Enjoy Life
Counter culture: The revival of the board game
Board games are back, with an imaginative new twist, as a new generation discovers the joys of sociable, tabletop gaming. By Greg Mattocks Evans
Board games were once a vital part of a family Christmas; not only were they centrepiece of any young child's stocking, bit also an enjoyable way to while away post-turkey Christmas evenings in the company of your nearest and dearest.
For a while it seemed to board game was fast becoming a thing of the past, with those battered boxes of Risk, Monopoly and Cluedo destined to spend he rest of their days marooned in the attic as the console became king.
Thanks to a new generation of games designers and entrepreneurs, however, the board game is not only back, it's actually fashionable, too, and sales of board games are booming, up to 20 percent last year according to one survey. Today's board games are not only imaginative, creative and absorbing but some are actually co-operative rather than competitive, with all the players working together to a particular end, be it ending a pandemic or helping the Thunderbirds team to thwart the evil Hood.
It is this sociable element that is key, not only in the playing of some of the more recent board games, but also where they are played, with special cafes springing up all over the country where you can enjoy a cake, coffee or craft beer while playing a game of Ticket to Ride or Catan.
The internet has played its part in the revival of board games; not only are they more easily available, through online retailers, but, thanks to smart phones and tablet, it is often possible to try digital versions of a game before investing in the physical edition.
Social media and online forums have also created a community where 'gamers' can share tips and advice, as well as recommending new games to each other. But perhaps the most important reason is, quite simply, that the new generation of board games is more interesting to play.
Rather than simply involving chance and the roll of a dice (many early board games were essentially variants on Ludo) there is more skill involved in today's games, and there's often an element of storytelling involved as well.
Some games dispense with dice altogether, unheard of for those who were brought up with earlier board games. That doesn't mean they are hard to play, far from it, and once you have mastered the basic rules they can be much more satisfying. Carcassonne, for instance involves players collectively building a map, while claiming individual chunks of territory, a process that can be both exciting and creative.
There has always been a market for specialist role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons, but as this new revival is different, as Peter Wooding, who has been running the game shop Orc's Nest, in Covent Garden, for 30 years explains. Rather than what he calls the "stereotypical gamer", usually single white men, "You now get a lot more couples- young professional, just bought somewhere. They still want to meet up with mates but they don't wamt to go out and get drunk anymore. They like the idea of getting a game out, having a few drinks, a bit of fun for two three hours around the table."
The new board games
The settlers of Catan Since its release in Germany in 1995, The Settlers of Catan, or Catan as it is now known (Mayfair, £44.99), has gone on to be one of the most popular board games in the modern era.
As of 2015 more than 22 million copies have been sold and published in more than 30 languages. It is a classic example of a genre known as the 'Eurogame' where the focus is less on luck and conflict and more on strategy.
Players take on the role of rival settlers landing on a foreign island ans attempt to create the largest and most prosperous colony.
To win, you have to earn victory points,, which are gained by building settlements, cities and interlocking roads. To build these requires resources, which are produced by certain dice rolls.
What is key to the enduring charm of Catan is the rule that all players can trade resources with each other at any time, even if it is not their turn. This makes for an engaging experience where no one player is left out of the action and often leads to a tense finish with many players on the cusp of winning.
Ticket to Ride One of the finest examples of modern board gaming, Ticket to Ride (Days of Wonder, £39.99) is elegant, and simple to lay, but has enough, depth to keep players refining and developing their tactics.
Players compete to claim rail routes across the USA and complete 'tickets'- cards that challenge players to connect far-flung cities by rail.
Since its release in 2004, the game has won countless awards and spawned a series of sequels, including Ticket to Ride: Rails and Sails, released in 2016, that gives players the chance to connect routes across the world using shipping lanes as well as rail routes.
The board and pieces are wonderfully detailed which makes for a fully immersive and satisfying experience.
