Board Games

Boredom

As a kid, I played the usual board games--the kind of which most families had a copy, but I never really understood how to play them. I was young. Mostly, I played them at my friends' houses. As I grew I developed a dislike for them, because I observed that most families kept their board games on the top shelf of some closet. Out of sight with layers of dust. My understanding was that board games were really bored-games. Bought on an impulse sale while shopping in a store. Where the shopper's imagination gave them a glimps of the future where their family would spend many nights playing the game. Only to learn later that the instructions are a little hard to follow, not all the family members are interested, and the game really wasn't designed to bring you back again and again.

Discovery

Let's jump to the early aughts, where my wife and I were having friends over for company. The women wanted a pre-dinner mall-run. Someone mentioned playing a board game. I remembered this attractive looking game store in the mall and asked them to grab something. What they came home with was not the usuall Milton Bradley kind of game, but something called Munchkin.

Fast Forward

We were invited to a wedding of an old highschool friend. That's where we met a new couple, Eric and Megan. While we were getting to know each other after the ceremony, he mentioned he likes board games. I mentioned that I like to play Munchkin. Eric and Megan became best friends of ours for years to come. This couple introduced us to a large world of board games. The kind that were not sold in big chain stores. Through them, I played more than I could count. They are now something I enjoy time and time again with my family and kids.

You can view my board game closet here.

Conclusion

Find a local board game store or go online, but avoid Chinazon when possible. Buy boutique. Milton Bradley and Hasbro chase profits over experience.