Search - User Guide
This guide explains how to use /search to find board games based on your preferences. You can search across multiple collections at once with several filters applied and easily share the search query with a link.
The search page will default to searching in your own collection if you are logged in and across all board games on the website if you are not logged in. The cross-icon to right will reset your search query to default.
Sharing Search Queries
The share-icon next to the text field lets you generate a permanent link to your current search query. This link can be shared with anyone and does not require an account to view.
Search query links are dynamic and never expire.
For example, if you share a link to search for board games for 3 players with medium complexity, excluding expansions, in my collection (example), any changes you make to your collection will automatically be reflected when someone visits the link.
Board Game Picker
The purple button with a dice-icon lets you pick a random board game from the current search query. A spinner will appear under the search bar and spin until it lands on a board game. You can re-spin as many times as you like or update the search query to narrow down which board games the picker can select from.
Filtering Options
You can combine multiple filters to narrow down your search and find the board games that best match your preferences. Most filters support both including options (blue) and excluding them (red).
Inactive filters are shown on the right side of the vertical line in the search bar. Once active it will shown on the left side in either blue (include), red (exclude) or both. You need to click Apply for the filter to be applied to the search query, except the title filter it updates when you stop typing.
For a board game to appear in the results, it must match at least one included option from each active filter. Board games that match any excluded options will not be shown in the search results.
Title filter
The text field in the search bar allows you to search on the title of the board game. This filter is automatically applied when you stop typing.
Players filter
Allows you to filter for board games that officially support a specific number of players by clicking Apply, or for board games that are best played with that number of players by clicking Apply as Recommended.
Playtime filter
Allows you to filter for board games that match a specific playtime, based on the official time listed on the board game’s box. Select a duration and click Apply to update the search results.
Complexity filter
Allows you to filter for board games based on their complexity, which reflects how difficult the board game is to learn and play. You can choose from Simple, Low, Medium, High, or Extreme. Click once to include a complexity level (blue), or click twice to exclude it (red).
Expansions filter
Allows you to exclude expansions, only show expansions or show both base games and expansions (default). Click once to exclude (red) and twice to only show expansions (blue).
Collection filter
Including collections (blue) will limit the search to board games found in any selected collection. Excluding collections (red) will filter out any board games that are present in any of those collections.
Including multiple collections will display an indicator on each board game, showing which of the selected collections the board game appears in.
The collection filter will by default show the collections of all your friends on Kallax. Direct links to search queries or redirects from events might include collections that you are not friends (yet).
If no collections are selected the search will include all board games on the website, this is referred to as wildcard search. For example exclude my own collection will show board games that you don't own yet. Wildcard searches are limited to 100 results.
Mechanics filter
Allows you to filter for board games with specific game mechanics. The list will be ordered by how many board games in the last search included that mechanic and only mechanics in that search will be shown.
The number in parentheses shows how many board games in the last search implements the mechanic. Click once to include a complexity level (blue), or click twice to exclude it (red).
Categories filter
Allows you to filter by specific categories. Categories is used as a broad term that covers board game types, genres and themes. The suggestions are ordered by how many board games in the last search fall into each category, showing only categories present in that search.
The number in parentheses shows how many board games in the last search falls into that category. Click once to include a complexity level (blue), or click twice to exclude it (red).
Designer filter
Allows you to filter for board games by the designer. The list is ordered by how many board games in the last search were designed by each designer, showing only designers featured in that search.
The number in parentheses indicates how many board games in the last search were created by that designer. Click once to include the designer (blue), or click twice to exclude (red) that specific designer.
Artist filter
Allows you to filter for board games by the artist. The list is ordered by how many board games in the last search feature artwork by each artist, showing only artists included in that search.
The number in parentheses indicates how many board games in the last search showcase artwork by that artist. Click once to include the artist (blue), or click twice to exclude (red) that specific artist.
Search Result Ordering
You can change the ordering of the search results on the button to the left of the purple board game picker.
The default ordering when searching in collections is alphabetical, and by popularity in descending order when wildcard searching.
The supported orderings are popularity, title, players, playtime and complexity. The popularity of a board game is calculated based on how many collections on Kallax contains that particular board game.
Search Results
The search results show some basic information about the board games. By default the name, player count, playtime and complexity is shown.
Note that some board games, such as Terraforming Mars and Root, will show both a player count and a best player count. The standard player count is what the rulebook officially supports and the best indicates the recommended player count.
Clicking the image of the board game will take you to the details page of that board game. The ⋮ -menu will bring up different suggested actions based on whether you already have that board game in your collection.
Wildcard Search
The search wildcard search is used to describe a search query that is not limited to specific collections. It will search against all board games on the website.
A wildcard search will attempt to satisfy the search query locally first. Any board game that you have seen during your current session will be considered for the local search. If the search fails to fill out at least one page of search results (20 board games) it will fallback to requesting the server to search.
Search results from the server is limited to 100 board games per query.