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Brainy Board Games to Play With Family and Friends
Posted on by Kirti Patwari
Who doesn’t remember the good old days of playing Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, and Scrabble? Before the screens invaded our lives, the best sort of fun you could have indoors was with these wonderful board games. But we have nothing against screens. After all, it was on our phones and tablets that we could revive this old tradition of playing board games and the umpf over ‘Ludo King’ during the lockdown is proof. However, retaining the charm of sitting around a board and playing for hours, we have brought together some of the best board games for adults which will test your thinking capabilities alongside allowing you and friends loads of fun. So, let’s unbox!
Catan
One of the most innovative board games, Catan or Settlers of Catan as it was previously known, is a treat for trade enthusiasts. The players are settlers on the island of Catan, strategizing their way to build maximum roads and settlements. And that, they do through the first form of trade known, barter. Some resources you have in abundance, other resources are scarce. Ore, wool, brick, grain, and wood work as commodities – you trade according to what is needed for your current building projects. The board is an unconventional hexagon made up of smaller hexagons with different terrains like forests, fields, and pastures on them. The entire scene makes the game quite engaging. Be smart while planning your progress and you’ll get to reign over the island of Catan!
No. of Players: 3-4
What will you learn?
- Resource management
- Negotiation
- Analysis of the current environment and how that impacts your survival
Cashflow 101
Created by the famous finance expert, Robert Kiyosaki, Cashflow 101 is one of the best ways to develop basic financial literacy. The board is absolutely fascinating with two tracks named the fast track and the rat race respectively. The objective of the game is to increase your financial IQ so that you can get out of the rat race and into the fast track. Once you get hold of the process, everyday monetary jargon like real estate, assets, liabilities, balance sheet, etc. will become as easy as ABC to deal with! With this amazing game, finance is now, FUNANCE!
No. of Players: 3-6
What Will You Learn?
- How to create a balance sheet.
- How to budget and allocate your cash.
- Evaluation of financial opportunities
- Building capital by purchasing real estate, shares, and mutual funds
Prime Climb
A perfect blend of fun and learning, Prime Climb is an ideal way to make friends with Math. The board holds a colourful spiral of numbers, reaching the center of which is the goal of the game. This journey to the center of the board will require you to add, subtract, multiply, and divide so that you don’t get knocked out! The game is a great pick for both math junkies and those who see math as a nightmare. Not only does it improve math proficiency, but enhances cognitive skills also.
No. of Players: 3-4
What Will You Learn?
- Quick calculation
- Basic multiplication and division for kids who haven’t learned already
Mastermind
Challenge your friends a game of Mastermind, and you’ll know who’s the smartest of all! One player is the code-maker, who creates a secret code, and the other is the code-breaker, who tries to break the code in as few chances as possible. This interesting game beautifully combines the aspects of computing, mathematics, and psychology.
No. of Players: 2
What Will You Learn?
- Experimental design
- Hypothesis-testing
- Careful interpretation of results
- Effective use of controls
Clue
Holla detectives! Let’s solve the case of Mr. Boddy’s murder!
As you might have guessed, Clue is a detective game where players try to get to the three main aspects of a murder: the murderer, the location of the murder, and the murder weapon. Set in a lavish mansion, the game involves 9 rooms, 6 guests at Mr. Boddy’s dinner party, and 6 possible weapons. An exciting hot-on-the-trail journey of unknotting periodic snags to decode a murder mystery, Clue is one of the best ways to level up your house party!
No. of Players: 3-6
What Will You Learn?
- Deductive reasoning
- critical thinking
- propositional logic
Risk
With a thrilling setup of building armies and engaging in battles, Risk truly is a blessing of a board game. As superficial as it sounds, the game’s end goal is to conquer the world. And one thing that dominates the scene is strategy. An impressively detailed and visually pleasing board and pieces, Risk is a compelling board game that gets you to plan strategic missions to defeat your counterparts to take over territories.
No. of Players: 2-6
What Will You Learn?
- Strategic planning
- Effective use of resources
- Smart handling possessions to build an empire
So, the next time you’re bored, just find the right board.