Ladies, let’s spill some tea: our lives are completely* plugged in. We’re swiping through dating apps , streaming our fave shows , and Insta-storying every latte It’s fun, but sometimes… don’t you just want to unplug? To have a girls’ night that doesn’t involve a single megapixel? Enter your new obsession: board games! More on NOMAspin
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Board games? Like, Monopoly and darts with my annoying cousins at Thanksgiving?” Girl, no! Today’s board games are the Little Black Dress of entertainment: timeless, adaptable, and always in style. They’re your BFF for cozy nights in, your wingman at parties, and—surprise!—an incredible tool for self-growth. So, pour yourself a glass of rosé , get comfy, and let’s explore why board games are about to become your everything.
Why We’re Swapping Screens for Cardboard
First things first: why are we, the iPad generation, falling for something as retro as board games? Simple:
- Digital Detox: Between work , socials , and Netflix , we’re basically cyborgs. Board games offer a chic tech cleanse. No notifications, no DMs—just you, the game, and actual face time with your squad.
- Instagram vs. IRL: Sure, Marco Polo video chats are fun, but nothing beats being in the same room, laughing, scheming, maybe even giving a real-life high five.
- NoFilter Moments: Board games bring out our unedited selves. You’ll see who’s a sore loser, who’s surprisingly cutthroat—revelations you won’t get from their carefully curated Insta feed.
Types of Games: There’s One for Every Mood & Squad
Just like you wouldn’t wear stilettos to spin class, you gotta match the game to the occasion:
- Party Games: It’s Friday, and the crew’s coming over for wine and gossip. Start with a party game! In “Cards Against Humanity” (adults only! ), you’ll learn who has the dirtiest mind. For something tamer, “Just One” has you guessing words based on your friends’ one-word clues. It’s surprising how differently you all think!
- Cooperative Games: Had a rough week? Team up in a co-op game. “Pandemic” is a global hit where you’re disease-fighting heroes (too real?). In the Indiana Jones-esque “Forbidden Island,” you’re treasure hunters escaping a sinking island. Working together is super bonding, plus—hello—you all win or lose as one. Very “we’re in this together” energy.
- Story Games: Perfect for your book club crew. “Once Upon a Time” lets you craft fairy tales together, while “Gloom” (it’s funnier than it sounds) has you telling the tragic life of a gothic family. Great for unleashing inner storytelling divas!
- Two-Player Games: Date night, but want to skip Netflix? Try “7 Wonders Duel” (build ancient civilizations) or “Patchwork” (yes, a cool game about quilting!). They’re quick to learn, super engaging, and way better for getting to know someone than sitting in movie silence.
- Self-Care Games: Say what? Yep, solo board gaming is a thing, and it’s like meditation meets mental workout. In “Wingspan,” you’re building bird habitats—it’s educational, strategic, and the watercolor art is so soothing. Need more zen? Try “Railroad Ink,” where you draw a cute train network. Perfect for unwinding after a day of adulting.
Strategy Tips: Because Life is a Game, Too
Here’s the big secret: the skills that make you a board game queen are the exact same ones that help you slay in life. Let’s break it down:
- Know the Rules: In “Puerto Rico,” not knowing you can’t stockpile corn can cost you the game. In life, not knowing your lease terms can cost you a lot more. Read the rulebook, ask questions. Knowledge is power, girl.
- Plan Ahead, Stay Flexible: In “Ticket to Ride,” you plan rail routes across America. But if someone blocks your New York-LA line, you adapt. Same in your career—have goals, but be ready to reroute if a better opportunity pops up.
- Resource Management: “Catan” teaches you to balance brick, wood, ore. Your real life? Time, money, energy. Both teach you to invest wisely.
- Negotiate Like a Boss: “Bohnanza” is all about trading bean cards (yes, beans). You’ll be making deals, breaking deals, sweetening pots. By game’s end, you’re practically a bean broker. Great practice for salary talks!
- Read People: In “Sheriff of Nottingham,” you’re smuggling goods past officials. Maintaining a poker face and spotting others’ tells is key. Essential skills for dates, interviews, or any high-stakes chat.
- Learn from Loss: You’ll lose games. Maybe even embarrassingly. But in board gaming, there’s a culture of the “post-game breakdown.” What worked? What didn’t? Apply this to job interviews, bad dates—every setback becomes a learning moment.
