Board games have been around for literally centuries. They’re how many in ancient civilizations passed the time. People used them for fun and entertainment, but also to challenge themselves and their friends and family.
Introduction
Today, the popularity of board games is still going strong. Some of the board games played in those ancient civilizations are still played to this day. Games like Go and Mancala are still played, and the components haven’t really changed much from the wood and stones used in the past.
Mancala - the game of moving rocks around...it's more fun than it sounds.
When talking about board games today, many instantly think of games like Chess, Monopoly, Clue, etc. However, we are now living in the modern era of board gaming. According to some research, between 3,500 and 5,000 new board and card games are released each year! So, for people who think they just aren’t into board games, maybe you just haven’t found your game yet. With that many games being released each year, surely there is one that’s right up your alley.
In this article, I’ll talk about three reasons you should play board games. I’ll talk about three more reasons in part two of this article. So, let’s get started!
Fun and Enjoyment
We’ll start with the obvious. Board games are simply a lot of fun! Some say they don’t enjoy board games because they aren’t into that level of competition. Well, that’s no problem. You may enjoy playing a cooperative game. What’s a cooperative game, I hear you ask? It’s a game where all the players are working together to beat the game. Most cooperative games end with either everyone losing or everyone winning the game together.
Pandemic - One of my favorite cooperative games.
Cooperative games aren’t the only type of game out there. There is obviously competitive games where each player is trying to win against the other players at the table. But there are also many other types of game styles, each one causing the players to experience a different type of fun.
Social deduction games are games in which the players are trying to discover things about other players. For example, who at the table is lying? Who at the table is on my team? There are even cooperative games that have a social deduction element to them. For example, there are games in which everyone works together to beat the game, except for one player. One player is secretively trying to cause the other players to lose. If they succeed, they win. The other players are trying to figure out who the traitor is.
Bang!: The Dice Game. I don't think I've ever played this game just once. As soon as it's over, everyone wants to play again.
There are pick up and deliver board games, set collection board games, worker placement board games, area control board games, abstract board games, deck-building board games, racing board games, auction board games, exit room board games, hidden movement board games, miniatures board games, engine builder board games, tableau board games, word games, card games, etc. These different types of board games will be discussed in greater detail in future articles.
Social Interaction
I’ve often said there is nothing like sitting around a table with friends and playing a board game. There really is nothing like it. It’s different from going to the movies or out to dinner. It’s not just a social experience, but it’s a socially interactive experience.
Board games bring people together very efficiently. They’re great for helping people who may be shy to come out of their shells a little. They’re a great way to get to know new people. Mostly when around new people, we are a little shy because we don’t really know what to say or talk about. When playing board games with new people, you don’t have to worry about that. The game will present to you what to talk about. Board games cause a kind of forced interaction, but in a really enjoyable way. Before you know it, you’re communicating with everyone at the table. By the time the game is over, you’ve become more comfortable with the people you just played with and may have even made some new friends!
Mental Stimulation
Board games are significant for our mental health. Sure, there may be some who don’t enjoy certain types of competition or may even become angry when they lose, but as discussed earlier, you just have to find a game that caters to those types of people. Trust me. There are lots of board games out there for every personality type.
Board games keep us sharp. They require strategic thinking, critical thinking, and problem solving. They can also be very mentally stimulating. There is a certain excitement that comes from winning a game. There’s a satisfaction in coming up with a plan or strategy and then seeing it succeed in the game. There are many games that are so fun, I have felt excitement even when losing!
End of Part 1
In part one of Why You Should Play Board Games, we talked about how long board games have been around, as well as the popularity of board games today and how many new board games are released each year.
We also talked about three reasons you should play board games, such as fun and enjoyment, social interaction, and mental stimulation. Check out part 2 of this article for three more reasons you should play board games!
