5 Reasons Why You Should Be Playing Tabletop Games

We like games, that much is obvious, but we also think there are a lot of people out there who would love games as much as us but aren't sure about getting into the hobby. Just in case you are undecided, we've put together this list of 5 reasons why you should be playing table top games

1. Mental Wellbeing

We've written fairly extensively in the past about the positive mental benefits of playing table top games, but did you know that games involving puzzle-like and problem-solving elements can help create more brain neurons, which can slow cognitive decline and memory related dementia?

Eleesha Lockett, writing for healthline, states that "Games are among the many activities that can keep the human mind entertained and engaged. But more importantly, games can help stimulate our brains."

A 2019 study exploring the effects of 16 weeks of combined physical and cognitive training involving games, found that working memory and executive function significantly improved. A further paper published in 2020, A Review on Serious Games for Dementia Care in Ageing Societies, explored the use of board and video games and their benefits. Board games were found to help with cognitive functions such as memory, communication, and emotional regulation. The review found that when early and middle stage patients with dementia used "serious" games, they improved on a wide variety of cognitive abilities.

2. Enhances Playfulness in Adults

We recently wrote [insert link here] about the benefits of playfulness in adults and how, among it's many benefits, adult play can boost creativity, sharpen our sense of humour, and help with stress coping mechanisms. Playfulness is defined by Proyer and Ruch in 2011 as "the predisposition to frame (or re-frame) a situation in such a way as to provide oneself (and possible others) with amusement, humour, and/or entertainment." Adults who participate in playful activities display 5 types of playful behaviours; spontaneous, expressive, creative, fun, and silly, and those who displayed higher levels of these characteristics were also recorded as having higher creativity, better ability to appreciate beauty, a greater sense of hope, and lower stress among others.

If you are looking to enhance your positive playful characteristics, and feel the benefits of the related positive link to well-being and life satisfaction, taking up table top gaming as a hobby is a surefire way to get started.

3. It's a Social Activity

There are games to fit any level of social interaction. Playing a game with another person or a group of people provides ideal structure to an evening. It allows a shared activity for conversation to grow around like vines, but with enough to focus on that there's reduced pressure to be overly communicative if you are feeling confident. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than allowing a conversation to fall into a gentle lull, while everyone around the table becomes absorbed in what's unfolding in the game before them.

On top of this, playing games, either competitive or cooperative, provides the perfect backdrop to get to know new people. Strangers can sit around a table together and get to know each other on a much deeper level than mere conversation would usually allow. Through play, we get to see someone's inner morality, how do they behave towards other players when winning or losing? How do they support new players to a game? Do they compete in good faith? These actions all reflect deeper aspects to someone's personality and sometimes when meeting new people, it's good to learn these things up front.

4. We're in a Golden Age of Games

It's so easy to say that something is the Golden Age of a particular thing. Margaret Hofer described the period of 1880s-1920s as "The Golden Age" of board gaming in America, but at that point they'd never played Catan or Gloomhaven so how can we trust her? However, with a pinch of salt we could feasibly consider the current boom in the table top industry a sign that we truly are living in its Golden Age. In 2022 the global board game market was worth $18.93 billion and is expected to reach almost $40 billion by 2028.

Thanks to this explosion of choice in recent years, not just for the Big Names such as Ticket to Ride and Wingspan but also independent developers, there is now a board game for almost everyone. No matter what your tastes are or what kind of experience you are after from a game, there is almost certainly something on the shelves of your local Board Game Cafe for Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS) that will have you a keen gamer in no time.

5. Less Focus on Digital Entertainment

Nicolas Pickaerts, chief executive of the online design store Abask raisese the "tangible aspect of playing games, which serves as an antidote to the overwhelm of the digital world... you get to enjoy the physicality of holding a beautifully crafted piece in your hand that has been thoughtfully designed".

There is no doubt that we live in a world that is becoming exponentially digital and with this the amount of time each of us physically spend in the company of our friends, family, and even colleagues is reducing. Dr. Charlotte Russell, a clinical psychologist working in mental health, rates the human need for connection as a "primary need" and that "If we lack human connection this can have a negative impact on our well-being very quickly."

Most FLGSs and Board Game Cafes will be able to recommend gaming groups for people seeking them out. There are also many online communities that can help arrange in-person meet ups for those interested in table top gaming. Our digital world is important for societal progress, it is essential that people do not become less connected as a result and still value the fundamental need for in-person contact.

The final and most important reason to take up table top gaming as a hobby is quite simply that it is fun, and why would you deny yourself a fun time?

What other reasons can you think of that should be included in this list? Or perhaps this article has giving you encouragement to give board games a try? If so, why not check out our article on board games to get you started in the hobby.