On a weekend afternoon at a cafe, one table is buzzing with laughter as players engage in a card game, another table has a set of players racking their brains, and the third is brimming with chaos as the participants celebrate their winning moves.
Across NCR, such scenes at cafes that are becoming addas for gamers are common. The board gaming community has grown, with new meetups cropping up over the past year.
Across NCR, board gaming scenes at cafes that are becoming addas for gamers are common
‘Board games go beyond entertainment, they connect people’There was a time when access to board games was limited, and people would play the traditional Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, or Monopoly. Today, gaming communities are bringing board game lovers together to bond over international faves and new-age desi ones.
Brijesh Prasad, founder of South Delhi Meetup Community, which hosts board gaming sessions and political strategy-based board game Shasn meetups on the weekends, says, “There is access to board games now. People are looking for hands-on social activities that are beyond the usual, and this is one of those activities. So, the trend has shifted from finding games to finding people with whom you can play. With that, the learning aptitude or the appetite for playing has also improved.”
Popular game categories include party games, social deduction, cooperative, dexterity, strategy, worker placement and world building games
Divish Manuja, co-founder of OffCourt, a sporting community, says, “Board games go beyond just entertainment as they create a shared space for conversation, laughter, teamwork, and the right amount of competitiveness. They help break the ice between new members and provide people a mental break from busy schedules.” Rishabh Kumar, board gaming host at an All Things Fun meetup, feels that the biggest draw of being part of a board gaming community is the wholesomeness it brings to urban life. He says, “It is a space for everyone, irrespective of age, to come together and bond in a refreshing way. It is a healthy way of winding down during weekends, as you enjoy a digital detox.”
Vishal Ash, 29, who recently moved to NCR, says, “I was scrolling through social media to find avenues to meet new people, and I saw a reel about a board gaming meetup in Noida. Now, I look forward to it every Sunday.”
Board gaming has become a staple in many cafes and spaces, embraced as a cool trend. Some communities have monetised these sessions with a nominal fee
From hesitant hellos to ‘arey next Sunday milte hain, koi nayi board game khelenge’, the transition happens within those few hours playing a board game. I love the off-screen time one gets to enjoy here. It’s the vibe I look forward to every weekend now
Harrshit Siwach, 27, a Noida-based businessman
These sessions help you navigate the length and breadth of board gaming. Rishabh explains, “Each game has its own unique engine building, complexity, and play style. Unlike books, board games are not recommended unless you have played a few in different genres. During the meetups, participants must play different types of table-top games to identify which game interests them.” He adds, “People come asking for more complex games like Secret Hitler, Shasn, as they are getting the hang of it and are want to go from lighter to heavier games with each session.”
Brijesh shares, “Choosing what to play is based on the mind space, time at hand, and the company. On Sundays, some people want to invest in a game that lasts five to six hours.”
Each game has its own unique engine building, complexity, and play style
The most fun part about board gaming in such a setting is that there is no pressure to win. I get more insights to human behaviour at such sessions, the need to stay connected is showing in the popularity of IRL events
Kratika, a psychologist
Sanchita, who has been hosting board gaming meetups in Gurgaon since 2019, says, “Boardgames on weekday evenings are becoming a big thing now. Cafes dedicated to board gaming or communities like Meeples of Gurgaon are becoming hangout spots where you can chill over games, finger food and drinks.” On weekends, board gamers go for heavier games, that go on for longer time, say four to five hours, she adds.
Meeple Meet: NCR board game lovers roll the dice, shuffle the deck on weekends
Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a board game for the first time, the vibe of a meetup is always inclusive
Divish Manuja, founder of a gaming community
Popular game categories include party games, social deduction, cooperative, dexterity, strategy, worker placement and world building games. New joinees usually love light to mid-heavy games. Once they dive deeper, they tend to start liking the heavier and rule-intensive games. Some popular games include:
- Codenames
- Secret Hitler
- Catan
- Shasn
- Azul
- Avalon
- Sequence
- Exploding Kittens
Geek peek: Search #boardgaming on social media and you’ll find content like unboxing reels, reviews, tips and tricks
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