Board Games are usually tabletop games that involve game pieces being moved or placed on a pre-marked surface, accord to a set of instructions. These tabletop games are often played with other people, though in some instances there are board games suitable for one player. So are board games a hobby?
Hobbies are activities done for enjoyment usually during one’s free time, not professionally, and not for pay. Board games are a perfect example of what a hobby is. When playing a board game a person is engaging in an activity for enjoyment.
Whether you are a board game veteran, getting your foot in the door, or asking for a friend, there are a few things you should know about this awesome hobby. As a professional hobbyist and board game enthusiast, let me share with you some helpful tabletop information.
Are Board Games a Hobby
Are board games a hobby… Yes and here is why. Hobbies are not a privite club that it is impossible to qualify for. Hobbies are inclusive and excepting. If you like, enjoy, and or love it, and if you willingly spend your free time on it, then it is a hobby.
Hobbies are also are personal preference. So in the instance of Bob, who hates all things tabletops, board games probably aren’t considered his hobby. However, Jane like board games, and even though she only plays a board game once a month, she still considers it one of her hobbies. Just because it isn’t a hobby for one person doesn’t disqualify it from being a hobby for another person.
Board Games make for a great hobby because there is a wide variety fo games. I’d argue in the example above Bob just hasn’t found the right game for him yet. There are board games the focus on strategy, cooperation, stories, mysteries, and or humor. There are board games that you can play by yourself and there are games you can play with others. Board games really shine as a hobby when you pair your favorite tabletop game with friends and delicious snacks.
Are Board Games a Sport
Are boards games a sport? Most people will say board games are not a sport. Sports are an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which a person or persons compete against others for entertainment. Looking at that definition board games you can make the arguement that board games tick all the right boxes.
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Physical Exertion |
*Yes (with and asterisc, there is very little physical exertion when it comes to board games, howerver there is some exertion in moving board peices. What board games lack in physical exertion they can make up for in mental exertion) |
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Skill |
Yes (While there is an element of luck in some game, the skilled player has the advantage) |
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Competition |
Yes (often competing against others to win) |
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Entertainment |
Yest (Board games can be entertaing for both particpants and non particpants) |
Unlike hobbies sports tend to be more exclusive to what qualifies as a sport. Board games just about check every box needed to be considered a sport.
Another question to consider is does it matter if board games are a sport or not? Probably not, most people in the board game community are fine with it as it is. Personally, as someone who love playing sports and board games I don’t see much difference. It’s just a different pace. I thing if video games can create an esports league for themsevles, then board gamers have just as much claim to tabletop sports league.
What Types of Board Games Are There
What types of board games are there? There are so many different types of board games out there. If you like strategy there are strategy games for you. If you like war, there are wargames for you. Maybe you like economic based games, if so, there are economic games for you.
Different Types of Board Games:
- Abstract Strategy
- Alignment
- Auction
- Chess Variants
- Configuration
- Connection
- Coopoerative
- Count and Capture
- Cross and Circle
- Deduction
- Dexterity
- Economic Simulation
- Educational
- Elimination
- Family
- Fantasy
- Eurogames
- Guessing
- Hidden-movement
- Hidden-role
- Historical Simulation
- Horror
- Large Multipler
- Musical
- Negotiation
- Paper-and-Pencil
- Physical Skill
- Position
- Rase
- Role-Playing
- Roll-and-Move
- Running-Fight
- Share-Bying
- Single-Player
- Spiritual Development
- Storytelling
- Stacking
- Territory
- Tile-Base
- Train
- Trivia
- Two-Player-Only
- Hunt
- Wargames
- Word
How To Get Into Board Games
How to get into board games? Getting into board games can be simple. Pick the type of board game you would be interested in, then find a board game of that type and aquire it. Learn how to play it. Invite others to come play board game with you if it requires multiple people. Provide snacks and beverages (optional). Enjoy.
Step 1. What type of board game do you want to play? Eurogame, Wargame, Role-Playing etc… Pick one or a few options that interest you.
