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Board Games: The Latest Craze for Chinese Youth

Gaming — By Beibei on December 1, 2009 at 12:04 pm

For young Chinese “Zhai Nan’s” (宅男) and “Zhai Nv’s” (宅女), playing board games is the latest trend for friendly gatherings, meeting new people and blind dates. According to Legaldaily there are about 500 board game bars in Shanghai. And during July and August 2009,over 200 board game bars opened. The prevalence of Internet Bars and arcades in China makes the rise of this more traditional and conservative gaming option an interesting trend to examine.

According to the Group at Douban called “You are out if you don’t play boardgame” the most popular board games currently being played by Chinese youth include: Killers of Three Kingdoms, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Uno, Citadels, Puerto Rico, Halli Galli, Monopoly, Werewolves of Miller Hollow and I’m The Boss.


(photo credit, yandhmaomao)

enoVate’s own, Sunnie Qin also feels strongly about the rise of the board game craze.

“Last May was the first time my friend took us to the tea house to play board games. I was deeply attracted after I tried the game “Killers of Three Kingdoms”. We started going to the tea house every weekend, now it’s one of my weekly habits!”

Board games popularity amongst Chinese youth can be attributed to a few factors:

  • Board games promote creativity and innovative thinking.
  • Game choices are diverse and there is a seemingly endless amount of options to play.
  • There is no limitation to the amount of players.
  • Board games promote friendship and unique social gatherings.
  • It’s an affordable alternative to other night time activities.

Compared to online games and drinking games, board game have a positive impact for Chinese youth. It not only exercises the mind, but it also promotes friendship amongst friends. Since the rise of board games this past year, more and more board game bars have opened and street vendors have even started to sell them on the street! Killers of the Three Kingdoms might be the most popular right now, but we expect new and fresh games to rise up in the future.