Driven by online word of mouth on board game websites such as BoardGameGeek and by the popularity of online digital games, including Days of Wonder’s Small World, old-fashioned board games have acquired cult status and are growing in popularity.
“The video game industry has been a boon to board games,” said Rick Soued, who oversees Gryphon Games and Eagle Games and founded online game retailer Funagain Games. “There’s a generation or two now who have become aware of board games via video games.”
“I think we’ve all been burned out by the digital age,” he said. “I like video games still, and I’m on my cellphone constantly, but I think people are looking for a way to hang out with friends and have a more social experience.”