The return to board games in a technological world

Modern technology has made access to information, entertainment and people easier than ever. Online platforms and communities allow people to connect with others who share their interests and values regardless of geography and time. Yet, despite the emergence of these digital tools, people are returning to an analog mainstay for their entertainment and interaction: the board game. More than any other time in history, people are flocking to local game stores, conventions and game nights to sit at a table and play games with others.

In this presentation, Spencer Harris explores the recent rise of the board game industry as a remedy for the isolation caused by modern technology. Using testimonials and data from industry experts, popular game designers and board gamers, he argues that board games have become a modern means of community building and value sharing, and that board game spaces (e.g. stores, conventions) now serve the same types of functions as traditional community-building places.