Twice a month, students from St. Joseph Catholic School in Big Bend visit Regency Senior Community in Muskego to play board games with residents, building meaningful intergenerational relationships. What began as a simple activity has grown into lasting connections that benefit both students and seniors.
Read MoreThe author reflects on the joy of playing board games with family, using a late-night UNO match as an example of how games create laughter, connection, and lasting memories. While board games have long brought families together, the rise of video games and screen-based entertainment has reduced in-person interaction.
Read MoreA board game library in Plymouth called Character Creation supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities by providing a safe, inclusive space to learn and socialise. Housing over 1,000 games, the project helps develop skills such as maths, problem solving and communication through play.
Read MoreThe author reflects on how playing board games like Werewolf, Settlers of Catan, Risk and others lets her adopt a “sociopath”-persona: lying, back-stabbing, manipulating friends, all in the service of amusement and victory.
Read MoreThis 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...
Read MoreIn the 21st century, while digital entertainment has surged, board games have made a strong comeback, especially modern "Eurogames" like Catan. These games differ from classics like Monopoly by emphasizing strategy over luck, eliminating player elimination, and minimizing chance.
Read MoreLynn Potyen, owner of The GameBoard in Sheboygan, uses board games as tools for social connection and brain health. Inspired by her son's speech delay, she discovered strategic games that engaged him more deeply than traditional therapy.
Read MoreBoard games, once seen as purely ludic and abstract, have evolved into a narrative medium capable of telling complex stories. Drawing from Marie-Laure Ryan’s metaphor of media as piping bags shaping formless stories, board games can now structure narratives uniquely, balancing gameplay (ludic) and storytelling (narrative) elements.
Read MoreBoard 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.
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