Board Games

We’ve got a challenge for you. Can you remember back to what it was like pre-Internet? If you’re in your early-20s, this is going to be rough. But if you’re over 40, you can clearly remember how we passed the time prior to this tech period we find ourselves engulfed in. Kids were more active outside, played with physical toys rather than controlling video game avatars, and with family and friends board games were front and center. Board games have been around way before Monopoly or Life. In fact, the very first board game was dice. That’s right, those same dice used to play a host of games today was its own game as early as 5,000 BC.

In Ancient Egypt board games were played among pharaohs and royalty. The games themselves were wrapped up in religion, and the outcomes were not always friendly. Some felt that board games had a special power to them and could predict the future. While others placed a magical element upon them, so if someone lost for example, then that loss meant something profound, and there were dire consequences as a result. The first evidence of Backgammon arrived in 2,000 BC, and in terms of games still played today, Backgammon might be the oldest.

Any toy store on the planet features a series of aisles with board games. If you don’t know what you’re looking for or simply browsing, the whole process can be overwhelming. But lucky for you, you’ve stumbled onto this post and we’re going to run down some fan favorites.

Risk

This wargame came into existence during the 1950s. The objective – conquer the world. Sounds easy enough, but Risk is a game that depends solely on the aptitude of the players. If you’re playing with small kids, for example, odds are you’ll end up conquering the world. If you’re playing with other adults or folks your age, it’s a game of control and influence. A lagging attention span for just a second can result in the complete capture of any territory gained.

Pictionary

One of the simpler games, but still a fan favorite, Pictionary involves drawing a picture and having other players guess what it is. This is similar in many respects to Charades, but instead of the person acting something out, they draw it. This is a great game for any age, and while adults will naturally have a leg up in terms of drawing, kids can really excel and even compete with adults on a level footing.

Chess

We couldn’t leave off the best-selling game of all-time. Chess has captivated people from all walks of life. From famous actors like Humphrey Bogart to famous dictators like Joseph Stalin. Chess has made many people lots of money, and it has also caused deaths. The game follows a core set of rules, but good players think three to four moves ahead of their competitors and gain natural advantages as a result.

Some other worthy candidates are Monopoly, the previously mentioned Backgammon, Checkers and Scrabble. Pull out a board game every now and again and give the Wi-Fi a break. Your sanity will thank you!