Factors to Consider Before Buying a Board Game

When we think about board games, we usually relate them to good times with friends and family. However, in order to make the most out of your board playing experience it is important two take two basic factors into consideration. First, you must consider the age your group is in, and the type of board game you are looking for.

For obvious and not so obvious reasons, your age is very important when buying a board game. For parents, it assures them they are taking the appropriate safety precautions when buying a game for their children. Buying a game for the appropriate age group also aims to provide maximum enjoyment experience by keeping the difficulty gauge at the proper at a level the players can handle. Nowadays, the proper age group for the different board games available at the retail store is printed outside the box. The age group recommendation often spans 3 to 4 years, but depending on the skill and interests of each particular family, these ages may vary. Some judgment call may be necessary on your part.

With so many different types of games available, and more coming out each day, it can be quite a chore to choose one for you and your family to enjoy. To make things easier, we will list a few game types:

Classic: These games have a an added value to them, most people are familiar with them. When we talk about classic games, we are referring to board games that have made through generations, and remain popular while other have come and gone. A few examples are Checkers, Chess, Othello, Monopoly, Sorry!, Pictionary, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Parcheesi, Clue, Battleship, Boggle, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit. Some of these game titles are a bit complex, but people can’t help getting acquainted with the rules in social gatherings and events.

Roll and move games. These are basically based on chance. Chutes and Ladders, Mouse Trap, Candyland, Ludo, Space Hop, Don’t Wake Daddy, Hey Pa! There’s a Goat on the Roof, and Cooties are a few examples of these games of chance. Players try their luck in these games through the use of dice, cards or spinners. The use of a tool like a dice cube or a spinning wheel will generate a random event which will determine the outcome. These games are very popular amongst children since they require the least amount of skill to participate.

Strategy games: A personal favorite, is the complete opposite of roll over games. This genre rely of strategy and skill to maneuver your pieces through the board, and towards your opponents defeat. The most successful game in this category is chess. Although these games rely primarily on strategy and skill, luck cannot be ruled out as a factor in winning.

Word Games: Classic titles such as Scrabble and Boggle make up this category. Other word games include, Yahtzee, Typo, Apples to Apples, Scrabble and Scrabble Jr., Upwords and Balderdash. Their ability to mix learning with entertainment is sure to appeal to both young and old.