hero Kája Mařík been immortalized here?

Consistent Blockbusters

The world of board games includes both heavy hitters and flops: among the successes is Settlers of Catan, heralded as the most beloved board game over the last quarter-century, with over 25 million copies sold. Similarly, well-known games like Scrabble, Brainbox, Dixit, Dobble, and Carcassonne are familiar to most people.

While you might not find your favorite game right away, the vast variety of themes in board games ensures you’ll discover something special—whether you want to construct cathedrals, cities, and gardens, scout islands for sunken treasures, extinguish fires or ignite them, track mammoths, engage in detective work, or commit grand heists, travel through Middle Earth, the Wild West, or Hogwarts, battle orcs and dragons, or explore the depths of history. Want to dive into ancient Egypt, Rome, Viking times, or the Middle Ages? Or perhaps you’d prefer to build a spacecraft and explore the infinite universe? The possibilities are endless.

The Kingdom Come Sensation

The game Kingdom Come: Deliverance has transformed into a genuine phenomenon in the gaming industry: this meticulously realistic action role-playing game from Warhorse Studios launched its first episode in 2018 and sold over a million copies within just the first week. Gamers are eagerly awaiting the sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, slated for a February 2025 release. It is among the year’s most hotly anticipated titles and achieved the record for selling one million copies in under 24 hours of its February 4 launch. Immerse yourself in a world filled with exploration, swordplay, and medieval elements with Boredom, or try other computer games that take you on journeys throughout the Czech Republic!

Stories Worth Millions

What drives the board game industry? Aside from news on new releases, it’s often stories of innovative ideas and perfectly-timed launches, like when Tadeáš Spousta and Markéta Bláhová produced the new Euthia: Torment of Resurrection board game. Following the success of Kingdom Come: Deliverance by Warhorse and led by Daniel Vávra—which took place in Medieval Posázaví and raised over a million pounds through crowdfunding—Euthia became the second most successful Kickstarter project from Czech creators, raising $458,000 (almost 11 million crowns).

So, what does Euthia bring to the table? It includes numerous components, cards, dice, and tokens that allow players to delve into a new world for hours of gameplay. The game has a set beginning and end, but within that span, several scenarios unfold where players shape the narrative around their character. And since the world of board games is always evolving, Studio Diea Games is already brainstorming their next title that will explore the universe!

Muzzle Games and Edible Board Games

Kickstarter has been key to the development of Tlama Games and their edible board games. Founded by Miroslav Tlamicha and a friend, they rolled out the new Escape Plan board game in Czech translation. They quickly succeeded in bringing other successful titles to the Czech market, now boasting a lineup of several dozens of games. Their e-shop also offers games from various other publishers, making their selection incredibly extensive.

Renowned Czech Game Creator

The top Czech game developer is thought to be Vladimír Chvátil, also known as Vlaada Chvatil. He is well-known for his multiplayer game Worms (Cervii, 1992), and has contributed to several titles including Dragon’s Lair, Fish Fillets (1997), Original War (2001), Fish Fillets II (2007), and Family Farm (2010). However, he is most acclaimed globally as a board game designer, boasting masterpieces like Through the Ages: The Story of Civilization from 2006, which has held a top position on BoardGameGeek, along with Galaxy Trucker from 2007, Space Alert from 2008, Mage Knight from 2011, and Codenames from 2015. This game has been translated into numerous languages, sold approximately 15 million copies, and garnered the Spiel des Jahres award. In 2019, Vlaada Chvátil received the Origins Awards and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Great Board and Computer Games: What to Play?

• About 15 years ago, the Czech Republic saw only 20 to 30 new board games released each year, but that number has skyrocketed to over 300 recently. Interest surged significantly during the covid-19 pandemic.
• The board game Monopoly (which evolved from Horse Racing and Betting) had a unique Czech variant that families cherish as a treasure. This game was marketed as Business and involved buying up real estate in Prague, from the affordable areas of Braník to the pricier locations on Wenceslas Square, including power stations, waterworks, or telephone companies; the Coachman fields were replaced by railway lines.
• Board games also have another major advantage: they don’t frustrate adults since children don’t have to use a computer to play them. They help create cherished moments with family and friends.
• While it may seem a bit boastful, board games can be pricey, and the prices may shock you if you’re not familiar with them. Instead of buying something without any knowledge, consider trying out a board game rental service to sample various games, or explore online reviews and blogs to learn more first.
• With larger board games, having a big table is essential, but there’s also a variety of smaller (and often less expensive) games that you can conveniently take on trips, vacations, or train rides.
• Be aware that older classics like Man, Don’t Be Angry or Horse Racing and Betting may only share a name with today’s board games. Modern ones are deeper, more involved, and reading the instructions might take considerable time.
• If your children have grown up and you’re left to play solo, there are variants for fewer players available for many games, including the well-loved Settlers of Catan.
• According to Research and Markets, the board game market is set to reach $20 billion by 2023, which is about $12 billion of that. Interestingly, this is just a small fraction compared to the computer games market in the same timeframe.
• For beginners who find the rules daunting, there are YouTube videos for nearly every newly released game, where experts explain the rules clearly. This way, you can jump straight into the fun.
• If you’re on the hunt for top Czech board game sites, check out zatrolene-hry.cz.
• Feeling uncertain and think these games are just for kids? Think again! Board games have been played since ancient times, throughout medieval periods, and they are experiencing a surge in popularity today like never before. Enjoy!