This weekend, to unwind a bit, I’ve tried new board games:
- Iwari, a strategy game with the following mechanisms: area majority/influence, card drafting, hand management, and network/route building
- 7 Wonders: Architects: another strategy game. This one is a simplified version of the classic 7 Wonders
- Exploding Kittens: a small party game using hand management and hot potato. It’s a gentler version of Russian Roulette
I’m
crazy about board games; I
own ~1500, which is rather scary now that I think about it. My wife thinks I’m nuts (she’s probably right). She’s desperate for me to stop filling the house with cardboard boxes 😂.
I have only played about 10% (probably less!), and I’m fine with that. Board games, like TV Shows, Movies, Anime, Manga, and Comic Books, are my insurance against boredom. There’s a part of me that fights really strongly against being bored, even though
boredom is actually great for creativity.
To avoid killing my creativity though, I make sure to take time for myself throughout the week to read, find inspiration, and write anything that crosses my mind. Morning pages and
journaling are key for me. I care about all the things that fuel my imagination. Importantly, I do my best to
always work towards meaningful goals.
Board games are awesome for creativity and imagination too. Every game is different, even if many share the same mechanics. Some games have an incredible design (e.g.,
Scythe,
Everdell), immersive themes and deep stories (e.g.,
Gloomhaven), extremely hard challenges (e.g.,
Arkham Horror LCG), etc. Just exploring the different types of games is enlightening.
As an added benefit, for an introvert like myself, board games are awesome ⭐️. I get to play with a handful of friends (usually 2-3) and spend a great evening without feeling overwhelmed as I do with larger parties and family reunions.
If Monopoly is all that comes to mind when you think about board games, then do me a favor: go discover modern board games, you won’t be disappointed!
