Pretty much here, gaming has somehow become code for “stare at another screen,” and okay, obviously, video games can be fun. But at some point, everyone’s day became one long glowing rectangle. That’s the reality for most people at least; it’s work, school, homework, texts, shopping, banking, streaming, scrolling, gaming, and even ordering tacos, all on a screen. Like, enough. The eyes are tired. The brain is tired. The charger is tired. Why not play some card games instead?
And kids? Yeah, they’re getting the short end of this, too. Actually, it’s probably the worst for them, probably. It’s so sad to say here, but a lot of them barely know the joy of sitting around a table and getting way too invested in a game that has actual pieces. Like really, you remember the classics like Twister, Operations, Connect Four, DnD, Magic if you like card games, Battleship, Rock Em Sock Em Robots, well, the list of classics could go on forever here. But most kids don’t know what most of these are.
There are just so many screens nowadays, so why not just take a step back and cut them out for a while, play some screen-free ones? They’re just as fun, if not more fun, than video games.
Screens Don’t Need to be the Default
The weird thing is, a lot of people don’t even think to suggest a screen-free game anymore. Someone says “game night,” and the brain goes straight to a console, a phone app, or someone bringing a Switch. If you want to get really old school, then maybe a LAN party, but those aren’t really a thing anymore, though.
But sure, all good options, sure, but sometimes the better night is everyone sitting around a table with snacks, bad guesses, and well, playing games as people used to, people screens and video games became mainstream (and affordable and accessible like they are now).
You can play murder mystery games with a group, be it your friends or your family (assuming everyone is at the right age, of course). But think about it, there’s no zoning out here, theres no loading screens, no muting the mic, instead it’s just some banter and people just having fun (and it helps people not take board games seriously as video games too).
Ideal for All Ages
Kids are missing out if all their games come with updates, ads, and a battery percentage. They need to learn how to wait a turn, lose without acting personally victimised, follow rules, bend rules badly, explain why they definitely won, and sit with other people doing something that isn’t controlled by an algorithm. Again, kids mostly focus on screen time and playing on there, and they shouldn’t be on screens constantly anyway.
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But really, it’s not different for adults, and your social life shouldn’t be behind a screen either. Why not play games in person with friends? Sure, at one point, you could do that with video games, but nowadays that’s not really the norm, and everyone has to have their own console. All that does is just disconnect people. At leat old fashion board games and card games keep people together.
Fun Should Feel Present Again
It’s as simple as that, really. Screen-free games don’t need to replace video games. That’s not the point. But they do bring back a type of fun that feels more alive, more social, and honestly more memorable. Kids don’t really have that, and adults are losing that. Bring it back.
