In recent years, there has been a shift in preference from video games back to board games. As the world continues to move into the age of technology, generations are looking to grasp onto something familiar while they still can. “Board Game Cafes” are opening all around the country and attracting people across generations looking for the authentic board game experience that they grew up with. Some say the best aspect innate to all board games is the social and in-person interactions associated with it.
For friends who live closer together, there are plenty of options to play games other than going over to someone else’s house. First of all, owning a vast collection of board games could cost a lot of money for games that you would only play occasionally. Board game cafes have been popping up all over the country as a solution to this problem. By providing an open space, dozens of games, and usually some kind of food or beer, it creates a relatively cheap and easy solution to the problems of a modern board game player. Not only do board game cafes, like Uncommons, which is located in Manhattan provide flexible options for social gaming, but they also create a community in an area who all share an interest in board games.
In some cases, to keep in touch with friends across the country, or in some cases across continents, there have been simulated board game tables created. One of the best selling games on the computer software Steam, which acts a middle man to purchasing and storing games, is TableTop Simulator. To call TableTop Simulator a game in itself is a bit of a stretch. At first glance, there’s not much to it because as the title says its just a simulated tabletop with some dice or cards. The reason this game has become so popular is because of the community around it. The developers have openly shared the platform of the game, allowing someone with minimal skills to recreate their favorite game online. Some of the games range from Monopoly to Uno to something as open-ended as a Dungeons and Dragon campaign board. The possibilities are limitless and with the public creating more content daily, the shift towards tabletop gaming has become a more realistic possibility.
One of the most attractive bonuses that playing board games has over playing video games online is the simply idea of human interaction. In a day and age where technology is growing rapidly, texting has replaced calling, email has taken over from postal services, board games have provided a nice way to bring together a group of people for a while and have some fun. Unlike with video games, when you bankrupt someone in Monopoly or cut off their road in Settlers of Catan you can see the anger or disappointment in their face. I know that sounds terrible and I’m well aware that I’m a monster, but there’s little more satisfying then blocking a friend in a game and seeing their response.
People today have lost that satisfaction over online games and have lost the feeling of face-to-face competition. Board games lead to loud voices, spontaneous jokes, and in some cases even friendly arguments. People are beginning to open their eyes to how many things have been left behind with the board game and that is why, across the world, the popularity of social gaming areas has been increasing recently.
