By Alina Ferguson
Board games used to be a staple in homes. Game nights were a common phrase in the vernacular. Now, it seems digital games have taken that spot in homes.
I remember my first experience playing a board game. It was actually Candyland. I really wanted to be the ice skating princess because she was pretty. The board itself was so beautiful, and since then, there have been many modern variations of it. I was still new to the states and to my family, and this was the perfect time to gauge them as people.
I will admit, I was not very good at losing at this time, I was 6 and really wanted to win, so if I did lose, I would either flip the board or huff and puff. My family claims they started cheating to let me win. This may or may not be true — there is no substantial evidence to support their claims. What I know is that I grew out of this habit. I learned that a game is simply that — a game. I did not need to take it so seriously, especially when I had people in my corner.
Video games are more immersive and the world building is insane, but board games are meant to keep you in the present. They are meant for you to interact with the people playing with you. Yes, the game is important, but it is more of an intermediary to bring people together, whether it be friends, families, or people in between.
Yes, connecting with others online is great, but in our quest to make connections that reach beyond our borders, we have lost the ability to connect right here at home.
Cheating in video games is easier; you can have a mod that overpowers your player, which may make it fun for you, but not for others. You can just buy a whole ton of buffs, weapons, coins, or anything else to help you level up.
You don’t need wifi to play board games. You can play inside, outside, or anywhere, really. You can pack the game into a bag and play on the go. People can play video games on the go, but again, they are stuck in their phones. While they are living in the world in the game, they are not living in the world they are in now.
My all-time favorite board game is Clue. It is a murder mystery, and you play as suspects in the murder. You have little potential murder weapons. Gosh, it is such a fun game. Then, you get to look at other people’s cards to tick off possible rooms of the murder, suspects, and weapons. You have to use deductive reasoning to solve the murder. You can play as the characters, or you can just play as you.
I used to do irregular game nights with my family. They apparently only played because I liked playing, but at some point, they stopped. Maybe it is because I got older and they figured I did not need them anymore.
No one, it seems, likes board games anymore. They are becoming much like DVDs, VHS, and CDs — a thing that makes you say, “Oh, yeah. I remember that, back in the day.” I feel old.
Playing a board game is a good way to pass time, connect with people, and have fun in low-stakes competitions. You don’t have to spend money in-game and you do not have to devote years, hours — unless you’re playing Monopoly or Uno — to still get fulfillment and enjoyment out of it.
So, get a glass of wine, a cup of tea, a cheese board, or a snack. Sit down on the floor, pull out your game of choice and gather with your trusted few to solve a murder, buy and trade properties, or whatever you choose to do. Just have fun.
Alina Ferguson is a journalism and anthropology major at CalPolyHumboldt. She hopes to be a writer for anthropology to bring science to life in a way that everyone can consume..