Carcasonne Ask someone what Carcassonne is and they may tell you that it is a Medieval French city, but, increasingly, they may tell you that it is one of their favourite board games-= albeit one where players create the board themselves.
Carcassonne (Z-man Games, £32,99) sees players placing tiles to create a patchworl of the French countryside, complete with roads, cities and monasteries.
Players score points by completing these elements, deploying 'meeple followers' (wooden tokens) as knights, robbers, monks and farmers to score more points than their opponents.
Like the best of modern board games it is simple enough to pick up but each game presents a fresh challenge. There is also something deeply satisfying about seeing a city form in front of your eyes, created by you and your fellow players. Carcassonne picked up the prestigious Spiel Des Jahres (Game of the Year) award when it was released in 2001.
Thunderbirds A relatively new board gaming idea is the co-operative game, where players are not out to best each other but instead worl together to beat the game. This idea fits seamlesslu with the ethos and atmosphere of Thunderbirds and this crowd-funded boad game (Modiphius, £53.35) sees players tale on the role of the Tracy borthers (or Lady Penelope of course), and attapmt to avert the disasters whilst thwarting the schemes of the evil Hood.
The game is a real test of teamwork and problem-solving skills with several ways to lose.
Focus on completing daring resces and the Hood will cause you downfall, but focus too much on the Hood and you risk too many disasters going unresolved.
It's certainly a challenge, but a rewarding one, and the pieces and board are lovingly designed.
Family favourites
There are still plenty of traditional board games around too. Word Rush (Tactic Games, £19.99. www.tactic.net), is a game of quick thinking words and categories for ages eight-plus that involves players taking turns to come up with a word that fits the category card from one of nine letters placed on the game board. With a dash against the sand timer and the threat of lost round if you can't come up with a rd, Word Rush is a test of wits, probably best played before, rather than after, the Christmas turkey.
Mr & Mrs (19.99), from Rascals, is based on the Mr & Mrs TV show, where players are challenged to answer in depth and entertaining questions about their partner, friends or family members. It's easy to play and great fun, and with the new Pocket Edition (£9.99), suitable for ages ten plus, you can play whilst on the move.
As the title suggests, the Really Nasty Horse Racing Game (Rascals, £19.99) is a more unforgiving take on the old Totopoly, the difference being that here it pays to be devious, and winning the most money and therefore the game, can involve a certain amount of subterfuge and mischief-making. It's a great game to play with a group and is suitable for two to six players or teams, aged 12 to adult. And it really can be Christmas every day with The Very Merry Christmas Game (£19.99), also from Rascals, which is suitable for ages eight and above and for two to four players or teams. Players aim to accumulate the most lavish set of presents to full their stockings, ranging from the most covetable to the really naff. You can pull a cracker to steal a better present from someone else's stocking (you can use real crackers for this), or land on the carol singers space and sing your favourite festive song to avoid losing one of your presents. And watch out for the dreaded sprout cards.
What do you think of this article? Are you keen on board games?
