Don’t underestimate the positive benefit of a little escapism into “games”. You have your classic board games (Rapidough a perennial fave chez moi, Monopoly not so much) which are a lot of fun. But you might want to consider the virtual gaming world – a good way to feel some connection but also have a lot of fun. I am sure that somewhere there is a load of people who say that computer gaming is pure unhealthy escapism, and that board games are a waste of cerebral time. Perhaps they are right. But in moderation, who says you can’t have a little fun in the actual or virtual world?
I have such fond memories of getting an Atari in oh, about 1989, hooked up to the TV with the classic joysticks that required an inordinate amount of energy to move in any direction. Pong! Frogger! They seemed like the most incredible and amazing games…the music, the beeping, the squelching of the frog mashed by a virtual car, the bright colours. Incredible. Many of those older games seemed to have no real rhyme or reason to them and it was often impossible to move the cursor the tiny amount needed to navigate a tree on a snowy slope or a space invader descending towards you. Such fun. Of course, technology has come along way since then. I feel old thinking about it.
There are plenty of free to play/low cost online board games you can play alone or with friends (although you might want to give Monopoly a miss….). I especially like the Sims as it allows me to cultivate a life so very different to my own (and gasp, I can even be mean to people). I also enjoy Call of Duty – dirty secret! Of course I don’t condone violence and to be honest, I spend most of the game trying to extricate myself from a doorway or running and hiding behind a tree whilst coming to the realisation that my eyesight has really gone downhill. And what about Animal Crossing – create your own little ISLAND PARADISE, go fishing, buy turnips, decorate, connect with friends. SIGH. Hours of fun in the Mario universe…..Mario Kart is just genius.
If you have children who have a PS or Xbox, why not ask them to show you how to play one of their favourite games – get involved and have a laugh. Or, why not go analogue old school and get an actual board game like Ludo (bit boring, seems like a maths lesson in disguise) or the Game of Life or Risk. I especially like card games (they count for me in the board games category) – I remember going through a heavy Bridge playing time at Uni, and even now enjoy a fast paced games of Exploding Kittens. The washing up can wait for a bit.
Tabletopia https://tabletopia.com/about
Steam platform https://store.steampowered.com/app/403120/THE_GAME_OF_LIFE/
Board game arena https://en.boardgamearena.com/
