Board games make a counter offensive
Kiwis discover a new world of fun. Jack van Beynen reports.
Clear the table, find the dice, unpack the box – board games are back.
Kiwis are flocking to the traditional tabletop pursuit, trying out overseas formats, spending up on Trade Me and publishing their own.
But it’s not just a case of dusting off Monopoly or Cluedo. A new generation has discovered modern or ‘‘Euro’’ alternatives such as Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne. They’re heavy on strategy rather than luck.
One Wellington couple who discovered Settlers of Catan around a decade ago have taken their leisure interest to a new level. in 2014 David and Natalie set up Seriously Board, an online shop where Kiwis can buy the world’s best board games.
David says the hobby has enjoyed a resurgence in the past 10 years, and he reckons tens of thousands of Kiwis play modern board games.
Trade Me figures bear David’s theory out. ‘‘Over the last couple of years we’ve seen a pretty solid surge in popularity for board games and trading cards on Trade Me,’’ spokesman Jeff Hunkin says.
The board games category has seen a 12 per cent jump in sales since 2014, and a whopping 109 per cent increase in the number of listings.
David says the internet has helped publicise games and bring players together, and it offers Kiwis alternatives that wouldn’t otherwise be available here.
He thinks it’s the social aspect that gives board games their edge. ‘‘Board games involve that live interaction, they require people to socially interact in person,’’ he says.
It helps that the hobby is supported by an inclusive and friendly community. Most major cities have more than one club, and hundreds turn out for regular events.
Last year, Auckland couple Emma and James McFadden opened Cakes n Ladders, a cafe specialising in board games.
Some Kiwis aren’t content to just play. Kapiti Coast resident Shem Phillips has been publishing his own games since 2008, when he started the Garphill Games company.
His creations include the Viking-themed Raiders of the North Sea and Flee the Scene, a game where players swindle their way around Europe’s museums. Phillips takes the DIY approach. ‘‘Most designers will seek to have their design picked up by one of the larger publishers. However, I decided to have a go on my own. Thanks to Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms, it’s a lot easier to raise the required capital to selfpublish these days.’’
His most recent crowdfunding venture brought in 6000 sales in three weeks. It’s not enough for Philips to give up the day job, but he has high hopes for the future.
‘‘If things continue the way they are, designing and publishing games could very well become a fulltime thing for me.’’