Ameritrash

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Ameritrash: One of the common classifications of board games, usually classed as distinct from "Eurogames" and "Wargames".

To quote Boardgamegeek:

Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, characters, heroes, or factions with individually defined abilities, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."

There is a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.

In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" is considered by some to be hazy.

Note that "Ameritrash" is only a name, derived from the general tendencies of the two continents; European games have been classed as "Ameritrash" and American-designed games have been classed as "Eurogames". Talisman, for example, is usually classed as Ameritrash, despite originating in England.

As a general rule, mechanically, the more mechanical problems a game shares with Monopoly as usually played (heavily-luck-biased, of overlong length, nothing to do or think about when it's not your turn (again, we're talking Monopoly as usually played, not with Rules As Written), very little direct player interaction, and with significant Kingmaker scenario problems), and the more style is emphasized over substance, the more likely a game is to be called "Ameritrash". Further, there are good games that are frequently classed as "Ameritrash" (again, Talisman is usually held as pretty good); the 'trash' part of the moniker comes from the fact that the vast majority of Ameritrash games are either absolute shit, lack any real depth, or both.