At some point during maturation and reaching adulthood, a lot of people simply stop playing games and succumb to the hectic stressful life of family commitments and work. However, they do not realize how many the overarching benefits of board games.
A lot of research and studies show that “having fun” is a life necessity for both your mental and physical health. One of the biggest misconceptions that some people have is that board games are only for kids, but that’s not true at all!
In fact, a lot of adults are still big fans of adult games and enjoy them to this day. So why do adults play board games? You’ll see the many benefits of playing board games.
Don’t believe us? According to a study of the enjoyment of board games, 34% of adults found playing board games very enjoyable.
In today’s article, we’ll walk you through some of the benefits of playing board games. Let’s dive right in!
1. Helps in Bringing Loved Ones Together
Although there are plenty of solo board games, the main foundation of playing board games is to enjoy them with others.
A good board game is usually the star of the show during any reunion, family gathering, or game night between friends.
Board games can be a healthy environment for cooperation and competition. In fact, a lot of people, adults or young, create friendships due to a common interest in board games!
2. Excellent Exercise for Your Brain
Many board games are considered a true test of intelligence as well as critical and cognitive thinking.
Playing board games that use these critical skills can be an excellent mental exercise to stimulate your brain health, and it’s even proven by science!
According to many studies that assess brain health and its relationship with games, stimulating brain cells for memory and thinking helps in preserving mental and cognitive health and even reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Helps in Reducing Stress in Various Ways
In today’s world, some people can have their eyes on a screen or a monitor for the entire day, whether it’s at work or browsing social media.
As we all know, too much exposure to light, especially blue lights of LED screens, is very bad for our health and only adds to the daily stressors that can cause anxiety disorder.
Playing some board games, on the other hand, is a great way to get some time off the screens where you unwind and get some distraction from the stresses of life.
4. Can Teach and Strengthen Various Skills
We’ve discussed earlier that playing board games can be a great way to preserve your cognitive function and promote better mental health.
In addition to all that, some board games also employ various other skills, such as mathematics, risk assessment, strategic thinking, and more! These skills can actually benefit you not only while playing the game, but also in real life!
5. They Don’t Need Electricity
While some modern board games can have an electronic element, such as sound effects, app-based game mechanics, or visual effects, the vast majority of board games don’t need electricity and you can simply enjoy the game just about anywhere.
This makes board games a perfect “fail-proof” event that people of all ages can participate in without worrying about a power outage. Alternatively, board games are quite popular while camping outdoors for the same reason!
6. Creates Some Unforgettable Memories
Laughter is one of the most popular side effects of playing a board game no matter how competitive it is.
Our brains are hardwired to hang on to good memories and reward us with various “well-being” hormones when we’re happy and laughing, such as serotonin and dopamine, which helps in fighting depression and improves the general mood for a few days after such a happiness-rich event!
7. Can Be a Great Way to Bond with Others
Some people think that board games are only meant to be competitive. However, there are a plethora of board games that are meant to be played cooperatively or in competitive teams.
These games are an excellent way to bond with others regardless of how different you are in real life because, in the game, you’re all united under a shared purpose and a set of rules!
Some couple counselors recommended co-op board games to couples with miscommunication issues.
Not only that, but it’s also a great way for workplaces to encourage employees to understand each other’s points of power, which helps in improving the efficiency of projects and creating a healthier work environment!
8. Gives Adults a Sense of Control and Accomplished
One of the things that adults learn as they grow up is that life is full of ups and downs, which is quite different from worlds created within the boundaries of board games where everything is controlled under the rules of the game.
This can give a great sense of control and security, especially after finishing the game.
9. Nostalgia is a Great Factor Too
Of course, one of the reasons a lot of players keep on playing board games is that it has always been fun since the first time they played it.
Most adults these days grew up spending hours playing board games with their friends, so it’s no surprise that playing board games will bring back some of the good old memories, especially during reunions with old friends!
10. They Come in Every Theme, Style, and Form Imaginable
Board games are still a huge industry with tons of new games and editions coming out to this day.
There are plenty of options on the market with different styles and themes to suit everyone’s tastes and preferences.
Moreover, there are different types of board games, such as party board games, competitive board games, solo board games, and much more!
Final Thoughts on the Benefits of Board Games
This wraps it up for today’s guide that answers the question “why do adults play board games?”. As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons why board games are preferred by many adults over other types of games.
While the previously mentioned reasons pretty much sum up the benefits of playing board games as an adult, every player might have their own set of reasons to play it, which you can only discover as soon as you sit down and start a game!
Ready to host a game night? Check out our article on the best games for game night!