4

They've Embraced Technology

When you start to explore the world of board games as a video game fan, you realize that the two are not bitter enemies, but in fact are complementary. Some, like those made by Jackbox Games, blur the line completely. Board games and video games have now been made one. And they will conquer.

But video gaming's one advantage is being able to play with anyone, anywhere, right? What if there was a way to play board games with friends across the country without downloading a shitty iPhone version? This isn't a unicorn dream, friends. Enter Tabletopia, a PC app that is the Netflix of board games.

Tabletopia Inc.

The platform has over 300 games, everything from newcomers like Scythe to whatever the hell Canadian Checkers is. Games are pretty accurately recreated, and the best part is that you don't even have to pick up all the pieces when you inevitably flip the table in a blind rage.

But maybe you want something more than a neatly packaged digital version of some indie game you've never heard of. In that case, you're gonna want Tabletop Simulator, which is a literal board game simulator. Unlike Tabletopia, there are no 21st-century conveniences like score counters or auto-shuffling. In order to play the games in Tabletop Simulator, you must physically pick up and move the pieces, or draw cards from the deck with your mouse. Everything is manual and physics-based. There are no rules unless you follow them voluntarily. A game of poker can suddenly become a house of cards building contest, just like real life. The game even lets you upload your own art and create a game, like this completely unauthorized fan version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game which I'm assuming you are going to go download now. It's beautiful madness.

Berzerk Games

3

Goddamn Legacy Games

No matter how into board gaming you are, I'm sure you're familiar with Risk. In fact, you probably have it in your attic right now. To catch you up to speed, it's a world domination game in which you fight against a handful of other people to take over the Earth via brute force. (There's no diplomacy or trading. You make the biggest army you can and try to make your buddies cry.) A lot of the game is based on rolling dice and building up territory, so later in the game, it can get a little slow and tedious rolling dice 47 times to take over Australia.

In 2012, Hasbro figured that the 50-year-old game was getting a little stale and released Risk Legacy. This isn't just a re-skin. It's a completely different game, and it was the first of its kind. This is a game that you play over and over with the same people across multiple sessions until a predetermined amount of games have been finished, changing the game as you go. But here's the kicker: You can never play it again after that, because the game changes become permanent. This board game has actual spoilers.

Let me show you what I mean. The very first action you do is choose a faction and one of two power-ups. You're supposed to pick your favorite, then throw the other one away. Haha, no, I don't mean you toss it in the discard pile. I mean you throw it away.

The Board Game Family

During the game, players unlock various rewards for winning each game -- like, for example, naming your own territory. In this case, you take a Sharpie and write it on the damn board. So name your new place "Fuck-Greg-Istan" if you want, because really, fuck Greg. There are even spoiler cards that unlock after certain conditions are met that are sealed in an envelope like an Academy Award.

The Board Game Family

2

There Are Modern Versions Of The Classics Now

OK, maybe this still isn't convincing you to go check out some new board games. Maybe you legitimately do miss the old games you used to play and would play them all again if they had some mechanics that weren't invented in 1910. Monopoly is great, but it's basically Woodrow Wilson's America: The Game. Speaking of the era before World War II, when was the last time you played Monopoly? Because a shitload of stuff has changed. First off all, credit cards have been added.

Hasbro

That's Monopoly Ultimate Banking Edition, an update to the classic in which everything is credit-based. There is no more multicolored cash. Wanna buy a property or pay rent? Scan your Monopoly Visa.

Hasbro

Oh, don't worry, they still make the original version, but even that's seen its share of changes. First, Hasbro decided to officially include common house rules in the game, because their market research told them that 70 percent of players have never read the rules and just make it up as they go (we coulda' told you that for free, Hasbro). Remember how weird some of the tokens were? There was a car, a boat, a dog, a hat, and wasn't there a shoe and an iron? Well, not anymore. In 2013, the iron was voted out and replaced with a cat. Sorry, irons, but you were no match for the ultimate meme pet.

Hasbro

1

There Is An Indie Renaissance Happening Right Now

Like I mentioned, the timing of great video games was perfect for my adolescence. But things change. I'm sure I'm not the first person who has simply seen their available time slip away from them as they grow into adulthood and are forced to take on actual responsibilities. I don't worry about video game price so much as I worry if I'll have the 80 hours necessary to properly guide my Witcher through the swamp of Magictopia or wherever.

Polygon

As a video gamer, have you ever had an idea pop into your head and thought, "Damn, that would make an AWESOME game!" But if you're not already a game designer, it would be a little daunting to actually create it, right? Where would you even start? (Do you have to like ... call Xbox?) Even if you knew how to program, AAA video games are made by huge teams of people over multiple years for millions of dollars. Even as an indie developer, you're probably going to need employees and capital upfront long before you're able to start designing your cast of mages and dwarf ladies.

Meanwhile, an idiot like me can come up with a card game idea in the shower, and in a couple of minutes, I can draw a quick version on cut up pieces of paper. In a week, I can have a workable prototype printed on demand for about 50 bucks, and within a month, I can have a free PDF online for anyone in the world to download. The ease of entry for indie developers into this space has led to a $200 million board game renaissance, driven by companies that people crowdfunded from their house. It's one of the only genres of entertainment I can think of in which the indie titles might be more popular than the ones from the big corporate publishers (you probably haven't seen the brands Milton Bradley or Parker Brothers around much since Hasbro ate them.)

Milton Bradley

But the market is still there, thanks to hits like Settlers Of Catan, Fluxx, Munchkin, and countless others. This isn't Magic: The Gathering happening in a dingy basement anymore. It's your cool aunt playing Cards Against Humanity. The reason is, thankfully, that board games are hip again.

Chris has a new party game called Cheer Up! on Kickstarter right now.

For more check out The 7 Best Board Games for Destroying Your Friendship and 6 Board Games That Ruined It for Everyone.

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