When we think about hobbies, we usually think about the most popular ones, like fishing, hiking, DIY crafting, and many outdoor activities that seem much more serious than playing board games. However, that doesn’t mean playing board games isn’t a hobby.
In this article, I want to talk about what defines a hobby and if playing board games has all it needs to be a hobby.
What is a hobby?
A hobby is any activity done for pleasure in your leisure time, and it is not work-related or mandatory.
So, any activity that you do somewhat regularly that is not work-related and brings you enjoyment can be considered a hobby.
Is playing board games a hobby?
Playing board games is a hobby because it meets the requirements of being done in one’s leisure time and brings enjoyment.
So, there is no difference between playing board games or fishing when we talk about hobbies. In fact, it is pretty popular, here is a statistic about
the most popular hobbies and activities in the U.S. in 2022, which makes it clear that it is not an activity for just a few people. It ranks above photography, meditation, and other well-known hobbies.
I guess board games are not considered a hobby for people who make a living out of them, but those are not as many compared to the ones that play them for fun.
Let’s see what makes playing board games so attractive for so many people.
Read Also: Is Playing Video Games A Hobby?
6 Reasons board games are a great hobby
Here are a few reasons that come to my head when it comes to why playing board games is a great hobby:
1. They range from very simple to very challenging(they are for everyone)
There are games as simple as Jenga, where all you have to do is to get a piece out of the tower and put it on top without tearing down the tower to very complex ones where you have to keep a lot of things in mind, be good at acting and have a better strategy than your opponent.
I’m a pretty competitive guy and I like to take board games very seriously when I get to play them, at the same time, I know that not everybody is like me, for example, my wife, she is much more chill and would prefer a game that is not as complex or difficult.
That doesn’t mean she doesn’t like playing board games. Actually, she enjoys them a lot, but she will not have the patience to understand a more complex game, and this is fine, that is why board games are great for everybody.
2. Fun
There is no chance to play board games without laughing a lot, yea there are some people that take them too seriously, but most of the time, they are fun, and they create funny situations.
Some board games, like Activity, are way funnier than others that are more challenging, and you have to focus more, but all of them are made to give you a good time and most likely make you laugh a bit.
3. Useful life skills
Those games are really nice because they put a lot of focus on competition and this gives us the incentive to keep playing them in order to become better and better, but at the same time, many of them are also about teamwork, creativity, finding the best strategy, good communication skills and so on.
If you are a competitive person, playing board games has you covered but, at the same time, makes you more emphatic because you want the person in front of you to have a good time, and even if they are your competitor, you still want to teach them how to play so you can both be better.
Also, when it comes to board games, someone that is your competitor this round might be your partner next round, so all of you getting better at the game is the way to go.
4. Accessible for everyone
Some hobbies like skiing, hiking, fishing, and so on can get very expensive and not be accessible to everyone for different reasons. Regarding board games, they come with minimal cost that can be shared between more friends, and there are not many age or other limits.
If you are old enough to understand the game’s rules, you are ready to play it, which makes board games a great hobby that can be practiced with family and friends no matter their age, money, and other things like that.
5. Socialization
Board games are a great way to discuss more things with someone and get to know them better and faster. Also, playing board games might highlight some traits a person has that otherwise would not be as obvious.
6. Good at gatherings
At more low-key parties and gatherings, there is always a moment that is a bit boring after you have talked for a while, and playing board games is one of the best ways to make sure that you have something meaningful to do.
I’m not talking about the kind of parties where people dance and drink, because playing board games at those is not really a good idea.
Read Also: Who Is More Important, Husband/Wife Or Parents?
Conclusion
Board games are considered hobbies, and they are even great hobbies because of the reasons I mentioned above.
So, next time when someone asks what your hobbies are, you should not be ashamed of saying that you play board games as a hobby, now you even have a few good arguments for why this is a great hobby.
