# BoardGameArena Scraper - Game Database & Stats (`lulzasaur/boardgamearena-scraper`) Actor

Scrape BoardGameArena's 1000+ board games. Get game names, player counts, duration, complexity, strategy, luck, interaction ratings, designers, publishers, play counts, BGG IDs, and more.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/lulzasaur/boardgamearena-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [lulz bot](https://apify.com/lulzasaur) (community)
- **Categories:** E-commerce
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $10.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## BoardGameArena Scraper

Scrape the complete BoardGameArena game database. Extract detailed information for 1200+ board games including game names, player counts, duration, complexity ratings, designers, publishers, play statistics, BGG IDs, and more.

### Features

- **Fast mode**: Scrapes the full game list in a single request (~1200 games in seconds)
- **Detail mode**: Visits each game's page for designer, publisher, artist, year, complexity, strategy, luck, and interaction ratings
- **Flexible search**: Scrape all games or filter by specific game names/slugs
- **Rich data**: Player counts, duration, total games played, premium status, BGG cross-reference IDs, aliases

### Input

| Field | Type | Description | Default |
|-------|------|-------------|---------|
| `searchQueries` | string\[] | Game names/slugs to scrape. Use `"all"` for every game. | `["all"]` |
| `maxListings` | integer | Max games to return (0 = unlimited) | `100` |
| `scrapeDetails` | boolean | Visit each game page for full details (designer, publisher, ratings) | `false` |
| `proxyConfiguration` | object | Proxy settings for rate limiting protection | `{}` |

#### Example Input

```json
{
    "searchQueries": ["catan", "ticket-to-ride", "wingspan"],
    "maxListings": 50,
    "scrapeDetails": true
}
```

To scrape all games in fast mode:

```json
{
    "searchQueries": ["all"],
    "maxListings": 0,
    "scrapeDetails": false
}
```

### Output

Each game produces a JSON object with these fields:

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `gameName` | string | Display name (e.g., "CATAN") |
| `gameSlug` | string | URL slug (e.g., "catan") |
| `gameId` | number | BGA internal game ID |
| `description` | string | Game description (detail mode only) |
| `imageUrl` | string | Box art image URL |
| `playerCount` | string | Player range (e.g., "3 - 4") |
| `minPlayers` | number | Minimum players |
| `maxPlayers` | number | Maximum players |
| `averageDuration` | number | Average game duration in minutes |
| `complexity` | number | Complexity rating 1-5 (detail mode) |
| `strategy` | number | Strategy rating 1-5 (detail mode) |
| `luck` | number | Luck rating 1-5 (detail mode) |
| `interaction` | number | Interaction rating 1-5 (detail mode) |
| `designer` | string | Game designer(s) (detail mode) |
| `artist` | string | Game artist(s) (detail mode) |
| `publisher` | string | Publisher name (detail mode) |
| `releaseYear` | number | Original release year (detail mode) |
| `gamesPlayed` | number | Total games played on BGA |
| `gamesPlayedRecent` | number | Recent games played |
| `premium` | boolean | Whether Premium subscription required |
| `hasTutorial` | boolean | Whether a tutorial is available |
| `bggId` | number | BoardGameGeek game ID for cross-referencing |
| `realtime` | boolean | Supports real-time play |
| `turnBased` | boolean | Supports turn-based play |
| `publishedOn` | string | Date published on BGA |
| `aliases` | string\[] | Alternative game names |
| `status` | string | Game status (public, beta, etc.) |
| `url` | string | Game page URL |
| `scrapedAt` | string | Timestamp of scrape |

#### Example Output

```json
{
    "gameName": "CATAN",
    "gameSlug": "catan",
    "gameId": 1539,
    "description": "Play CATAN online from your browser with the whole world!",
    "imageUrl": "https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/gamemedia/catan/box/en_280.png?h=1751536970",
    "playerCount": "3 - 4",
    "minPlayers": 3,
    "maxPlayers": 4,
    "averageDuration": 35,
    "complexity": 2,
    "strategy": 3,
    "luck": 3,
    "interaction": 4,
    "designer": "Klaus Teuber",
    "artist": "Eric Hibbeler, Quentin Regnes, Michael Menzel (former edition)",
    "publisher": "Catan",
    "releaseYear": 1995,
    "gamesPlayed": 7609152,
    "gamesPlayedRecent": 7027,
    "premium": true,
    "hasTutorial": true,
    "bggId": 13,
    "realtime": true,
    "turnBased": true,
    "publishedOn": "2022-06-22",
    "aliases": ["The Settlers of Catan", "Die Siedler von Catan", "Les Colons de Catane"],
    "status": "public",
    "url": "https://en.boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?game=catan",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-04-26T04:47:21.694Z"
}
```

### Use Cases

- **Board game research**: Compare complexity, strategy, and popularity across 1200+ games
- **Collection management**: Track which games are available on BGA and their details
- **BGG integration**: Use `bggId` to cross-reference with BoardGameGeek data
- **Trend analysis**: Monitor `gamesPlayed` and `gamesPlayedRecent` for popularity trends
- **Premium tracking**: Identify which games require Premium subscription

***

### Run on Apify

This scraper runs on the [Apify platform](https://apify.com/?fpr=lulzasaur) -- a full-stack web scraping and automation cloud. Sign up for a free account to get started with 30-day trial of all features.

[Try Apify free](https://apify.com/?fpr=lulzasaur)

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# Actor input Schema

## `searchQueries` (type: `array`):

List of game names/slugs to scrape (e.g., 'catan', 'ticket-to-ride'). Use 'all' to scrape every game on BoardGameArena (~1200+ games).

## `maxListings` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of games to scrape. Set to 0 for unlimited. Only applies when using 'all' mode.

## `scrapeDetails` (type: `boolean`):

If enabled, visits each game's page to get designer, publisher, artist, year, description, and community ratings. Slower but richer data. If disabled, uses the fast game list data only.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Proxy settings. Not required for basic scraping but recommended for large-scale runs to avoid rate limiting.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searchQueries": [
    "all"
  ],
  "maxListings": 100,
  "scrapeDetails": false,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "searchQueries": [
        "all"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("lulzasaur/boardgamearena-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "searchQueries": ["all"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("lulzasaur/boardgamearena-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "searchQueries": [
    "all"
  ]
}' |
apify call lulzasaur/boardgamearena-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,lulzasaur/boardgamearena-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/CrKSeS7mbqYdqdxTM/builds/nrtNXGj6uM5Attr5D/openapi.json