Board games have been a staple of human entertainment for a very long time—in fact, some games have roots that can be traced back several millennia! They’re a great way to kick back, relax, and spend some enjoyable quality time with family and friends while totally unplugged from all of the modern, technological distractions of today. If you’re looking for a new board game to bust out during your next family game night, look no further than these five, well-known and best-selling classics!
#5. Scrabble
Known as the crossword puzzle game, Scrabble is a game that requires a deep understanding of vocabularies and a knack for improvisation. Players must place their letter tiles on the board to spell out words either horizontally or vertically, earning points depending on the words formed. By 2017, over 150 million units of Scrabble had been sold.
#4. Monopoly
Parker Brothers introduced this game in 1934, and it’s been testing the patience of friendships ever since! It involves the practice of real estate as the players move their pieces around a board, trying to purchase as much property as possible. The players can also collect rent from their opponents—and once you become bankrupt, you lose! Upon its release it quickly garnered popularity, and it’s estimated that over 300 million units have been sold as of today.
#3. Backgammon
Backgammon is an ancient game that has been around since about 3000 BC, according to excavation sites in Iran. It involves the use of several tactics as well as probability; a player can move their pieces over several spaces depending on the toss of a dice, and the pieces continue to move as the players counter each other’s moves back and forth. It’s estimated that by the beginning of 2005, over 88 million copies of backgammon were in circulation—today, this figure has increased exponentially.
#2. Checkers
Checkers has also existed in some form since 3000 BC—a board of the game has been excavated in Ur, a city-state from the ancient Mesopotamia. It’s a game for two players that involves pieces being moved diagonally across a board; you can “capture” your opponent’s pieces by jumping your own pieces over theirs. The winner is simply the first one who’s able to remove all of the other player’s pieces.
#1. Chess
Often considered the grandfather of all board games, chess can be traced back several centuries—but despite its old age, its popularity hasn’t diminished in the slightest and roughly 3 million copies of the game are sold annually! The rules are simple: each player has 16 pieces that are of six different types, and the objective is to capture the opponent’s king. That said, it’s relative ease doesn’t make it any less nuanced; watching an amateur play compared to watching a Grandmaster play is quite a different experience!
About Bricks & Boards +
Here at Bricks & Boards +, we’re pleased to offer an impressive selection of board games, new and vintage Lego® sets, trading cards, collectibles, and more to gamers and collectors in the Dawsonville area. If you have any questions about the article or would like to inquire about our selection of board games, feel free to contact us online, give us a call, or stop by today!
