Why do you play board games?

Ever since I started this blog I’m often asked why I like board games. It seems board games have developed something of a bad reputation. So I figured I’d dismiss some of the misconceptions them and hopefully bring more people to the game table.

One of the things I hear most often right after someone asks my why I play board games is that board games are just for children. Well not anymore. Actually they never were. Games are designed to attract the whole family to the table. There are games geared for any age group. Some games are really not designed for kids at all. Here I should point something out about my blog: if you don’t want to read a whole review skip to the last paragraph of a post for a summary. I usually include who I recommend a game for: the typical age group, style of player group and sometimes who I think wouldn’t enjoy the game.

Not convinced to play yet? Why not? Do you think board games suck? Well yeah they used to but not anymore! The problem is many people had the same experiences with board games. We all got the games the big chain stores had on their shelves that everyone owned because that’s what board games are in many people’s minds. However these select few games are mass marketed junk. I agree that those games suck. I’m a board gamer who wrote a post about how why I hate monopoly. If you go to a mom and pop game store you will find board games of a higher fun quotient.

Now if you have gone to a mom and pop and grabbed a game you want to tell me you hated I’m guessing you grabbed a game based on a popular TV show or movie. Unfortunately market games tend to suck too. Most of these are developed from a tie-in marketing strategy. What this means is marketing people cranked out a game thinking that it only has to sell during the limited tie in phase. Not much thought is given to game mechanics. All thought is given to cranking out a game that looks interesting enough to buy. Seriously do yourself a favour and talk to the people at the game store like mission fun and games. If you find a marketed game you think you will like ask them if they know of a better game. Chances are they will lead you to something you will like more. Of course there have been some pretty fun marketed games out there so don’t just write them off.

Perhaps you think board games are for geeks or nerds? Well guess what we are all geeks and nerds about something so let’s give that a rest. Car geeks with their car math, workout nerds with their muscle biology, fashion geeks with their colour palettes and pattern matching… you are a geek or a nerd about something anyway. Want to know some celebrity board gamers? Watch TableTop for the likes of Jeri Ryan or Superman aka Brandon Routh. Still think it’s nerdy and geeky? Of course you do, but now it’s awesome nerdy and geeky.

Or are you thinking technology has replaced the board game? It really hasn’t. Playing over a network you lose that important human interaction. Being able to read if someone is bluffing in their move, getting to know a person on a face to face level, enjoying each other’s company is what board gaming is all about. There’s just a whole new level to gaming in the same room as other players face to face. The interaction and companionship just makes gaming more enjoyable.

Okay now that I’ve convinced you to play you are probably thinking about where to find players. Well thanks to the internets it shouldn’t be hard to find people looking to game. Board game café’s have been popping up and many board game/hobby stores have a room used for board game groups. Ask around and you should be able to find somewhere to play. Of course family and friends could be coerced into playing.

To sum up I recommend board gaming for everyone. It’s a chance to get to know people in a social night of fun and frustrations. Sure there are winners and losers but when you have a great night of board gaming you really don’t care. Board gaming is a great excuse to be together with family, friends or even meeting strangers in a board game club. Who knows you might make some great new friends!

Feel free to add your reasons to play in the comments section below.