It’s an unidentifiable day in the liminal space between Christmas and new year. People are full of cheese and winter colds passed between family members. Then someone pulls out a board game, and the world inhales. Will this game unite grumpy grandparents with tech-loving teenagers, bringing loved ones together in a scene of joy and goodwill only seen in Nativity scenes or Hallmark movies? Or will it sow further seeds of resentment, leading to Monopoly boards thrown across the room or parents falling asleep during a particularly tedious game of Risk? Each attempt is a roll of a dice in itself.
Many of us will recognise this scenario. For a long time, board games have been seen as a cause of tension at gatherings, or as simply a bit naff. Think of games, and you likely imagine inscrutable instructions with glacial play and tiny pieces sure to get lost down the sofa. But for people in the know, table-top gaming has been experiencing a resurgence. A new generation of games has emerged, pacy enough to prevent punters from picking up their phones. It’s a lucrative field to be in. In 2017, the global market was valued at £5.6m. By the end of 2023, it was predicted to reach £9.42m.
