A Narrative Review of the Benefits of Board Games in Health
A Narrative Review of the Benefits of Board Games in Health
A Narrative Review of the Benefits of Board Games in Health
Eliana Alweis, Richard Alweis
September, 16, 2025
Summary
This narrative review explores how board games and gamification support health education, diagnosis, and therapy across age groups. Evidence shows that in elderly populations, games aid cognitive maintenance and early dementia detection; in adults, they improve preventive care, chronic disease management, and rehabilitation; and in children, they enhance learning about nutrition, mental health, and chronic illness self-management. Board games also reduce anxiety, foster emotional skills, and encourage behavior change in mixed-age groups regarding substance use and infection prevention. While short-term gains in engagement, knowledge, and psychosocial well-being are clear, long-term clinical benefits require further large-scale, rigorous research.
Reference
Alweis, E., & Alweis, R. (2025, September 16). A Narrative Review of the Benefits of Board Games in Health. Cureus, 17(9), e92484. Retrieved from https://www.cureus.com/articles/410267-a-narrative-review-of-the-benefits-of-board-games-in-health?score_article=true#!/