People have been laughing, talking and arguing over games for thousands of years. The oldest-known board game is Senet, played in ancient Egypt from around 3500BC. It was such a treasured activity that pharaohs (Egyptian kings) were buried with their game boards. Snakes and ladders is thought to come from ancient India, where it taught children about good and bad choices. Video games appeared in the 20th century. Early games like Pong, where players pinged a tiny dot between two lines, were very basic. Today, players can wear virtual reality headsets that make you feel like you’re inside the game – but, do these fancy features mean they’re the best games to play with your family? What do you think? Do board games top video games?
Yes – they bring people together
Lots of board games have been created so that the whole family or groups of friends can play them at the same time. In fact, a study showed that 71% of people in France use board games to bring their family together. Some psychologists (experts in how people think, feel and behave) say playing board games helps teach important social skills including waiting to take turns, sharing and how to cope with losing. Dr Gray Atherton from the University of Plymouth, England, says studies show that playing board games can “support learning” for many young people. Reiner Knizia, who designed more than 700 board games, says playing together and overcoming challenges “make the world a better place”.
No – you can play video games anywhere
One of the good things about video games is that you can play lots of them almost anywhere, on devices like tablets and Nintendo Switch. Many people think they can help make long, boring journeys more fun. Games like Minecraft are social too. They have been designed to let you connect and play with your friends and family. A counsellor, Ellie Finch, even creates a private world in the game to help her when she’s supporting young people with their mental health. She says it “offers a creative environment where children can explore emotions, relationships and problem-solving”. What’s more, a recent study at Université de Poitiers, France, found that playing video games can improve your planning and memory.