Once upon a time, before the widespread availability of the internet, it was common to see children, teenagers, and even adults passing the time by playing board games either after school or on weekends. However, handheld video games (PSP), video game consoles (PS3/PS4), mobile gaming through Smartphones, and computer network gaming have mostly replaced the board games we enjoyed as children.
Parents have a vital role in supporting their children and keeping board games alive; the best way to do so is to play with them. Aside from having pleasure, the advantages of working together are vast and long-lasting:
- While playing, the family may spend time together.
- Young children may learn how to interact with people and the value of honesty.
- It is inexpensive and can last longer if properly cared for, especially the smaller pieces that are easily lost.
- There is no electricity involved. It’s a distraction that teaches us how to be environmentally conscious while still having fun.
- You may give it to the next generation.
Dama or Checkers
Dama is a two-player game that may be played both inside and outdoors. It is the local version of the game “Checkers”. Chess boards and pieces are often utilized, although paper, tansan (local bottle caps), and tiny stones are popular alternatives.
Dama can travel any number of squares forwards or sideways, capturing by leaping over pieces and landing in any square inside an allowed route beyond such a piece. Pieces are taken off the board as soon as they are captured. If capture is feasible, it must be carried out.
Players take turns sliding a piece ahead to a nearby unoccupied place along the lines. A player may capture an opponent’s piece by hopping over it to an available square along the lines on the other side of it. Multiple captures are permitted.
Dama is played on a traditional 8×8 checkerboard game. Dama’s objective is to capture or block all of the opponent’s checkers, leaving the opponent with no valid movements. Players alternate moves, beginning with the player holding the light checkers. Ordinary Dama can only move one square forward or one square sideways.
Game of the Generals
Game of the Generals, perhaps one of the most popular and beloved Filipino board games, has captured the hearts and nights of many Filipino players. The instructional war game, developed in 1970, sets two players against one other, with armies attempting to outsmart, outflank, and eventually defeat the opponent.
Players in Game of the Generals, often known as The Generals, employ logic, strategy, and spatial abilities. The general concept is based on the Philippine army, including ranks, titles, and even the usage of the Philippine Flag.
The Game’s goal is to eliminate or capture the opponent’s Flag or to move one’s own Flag to the far end of the board (opposing back rank), subject to the restrictions listed below.
It improves the use of reasoning, memory, and spatial abilities. Because the identities of the opposing pieces are concealed from each player and can only be determined by their position, motions, or the outcomes of challenges, it resembles the “fog of war.”
Snakes and Ladders
A classic board game from my childhood! Navigate your component from beginning to end, avoiding snakes and using shortcuts up the ladders. The roots of this Game, known as ‘Moksha-Patamu,’ may have been discovered in ancient India. A player advancing up the board symbolized life’s spiritual journey, complicated by virtues (ladders) and vices (snakes).
This Game starts with each player rolling one die, with the highest number taking the first turn. Beginning at 1, players will move their pieces from left to right, following the board’s numbering, followed by the next row from right to left, and so on. When a player rolls a 4, their piece moves four spaces.
The first player to reach the highest point on the board, 100, wins the Game. To win, the player must roll the exact amount of dice to reach the last tile. If a player gets a number greater than the number needed to land exactly on 100, their piece does not move and remains in place until their next turn, when they may roll again.
Millionaires Game
Millionaires Game is an old and enjoyable toy for Filipino children. It’s similar to Monopoly and highly educational because it teaches children how to save, earn, invest, and take risks. It’s one of the traditional math games that Filipino youngsters used to like since you constantly had to tally how much money you had to purchase properties or pay rent, fines, and taxes.
This board game aims to collect all the paper money and become a millionaire by purchasing all of the land, residences, and companies.
The players’ path around the board is determined by the role of the dice, advantage and penalty squares, and a deck of playing cards with a similar theme. The Game has a beautiful board with vintage artwork.
Scrabble
Scrabble is a board and tile game in which two to four players compete to build words on a 225-square board using lettered tiles; words written out by letters on the tiles interlock like words in a crossword puzzle.
Unless there aren’t enough tiles left, always retain 7 tiles on each rack. The letters used, in turn, must be in a single horizontal row or a vertical column, and the letters placed must form a single word from the dictionary with no gaps (along with letters already on the board).
To win, you need to rack up as many points as possible. If a player runs out of tiles before the Game ends, that person loses.
In Conclusion
A wide selection of classic and new board games is available online. The ideal gift for birthdays or holidays! May the new generation of simple, affordable, and educational board games capture the hearts of Filipino children and adults again!