@gordian Not sure what a "modern" board game is, but you might like Adrian Seville's study on "The Cultural Legacy of the Royal Game of the Goose". You can download the front matter and introduction here: https://www.academia.edu/39991130/The_Cultural_Legacy_of_the_Royal_Game_of_the_Goose #GameOfTheGoose #BoardGames #GameStudies #HistoryOfGames