14 Reasons Why Board Games are Important in 2024

14 Reasons Why Board Games are Important in 2024

Man has been playing the humble board game for centuries. From 2,600 BC when the oldest board game of ‘Ur’ was discovered, to recent times playing family board games on the Switch.

Board games have been a staple in our culture, our lives and in our families, and with good reason.

Dig a bit deeper and you’ll realise that interactive family board games serve a purpose – several in fact. Here we take a look at some of the reasons why board games hold a special place in our lives, and serve an important purpose.

1: For fun and entertainment

Let’s get to the most obvious reason – some of the top family board games are there to serve the simple pleasure of fun and entertainment. Be it a cold morning on holiday, a lazy Sunday afternoon, or a Christmas get-together with the family, you can always rely on simple board games for family fun.

Of course, board games have the added benefit of playing in groups, or many on their own, ensuring that you’ve always got company, one way or another.

2: It helps increase brain function

In recent years ‘brain training games’ have been widely encouraged, especially to increase brain function in the old. There is evidence to suggest that playing board games helps to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, helping to keep the mind active and sharp.

Research has found that even just an hour a day can improve attention. In particular, games that support memory and thinking skills are beneficial, especially crossword-style games and family favourite – Chess.

3: Intergenerational play

When you think about how we really connect with each other in families, there are seldom opportunities, other than say mealtimes, when we’re altogether as a unit. Bringing people together is just one of the most important reasons why board games are important.

When you think about it, they can bring grandparents, parents and grandchildren together in a fun way, filled with lots of laugh-out-loud moments and selfie taking!

Some of the best family board games for all ages are inclusive games like Cluedo, which don’t take much explaining and Top Trumps, which span all generation and ages.

4: Helps kids with learning

From the early years through to teenage years, board games offer many opportunities for learning and cognitive development. These games go beyond mere entertainment and provide educational benefits that will last a lifetime. They can help children with everyday tasks from matching pairs, to identifying colours, as well as helping hand-eye coordination.

That’s not all, some of the top family board games can cleverly help the frontal lobes of the brain develop, especially strategy games like Risk.

Some of these games mimic real life, others help to prepare children for adult life, encouraging them to think about their actions and the potential consequences, whilst making better informed choices. Plus, there’s the crucial skill of learning from your mistakes and accepting wins and losses in a kind way.

5: They are a piece of our history

It’s important to recognise that board games also offer a snapshot in time, as a piece of cultural history. Take for instance, ‘Candyland’ – this retired game was launched in the late 40s during a period of great polio suffering and reflects the issues of that time.

Whilst the recent launch of Pandemic needs no introduction, and perfectly captures a moment in time, highlighting people’s worries, woes and concerns around global diseases.

6: Help with problem solving

There’s no denying that some of the best games for families to play together, are those that serve a purpose. And while you might not realise it, many board games in fact are helping us to process critical thinking, and sharpen our problem-solving skills.

The analysis, consideration and thought-process involved in playing board games can later help us with daily tasks, as we fine tune our mental agility and analytical abilities.

7: Supports Emotional Intelligence

Over the years, emotional intelligence has been recognised as an important quality that highly-effective people possess. In the workplace it allows us to be empathetic and supportive, in sport it helps us to act graciously when playing in a team, and in our daily lives it helps us to empathise with others and be more understanding in the process.

And, as you’ve come to expect, board games are the perfect vehicle for this, helping us to refine all these qualities, as we play games, take learnings and understand the importance of both winning and failing, and how to deal with the emotions these present to us.

8: Important for communications skills

We can learn an awful lot about ourselves, and each other, through playing board games. Some games like ‘Beat the Chasers’ encourage team work, and teach us about playing and losing as a group, effective communication, leadership and risk taking. Meanwhile solitary games can help us relax and unwind, giving us breathing space to think and process what is going on in our lives.

9: They’re a Christmas tradition

There’s a reason why some of the best classic family board games, like ‘Beat the Parents’ are wheeled out during the festive season. Christmas is a time for togetherness and spending time as a family. Board games not only tap into that tradition, but they keep them alive. And playing together as a family can help to strengthen bonds and create special memories that you’ll cherish forever.

Plus, if they stop family feuding then it’s an added bonus! It’s refreshing to know that over half of all families play an average of four board games over the festive period!

10: Stress relief

As briefly touched on, playing board games can actually be a great stress-buster. It transports players to a different place, helping to distract them from their daily worries and focus on the present. So valuable are board games, that they have even been recommended to promote overall wellbeing and mental health.

Some of the best board games for stress relief include those that encourage gentle play, time for thinking and even the opportunity for single-player activity. It goes without saying that it’s best to avoid stress-inducing fast-paced games that may not help with the relaxation factor!

11: Sample different choices

There are thousands of different games in the world, with new board games coming out all the time. In this never-ending stream of entertainment, it’s good to know that there’s something for everyone.

And, because we tend to play board games with other people, it’s a good way to learn about your friends personal tastes, or be introduced to new games, themes or types of games. Take for instance after school clubs – these are a great place for children to explore different types of board games, such as Pictionary.

12: Digital-free entertainment

With the migration to the digital era, with it come benefits and challenges. Case in hand, well over a third of teenagers spend more than eight hours a day on electronic devices. For parents, teachers and children themselves, this is a worrying statistic, so we need to create more opportunities for children to engage offline, in order to strike a better balance.

Luckily there are family board games for four year olds, as well as fourteen year olds, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. Board games not only encourage offline activity, but they offer respite from the constant looking at screens.

Disconnecting from technology allows children to be more present in the moment, and have more meaningful interactions and connections with those around them. There aren’t too many ways this can be achieved, but thankfully board games are a great way.

13: Aids personal growth

Self-improvement has been a hot topic in the past few years, and learning to enhance our skill base and challenge typical ways of thinking goes hand-in-hand with this.

Board games offer the chance to take risks, go out of your comfort zone and try new ways of thinking and working. Sampling these in a ‘safe space’ offers the perfect platform for bringing them into your daily lives too.

14: Promotes social connections

In this day and age, people are becoming more remote while digitally connected. We can play games on our laptops, mobiles and even on our TVs. To some extent, this has taken away the very human need for face-to-face contact.

However, fun family board games are a great way to connect all ages and create meaningful connections with each other, as well as spending quality time together – offline.

Final thoughts…

So there you have it, 14 reasons why board games are important. Not only are they a fun way to interact with loved ones, fostering social connections, but they can also give our brains a boost, provide hours of entertainment and serve as an educative tool.

So, what are you waiting for – roll out the best family board games and let the good times begin!