Game Whose Name Comes from French: A Comprehensive List

Looking for a game with a French name? You've come to the right place! From classic board games to modern video games, the French language has inspired countless game titles. This list provides a comprehensive compilation of games with French names, each accompanied by a detailed explanation of its meaning. Discover the origins of these intriguing game names and explore the fascinating world of French-inspired games.
1. **A la Carte:** From the French phrase "à la carte," meaning "according to the menu," this game offers players a variety of choices and strategies.
2. **Amis:** Derived from the French word "amis," meaning "friends," this game emphasizes cooperation and teamwork among players.
3. **Avalon:** Borrowing from the legendary island of Avalon in Arthurian legend, this game evokes themes of chivalry, magic, and mystery.
4. **Bagatelle:** From the French word "bagatelle," meaning "trifle" or "small matter," this game is known for its simple rules and lighthearted gameplay.
5. **Belle Époque:** Drawing inspiration from the "Beautiful Era" in French history, this game transports players to a time of elegance, art, and social transformation.
6. **Boggle:** Though not directly French, the name "Boggle" has a French origin, meaning "to confuse" or "to bewilder," reflecting the game's challenging nature.
7. **Boule:** From the French word "boule," meaning "ball," this game involves rolling spheres towards a target, testing players' skill and precision.
8. **Catan:** While not explicitly French, "Catan" is based on the Latin word "catena," meaning "chain," symbolizing the interconnectedness of the game's resource management.
9. **Chameleon:** This game's name derives from the French word "caméléon," referring to the chameleon's ability to change colors, mirroring the game's focus on deception and disguise.
10. **Charade:** A classic party game, "Charade" originates from the French word "charade," meaning "a game of charades," where players act out words or phrases.
11. **Chemin de Fer:** From the French term "chemin de fer," meaning "iron road," this game evokes a sense of journey and movement, as players navigate the betting table.
12. **Clue:** Though not directly French, the game "Clue" draws inspiration from the French detective novel genre, emphasizing mystery and deduction.
13. **Coconuts:** The name "Coconuts" refers to the coconut shells used in the game, a connection to the French Polynesian region known for its coconut production.
14. **Coquin:** This French word meaning "naughty" or "mischievous" aptly describes the game's playful and often unexpected twists.
15. **Coup:** From the French word "coup," meaning "blow" or "stroke," this game emphasizes strategic maneuvering and surprise attacks.
16. **Déjà Vu:** Based on the French phrase "déjà vu," meaning "already seen," this game involves a sense of familiarity and repetition, as players revisit past events.
17. **Dixit:** This game's name is derived from the Latin word "dixit," meaning "he said," reflecting the game's reliance on storytelling and interpretation.
18. **Dominion:** Though not directly French, "Dominion" is rooted in the Latin word "dominium," meaning "dominion," reflecting the game's focus on power and control.
19. **Farkle:** While not French, the game "Farkle" possibly draws inspiration from the French word "farce," referring to a comedic and unpredictable situation.
20. **Fort Boyard:** This game's name comes from the French fortress "Fort Boyard," known for its historical significance and challenging escape rooms.
21. **Foul Play:** Though not directly French, the term "foul play" is often used in a criminal context, echoing the game's focus on deception and murder mystery.
22. **Game of Thrones:** Though not strictly French, the game's name borrows the French phrase "jeu de trônes," meaning "game of thrones," evoking themes of power and political intrigue.
23. **Guillotine:** This game's name refers to the infamous French execution device, symbolizing the game's potential for swift and decisive elimination.
24. **Hearthstone:** While not explicitly French, "Hearthstone" is a combination of the words "hearth" and "stone," referencing the French tradition of using fireplaces and stone for building structures.
25. **La Grande Guerre:** From the French term "la grande guerre," meaning "the great war," this game focuses on the historical conflict of World War I.
26. **La Machine:** This game's name is derived from the French word "machine," evoking a sense of complex machinery and intricate mechanisms.
27. **Le Havre:** This game's name comes from the French city of Le Havre, known for its port and industrial significance, reflecting the game's focus on resource management and development.
