Source: Radio New Zealand
Board games are having a resurgence despite the popularity of online gaming. Thomas Buchholz / Unsplash
A sector of gamers are trading in their consoles and visual effects for real live company, turning to a centuries-old social version of entertainment
In a world where digital spaces seem to have taken over everything, it seems counter-intuitive that board games, of all things, would be making a comeback.
But those within the very much alive and growing board game playing scene in New Zealand and across the globe will tell you that the world of tokens and dice is not what it used to be.
One of them is James McFadgen, the owner of Cakes and Ladders, an Auckland based board game cafe where customers can rent space to try out any of the almost 1000-strong selection of board games collected over the years.
“A lot of people my age grew up with Scrabble, Monopoly, Connect 4 and some of them still think that’s what board games is; and they think ‘Oh, isn’t that just 15 minutes of fun and done? And then you’re kind of like: ‘oh, I don’t want to do that again’,” he said.
McFadgen first encountered the idea when on holiday with his family in Toronto, Canada.
“It was a really, really diverse crowd just having a good time and we were like, ‘wow, it would be really cool if something like that was in Auckland’.”
Things have only grown since then and there are many reasons why.
Crowdfunding and social media mean that individuals with new ideas can now bring those ideas to the marketplace without requiring connections to major corporations. The digital landscape, rather than being the final nail in the coffin for analogue gaming, is one of the primary causes for its resurgence.
“A lot of that started with a kickstarter boom… and board games really took off in that space. Previously if you wanted to get your board game funded you needed to be part of the board game publishing industry already,” said McFadgen.
But equally responsible is the human element. Spending time online is one thing, but Wellington board game enthusiasts Ezra and Emerald Mautner will be the first to tell you there is no replacement for sitting across the table from friends enjoying yourself. Board games, Ezra argues, can act as a form of socially lubricating structure, preventing the conversation from going stale.
“You’ve got this tool that you can kind of focus on for a bit and dip in and out of the conversation as you are comfortable; it really promotes a social environment especially for people who don’t necessarily fall towards that.”
The games also are a far cry from Snakes and Ladders; often complex role-playing scenarios that can take months or even years to wind up.
Emerald points out that like everything else in the modern day, Covid-19 had had an impact.
“It has to be said, Covid did, probably, assist more with the hobbies that can be tried at home… I don’t think it’s the only reason, but I think it has assisted.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