To keep up to date with all the latest from Choice, or if you have something you want to share with our team, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram
Other stories in Enjoy Life
Summer 2024 Books
Summer DVDs
Summer CDs
Latest book reviews
May DVD Reviews
May's book reviews
May's CD reviews
That English Riviera Touch
April's DVD reviews
April's book reviews
April's CD reviews
March's DVD review
March book reviews
March's CD reviews
February's DVDs
February's books
Winter books
January's DVD releases
Christmas book reviews
November DVD reviews
November's Music Reviews
November book reviews
October's DVD reviews
October's New CD releases
October's book reviews
September's DVD Reviews
DVD selection for August 2023
September's book reviews
Latest music reviews August 2023
August Round up
August Paperback Reviews
August hardback book reviews
July 2023 Roundup
Pick of the paperbacks July 2023
July 23 Hardback book reviews
July 2023 DVD releases
July 2023 CD reviews
Pick of the paperbacks June 2023
June DVDs
Hardback book reviews - June 2023
Simon Evans CD Reviews for June 2023
Tesco Summer indoors and out
Book reviews
May 2023 paperback book reviews
May 2023 Hardback book reviews
May's DVD Selection
May's CD selection
Round up of April 2023's book reviews
April 2023 paperback reviews
April 2023 Hardback book reviews
More March 2023 must-reads
March - Pick of the paperbacks
March hardback recommendations
Afternoon Tea
March 2023 - DVD releases
March 2023 Music
February 2023 Books Round up
Pick of the paperbacks - February 2023
Book reviews February 2023
DVD recommendations
February's music reviews
Freedom on two wheels
Make do and mend
Foray into the Fens
Christmas reads
Tasty, healthy recipes by Joanne Wood
Keeping fit and healthy with the Green goddess Part 2
Keeping fit and healthy with the Green goddess Part 1
Finger-licking Good! Tasty Chicken recipes
Beauty: Say 'Allo 'Allo to an alluring look
British Library: Palace of the printed word
Look good and feel great with CBD
Interior design: Inspiration for outdoor spaces
Summer fun at Belvoir Castle
Finding Fitness Starts With Fashion
‘In Vogue’ Veg – Cavolo Nero Sales Grow by 14%
Eat Continental and live longer
A life-affirming book... about death
Get Sewing: Floral bespoke notebook cover
Find your family fortunes... for FREE!
Beauty: Get set for spring...
Spanish Recipes: Small is beautiful
The Vegan Revolution
Interior Design: Maximise your living space
Pets need a spring clean too
Visit Family Tree Live
MasterChef: Classic with a Twist
Get Sewing: Quilted pot-holder
Bob Dylan "Rock and Roll music wasn’t enough for me”
Plant Power Day: 7th March 2019
Interior Design: Less is more in minimalist home
A second chance at love
Interior Design: Great Gatsby Cabinet
The rise and rise of the birthday cake
Walking back to happiness
Baking With Veg
Totally Tina Tour
How to take care of your hair over-50
The nation's most popular cake recipes
Your views: Can you help?
Hail the grandparent aupairs
Beauty: Denise Welch "I love the shape I'm in at 60"
The Austerity Olympics
Healthy reasons to acquire a taste for olives
Grand Treats for Grandchildren
Declutter your home, and clear your mind
Scandi-style Mules for Swollen Feet
Beetroot and Walnut Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
In your garden: October
Dr Norman Croucher: The toughest summit of them all
Craft Corner: Sweet Easter Basket
Have your cake and eat your Easter egg too!
Interior Design: Moroccan inspired drawers
BR remembered... 70 years on
A gentleman's guide to spring fashion
Why antique jewellery is glittering
New Year, new beauty habits
Cliff Richard "I have a deeper faith now"
Do you remember? Oliver!
What we really look for in retirement living
Interior Design: Wedding bells on a budget
Jodie Whittaker: "Doctor Who is all about change"
85 year old Grandmother gains a PhD
Dame Eileen and a Crowning glory
Writing the story of you life
Why winter shouldn't stop you: don't wait until New Year
World' first 'wellness shed' stirs up mindfulness
Growing old is amazing
Don't miss out on the internet age
Prepare to feel ancient...
Hawks: Up close and personal
Studious retiree heads back to school
Garden Expert: Soaking up the sun
Emily Watson "I'ts such a gypsy life"
Here's to you Mrs Robinson
Brits Embracing 'Urban Birding'
Volunteering for Nature
The Secret to Younger Looking Eyes
Anti-ageing Options Part 2
Anti-ageing Options
End of the road for a pop icon
Reaching out to Dementia Sufferers: Sporting Memories Network
Are you ready for retirement?
Afternoon Tea Recipes
Surprisingly Good Wholegrain Recipes: Savoury
Staying safe in the Summer heat: Drowning prevention
Stardust Memories
Baking made easy
Cooking for one
The real cost of your wine