I come from a family of non-gamers. My younger brother enjoys board games but not to the extent that I do. It is a burden that I bear. (Cue tiny violin.) We’ve all been in a similar situation and with the impending holiday season, you’ll spend a great deal of time in close quarters with extended family. For gamers like us, board games are our go-to social interaction. It’s how we bond and pass the time. Not to mention – board games are fun!
How do you get non-gamers to throw down a game they’ve never heard of in their lives? Let me be the first to say – miracles can happen. I’ll let you in on a few tips to increase the chances that such a miracle will occur.
Tip 1: Know your audience
Last Thanksgiving, my family went to visit my in-laws. I was pretty sure my sister-in-law and nephew would play. But what to take? What would sound appealing? I think we spent more time deciding what games to take than what to pack. Ages from 8 to 38. We had to present games that were easy enough for an 8 year old to understand that wouldn’t bore the rest of us to death. Bonus points if it was a short game so our nephew could get back to playing with our kids who worship him. Out of the games we took – they picked Tsuro and Forbidden Island. Tsuro – beautiful, simple, and quick. ‘Forbidden Island’ – cooperative game so we could help the younger player.
Tip 2: Cooperative Games
While the genre continues to pick up steam, many people haven’t heard of cooperative games. They’re appealing for all the reasons typical board games are disliked. Cooperative games manage to make even the most competitive people easier to tolerate (and even fun). There’s more socializing which is always a selling point but this also helps newer gamers learn from the more experienced players. “That looks too complicated” no longer applies. And you ever so subtly introduce them into role-playing games. Most cooperative games have players choose roles to play so why not act it out a bit? That may get your more timid family and friends into the game even more!
Tip 3: Variety
The first tip was to know your audience but taking a variety can help you cover any gaps in knowledge and take into account the differing moods of potential players. Grandma may not want to play Cards Against Humanity but she’ll throw down some Yahtzee. Then again, that scenario may be reversed depending on Grandma’s mood.
Mixing classics with new and independent games is a fantastic way to encourage people to try new games!
Tip 4: When All Else Fails…
Sometimes, no matter how enticing you make the games sound or how carefully you selected them, some people will refuse to play.
Take my father for example. I can count on one hand the number of board games he and I have played together (Monopoly, Mouse Trap a childhood favorite of his, Chess, and Trump). You will find his picture beside the phrase “Tough Nut to Crack” when it comes to board gaming. When we last visited, he showed absolutely no interest in playing any game I mentioned. I tried to entice him with graphics, the cooperative game angle, and short play times. Nothing worked. Until…
I used the love of a grandfather for his grandson. That’s right. My Dad had purchased Robot Turtles for my son’s fourth birthday and my son loves that game. Adores that game. We took it across the country and my Dad couldn’t resist playing his grandson’s favorite board game with him that he had bought.
Booyah!
He may not have gamed with me but it was great to see him and my son play together. And that’s what makes board games so wonderful, isn’t it? They cross all sorts of barriers – age, religion, race – and give us a positive social outlet in which to bond.
Take that love of gaming with you as you set off for family time and, no matter what, you’ll manage a game or two. Most importantly, you’ll share some laughs and create memories.
Stephanie Hawver
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- Ask a Gamer- Concocting Your Gaming Group - January 15, 2016
