Bored Games

Bored Games Which games will best cure the doldrums of the time 'falling back'?

Text by Nancy S. Moseley

Photo by Kathy Marsh

‘Tis the season for lots of things. For holly, for jolly, for inflatable yard art, for stuffed turkeys, gift-giving and tree-trimming; for lots and lots of time indoors with family near and far. It only seems appropriate that the week of Thanksgiving is also known as National Game and Puzzle Week. It's like the clandestine governing board of national such-and-such days knows what we might need and when: an excuse to fill our bodies and our minds with something besides calories and cabin fever. Chess and Checkers top most lists as the bestselling board games of all time. Early forms of chess can be traced back to a game in 7th Century A.D. India called "Chaturanga" because the game had two distinct elements of modern day chess – different pieces that possess varying powers, with victory decided by one single piece. By 2022, the chess market is slated to be worth upwards of $40.5 million dollars in North America. Thankfully, the market didn't just stop with the success of two implausibly timeless board games. The wellrounded gaming industry continues to ebb and flow and release games that are socially timely and relevant for all age groups. Yet, the effects of games on juvenile audiences, whether it's a simple card game of Uno or something more multi-faceted like, say, Dungeons and Dragons, are invaluable to a developing brain. Through all the thrill and fun, games sneak in strategic reasoning, problem-solving and hone a healthy desire to win, while also teaching the grace of defeat. Schoolyard.com's blog states: "A Michigan State University study reports that kids who play games experience spikes in creative thinking and abilities. Not only is creativity fun, but it is a special life skill that can be useful in school and become essential in the workforce. Playing games with kids over holiday breaks may do more than help them behave for a few hours; it may also prepare them for a lifetime of success." Retro relics like Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Monopoly, Life, Operation, Yahtzee and even Mouse Trap, first released in 1963, are fan favorites and still move off the shelves. Countless editions of Trivial Pursuit, from Horror Movies to Harry Potter, make it a customizable fit for all

family members. And the newer Cards Against Humanity, with all its indecorous expansion packs, is a great option for toddy toasting adults after bedtime. Role-playing games, when players adopt personas with traits and individual missions and move about in an imaginary world as part of a wholistic story, have been a decades-long favorite. Dungeons and Dragons, first published in 1974, is colloquially credited with the continuing development and advancement of the roleplaying genre. In August of 2021, dicebreaker.com listed Dungeons and Dragons 5E as perpetually among the best, along with other tabletop adventures including Call of Cthulhu 7E, Blades in the Dark and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Gamesradar.com lists Ticket to Ride as 2021's best board game for families. It doesn't involve high-strategy skills, perfect for when turkey has zapped the ability to form cognitive thought. There are multiple versions, set in multiple countries, so there is always new "scenery" to enjoy. Other modern favorites that skew toward wee ones include Rhino Hero, Dragonwood and Jungle Cruise, based on Magic Kingdom's famous ride. Wildly popular 1990s classic (can we call something from the ‘90s a classic yet?) Catan is definitely worth consideration, while Azul, modeled after Portuguese tiles called azulejos, is simply beautiful to behold.

Thanks to our society of convenience-hungry consumers, you can now opt-in for game night subscription boxes and have a new adventure delivered to your doorstep regularly. Escape the Crate brings the exhilaration of an escape room, with puzzles to solve and codes to crack, to the comfort of your home bi-monthly. Or for those with a taste for murder and crime, Hunt a Killer is top-notch entertainment in a mailable box. When Battleship launched an electronic version in 1977, followed by Electronic Talking Battleship in 1989, it piqued our palates for the beeps and lights of games that go beyond cardboard pieces, rolling dice and fake paper money. Today, the video game industry develops so fast it's hard to keep up. While they shouldn't be overlooked as a legitimate game genre, they deserve an entire article on their own. And, in truth, it's hard to find a video game the whole family can enjoy at the same time. As we're perched at the onset of a long, earliernight-fall holiday season, don't feel overwhelmed with the choices. Family game night doesn't have to be a high maintenance event requiring hours of homework to decipher directions. You can accomplish a lot with a deck of cards and a pen and piece of paper. It's hard to beat the lightning-fast, nail-biting action of Xs vs. Os. Tic-Tac-Toe certainly beats crazy Aunt [fill in the blank's] affectionately forceful Xs and Os. ‘Tis the season!

Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer in Blacksburg. She did not grow up playing many games besides poker with her cousins during annual beach vacations. She considers it a pretty good life skill.