With the rising popularity of video games, streaming networks, and social media is there still room for board games? A google search of, “are board games dying?” has the snippet response citing that yes board games are dying. The truth is there is room for board games, and no they are not dying.
Board games are here to stay. Market Watch predicts that the board game industry will have a 7.3% growth rate in the next five years. In 2019 Gen Con one of the largest gaming conventions boasted record numbers in attendance. Board games are not dying out.
It is true board games are competing with some heavy hitters in regards to consumer’s time and money. Video games are fun and they keep getting better and more accessible. Streaming networks are competing for viewers and are throwing their best content together to get more people to watch. Social media continues to be addicting with its smart algorithms. So how do board games stack up against the competition? How do board games stay relevant?
Are Board Games Dying
The board games industry has a market value in the billions and is still growing. According to statista.com the global market value of boards in 2017 was estimated to be 7.3 billion dollars and was forecasted to reach a value of 12 billion by 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/829285/global-board-games-market-value/
Statista’s data correlates with the data from marketwatch.com that predicts board games to have a 7.3 percent compound annual growth rate between 2021-2026. Market Watch also states that the board game market size is projected to reach 11.6 billion US dollars in 2026 from its 2020 7.6 billion. https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/board-games-market-2020-global-analysis-by-major-companies-profile-research-methodology-competitive-landscape-and-key-regions-2026-2020-09-10
Board games are growing in popularity with consumers. Gen Con, the largest and longest-running annual event in North America attracts 70,000 attendees and 520 exhibiting companies each year. Along with live attendance, streaming was able to reach out to 6900 unique views and had a combined watch time of 3 million minutes.
Gen Con is just one event. There are literally dozens of annual board game events globally. Boardgamegeek.com is a great source when it comes to looking for board game events. Among their lists, you will find links for board game cruises, virtual conventions, and traditional conventions. https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Game_Conventions
People continue to spend money on board games. Since the launch of Kickstarter in 2009, board game creators and consumers crowdfunded $687 million dollars dedicated to new board games. In 2018 the tabletop category raised $192 million and in 2019 it raised $208 million according to icopartners.com. https://icopartners.com/2020/01/kickstarter-and-games-in-2019/
Who Plays Board Games
People of all types, ages, and gender play board games. The board game playing demographic is not a specific group. Board game are not a generation thing. Young kids, teenagers, college students, paraents, grandparents can all share a love for board games.
Board games have something to offer all people. They can cater to those looking for casual fun to those looking for strategic competion. It can also appeal to people looking for an adventure, or a mystery to be solved with others. They can be used as an excuse to get family or friends together.
Why Are Board Games Popular
Technology is has a big part to play in the popularity of board games. The increase of technology has made the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of board games much easier. Where creating and selling board games was mostly done by big companies like Hasboro, now with Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platformers, indi game developers are getting a chance to publish and sell their game.
Social media has also played a large role in board game popularity. Communities can be formed on Facebook and Reddit that are focused on board games. Developers are able to market their game ideas to the masses through instagram, and twitch.
Youtube has become a platform where gamers can share their opinions and strategies on their favorite board games. Will Wheaton has a youtube chanel dedicated to introducing board games through sessions played with other celebrities. Sit Down and Shut Up is another popular Youtube channel focussed on board games.
Twitch allows gamers to broadcast their play sessions. One of the more successful board game Twitch streams is hosted by Critical Role. On the stream critical has a group playing through a dungeons and dragons campaign. Thousands tune in weekly to watch as the cast plays through hours of story driven gaming. The series has become so popular, Amazon has purchased an animated season based on their campaign.
Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Discord has made board game more accessible to people that aren’t able to get together in one place to game. Where once you needed to be in the same room to be able to play together, now in can be across the country.
Board Games also offer a break from technology. In stark contrast to the instant nature of video games and shows, with board games you are encouraged to slow down. Waiting for your turn, interacting with others, seeing your patient strategies land successfuly can be a refreshing change of pace.
