Bonding with family over the holidays can be a struggle, but luckily a good board game can unite any room in triumph or failure. These bad guys are great for a myriad of reasons – they take you away from a screen, force you to think logically and strategically, and can lay the groundwork for lasting bonds. On the other hand, I suppose, they can also make enemies for life… just try not to be the one who gets *too* carried away.
When I was little my family used to visit our friends for Christmas and New Years and my shy self was afraid to play with the older kids. Eventually they took me under their wing and let me play their games of Monopoly, Clue, Sorry! and The Settlers of Catan (whose rules I never quite understood). Admittedly, I have some memories of being too shy to talk in groups and having to show my cards to the person next to me for help on the next move (e.g. during a game of Clue: ” What should I do when I have the rope?”). I’ve often said the wrong thing out loud and made a fool of myself, but luckily everyone was good natured and didn’t tell me when I screwed up the game. I will always have those moments appreciate when it wasn’t really about who wins or loses, but just having a good time.We never made it through a full Monopoly game though.
Another great thing about board games is that they can be fun at any age. I’ll still screw you up in a game of Sorry! if the opportunity arises, and I will participate in a game of Battleship each day. There are many board games on the market now that are aimed at adults, like your classic Cards Against Humanity or Tell Me Without Telling Me. Board games are also infinitely versatile, ranging from very simple rule sets like Snakes and Ladders or Candy Land to… complex strategies like Chess or Go are enough. We even have ones that involve lore and RPGs, like Dungeons & Dragons. As cool as I find these games, I think I’ll stick to my silly little games at the annual Christmas party.
Board games are timeless. There is something for everyone and with the right group of people you are guaranteed to have fun whether you win or lose. We all have board games that we associate with nostalgic memories, so why not add an element of these to your tattoo collection? Whether it’s a distinctive game character or a sinister Monopoly man, let your ink remind you that you’re never too old for a little friendly competition.
SCRABBLES
MONOPOLY
SETTLERS OF CATAN
A NOTICE
SNAKES AND LADDERS
WE’RE SORRY!
RISK
CHESS
LADY
WALK
CANDY COUNTRY
TRIVIAL PURSUIT
JENGA
OPERATION
YAHTZEE
AZUL
DUNGEONS