The Evolution of Board Game Technology

Technology has slowly seeped into all areas of our lives. We sit glued to our screens almost every day and rely on technology to do so many important things. Everyday activities are being replaced or influenced by their online alternatives.

Board games used to be a staple of family life. Monopoly was the typical game played on a Friday evening with parents and children alike. With the surge in online gaming, with millions of mobile apps and computer and video games, it seems that the traditional board game has taken a backseat.

However, in the last decade, this board gaming hobby has made a triumphant resurgence into many people’s lives. In trying to think of innovations to add to board games, designers started thinking of ways to make their game stand out in an over-saturated market. This innovation surfaced in 2014 in the form of mobile apps used to assist or enhance gameplay in board games.

There are three primary board game app categories:

1. Full gameplay apps where the entire game is in digital form.
2. Buddy apps which help users to track game information.
3. Core apps which are the core foundation of the game, and without which the game is almost impossible to play.

This isn’t the first time technology has been integrated into traditional games. In the 80’s and 90’s board games used electronics and motors to improve the gaming experience. Some might say that it was only a matter of time before retailers starting incorporating high-tech features into their board game products, given how connected the new generation of youth is and how reliant they are on technology and mobile devices.

Technology is now integrating with traditional forms of entertainment. Take casinos, for example, gambling is an activity that has been around for centuries if not more. The classic brick-and-mortar casinos where gambling used to almost exclusively take place, are now just one of the many options for gambling. Online casino games can be found on our mobile devices and on the internet, where technology has marked an important change in the way we enjoy this type of entertainment.

With technology constantly evolving and adapting to modern day culture, the influence technology is having on board games should come as no surprise.