Game nights have become a lost art. Board games used to be one of the more reliable forms of entertainment, but the rise of video games has seen them demoted to the activity you only do with your grandparents, most likely because showing them a Fortnite edit would make their heads explode.
Don’t get me wrong, I love video games and will defend them in the face of all the criticism from the baby boomers; however, that does not mean I cannot appreciate the beauty of a board game.
I love incorporating board games into my life, and I think everyone should too. While video games are becoming more and more advanced, there are still some areas where they cannot overtake the magic of board games.
One area where board games excel is in socialization. Board games facilitate socialization more than video games. While video games allow you to play and talk from anywhere, being in the same room as the people you are playing with makes the experience feel more personal.
Seeing the reactions of opponents during tense moments in a board game creates memories that stick with you. When playing video games, you can’t see your opponent or their reaction, which takes away from the social aspect of playing together.
Another flaw of video games is the setup. As President of the Fellowship of Game Enthusiasts Harry Mallane puts it, “You have to own the console. You have to know all the rules and button inputs. Usually, video games only go up to 2-4 players. Some games have an online feature, but the price is a limiting factor,” he said.
All of these are factors can make it difficult for a group of people to enjoy time together.
Up to this point, the video game diehards have probably been suggesting playing split-screen to fix most of these problems. While this is an option, only so many players can fit on one screen. This is where board games have an ace up their sleeve: physical game pieces.
Having physical pieces to play with is an underrated aspect of board games that gives them an edge over video games. Board game enthusiasts will remember games that have beautiful game pieces, and even non-fans can tell the difference between a cheap deck of cards and a quality one with a nice woven pattern that feels good to grasp.
Quality game pieces also make the games feel real, “It engages you, being able to place the pieces wherever you want and you get to visually and spatially see them,” said Mallane.
Another advantage to board games is the convenience. If you have people over and you see that everyone is just checking their weather app, pulling out a board game is a quick way to take the pressure off people, as the game will more often than not jumpstart conversation.
Picking out games for a casual crowd
Some games are easy to learn, like UNO. But the heavy luck element can drag them out for too long and with little strategy involved. The people who are more competitive will not find satisfaction in winning because they did not feel like they outplayed their opponent. The win feels unearned. On the other hand, there are games like Dungeons & Dragons and other war strategy games that are too tactical and complicated for casual players.
Games in between are perfect for those who showed up to game night to eat some snacks and share laughs. You want a game that is simple enough that people can take their turn without thinking about it, but also tactical enough to reward players for making smart moves and strategizing.
What to play
Picking the right board game for a college crowd involves research and can be tricky. Despite this, I have my picks to share. All of them can be conveniently found at a local Target, so there’s no need to buy from sketchy sellers on eBay.
My three picks are Monopoly Deal, Ringer and Ticket to Ride. All of these are fast and easy to learn. They all involve cards, so there is a level of luck. However, they also feature strategies to manipulate the odds in your favor.
In the case of Monopoly Deal and Ringer, they are card games that can fit in your backpack. The rounds for these games are extremely short, making them my favorite to play in a casual setting.
For Mallane, his pick is Catan, as the deep strategy involved makes people want to keep coming back to try out new tactics.
As the weather gets colder, people should start looking for activities they can do indoors. Next time you and your friends find some free time, suggest a board game and do your part in returning them to the spotlight.
Photo from William Warby on Unsplash.