28. **Le Trésor de la Cité Perdue:** From the French phrase "le trésor de la cité perdue," meaning "the treasure of the lost city," this game centers around exploration and the search for hidden riches.
29. **Les Chevaliers du Royaume:** This game's name is derived from the French phrase "les chevaliers du royaume," meaning "the knights of the kingdom," emphasizing themes of chivalry and medieval warfare.
30. **Lords of Waterdeep:** Though not explicitly French, "Waterdeep" is a fictional city in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, which is heavily influenced by medieval European architecture and culture, including French elements.
31. **Magic: The Gathering:** While not strictly French, "gathering" is a word that has roots in French, referring to the act of bringing people together, reflecting the game's social aspect.
32. **Mansions of Madness:** Though not directly French, the term "mansion" has roots in French, evoking a sense of grandeur and mystery, fitting for the game's themes of horror and investigation.
33. **Marrakech:** This game's name is derived from the Moroccan city of Marrakech, known for its vibrant culture and colorful markets, mirroring the game's trading and bargaining mechanics.
34. **Mille Bornes:** From the French term "mille bornes," meaning "thousand miles," this game is a journey-themed racing game where players travel across a fictional map.
35. **Monopoly:** Though not directly French, "monopoly" is a word derived from the Greek word "monos," meaning "alone," reflecting the game's focus on acquiring a single ownership of properties.
36. **Munchkin:** Though not French, "Munchkin" is a whimsical and humorous game title that might evoke a French association with "mignon," meaning "cute," or "charming."
37. **Pictionary:** Though not directly French, the game "Pictionary" shares its root with the French word "pictogram," referring to symbolic pictures used in communication.
38. **Quarto:** From the Italian word "quarto," meaning "fourth," this game involves placing tiles in a grid with the goal of creating four-of-a-kind patterns.
39. **Race for the Galaxy:** Though not strictly French, "galaxy" has roots in the Greek word "gala," meaning "milk," which is associated with the French term "la Voie lactée," meaning "the Milky Way."
40. **Richelieu:** This game's name is derived from the French cardinal Armand Richelieu, known for his cunning political maneuvers, reflecting the game's focus on strategy and diplomacy.
41. **Risk:** Though not directly French, the term "risk" has roots in the French word "risque," symbolizing the game's inherent element of uncertainty and chance.
42. **Settlers of Catan:** Though not explicitly French, "settlers" evokes a sense of early civilization and pioneering, which is reminiscent of French colonization and exploration.
43. **Splendor:** Though not directly French, "splendor" is a word that has roots in French, referencing a sense of magnificence and grandeur, fitting for the game's theme of wealth and opulence.
44. **Sushi Go!** While not directly French, "go!" is an English adaptation of the Japanese word "iku," which is related to the French word "aller," meaning "to go," reflecting the game's fast-paced gameplay.
45. **Ticket to Ride:** Though not explicitly French, "ride" is a word that has roots in French, referencing the act of traveling, fitting for the game's theme of railway construction and exploration.
46. **Timeline:** Though not directly French, "timeline" is a term used in historical studies, which is heavily influenced by French historiography and chronology.
47. **Trivial Pursuit:** Though not directly French, the word "trivial" has roots in French, referring to something unimportant, reflecting the game's focus on general knowledge and trivia.
48. **Twilight Struggle:** Though not strictly French, "struggle" is a word that has roots in French, symbolizing the game's themes of conflict and political tension.
49. **Unearth:** Though not directly French, "unearth" implies discovery and uncovering of hidden secrets, echoing the game's theme of exploration and archaeology.
50. **Vingtetun:** From the French term "vingt-et-un," meaning "twenty-one," this game is a card game where players aim to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it.
51. **Whist:** Though not directly French, "whist" is believed to be derived from the French phrase "le jeu de la whist," meaning "the game of whist," reflecting its long history and popularity.
52. **Word Association:** Though not directly French, "association" is a word that has roots in French, reflecting the game's emphasis on linking concepts and ideas.