Board games offer social connection and physical interaction that you can’t get through video games and social media.
What Are Some Popular Board Games
If you aren’t familiar with board game and are looking for some good examples here are some of the more popular games:
Codename – Platy Time: 15 Min. Players: 2-8+. Age: 14+. Summary: Simple game of words and clues played in teams. Two teams compete to see who can guess all of their clues correctly. Spymasters give one-word cluses that point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess teh words associated to the clue while avoiding the other team’s words and the assassin.
Catan – Play Time: 60-120 Minutes. Players: 3-4. Age: 10+ Summary: Compet with other players to be the dominant force on the island of Catan bu building settlements, cities, and roads. Take turns rolling the dice to determine what resources will be produced by the island. Players build by spending the resources they gained. Create a monopoly on resources, trade for what you need, barter when you can. Strategize and dominate your way to victory.
Ticket to Ride – Play Time: 30-60 Minutes. Players: 2-5. Age: 8+ Summary: Simple gameplay that can be learned in under 15 minutes. Players collect cards of various types of train cars that they can use to build railroad tracks and claim routes across their board. Compete to build the largest track, while completing missions to connect destinations together with your claimed routes.
Pandemic – Play Time: 45 Minutes. Players: 2-4. Age: 8+ Summary: Several diseases have broken out simultaneously all over the world. Players a disease fighters whose mission is to treat contaminated hotspots while researching cures for each of four plagues before they get out of control. Players must work together using their disease-fighting specialist’s strengths to find the cures.
Gloomhaven – Play Time: 60-120 Minutes. Players: 1-4. Age: 14+ Summary: This is a game of tactical combat in a pesistent world of shifting motives. Players take on the role of an adventurer with their own special skills and own reasons for traveling to this dark corner of the world. Player must work together to clear out dungeons and ruins. In the process, they will enhance thor abilities with experience and loot, discorev new areas to explorer and plunder and expand the branching story fueled by their decisions.
Exploding Kittens – Play Time: 15 Minutes. Players: 2-5. Age: 7+ Summary: Kitty-based version of russion roulette. Players take turns drawing cards until someone draws the exploding kitten. The deck has sever cards that allow you to avoid being the one that draws the doom bringing kitten. With each card you draw the card gets more intense with the odds of the exploding kitten be the next card ever increasing.
Unstable Unicorns – Play Time: 30-45 Minutes. Players: 2-8. Age: 14+ Summary: Build an army of unicorns. Collect cards to try and build your stable of unicorns. Use power cards to protect your stable and disrupt your opponents. Be the first one to stable the right amount of unicorns and win. A super simple strategic card game full of cute unicorns.
Mysterium – Play Time: 42 Minutes. Players: 2-7. Age: 10+ Summary: One player acts as a ghost the other players act as mediums. To solve the mystery the ghost must instruct the mediums without talking using clues that will tell the story. Work together to solve the mystery.
How Do I Pick The Right Board Game To Play
Picking the right board game can be a tricky decision. There are over 100,000 thousand board games and that number continues to grow. On top of that board games can be pricey. If you don’t have money to spare buying multiple different board games how do you make sure you are buying the right one?
In my article What Board Game Should I Play, I go into depth about picking the right board game for you. Click here to read more about my board game decision-making strategy. The self-assessments from my strategy will give you the confidence to move forward with your board game decision.
How To Get Into Board Games
If you are new to the board game scene and don’t know where to start you are in the right spot. Well sorta. In my article discussing board games as a hobby, I go into depth about how to get into board games.
Click here to learn more about starting your board game hobby, helpful resources, and where to buy board games. I take you through a step by step process to help you enjoy your board game experience.
Board Games Are Not Dying
Board games are not dying out. The board game industry has a growing market value. The community of board game players is active and growing. And board game enthusiasts continue to buy new board games.
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