- In a survey, 65.30% of US adults find the most valuable thing about board games is that they give them the ability to have fun.
- Having fun while playing board games encourages players to relax, smile and laugh, boosting serotonin and decreasing anxiety.
- However, 50.60% feel that the biggest benefit of board games is that they give more opportunities to socialize.
- The risk of developing Alzheimer’s has been seen to reduce by 47% in regular board game players and puzzle solvers.
- In addition, the risk of suffering from dementia was found to be 15% lower in board game players vs. non-board game players over a period of 20 years.
- Multiple skills can be learned through board games that have practical usage beyond the game, such as the effects of good and bad decision-making, patience, critical thinking and willpower.
- Developing from a beginner into a seasoned board game player can increase the gray matter volume in the brain, increasing cognitive function and improving the ability to make decisions.
- When used as a learning tool, board games can make it easier for learners to concentrate and participate.
- Students that struggle in a traditional classroom environment have been found to be more receptive to learning using board games.
- Whereas video games tend to have less social engagement, board games encourage conversations and give players an increased sense of companionship.
Key benefits of board games
Board games can provide a range of benefits to an individual’s social life and mental health. What’s more, many people will experience multiple benefits at the same time from a round of their favorite board game with friends and/or family. Considering these, it is no surprise that people have enjoyed partaking in the timeless pastime for thousands of years.
| Key benefit | Percentage* |
| Increase in confidence | 29.60% |
| Better social life | 36.80% |
| Better mental health | 40.80% |
| Reduces stress | 47.80% |
| More opportunities to socialize | 50.60% |
A graph is given below to show the benefits associated with board games:
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Level of enjoyment from board games
The majority of board game players (78.00%) find it to be at least a partly enjoyable way to spend free time. Even though there are people that find it hard to enjoy board games, they are in a significant minority. Just 7% of people do not find board games to be enjoyable at all.
| Opinion | Percentage* |
| Not at all enjoyable | 7.00% |
| Not very enjoyable | 11.00% |
| Somewhat enjoyable | 44.00% |
| Very enjoyable | 34.00% |
A graph is given below to show the level of enjoyment from board games:
What board game players value
Overwhelmingly, players tend to enjoy board games as a way to have fun in their free time. The multiplayer aspect of many games could be a huge contributor to this, as players can enjoy the game together, socializing and enjoying the moment. This can be reflected by the comparative lack of one-player board games, as they are a much more solitary and less stimulating activity.
| Factor | Percentage* |
| Killing time | 4.30% |
| Learning new skills | 12.50% |
| Winning | 16.80% |
| Having fun | 65.30% |
A graph is given below to show what board game players value:
Barriers to playing board games
Even though playing board games comes with a whole host of benefits, there are some major barriers that prevent people from playing them. Interestingly, the biggest barriers listed are not related to a lack of enjoyment and are instead linked to their practicality and market pricing.
| Reason | Percentage* |
| Nobody to play with | 23.40% |
| Price of board games | 33.60% |
| Insufficient time | 42.90% |
A graph is given below to show the barriers to playing board games:
Benefits of different board games
Most board games are categorized by age, so that the players can get the best possible experience from each game. The most popular and well-designed board games often encourage players to communicate, collaborate and engage in balanced risk taking to win.
- After 4.5 months of studying chess, second-graders in Venezuela were shown to dramatically increase their IQ scores.
- Scrabble players have been found to recognize English words against nonsense words 20% faster than those who don’t play the game.
- Monopoly can be used to teach people the principles of math, such as counting, addition/subtraction, multiplying and percentages in addition to the financial concepts of taxes, rent and mortgages.
- Number-based board games can help children in particular improve their math ability.
- The facts referenced through games such as Trivial Pursuit can exercise the mind, testing memory recall and aiding retention.
- Although some debate exists over whether or not they should be considered board games, Jenga can improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination, while Twister can even increase physical coordination and balance.