Most of us love playing board games. They are fun, engaging, and a great way to spend time with friends, family, or relatives.
With that being said, board games are the most popular among children. Discover the top 5 board games which Indian children love, featuring Ludo, Chess, Monopoly, Catan, and Snakes and Ladders.
Quick Summary
Looking for the top 5 board games in India that children love? Here’s a quick summary:
Chess: Improves concentration
Ludo: Easy to learn
Snakes and Ladders: Family friendly
Monopoly: Helps to build financial literacy
Catan: great for teaching social skills
Importance of board games
Board games are important for children because of the reasons given below:
Skill development: They enhance creativity, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking.
Family bonding: They strengthen bonds between people through enjoyment and common experiences.
Reduced stress: They lead to relaxation and mental wellness.
Enhanced social skills: They encourage teamwork, communication, and collaboration.
Decreased screen time: They provide a compelling alternative to online activities.
Types of board games
Strategy games: Such games call for strategic thinking, decision-making, and preparation. Example: Chess
Luck-based games: They often rely on probability. Example: Snakes and Ladders
Adventure games: Emphasis is on quests, storylines, and exploration. Example: Jumanji
Memory games: They use pattern recognition to improve memory and cognitive abilities. Example: Deja Vu!
Resource management games: Encourage players to distribute and maximise resources effectively.
Top 5 board games which Indian children love
Chess
History: Chess evolved from an ancient Indian game, Chaturanga, in the 6th century. It then spread to Persia, and by the 15th century, the game had gained mainstream prominence in Europe as well.
How to play: The chessboard features 16 pieces, including one queen, one king, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The player who checkmates the opponent’s king is the winner.
Unique features: Special moves such as castling [king & rook move simultaneously] and en passant [pawn capturing move].
Benefits for children: Improves concentration, Build problem solving skills
2. Ludo
History: Ludo's origins can be traced back to the sixth-century CE Indian game Pachisi. Then Alfred Collier from England invented the modern version of the game called Ludo.
How to play: Ludo is a 4-player game with dices. Players have to move 4 tokens & reach the centre of the board while avoiding opponents.
Unique features: Safe zones
Benefits for children: Enhanced cognitive skills and emotional development
3. Snakes and Ladders
History: Snakes and Ladders originated from an ancient Indian game called Moksha Patam. Around 1890, it reached England & became more popular.
How to play: Players have to roll the dice, climb ladders, stay away from snakes and reach 100 to win.
Unique features: It is symbolic of values. Snakes represent vices, while the ladders represent virtues.
Benefits for children: Helps to expand numerical knowledge.
4. Catan
History: Catan was invented in 1995 by Klaus Teuber of Germany. It was originally called ‘The Settlers of Catan’.
How to play: Players exchange resources & build their own settlements. The first player to get 10 points wins.
Unique features: Development cards, uniquely shaped map
Benefits for children: Teaches useful skills such as critical thinking and resource management.
5. Monopoly
History: Elizabeth Magie developed The Landlord's Game in 1903 to demonstrate economic concepts, and it later evolved into Monopoly. The game became well-known throughout the world after Charles Darrow sold it to Parker Brothers in 1935.
How to play: A real estate concept where players buy and sell properties to become the wealthiest players.
Unique features: The ability to trade & negotiate with other players.
Benefits for children: Teaches them about negotiation and also about important subjects such as Maths and Economics