The Perfect Board Games to Play To Avoid Boredom

Recreation is not a luxury but a necessity for a healthy lifestyle. Playing games is an integral part of recreational activities, and board games are among the most popular forms of recreation today. Board games have been in existence for a very long time, with the oldest known board games dating back thousands of years ago. With the progress of time, however, more and more board games have been developed to bring more diversity to recreational activities, and as a result, one is spoilt for choice today. 

Board games are well-loved across the world, and though they are typically seen to be played by the younger members of society, it would be incorrect to say that people of other age groups do not play board games. One does not need to look far to observe people in the middle and senior years also playing a variety of board games, as they provide much-needed relaxation and entertainment, in addition to mental stimulation. Board games are great to beat boredom, and this blog takes a look at some of the most popular board games one can play to spend one’s time fruitfully and enjoyably. 

1. Ludo

Ludo is a timeless classic, and the game gets its name from the Latin phrase ‘ludo’, which translates to ‘I play’. The game traces its origins to an ancient Indian game called ‘Pachisi’. It is a hugely popular game because of the Ludo rules being straightforward and easy to understand. The game can be played by a minimum of two and a maximum of four people. To play Ludo, players have to race their tokens from start to finish on the basis of dice rolls. The game’s objective is to get all of one’s tokens to the finishing point before one’s opponents.  

2. Chess

It is unlikely that anyone is unfamiliar with chess. Widely regarded by people across countries and cultures as the ultimate game of strategy, any list of board games would be incomplete without the mention of chess. Not only is chess one of the oldest invented board games, but it also happens to be one of the oldest continuously played games since its invention. To this day, chess holds tremendous significance as a game that sharpens one’s ability to think analytically and strategically while also enhancing one’s ability to think creatively and innovatively. Chess is a game that is played by the young and the old alike.

3. Monopoly

Monopoly is a board game that is centered around the purchase, sale, and development of real estate and properties, such as houses and hotels, with the objective of maximizing one’s wealth (in the form of Monopoly money). The game can be played by a minimum of two and a maximum of eight people, and the player who has the highest amount of money at the end of the game is the winner. 

4. Stratego

Stratego is a board game that, just as its name suggests, involves strategy. The  Stratego board consists of squares designed in a 10×10 layout. Just like chess, Stratego is a game for two players and each player starts out with 40 pieces. Each piece represents an individual belonging to an official’s or soldier’s rank in an army, or a bomb or the flag of the respective (red or blue) side. The objective of the game is to capture the flag of the opponent’s side or to capture as many of their pieces as possible to make them unable to make any further moves. The rules of Stratego are simple, and it is popular among people of all ages because of its uncomplicated gameplay. 

5. Catan

Catan is a board game that was introduced in the year 1995. The game has the tagline “Trade, Build, Settle”, and it turns its players into settlers in a new land that is waiting to be explored. Every player has to acquire land and establish their own settlements on the board through activities such as trading and accumulating resources to be able to pursue trading activities. At the end of the game, the player who has the most superior settlement is the winner.

6. Scrabble

For those who enjoy word games, Scrabble is the perfect game to put one’s vocabulary to the test. Scrabble was invented in the 1930s and has, over the years, become a favorite for playing with one’s family members or among friends. Playing Scrabble involves building words by using tiles that bear an alphabet on them, and placing them on the board in such a manner that a player can increase their total word score. Scrabble is popular among people of all age groups and is well-liked across the world, being sold in 121 countries and in more than 30 languages.

7. Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders, which also has a variant called Chutes and Ladders, is one of the most popular games played by children. Playing this game involves getting from the starting point to the finishing point before one’s opponents, through dice rolls, while taking advantage of ladders and skilfully evading snakes along the way.   

These are just some of the most popularly played board games today. Some are old, while others are new, but each board game is sure to provide hours of enjoyment to people looking for a fun and engaging way to spend their time. Most importantly, these games are just what one needs to avoid boredom! Happy playing!  

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