|
 In the ’70s and ’80s, video games became popular and
board games lost some of their attraction. Many people even thought board games would fade away ... until Trivial Pursuit.
The challenge of the game made it appealing, and it sold millions in the mid-’80s. The game tested our knowledge and really
made us think, but it also was a lot of fun. Trivial Pursuit made a path for other board games to follow by combining
entertainment with brainpower. This rediscovery of board games led to a boom in the 1990s, with many new brain-teasing games that also were fun to play. Board games became popular not only among families, but they also became a big hit at adult parties. Two of the games popular in the 1990s—TriBond and Taboo—have been included in Games Magazine’s Hall of Fame. As the new millennium began, TV again played an important role in shaping the board games that we play. This time, however, TV game shows were featured. Based on the TV success of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, a board game of the same name allowed people to play the game at home. Deal or No Deal and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? are two other popular TV game shows that became hit board games in the 2000s. The emphasis on family activities and other “nesting” behaviors after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, further increased the status of board games. Although people still maintained ample screen time in front of computers and video games, the need for human interaction continued to make playing board games a common pastime. Board games offer family and friends a chance to reconnect with each other in today’s busy world. Experts also point out that people turn to board games as an inexpensive source of entertainment during difficult economic times. With the cost of other leisure activities rising, people recognize the value they can find in a board game. And there’s a board game to fit everyone’s taste, whether it’s stimulating word games, challenging trivia games, entertaining family games, shout-it-out party games, or old favorites like Monopoly and Clue. Today, the growth and popularity of fun-to-play thinking games have exploded. Now there are lots of reasons to get family and friends together for an entertaining evening. To help you plan your Million Minute Family Challenge™ party, here are some great Game Ideas! |
 |
|