- Know Your Role: Many games like “Pandemic” give each player unique abilities. Maybe you remove disease cubes faster; someone else builds research stations easily. Success is using your skill at the right time, just like in group projects or at work.
Board Games as Self-Care & Empowerment
Ladies, we talk a lot about self-care, usually involving sheet masks or yoga retreats. But self-care is also about mental and emotional health. Enter board games:
- Confidence Booster: Winning at “Azul” (a gorgeous tile-laying game) or any game isn’t just fun; it literally boosts your confidence. That “I did it!” feeling? It translates.
- Stress Relief: Bad day? Complicated breakup? In “Carcassonne,” you peacefully build a medieval landscape. It’s repetitive, strategic, almost meditative—like an adult coloring book, but you’re also using your brain.
- Failure in a Safe Space: Scared of messing up that work presentation? Board games let you fail without real-world consequences. The more you experience failure as temporary in games, the less it’ll scare you in life.
- Community Building: Board game nights become rituals. That monthly “Betrayal at House on the Hill” session? It’s now a cornerstone of your social life, giving you regular face time with your inner circle.
Hosting Next-Level Game Nights
You’ve mastered charcuterie boards and playlist curation. Now, level up your hosting skills with board game nights:
- Know Your Crowd: Just started dating? Try “Fog of Love,” a brilliant game about relationship scenarios. Game night with work friends? “The Resistance” lets you lie to your boss (in a game!).
- Set the Scene: Good lighting, chill music, and maybe themed snacks? (Blue milk for “Star Wars: Rebellion,” anyone?)
- Teach with Patience: Not everyone knows modern games. Give a clear, concise explanation. Maybe even do a “mulligan” first round.
- Be a Guide, Not a Shark: With newbies, give strategic tips. The goal is for everyone to have fun and want to play again.
- 5. Have a Debrief: Some games can get intense! End the night discussing favorite moments or wild comebacks. It recasts any tensions into shared stories.
Beyond Fun: Board Games as Life Skills
Here’s a truth bomb: adulting is hard. Relationships, career, self-discovery—no one gives you a rulebook. But board games, in their structured play, offer a kind of practice arena:
– In “Spirit Island,” where you’re nature spirits fighting colonizers, you learn cultural empathy.
– In “Paperback,” a delightful mashup of Scrabble and Dominion, you build your writing career from pulp fiction to bestseller—a cool metaphor for any creative journey.
– And in the cooperative game “Hanabi,” where you see everyone’s cards but your own, you learn trust. To win, you must believe your friends when they guide your moves.
Board games aren’t just escapism; they’re a playground for the skills we need in our complex, fast-changing world. Skills like long-term planning, resource management, negotiation, and perhaps most crucially, learning to lose gracefully. Because let’s be real: in games, as in life, you won’t always win. But with every roll of the dice, every card drawn, you’re practicing resilience, adaptability, and poise.
So yes, keep your sheet masks and your hot yoga—those have their place. But if you really want to invest in yourself, to sharpen your mind and bolster your emotional intelligence, look no further than your game shelf. That copy of “Wingspan” or “Terraforming Mars” isn’t just a box of cardboard and plastic. It’s a masterclass in strategic thinking, a training ground for life’s challenges, all disguised as an evening’s entertainment.
In a world quick to label any female-led pursuit as a mere “hobby,” board gaming offers a refreshing counter-narrative. These aren’t just games; they’re intellectual arenas where women routinely outmaneuver, outthink, and outplay their opponents, regardless of gender. In the game world’s meritocracy, the only color that matters is the one on your player token.
Tonight, instead of scrolling through Netflix or double-tapping Instagram posts, consider opening a board game. Lay out that map, punch out those tokens, shuffle those decks. As you sit there, pondering your first move under the warm glow of your Noguchi lamp, you’re not just starting a game. You’re continuing a tradition that has challenged and shaped minds for millennia. You’re also, though you may not realize it yet, working on yourself—building skills, confidence, resilience.
So invite your girlfriends, your colleagues, maybe even that intriguing someone from Hinge. Share some wine, some laughter, and several hours of cardboard-induced strategy. Tonight, the real world can wait. You have kingdoms to build, planets to explore, and yes, occasionally, some betrayals to orchestrate.
After all, every queen needs a kingdom. Why not start with one made of cardboard?