Patent landscapes › Sports & games
Is a board game patented?
Short answer: specific designs of a board game have been patented many times, but "a board game" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.
What our index shows
- 1,233 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “board game” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
- Among the 1200 best keyword matches we examined, 264 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
- Most frequent assignees in those matches: MATTEL INC (18), HASBRO INC (7), TENCENT TECH SHENZHEN CO LTD (5), BERTHOLD DAVID (4).
- Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A63F (1142), G09B (67), A63B (45), A63H (24).
Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.
14 real patent publications related to a board game
- Board Game with Levitating Magnetic Game Pieces in a Race US-2025367538-A1 2025 · HANKAMER LARRY R
The game consists of a planar game board ( 10 ), a series of vertically extended pegs ( 18 ) along a track, and magnetic game pieces ( 20 ) that freely slide down pegs ( 18 ). Each player selects a plurality of game pieces ( 20 ) …
View on Google Patents - Multi-player sports board game featuring dice, strategy cards, and skill/weight based team simulations US-2023364499-A1 2023 · ZUIKER ANTHONY E
The game simulation system and method of the present invention can be implemented in different ways, such as in a physical game board configuration or a digitized configuration via mobile device, computer, and the like. It can be …
View on Google Patents - Multi-purpose board game employing a game board and game pieces with wireless technology to communicate to the internet US-11110341-B2 2021 · ZWIFFER INC
An electronic game board wherein the board comprises a plurality of sensors and indicators such that two or more players may play the same game with each other using two or more different game boards that may communicate with each…
View on Google Patents - Social interactive card-game with board game variant US-2013161906-A1 2013 · MYERS JOHN
A socially interactive card game with a board game variant providing for competitive play-action between a plurality of players by which to provide creative submissions. The method of playing including providing a particular setti…
View on Google Patents - Domino like card and board game US-7644926-B2 2010 · TEEPLE TOD R
Embodiments pertain to a game for entertainment in which players draw cards to select game pieces and then place those pieces on a game board. In one embodiment, players place their game tiles next to tiles on the board, matching …
View on Google Patents - Board game that uses elements of card game and methods playing the same US-2009212498-A1 2009 · SCHWEICH THOMAS A
The invention provides a novel games which permits a player to combine elements of a game of skill and chance, such as a variation of poker, with the strategy of a board game, in which movements of game pieces on the game board ar…
View on Google Patents - Musical playing card board game US-2009315257-A1 2009 · THREE OF HEARTS LLC
A musical board game and playing method that permits players to respond to playing cards both visually and aurally without requiring additional manual intervention by the game player. By incorporating computer-readable indicia suc…
View on Google Patents - Multiple winners card game, game board and method for play US-2007096393-A1 2007 · GALE DAVID A
A wagering game, method of play, and game board used with cards and dice, is described. The easy to play game provides for one or more players to bet and win on one or more possible outcomes and may be suitable for children's …
View on Google Patents - Board game with movable neutral playing pieces US-7014190-B2 2006 · MATTEL INC
Board games having movable neutral playing pieces. The board games include tokens that represent each player's location on the board and neutral playing pieces that may be moved by any player to block an opponent's token m…
View on Google Patents - Board game played by players and its playing method US-2004239031-A1 2004
A board game, in which a game can be developed in an unexpected way, includes plural dice selected from among plural dice, which can be unfolded two-dimensionally and are rolled. According to the results of the rolling of the dice…
View on Google Patents - Board game played by plural players and method of play thereof US-6585265-B2 2003 · KONAMI CORP
A board game in which a game can be developed in an unexpected way can be provided. Plural dice selected from among plural dice which can be unfolded two-dimensionally are rolled. According to the results of the rolling of the dic…
View on Google Patents - Battle card for, and method for using the card in, a board game US-6581932-B2 2003
The game kit for a board game comprises a game board having three levels and at least one stairway between the three levels, at least one die, at least two fighter pieces and a unique battle card for each piece. The game kit is us…
View on Google Patents - Simple chess-type board game for two, three, and four players US-6196545-B1 2001
A board game apparatus and method of playing a game with the apparatus by two, three, or four players is provided. The board game apparatus consists of a game board and four distinguishable playing sets, one for each player. The g…
View on Google Patents - Baseball card board game US-6113096-A 2000
The present invention in a particular embodiment can be characterized as a method of determining an outcome in a baseball game by determining an out in the event a ball is hit against one of a plurality of player cards; and determ…
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What this means for your idea
Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a board game been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Sports equipment patents tend to cover the grip, impact absorption, training feedback, and how gear is adjusted.
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Guides that help with this
First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.