The History of Board Games

Board games have their history of dating back as early as 5000 BC. What was originally a past time and social activity has now developed from simple amusement into a variety of experiences that challenge players with strategic thinking, narratives, and even education. (Attia, 2016).

Today, that market is more varied than any point in history, with independent creators and startups releasing innovative games through platforms like Kickstarter, including our own game, Stock Shock. Yet, despite their rich history and modern resurgence, several misconceptions remain. Here are the 5 Myths about board games:

1. To play board games you need a lot of people.

Although some board games are designed for large groups of people, there are actually quite a number of board games meant for smaller groups or even to be played alone. With Stock Shock, players can play competitively against each other or in teams, so 2-4 players are ideal. Also, if you would like to play alone, Stock Shock has a free online version where you can play against bots. In this case, board games can always be played, no matter what the size of the group is.

2. Board games are complex and difficult to understand.

Not all board games are that complex. Many modern board games, such as Stock Shock, are made to be relatively easy to understand and pick up. Stock Shock busts this myth with its straightforward rules that anyone can learn, even those who have never invested can understand in no time. Since our game is recommended for ages 12 and up, we made it easy to learn in just 3 minutes on average! So while it provides depth for complex topics, it's never overly complicated.

3. Tabletops are just for kids.

Board games offer something for every age, whether it's educational, strategic, or purely entertaining. Take Stock Shock for instance, the game is designed to be able to teach complex investment topics in an easy to understand, unique and interactive way. Ages from 7 to 70 have played Stock Shock, and they all learn something new from playing it and empowering them to start investing on their own behalf in small steps. On the other hand, it works equally great when looking for a casual, fun night with friends and family.

4. Tabletops are always the same and have no replay-ability.

Actually, one of the strengths of any well-designed board game is replay-ability. Stock Shock contains 50 action cards and 50 unique event cards, allowing the game to have a big number of potential combinations, 15,890,700 to be exact! This guarantees that every game played will always be different in excitement and strategic variation, and that doesn’t even include the number of players involved!

5. Board games cannot be included in a lesson plan.

As discussed in our blog post about Benefits of Board Games in the Classroom, the use of games in classrooms has gained an increasing level of acceptance for their learning value, particularly as teaching methods to help students learn in an interactive way. With Stock Shock, students across classrooms in Canada have interactively learned about finance with their peers, making learning fun and collaborative and setting themselves up for success with the upcoming mandatory Grade 10 Financial Literacy exam. Additionally, educators will be set up for success from the teaching resources provided, making it very easy to incorporate the game into lesson plans for a smooth and enriching classroom experience.

Why You Should Get Your Copy of Stock Shock Today!

With so many myths surrounding board games, like needing a large group, being overly complicated, or only for kids, Stock Shock proves them all wrong! It’s simple to learn, enjoyable for all ages, and works perfectly for online solo play or in person groups. With high replay-ability and the added bonus of teaching financial literacy, it’s ideal for classrooms, quality time with friends and family, or game nights.

You can order your copy of Stock Shock today and experience the game where you can test your strategy and knowledge. Buy today!