As we get older, the amount of free time we have decreases every year. By the time we do have time to ourselves, the temptation to bedrot and doomscroll is a strong one.
Even when we are with friends, somehow, scrolling TikTok and Instagram reels turns into a social activity, usually with few words spoken — less conversation, more short-form content. With every dopamine hit from that 10-second video, you could be strengthening connections, reducing stress, and building critical thinking skills.
Board games require teamwork or friendly competition. Learning a new game or collaborating with friends provides a constructive, mutually beneficial conversation topic, and teamwork helps connect with others.
According to a study by Dr. Maithreyi Gopalan and Dr. Shannon T. Brady, the benefits of board games go beyond socialization. This connection with peers can actually help improve your grades, which is attributed to finding a sense of belonging, in which friendships are essential.
With newfound independence and the responsibilities that come with it, college can be an extremely stressful time. The assignments and exams all add up, and sometimes, that’s all you can really think about.
Playing a board game can give you something else to focus on and put your energy into. Instead of the stress and energy bottling up, you can take it out on someone in an intense round of Risk, a game of strategy where your goal is to conquer all of Earth’s territories from your opponents.
Lastly, our attention spans are decreasing due to the increase in popularity of short-form content. Not only can board games help increase attention span, but they can also improve critical thinking and executive function, and even reduce the risk of dementia, according to an article published by Indiana University’s Medical Student Education team.
The benefits even show in day-to-day activities: a longer attention span can help you focus, whether on something academic or personal, like a new hobby or a book. Increasing your executive function can help relieve stress and be more productive without feeling overwhelmed by the tasks that need to be done.
With all these benefits, one might be surprised to learn that the way to gain them is simply to have fun and play a game with friends. Sometimes we get so caught up in productivity and success that we do not allow ourselves to truly unwind and have fun (scrolling TikTok minimally counts).
Now that all of the benefits have been discussed, what are some games to look into? I have compiled some popular favorites to get you started. Starting off, Checkers is a perfect, simple board game to get into without becoming overwhelmed with all of the rules and moves. Pictionary is a great fun and creative game to play with friends and test your drawing skills!
For those with more patience, the Game of Life is a lengthy, yet very fun game that walks you through an entire lifetime, characterized by a little plastic peg. If you are up for a patience-testing game, Monopoly is a notorious choice for those who are uber competitive and ready to set aside their night.
Many board games can be found in stores like Target and Walmart. Keep your eye out for sales and deals at stores like these. Many thrift stores sell board games for a heavily discounted price as well. To try some out and meet others who are interested, Snake Eyes Society is a board games-based RSO on campus that meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Curtiss 223!
Playing board games helps us improve aspects of our mental and cognitive wellness, all while doing something that doesn’t feel like a chore in our day. So, go forth and play some Candyland!
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38847009
https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/md-student-news/2025/wellness-boost-your-brain-with-board-games
Jacie Schonert 
Danielle Carlisi 
Riley Hurley