Feeding My Brain – With Games

Remember when you were a kid, and you’d play board games with your friends or family? As we approach retiring (or for you folks already there), here are some thoughts on revisiting that time, but with a more grown-up twist.

When my husband and I first got together, he and his kids introduced me to a board game called Settlers of Catan. At first, I found it frustrating. After so many years of being a single parent of teenagers, the only games I played at that point were on my computer. It didn’t take long for me to be hooked, though. Every time we played, we needed a different strategy because the board would be different every time.

Which meant I wanted to play every time we were able. I think I wore them out a little because soon we were playing other games, and Catan went by the wayside…until I found an online version. Ever since then, I’ve played at least one round of Catan on my computer every day. In fact, I’m on my third version of the game!

For those unfamiliar with Catan (they dropped the “Settlers of” off the game years ago), it’s not a traditional board game. Each time it is set up, various hexagons are placed on the table and set up to create a larger hexagon-shaped island. Each individual piece has a value or resource for building: wood, wheat, sheep, brick, and ore. Next, discs are placed on each hex with a numeric value so that when dice are rolled, the player will receive that resource. With those resources, players build roads, settlements, cities, and even knights.

My point? It’s a game that makes you think but is still simple in concept.

Over the years, we have amassed (and purged) many games. We have a cabinet dedicated to the storage of games, and we play anything from Quiddler (a word game played with cards) to Talisman (it was once featured, but played incorrectly, on Big Bang Theory). We play two-player games and have gatherings with some of our kids for multi-player games.

Here’s another point:

As we age, we all keep talking about keeping our brains sharp. We all have different approaches, too. These are mine, and I’ll share links below for you to learn more about some of my favorites.

But I have another thought when it comes to games. A few of my friends are on their own now. I suspect, as the years go on, more and more of us will be on our own. But if we start gathering now – if we start playing games – then as we retire and need things to do and as we find ourselves living alone, we’ll have something that brings us together.

This is not a new concept. Our parents (and grandparents) played games like Canasta, Bridge, Mahjongg and more. My husband and I still play Cribbage and keep a small set for when we travel.

And for those introverts who prefer solo games, there are a myriad of them online. I use a platform called Steam and play games through that, like Terraforming Mars (I love this game more than I’d expected to!), Viticulture (“growing” grapes and making wine!), and my aforementioned Catan. I’m sure there are other platforms out there; just ask your friends…or your kids…or your grandkids!

Speaking of grandkids, did you know there are some cool games to play with them beyond the old favorites like Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land? We have Catan Junior as well as a kids version of Ticket to Ride. It’s a whole new way of using your brain when you’re playing games with a child. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with them and watch them learn and grow.

As promised, here is a list of some of my favorite games. Enjoy!

Catan