Laughter and playful chatter can be heard emanating from the dining room, where a table is surrounded by family and friends. A closer look shows that the meal is over, the plates have been cleared, and everyone is in on the fun of playing a board game. Board games that challenge your knowledge. Board games that require movement of marbles based on the randomness of the roll. Handmade or mass-produced board games have long been a catalyst that brought people together for a healthy mix of fun, education, and conversation.
It’s the group dynamics of face-to-face interaction around the table that makes board games the continuing choice for all ages. Good ‘analog’ table talk provides all the elements for getting to know and understand people in your family and circle of friends.
Board games that challenge your knowledge and are sometimes best played in teams. Games like Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, and Scrabble fall into this realm of testing mental agility, knowledge, memory, or deductive talents. Board games that appeal to a broader age group can offer some element of randomness, like rolling the dice, while exercising your strategic and tactical skills. Popular board games like Trouble (also called Aggravation, Tarbles, and Wahoo), checkers, or Monopoly are more family-oriented, as young children and older adults can play together.
So how do you choose the game that appeals to your family? Will it complement your next friendly gathering?
1) often the simplest games will be the ones you bring up most often when family or friends get together. Experiment here with 2-3 options. Even mix it up with two different games in one night.
2) let the reaction of the participants be the measure of approval. Having fun, joking, and laughing are indicators of an excellent group. If you’re feeling tension, restlessness, or unhealthy group dynamics, this could be an indicator to stop, change play, or alter the game in some way.
3) It’s about creating fun, good conversation and encouragement for everyone who plays. Remember that “it’s just a game”. It’s not about winning or losing. Good board games will appeal even to observers, those who don’t participate and gather along the periphery.
4) Fond memories and conversation about past games are always a good indicator that you have a “winner” of a game.
5) A board game should be portable and mobile, not needing batteries, and adaptable for playing at home, in the cabin, or on the go.
6) Having a board game handmade by a friend or family member can also add that special touch of a ‘traditional family game’.
7) Board games that provoke future challenges, such as “Great game, we’ll win next time” or “That was just the warm-up game, now prepare to lose” are good indicators of a board game worth playing. . and again.
As with the advent of any new technological innovation, computer video games were predicted to virtually wipe out the analog board game market. Not so. Board games still enjoy plenty of play time. Most of the board games have been transformed into alternative digital formats. Games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, The Game of Life are in the top 10 board games in the USA. Some of these are now online as well: Scrabble, Clue, Checkers, Chess, Sorry, Risk, Monopoly are a few.
There is something enchanting about a locally made board game. Variations on old board games like Hasbro’s Pop-o-matic Trouble and Milton Bradley’s Aggravation have emerged as handcrafted wooden marble board games like Tarbles (from Cape Breton Island) and Wahoo. These carefully crafted marble board games make a great family gift. Steeped in memories of wonderful family times, handmade board games become family heirlooms passed down to future generations for their playing pleasure.
Board games are perfect for playing at home, at the cottage, or on the go. They bring people together for fun and create warm, lasting memories of family gatherings. Memories cherished by all ages. Memories that will surely make you smile.
