Board games allow youth to forge social bonds

While technology has helped in making communication so simple, a significant amount of time in a person’s day gets spent in the digital world today — be it texts, e-mails, browsing, shopping, finding a cab or even ordering in food. An average of at least 2 hours of a person’s time each day is being spent on phones, according to studies. With human interactions receding more than ever before, Chennai’s youngsters are discovering the world of board games as a means to socialise, while also having fun. The growing community of board gamers in the city and the birth of exclusive lounges to cater to them provide enough proof to that.

Varun Devanathan, a partner at The Board Room café in the city, a space for people to play a wide range of tabletop games, finds a lot of young adults aged between 20 and 35 visiting the place to meet friends. “We see a lot of young people coming to meet their friends over a game of cards, or even meet new people. Many prefer board gaming as a way of socialising after work. Board games differ from online games in a way that they provide a completely different experience. We all need social contact, and board games provide it. The tactile contact with the gaming pieces and the board also make it a livelier experience,” says Varun, who is a game developer himself.

Board games revolving around popular fiction like the Harry Potter series and Game of Thrones are also drawing the young crowds. “Many grew up watching and reading these series, so games based on them also help in connecting with others who share similar interests,” he points out.

City-based photographer Vinay Aravind finds meeting his friends over board games as a great alternative to meeting them over a drink or a meal or spending time on the phone. “I find board gaming a nice way to relax and meet with friends whenever I find some free time. It is also inexpensive way of having fun, if one is just heading to a lounge to play these games. They also provide the same kind of thrill and rush that one can get from other sports, while being equally competitive but requiring lesser energy. There is a whole world of board games beyond Monopoly and Uno that people would have played as kids. Occasionally, I also end up meeting new people in the process,” Vinay notes.

Avid gamers Arjun Sukumaran and Chitra Bianca Appasamy turned their love for tabletop games into a cafe named The Board Game Lounge, which is among the first few dedicated spaces in the city for board gaming, offering over 250 different games. “Board games are a very social hobby and allow people to interact in a way that cannot be replicated online. Most visitors come with their friends and family to play these games. We also host board gamers’ meetups, which allow those interested in these games to meet new people and pair with them for playing. Most gamesalso require quite a bit of interaction and are hence inherently social.People end up spending at least 2-3 hours each time they visit us,” says Arjun, who has been playing tabletop games for thepast 7 years.

So next time you’re keen to switch off digitally, try exploring aboard game.