Step 2. Pick a game in the category you selected. This could invovle extensive research. The top resources I like to use for researching games are reddit, youtube, local game shops and amazon. There are so many games out there that it is worth spending time looking over the different games to find the right one for you.
Step 3. Acquire your chosen game. There are a few ways to go about buying your game. Locally, Big Shops, Amazon, or Ebay. (See next setion for more info)
Step 4. Learn how to play your new game. Included in your game will be a instruction manual. It is a good idea to read over the instructions a couple of times. I find the I get the best results if I ‘play’ the game while I am reading the instructions. You can also look to youtube for quick instructions for your game. A youtube channel that does well explaing game instructions is shutupandsitdown.
Be sure to give yourself enough time to learn the game. Learning new games is part of the experience. Enjoy it!
Step 5. Invite other to play the game with you (if neccessary). Some games will require multiple players. You will need to invite others to come play the board game with you. A good source of players is family, friends, aquantences, and or strangers. Maybe not so much the strangers. You be the judge.
If you are struggling to find people to play board games with you may have luck visiting your local board game shop. There is a chance that they host game nights and you can try out your new tabletop game there.
Step 6. Enjoy. This is what the board game hobby is all about. Have fun as you learn about your new game and play it with others. Board games unlike other hobbies offer a casual environment where you get to enjoy your atmosphere, company, while being entertained at the same time.
Where To Get Board Games
When it come to the “where to get board games” you should have multiple options. In my experience I have had the most success with local shops, large retailers, Amazon, and eBay.
Buying Board Games From Local Shops
Buying your board game locally has the large advantage of interacting with the tabletop community around you. As fellow board game hobbyist they will be able to help you with your purchase and give you extra insight that you likely won’t get elsewhere.
Depending on your local board game store they might even be open to you playing the game at their shop. They might even offer used games to purchase which is helpful if you are on a budget. Another advantage of local shop is that they have a larger selection of games than major retailers. On top of all that, buying from local shops supports your community.
Buying Board Games From Large Retailers
Buying your board game from a retailer will have a slightly competitive advantage over local board game shops when it comes to price. Larger retailers often have more inventory though, they tend to only carry the more popular games.
Buying Board Games From Amazon
Bying your board games from Amazon is convenient. Amazon has a large selection of board games. Not only does it have a large selection, you can also read a lot of feedback on the games from people that have purchased and reviewed the game. What I like about shopping on Amazon and local shops is that you can get better feedback on the types of games that you might enjoy playing. Amazon is really good with their suggestions.
Buying Board Games From Ebay
Bying your board game from ebay is a good option especially if you are looking for used board games. Like Amazon, Ebay offers a large selection of games as well as reviews for the games. In my experience, I have found the board game community more engaging on Amazon though.
Board Game Resource
How To Budget For Board Games
How to budget for board games? Board games come in various prices. They can range from the tens to the hundreds. If you are on a budget you may be restricted to what you can afford. Being on a budget makes picking the right board game all that much more important. Be sure to do your research before you buy.
Depending on your discretionary fund in your budget it may take you weeks or months of saving before you buy the tabletop game you want. If that is the case, take advantage of the time while you are saving to do more research. Use youtube and reddit to engage with the board game community. Try to lean how to play the game even before you have it.
Whether it be five dollars or twenty dollars a month you are able to set aside, eventually you will have enough for the game that you want. The trick is to save money. If you can cut expenses anywhere, it might be worth it you to do so. Maybe buy cheeper coffee in the morning, avoid other excess spending.
If budgetting money for you board game just isn’t realistic you might still be in luck. Local board game shops often have game nights. You have the chance of playing your game there even if you aren’t buying. If that isn’t an option, you might just have to settle watching others play, for the time being, on twitch or youtube.
Board Games Make For A Great Hobby
I love playing board games. They are one of my favorite hobbies becuse they offer a lot of replayability and I love learning new strategies and getting better each time. I also really like the socail aspect of board games. A great night to me is a board game, a few friends, and some tasty snacks. If you are looking for a new hobby that can be challenging, social, and fun, I suggest you look into board games.
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