Board games have been around since probably forever, wowing people from ancient Egypt to modern-day game cafes. While designs, rules, and themes have evolved over time, one thing is constant: the joy and excitement board games bring to people.
But why do we find so much pleasure (or may we say, delight? verve? solace?) in gathering around a table, rolling dice, and moving pieces across a board?
The answer isn’t merely the joy of competition or problem solving.
It isn’t even a single answer. We managed to count at least seven answers, all of whom lie deep within the psychology of human behavior. They boil down to our desire for connection, challenge, and creativity.
1. The Social Bond
At their core, board games are a social experience. They bring people together: from family and friends you know all too well, to strangers you’ve only just met. In today’s hectic, digitally social, sometimes not-so-social world, opportunities for face-to-face interaction oftentimes feel rare.
In contrast to it all, board games provide a structured setting where people can engage directly, share laughter, and enjoy healthy competition.
When we play a board game, we aren’t just passing the time. We’re forming connections. And that’s why it feels so much better than tapping the hours away on our phones.
The moments of camaraderie when a friend makes a brilliant move (and you deign to praise it openly!) or the friendly banter over who gets to be the banker—these experiences foster a sense of belonging and shared memory.
To better understand the appeal of the phenomenon, we talked to several self-proclaimed board game fanatics. “Board games are how I connect with the people I love,” tells us Isla Roberts, a passionate collector and aficionado who makes a living by working at a Logan tree removal service.
“I’ve always been someone who loves solving problems and working through puzzles, but doing it with friends or family adds an extra layer of joy. Especially when it doesn’t work! There’s nothing quite like beating a tough game together, seeing how you’re getting better and better, or laughing over silly mistakes.”
2. The Thrill of Competition
Humans are naturally competitive, and board games tap into this primal instinct.
They offer a safe environment to test our skills, strategize, and pit our wits against others without the consequences of real-life competition. It’s no wonder that classic games like chess or newer titles like Catan are so popular; they provide a platform for us to engage in complex problem-solving, outmaneuver opponents, and experience the satisfaction of a victory earned after hours, sometimes days or weeks of play.
But the thrill of competition is not just about winning; it’s about the journey. The suspenseful moments when the outcome of a game hangs by a thread keep us on the edge of our seats. This unpredictability results in a rush of adrenaline, a sense of excitement that hooks us and makes us come back for more.
3. An Avenue for Escapism and Creativity
Board games offer something that few other pastimes do: the opportunity to step into another world, even if just for an hour or two.
Whether you’re navigating the intricate politics of a fantasy realm in Game of Thrones: The Board Game or trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world in Dead of Winter, these games transport players into different narratives. This form of escapism allows us to detach from our everyday worries and immerse ourselves in a story where we can be heroes, villains, explorers, or merchants.
Let’s be honest, forgotten or long-gone realms of middle ages or phantasy worlds are something we’re all drawn to. The sheer romanticism of it all is hard to resist even for digital generations.
Roberts shares, “I think what drew me into board games was the creativity and the storytelling aspect. I started with classic games when I was young, but as I got older, I discovered this entire universe of games that weren’t just about winning—they were about building stories and creating memories. That’s what made me fall in love with it all over again.”
Many modern board games focus heavily on storytelling elements, making the experience feel more like a collaborative narrative than a mere competition. Role-playing games (RPGs) like Gloomhaven or Dungeons & Dragons are prime examples of this, where players take on roles and work together to shape the course of the game.
This collaborative element of storytelling and creativity is not only engaging but also helps players strengthen their cognitive and imaginative skills. More on that in the next section!
4. Cognitive Benefits and Mental Stimulation
It’s not just about fun—board games can be good for our brains, too.
Many games require strategic thinking, planning ahead, and adapting to new situations. This mental exercise sharpens critical thinking skills, enhances problem-solving abilities, and improves memory. Games like Ticket to Ride, where players must plan routes and anticipate others’ moves, or Pandemic, which challenges teams to coordinate and strategize under pressure, are more than just pastimes—they’re workouts for the mind.
Studies after studies have shown that engaging in such mentally stimulating activities can help keep the mind sharp, particularly as we age. For children, these games are invaluable learning tools, teaching them how to follow rules, think critically, and collaborate with others.
For adults, especially in a world that increasingly relies on digital screens, board games offer a refreshing way to engage the mind without technology.
5. The Satisfaction of Achievement
Winning is fun, but the sense of achievement in board games goes beyond scoring more than your opponent does.
Many board games will give you rewards for solving puzzles, completing objectives, or successfully collaborating with others. And why do we all love rewards so much? The key is called dopamine. It’s being triggered by precisely this sense of achievement.
Dopamine is the brain’s feel-good chemical, making us feel satisfied and fulfilled. Just like a notification on Instagram does, only much more holistic and healthy!
Cooperative board games, where all players work toward a common goal, often amplify this feeling much more than a single win can. When the group succeeds, there’s a collective sense of accomplishment that unites players.
Even in competitive games, achieving a small victory, like completing a difficult strategy or perfectly executing a move, provides a burst of satisfaction that keeps players engaged and motivated.
6. Nostalgia and Comfort
It’s an undeniable fact: board games evoke a sense of nostalgia.
Many people associate board games with their childhood, family gatherings, or simpler times. Playing a favorite classic game, like Monopoly or Scrabble, can transport us back to those moments, providing a comforting sense of familiarity. This nostalgia is powerful—it connects us to our past while offering a form of relaxation in the present.
For Roberts, it’s all about the feeling of comfort and joy. “Sometimes, I’ll pull out an old game like Clue or Sorry!, and it just takes me back. Even to some people who are no longer with me, like my grandma who taught me to play cards, Sorry!, and a bit of chess! There’s something magical about how a board with a bunch of colorful trinkets can instantly bring back happy times with family and friends. It’s those feelings that make board games such an essential part of my life, even now.”
The book worms among us will recognize the little things that have the power to catapult us back into our past. Doesn’t it sound a bit like Proust’s magic madeleine cookie?
Only, you don’t have to eat this one.
7. Cultural Artefacts
Plainly and simply, board games can be beautiful in the most classic sense of the word.
Just holding meeples, tokens or miniatures of characters or units, and maneuvering them across a map is an endearingly physical experience that can’t be matched by playing video games.
On the other hand, once you master a board game or have had enough of it, it can sit on a shelf as part of your collection of valuables. Especially if they are wooden!
Not to mention the many expansion packs that board games tend to have, with some of them getting discontinued and then hunted down on eBay and other second-hand marketplaces.
But there’s something special about these pieces even when they aren’t beautiful in the strictest sense. Cutting out and decorating boards, cards and tokens to DIY a game is an equally social and physical experience that you’ll also want to keep. “We still have a Medieval-opoly that my daughter made a few years ago. It doesn’t look like much as none of us are particularly crafty! But it was a special experience for her, and we spent many nights playing,” Roberts sums it up.
So next time you sit down for a game night, remember: you’re not just rolling dice or moving pieces; you’re engaging in a timeless tradition that taps into the core of what it means to be human.
