6 Reasons Why You Want to Play a Game Again… and Again and Again…
If you like playing games, it can be fun to discover a new game. However, most likely there are certain ones that you turn to again and again. Whether a card game, a video game, or a board game, there’s a lot to be said for a guaranteed good time.
Our new pop culture game, Boom Again, is the brainchild of Brian Hersch, a game inventor who created such classics as Taboo, Outburst, Super Scattergories, and dozens more. If you’ve ever played any of these, most likely you were eager to play again.
So what makes a game worthy of a repeat?
The Boom Again team put a lot of thought into this. After all, Boom Again contains more than 2200 trivia questions on the pop culture of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Enough questions for dozens of rounds of play – and that’s the point. There are always more memories and more fun awaiting your return.
Here, we take a look at some of the reasons why there are those games that you always go back to again and again
- Games are a different way to interact with friends.
Getting together to chat and catch up has its place, but sometimes you want to do more than talk. You want to do something. That’s why game nights have become the new book clubs. It’s a way to regularly connect with friends—and especially bringing together friends that might otherwise not have much to say to each other.
So, if the social aspect of playing a game is as or more important as the competitive aspect, you’re more likely to return to a game that focuses on interaction vs. hardcore strategy.
- People typically want to play again if they won, but that’s not enough.
If a game is only fun for the winner, there are a lot of losers grumbling and swearing they hope to never encounter that game more than once. The best games are enjoyable for the journey, not necessarily whether you win or lose.
Back in the 1970s, there was a game called the UnGame. Players moved around a game board and answer questions on cards that got them talking, such as, “What three words describe you,” or “When was a time you were really proud of yourself?”
The twist: There’s technically no way to win the game. It’s all non-competitive play. There’s a lot of chit-chats, but not a lot of “game” and that is probably why it was called the UnGame.
- You’ll play again if it appeals to an interest you have.
In our game Boom Again, the questions specifically related to the pop culture of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. For people into music, movies, fads, trivia—or who grew up in that era—the game’s topic is instantly relatable.
Similarly, Dungeons & Dragons appeal to players in fantasy role play. Yahtzee, based loosely on Poker, might appeal to gamblers. People into battle strategy would like Risk.
- You’re more likely to want to reach for games if the rules aren’t overwhelming.
The advantage of playing a game multiple times is that you already know the rules, so you can dive right in. The more often you play, the less you have to pull out the instructions to check the rules.
Conversely, there are certain games where learning the rules is the best part of the game—think Chess. You almost want to play it again and again just because you put so much time into learning the rules.
For many people, however, the ease of opening the board game box and getting straight to play is reason enough to give it a second go.
- Everyone likes a sure bet. Put simply, if you played a game before and had a good time, chances are you’ll enjoy it again. It’s the same as having a favorite restaurant that you go to all the time—or for that matter, a favorite menu item at your favorite restaurant that you order all the time.
- And of course, people are more likely to play again if it’s fun. Everyone’s definition of “fun” is different. Some people might like a game that moves quickly, whereas others prefer ones where they take their time and strategize.
Whether you’re in the mood for an “oldie but a goodie” when it comes to playing a board game—or you’re willing to give it a go with something new—playing games is a great way to spend time with friends.
Again and again.
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