The roll of the die, the satisfying “thwack!” of hitting a fresh card on a tabletop, the ecstasy of watching a winning strategy play out: board games are full of these little thrills. Whether you’re a fan of age-old classics like chess and backgammon or into more modern games like Settlers of Catan, Illuminati!, or Betrayal at House on the Hill, board games offer a unique combination of in-person social interaction, strategy, and fun that’s hard to beat. It’s also a cost-effective form of entertainment: once you buy the game, you can play it until the board falls apart!
Board games are more than a good time, though: they offer some legit brain-boosting benefits. That nail-biting game of Monopoly you played with your family on Saturday counts as self-care! Read on as we explore how you can build up your mental health with board games.
Improves Cognition
Studies have found that playing board games can have a positive effect on people who suffer from cognitive impairments while also enhancing the cognitive abilities of people who do not have these impediments. The combination of focus and strategy that board games require stimulates areas in the brain that are geared toward memory, information processing, judgment, reasoning, and decision-making. It’s not just heavy-hitter strategy games like chess, go, or Risk that spark this beneficial effect: even trivia and cooperative drawing games can boast similar benefits.
Reduces Stress
Research into the effects of play on the human brain found that tabletop games can induce a resting-state in players that relaxes and soothes them. Board gameplay can help alleviate stress and depression through a combination of factors that includes the intense focus required of games and also the sense of accomplishment that comes from making successful moves. That feeling of accomplishment stimulates the production and release of dopamine, the “reward hormone” that induces feelings of happiness and pleasure.
Develops Soft Skills
Most board games hinge around “soft skills.” Cooperation, strategic thinking, negotiation, leadership, critical thinking, even public speaking (if you’re playing a roleplaying game which requires you to talk a lot as a character) are all soft skills you’ll use as a part of playing board games. Since not all board games are one-on-one, you can also practice teamwork while playing games that require collaboration among players.
Promotes Social Interaction
One of the biggest benefits that board games offer is the ability to bring people together. While it’s possible to play many board games online, nothing replaces the experience of gathering friends and/or family together for a night of games. That’s why board games are an effective antidote for loneliness; they also offer a good excuse for developing monthly or weekly gatherings. Some activities like bowling or cards create a pretext for friend groups to regularly meet and interact with each other.
Article by Austin Brietta
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