Board Games v. Video Games: The Brutal Truth
Have you ever considered the rivalry between board games v. video games? Yes, you can shout into a headset, connected to people hundreds of miles away, and be sitting next to someone on a sofa. But compare this experience to playing a board game. What is the allure of paper cards in our digital world?
The Game’s Afoot
In a world where our lives are increasingly mediated by screens, a strange phenomenon is happening: we are flocking back to cardboard. The debate of board games v video games isn’t merely about graphics or processing power; it’s about how we want to connect with each other. Come along and find out why this timeless experience is more powerful than ever!
The Human Processor
When you fire up Civilization VI on your PC, the computer handles the math. It calculates crop yields, political influence, and troop movements in the background. You make the decisions with a single click. In board games, you are the processor.
This sounds like a drawback, but it’s actually a superpower. Players have to manually move the pieces and calculate the scores. They can’t hide behind complex algorithms. Board games v video games offer not only human interaction, but real effort in real time.
This transparency creates a sense of control and ownership that video games struggle to replicate. When you lose in a board game, you usually know exactly why—you took a risk, the dice betrayed you, or your friend Steve is just a ruthless capitalist in “Monopoly.”
Board Games V. Video Games: Surprising Truth
There is a thread of thought among gamers that video games can sometimes feel like a “black box.” You press a button, and something awesome happens on screen. But why?
In many modern video games, especially massive open-world RPGs or sports simulations, the mechanics are hidden. You don’t see the dice roll that determined your sword hit. You don’t see the math that decided your striker missed the goal.
Board games strip away the opacity. You see the cogs turning because you are the one turning them. This is why some hybrid games—board games that require a companion app to play—can be so divisive.
Social Friction vs. Digital Smoothness
To an extent, video games are efficient. You want to play a round of Call of Duty? You can be in a lobby in 30 seconds.
Board games are clunky. You have to invite people over. You have to clear the table, sweep the floor, and open the door to others. You have to explain the rules to that one friend who is already looking at their phone (we see you, Sharon).
But friction is part of the human experience. We must lay aside the cloak of ambiguity and passivity in order to build meaningful connections, order, and take up our cards with spirit! Board games v video games reminds us of the social graces our grandparents took for granted.
The social experience of board games v video games is fundamentally different. Board games usually require turn-taking, which creates a natural rhythm for conversation. There’s downtime to chat, to snack, and to laugh.
The Tactile Rebellion
We spend our days swiping glass and typing on plastic keys. We are starved for texture. This helps explain the explosion of “deluxe” board games.
There is a primal satisfaction in holding a heavy game token or figure. It anchors us in the physical world. Video games can give us 4K resolution and ray-tracing, but they can’t give us the feeling of shuffling a deck of cards. It is a revolution of returning to some semblance of sanity on a Friday night. Board games v video games reminds us of when people congregated more, drawn by ties of family, friendship, and community.
Board Games v. Video Games – Here To Stay
This isn’t to say video games are entirely bad. They offer immersion, storytelling, and reflexes that board games can’t touch. We want systems we can understand, objects we can hold, and people we can actually look in the eye.
So next time you’re deciding on game night, maybe leave the console off. Grab a box and clear the table! Just watch out for the hungry capitalist named Steve. Let the board games v. videogames continue!
