Board games offer a powerful antidote to digital isolation by fostering face-to-face connection, laughter, and lasting relationships. Laura Schneider, founder of Meeples Games in Seattle, created a space for people to gather, play, and build community.
Read MoreA college student recounts a memorable night spent playing the board game Catan with friends instead of going out, highlighting the growing appeal of tabletop games among young adults. The author argues that board games foster in-person social connections and boost cognitive skills, which is increasingly valuable in a digital-focused era.
Read MoreIn 1822, The Travellers’ Tour Through the United States became the first known board game printed in the U.S., predating the previously believed The Mansion of Happiness.
Read MoreBoard games have become hugely popular in France, making it the leading European market for tabletop gaming. This boom is fueled by a strong cultural tradition, a dynamic creative industry, and widespread social engagement.
Read MoreMichelle Kong's LA Chess Club grew from a small group to 500 members after she promoted it on social media. As young people seek ways to combat loneliness and digital overload, board games like chess, backgammon, and mahjong have surged in popularity.
Read MoreAt 40, Tim Clare was diagnosed with autism, and he reflects on how his lifelong love of board games helped him navigate a world that often felt confusing. Games provided structure and a way to connect with others, filling social gaps and reducing anxiety.
Read MoreBoard games are being explored as a tool to combat dementia, with a focus on accessibility and simplicity. In Japan, tabletop game creators are developing games that can be played by people of all ages and abilities.
Read MoreThe author reflects on the deep connection with their Cuban grandmother, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1965 and never learned English. Despite language barriers, they bonded over food and the game Parcheesi. While growing up, the author spent time with their grandmother in Miami, playing the game and sharing meals, bridging their cultural gap.
Read MoreFridays in my RTI class were dedicated to board games, enhancing students’ numeracy skills through engaging play. Research confirms the benefits of game-based learning, highlighting improved executive functions, reading, and math skills among students who participated.
Read MoreIn Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, 110 students from 11 Kanto region high schools participated in a board game tournament, marking the seventh such event and a significant increase from the 36 participants in 2018. Students played popular games like Monopoly, Catan, and Carcassonne, with many also bringing personal favorites.
Read MoreIn 2023, the board game industry reached $16.8 billion, projected to grow to $40.1 billion by 2032. While classics like “Scrabble” evolve, new games such as “Pandemic” and “Wingspan” have gained popularity.
Read MoreIn the realm of board games, aesthetics play a pivotal role, from intricately carved chess pieces to vibrant designs on Snakes and Ladders boards. Evolving beyond gameplay alone, thematic artwork and high-quality components, like meeples, drive appeal across various game genres.
Read MoreThe evolution of user experience (UX) in board games presents a unique challenge distinct from video games. Unlike the standardized interfaces of video games, where controllers and output systems remain consistent, board games continuously reinvent their interfaces with each new design.
Read MoreThe Hobby" delves into the world of board games, exploring their history and modern-day significance. Filmmaker Simon Ennis interviews enthusiasts like Tom Vazel and Candice Harris, showcasing their passion and the diverse gaming landscape.
Read MoreAs we get older and start to experience adult life – with all its busyness and responsibilities, plus a lack of time – the things we used to do for fun as children can easily fall by the wayside. In some cases, this doesn’t matter too much, but when it comes to board games, it seems a shame. There are many reasons why board games and tabletop games are good for you and why you should continue to play them as you get older. Read on to find out more, and it might persuade you to find your old games or even start playing new ones.
Read MoreKey Points: Researchers believe tiny stone spheres found on the island of Santorini could be one of the earliest examples of an Ancient Greek board game. They used machine learning to analyze 700 stones according to a new methodology that shed light on potential patterning within the stone group.
Read MoreRise-Up, Monopoly, and Co-opoly: What did you learn playing board games? There are board games that teach us about capitalism, private property, and the myth of meritocracy. Normalizing empire, domination, and violence are three lessons Cold War weapon that was the board game Risk.
Read MoreThompson's interest in games stems from his childhood and roleplaying games, such as Dungeon and Dragons. It was listening to the Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast that introduced Thompson to the concept of board game design.
Read MoreImagination Gaming ran a popular board games area at the WASD 2022 gaming convention, and afterwards we sat down with the owner, Nigel Scarfe, to delve further into what the firm does. Here's an edited version of our conversation, exploring Imagination Gaming's activities, the types of games they work with, and Scarfe's views on the power of tabletop games.
Read MoreBoard games/indoor games have been depicted in many ancient Indian paintings, sculptures and literature of ancient periods. From the 2nd century BCE onwards, the depiction of the Chaturanga board games became a subject of great interest.
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