When we think of board games, we tend to associate them with good times with friends and family. However, to get the most out of your tabletop gaming experience, it is important to keep two basic factors in mind. First, you need to consider the age of your group and the type of board game you are looking for.
For obvious and not so obvious reasons, your age is very important when buying a board game. For parents, it assures them that they are taking the proper safety precautions when purchasing a game for their children. Buying a game for the appropriate age group also aims to provide the maximum enjoyment experience by keeping the difficulty indicator at the right level that players can handle. Today, the appropriate age group for the different board games available at the retail store is printed on the outside of the box. The age group recommendation often ranges from 3 to 4 years, but depending on the ability and interests of the particular family, these ages may vary. Some judgment on your part may be required.
With so many different types of games available and more becoming available every day, it can be quite a task to choose one for you and your family to enjoy. To make things easier, we will list a few types of games:
Classic: These games have an added value, most people are familiar with them. When we talk about classic games, we mean board games that have been made for generations and are still popular, while others have come and gone. Some examples are Checkers, Chess, Othello, Monopoly, Sorry!, Pictionary, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Parcheesi, Clue, Battleship, Boggle, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit. Some of these game titles are a bit complex, but people can’t help but familiarize themselves with the rules at gatherings and social events.
Games of rolling and moving. These are basically based on chance. Slides and Stairs, Mouse Trap, Candyland, Ludo, Space Hop, Don’t Wake Daddy, Hey Pa! There’s a Goat on the Roof and Cooties are some examples of these games of chance. Players try their luck at these games by using dice, cards, or spinners. Using a tool such as a dice cube or spinning wheel will generate a random event that will determine the outcome. These games are very popular with children as they require the least amount of skill to play.
Strategy Games – A personal favorite, it’s the complete opposite of rollover games. This genre is all about strategy and the ability to maneuver your pieces across the board and defeat your opponents. The most successful game in this category is chess. Although these games are mainly based on strategy and skill, luck cannot be ruled out as a factor in winning.
Word Games: Classic titles like Scrabble and Boggle make up this category. Other word games include Yahtzee, Typo, Apples to Apples, Scrabble and Scrabble Jr., Upwords, and Balderdash. Its ability to mix learning with entertainment is sure to appeal to young and old alike.
