(Written by Jessie Roasa)
Playing and collecting tabletop games was just a novel experience up until I finished binge-watching Geek & Sundry’s web series Tabletop. While anybody who has played contemporary board games would tell you how fun it actually is, what’s surprising to me—as one of those nerdy kids who grew up memorizing Elvish phrases from Lord of the Rings—is that the hype surrounding the tabletop game experience is not only sustaining itself but growing.
The ‘nerd niche’ has expanded in a rapidly growing informational landscape. Everyone’s a nerd about something—and with the dawn of social media and a society that values acceptance over mere tolerance, people are less afraid to show it. What makes it so great to live within today’s more accepting culture is the sense of community and connectivity that’s strengthened through sharing cultural interests and experiences. And admit it—it’s pretty cool that we get to build relationships in a shared imaginary fantasy setting.
Shared experiences
Hans Fernandez, the founder of one of the Philippines’ top board game suppliers, The Gaming Library, has insight on what makes it so. “Board games offer an avenue of genuine social and personal interaction,” he says. “You don’t get to hear about people talking about ‘remember that one time when [this happened in] our chat group?’ Rather, you hear people talking about the experiential moment—‘You remember that one time Person A backstabbed the group [while playing quiet and innocent]?’”
Between games, there are countless worlds to explore, a multitude of characters to embody, and endless possibilities to experience alongside real, living, actual people. Being able to interact with other players on a physical level enables us to connect and build stronger bonds—that even though you’ve been brutally betrayed by a mob lynch, it will always be a good story to tell.
New modes of storytelling
And the stories just keep getting better. With the demand of tabletop games on the rise, we’ve been constantly blessed with new, exciting stories and systems to play. According to Hans, a few tabletop games both newbies and seasoned players should definitely try are Dead of Winter, Pandemic, Codenames, Splendor and Avalon. With their exceptional game design, you will never tire of playing them and create unique experiences with different sets of friends. “Don’t just play it,” he said, “make sure you have these at home always for reunions and gatherings.”
Anyone who has played any kind of tabletop game can attest to how fun it can be. Being a nerd in the mid-2010s and staying in on a Friday night hunched over your dice set is now absolutely socially acceptable.
Today’s culture craves that immersive experience board games provide a means to physically connect and reach out to people. Grab your nerd friends. Compete. Collaborate. Betray your loved ones. And create a story.
