Board Game

Board games have evolved significantly since ancient times. Still, some elements, such as playing on a board or in a special gaming area, and having tokens and dice, are still present in modern games. But who invented the first board game and started this craze? It was the sand-dwelling and cat-loving nation of Egypt, of course.
The oldest board game played, according to findings, is the ancient board game called Senet (3100 BCE). While no records of the game' s rules survived, scientists concluded that this, like many other early board games, was a racing game. We also know this only because at one point the game gained religious status, and from the surviving records, we know that it started to represent a journey of one' s Ka to the afterlife.

This wasn' t that uncommon in the old days. Nearly all board games in ancient times, at one point or another, had religious significance. Even the fairly modern game of Snakes and Ladders started as a religious and educational teaching tool in India. In the 21st century, while not as prevalent as before, you can still find board games with a religious theme.
Over time, racing games gradually fell out of favor in courts and royal residences and were replaced by strategy games such as chess and Go. They weren' t completely forgotten, though, as they were still being played by kids and common people, but the gentry took to strategic games instead. For example, Go was considered a must for any Chinese gentleman scholar.

Until the twentieth century, most board games you could find were either racing or strategy games. With the increase in wealth and leisure time of the middle class, the board game industry saw a boom and gave rise to popular board games like Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, and the like.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and board games are all over the place. Around 3,000 new board games are created each year. If you wanted to play all of them, you would have to play 8.3 games each day, which is more than even the biggest diehards among us can Before, when board games weren' t a commodity anyone could buy at the store, we had problems finding one to play. Today, we have trouble finding what to play.

Board game design is the process of creating and developing a game that is played on a flat surface, typically a board, using various components such as cards, dice, tokens, and playing pieces. It involves the conception, design, and implementation of rules, mechanics, and gameplay elements to provide an engaging and enjoyable experience for players.
Board game design encompasses a range of disciplines, including game mechanics, theme development, component design, balancing, playtesting, and rulebook creation. Each aspect contributes to the overall experience and determines how the game is played and enjoyed.

Game mechanics refer to the underlying rules and systems that govern how players interact with the game. These mechanics can include dice rolling, card drafting, tile placement, resource management, player cooperation or competition, and many more. The mechanics shape the strategic and tactical decisions players make during gameplay.
Theme development involves creating a narrative or setting for the game. The theme provides context and immersion for the players, making the game more engaging and relatable. Themes can range from historical events, fantasy worlds, science fiction, to abstract concepts.

Component design focuses on the physical elements of the game, such as the board, cards, tokens, and playing pieces. These components need to be visually appealing, functional, and intuitive. Designers must consider factors such as size, durability, ease of use, and compatibility with the game mechanics and theme.
Balancing is a crucial aspect of board game design. It involves adjusting the game's mechanics and rules to ensure fairness and avoid situations where one player has a significant advantage over others. Balancing aims to create an enjoyable experience that offers strategic depth and meaningful choices for all players.

Playtesting is an iterative process in which the game is played by a group of testers to identify flaws, gather feedback, and refine the design. Playtesting helps designers evaluate the game's mechanics, balance, pacing, and overall enjoyment. Feedback from playtesters is invaluable for identifying areas of improvement and making necessary adjustments.
The rulebook is another essential component of board game design. It explains the game's rules, mechanics, and components to the players. A well-written and organized rulebook is crucial for providing clarity and reducing confusion during gameplay.

Candy Land
If you have an older version (the latest version only has spinners), grab some of the more complex cards, this game will help baby learn their colors and have fun taking turns and following directions!

Memory
Memory allows players to select face-down cards on the board, flip them over, and then try to find other matching cards in the set. As the name suggests, it's great for developing and improving memory skills and recognizing shapes and colors, and if you don't have the game at home, a deck of playing cards can also come in handy in a pinch.

Uno
Uno is great for learning colors and numbers, and even ultimate strategies work. You may want to remove the more complicated "+4" and "skip" cards, though, and just stick to colors and numbers until baby really gets the hang of it.

Chutes and Ladders
The game is aimed at children ages 4 and up, but doesn't require any reading so it's suitable for babies too. Chutes and Ladders can help them learn numbers, and one explanation of the game says it can start teaching them to do good things! (Review: Doing good things will take you up, doing bad things will take you down.)

Hello, Cherry O
This picking game can be an early introduction to counting, color matching, and (if you have a newer version) puzzles! The latest version has different types of fruit, so your baby can learn about cherries, blueberries, apples and oranges while practicing counting (and maybe even learn some basic math skills!).

Monopoly
Well, baby might not really be ready yet, but you two can play with money so they can start learning the basics of money! Or, you know, just use some colored paper to work on their dexterity.