6 Gaming Options to Stave Off Boredom

Recreation is an essential part of mental well-being. The modern world is fast-paced, with many people caught up in tons of daily activities, seemingly without an hour to spare for themselves. However, amid the hustle and bustle, it’s still possible to get bored.

Boredom can come at any time, even while occupied with several activities. The feeling can come out of the blue, leaving you weary and exhausted. In such cases, games often prove to be a way out.

Thankfully, several options exist to engage in and keep boredom far away whenever the feeling comes. Without further ado, let’s examine some of these game options in today’s article.

Chess

Chess is one of the oldest games in the world, having originated in ancient India before being spread across mainland Europe by Persian traders. Initially, the queen was the weakest piece on the board, with the bishop being a short-range piece. As such, early chess games took much longer than they do today, and it took more work to checkmate the enemy king piece.

In modern times, the most significant development in chess is computer technology and internet chess. With the advent of AI (artificial intelligence), it’s possible to develop algorithms based on real human chess proficiency. As such, there are now chess-proficient AI that can beat real-world chess grandmasters.

Internet chess is also quite popular. Players from all across the world can access several online platforms to play games with different opponents.

Indeed, chess is a great way to stave off boredom, requiring great concentration and knowledge of various tactics and strategies. The best part is that you don’t need to own an actual chessboard to enjoy it. There are tons of free chess apps to download for mobile and PC. If you’re ever bored and mind-weary, know that chess is a great way to take your mind off things. Even more, it’s a stimulating mental exercise!

Monopoly

Like chess, Monopoly is one of the most popular board games around. While chess is based on battlefield tactics and strategy, Monopoly is economics-themed, with the sole objective being to bankrupt all opposition and obtain a “monopoly” of control over all the properties.

In Monopoly, players roll two dice to move their token pieces around the game board, purchasing, trading, and developing properties. The aim is to raise as much money as possible from opponents via rent or through lucky cards in Chance or Community chest. All the properties on the game board are valued differently, and the objective is to own choice spots to double or even quadruple income in rent.

Although the game has its basic, standard rules, players often make up several house rules to provide a unique twist and make the game more fun and challenging. Modern Monopoly was derived from “Lizzie Magie’s The Landlord’s Game” in 1903 and is now a licensed product of the Parker Brothers (integrated into Hasbro in 1991).

A minimum of two players can enjoy Monopoly. However, the advent of modern computer technology means you can enjoy playing against an AI with just about the same level of thrill. If you’re ever bored and need to play games to take your mind off things, Monopoly is a great choice.

Scrabble

Scrabble is one of the most recognizable board games around. In Scrabble, the aim is to spell as many correct words as possible while strategically placing the letter tiles on special sections of the board to earn the most points.

Although the ability to spell words correctly is an essential aspect of Scrabble, the ability to place the tiles on the “premium” squares to earn maximum points is just as valued. The key is not just to spell the correct words but also to strategically do it in such a way that will make you score many points.

Like Monopoly, Scrabble is a licensed product of the company Hasbro. The game can be played by at least two players, with a maximum of four individuals, and the objective is to score as many points as possible before the tiles run out.

As Scrabble is basically a spelling game, it’s only normal to have fixed rules regarding lexicon that are not allowed. For instance, hyphenated or apostrophized words are not allowed in English Scrabble. The many nuances in the spelling rules are a part of what makes Scrabble so exciting.

If you like wordplay and fancy your chances at out-spelling your opponent, then Scrabble is the game of choice for you. Like Chess and Monopoly, you can choose to download one of many free mobile apps to enjoy the game against remote opponents or the AI.

Video Gaming

Since Spacewar was developed in the mid-20th century to be played on mainframes and minicomputers, video games have grown in popularity. Today, hundreds of gaming franchises are available in various genres, each attracting its own host of loyal fans and fanatics.

Early computer hardware was not sophisticated enough to facilitate the development of more enhanced games. However, the introduction of microprocessors in computer engineering radically altered that dynamic. Cartridge-based consoles were the first to enter the market, spawning various classic video games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man.

After the video game crash of 1983, Japanese giant Nintendo took over the global gaming industry, churning out the first major handheld device- the Gameboy. More advancements in computer graphics technology saw the rise of companies like Microsoft and Sony and their flagship Xbox and PlayStation consoles, respectively. Today, these two consoles are by far the most popular in the gaming industry.

Videogames are incredibly immersive and can take any form of boredom away for a long time. There are different genres available too. If you like sports, there are gaming equivalents of popular sports like football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling. Arcade, adventure, role-playing, and car racing games are just as popular, with many popular titles having the eternal loyalty of generations of game lovers.

If you’re deeply bored and need a game to keep you lively, launch a console game and get twiddling your thumbs on the pad. Alternatively, if you have a PC with rich specifications, you can equally keep yourself immersed in your favorite video games.

Card Games

Card games are one of the most exciting forms of entertainment. As such, they’re guaranteed to make your boredom disappear wherever you may be. These games are unique as they can be played in several ways, each with unique rules that bring in various elements of difficulty.

Many card games are played with the standard 52-card deck. They’re popular because they’re easy to adapt and modify, portable, and much easier to set up than many other games.

Popular card games include:

•             Cribbage

•             500 Rum

•             Poker

•             Solitaire

•             Hearts

•             Gin Rummy

•             Palace

•             Blackjack

•             Peanuts

•             Spades

Card games provide several hours of fun and entertainment to lift your spirits and excite everyone involved. Asides from the classic 52-card deck, there are several unique cards that you can play, such as:

•             Magic – The Gathering

•             Yu-Gi-Oh

•             Pokémon

Various card games are available to play at online casinos. However, if you’re serious about winning, you should take the time to check out real money casinos for Australian players to see which options best suit you.

Snakes and Ladders

It sometimes feels that Snakes and Ladders have been around since forever – such is their popularity. Today, the game is regarded as a classic. It was first brought into the UK in the 1890s after originating in ancient India. The game is played on a game board with gridded, numbered squares. Several “snakes” and “ladders” feature on the board, linking two squares.

The game aims to navigate the entire board using die rolls, progressing from the bottom square at the beginning to the top square at the end. The ladders help one ascend, while the snakes are pitfalls that bring players to lower regions on the board.

Two or more participants can enjoy Snakes and Ladders. However, like many other board games today, there are internet versions that allow players to compete remotely or against a tough AI.

Today, Snakes and Ladders is known by other names, including Bible Ups and Downs and Chutes and Ladders. The board grids are often of varying sizes but are most commonly 12 by 12, 10 by 10, or 8 by 8 squares. Each player is represented by distinct onboard tokens, with dice rolled to determine movement.

Some games utilize a single die, while others feature two dice. The latter results in a shorter game, while the former leads to lengthier games. Snakes and Ladders are a truly fun way to stave off boredom. The rules are very simple, and the gaming duration is brief, so you can play all over again for as long as you want.

Conclusion

Just like casino games, the games discussed in this piece can be incredibly immersive; they are really great ways to stave off boredom. Indeed, recreation is quite essential for our mental, physical and social well-being. However, like many other things, it is best done in moderation.