What are game board pieces called?

In board games, the pieces used to represent players, characters, or objects are commonly referred to by different names depending on the type of game. Here are some of the most common terms:

1. Game Pieces:

• Tokens: Generic term for small items used to represent a player or object on the board. Examples include poker chips or cardboard tokens.
• Counters: Similar to tokens, counters are used in many games to track points, progress, or certain resources (e.g., in Monopoly, counters might represent money or properties).

2. Pawns:

• Often used in games like chess, checkers, and other strategy games, pawns are small pieces that represent players or units. In some games, pawns are the starting pieces moved across the board.

3. Figures/Figurines:

• In many miniature-based games (such as Warhammer or Dungeons & Dragons), pieces are often figurines or miniatures that represent characters, monsters, or units. These can be highly detailed, painted figures, often used in combination with rulesets that involve movement and combat.

4. Meeples:

• A term mostly used in modern Euro-style board games like Carcassonne, where small, human-shaped pieces are used to represent players or workers in various roles (e.g., a "farmer" or "knight").

5. Playing Pieces:

• This is a broad term that can refer to any piece on the board, from pawns to more elaborate figures. It's commonly used in classic games like Monopoly or The Game of Life, where players use pieces to represent themselves as they move across the board.

6. Chips:

• In games like Scrabble, chess, and bingo, pieces may also be referred to as chips, where they're used to indicate actions or status, such as "betting" in a casino-themed game.

7. Cards:

• In card games (such as UNO, Magic: The Gathering, or Pokémon Trading Card Game), cards themselves serve as the primary "pieces" in gameplay, each with unique properties.

8. Dice:

• Used in many games to determine outcomes, dice (or die) are a key game piece in games like Monopoly, Risk, or Dungeons & Dragons.

9. Tokens (again):

• In many modern board games and tabletop games, especially those involving resource management (like Settlers of Catan), "tokens" may refer to physical representations of resources, such as wood, brick, and wheat in Catan.

10. Markers:

• Markers are pieces used in many games to track game progress, such as a score tracker or a piece that shows where a player’s piece is on the board (like in Ticket to Ride).

In short, game board pieces go by a variety of names depending on the game, ranging from tokens to figurines, meeples, and chips. Each term reflects the type and function of the pieces within a game.