Introduction
Zoom technology has made it possible to play a variety of popular board games with friends and family members that may not physically be in the same room. From classic favourites like Monopoly and Scrabble, to modern strategy games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket To Ride, there are many creative ways to enjoy board games over Zoom. Here are some board games you can play over Zoom:
• Traditional Board Games: Classics such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary and Battleship are all easily adapted to online formats using applications such as Tabletopia or Board Game Arena. These programs provide a virtual game table for players to enjoy the full experience of these timeless classics.
• Card Games: Popular card games such as Poker, Uno, Euchre and Spades can all translate very well into an online format. Zoom’s chat feature allows players to interact while gaming, adding extra strategizing capabilities to any card game.
• Strategy Games: Similarly, slow-paced yet engaging strategy board games like Risk, Carcassonne and Seven Wonders allow for a more visual approach compared to the traditional ‘hot seat’ gaming style. Plus, certain apps even offer automatic score tracking – a bonus when playing across multiple digital devices!
• Word Games: Famous word-based titles like Boggle or Pandemic Legacy also traditionally require face-to-face interactions between players. However, they make perfect additions to your game night on Zoom with its convenient video call options where everyone can see each other’s progress simultaneously.
By taking advantage of technological advances over the past decade or so without sacrificing the joys of actually playing together in person, we can now play our favourite board games on Zoom remotely with friends from around the world!
Breakdown of Great Board Games
There are many board games that can be enjoyed over Zoom. Of course, the most popular options are classic games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess and even Charades. For those looking for more challenge or complexity, there is Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic and Carcassonne. For those who want a quick game with minimal set-up time and maximum replay value there are games such as Exploding Kittens and Timeline.
However, there is still a vast range of games in the board game world that can be enjoyed over Zoom. Card games like Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon Trading Card Game or even Werewolf can offer an interesting twist to classic board gaming. Cooperative board games like Escape Room: The Game or Betrayal at House on the Hill allow multiple players to work together against a common enemy or challenge. Fantasy themed drafting games such as 7 Wonders or Dominion offer incredibly deep and rewarding play opportunities. Lastly, local specialty games such as Go in Japan or Pachisi in India can offer unique competitive play experiences with locals who are familiar with the context and rules of these specialized titles.
Types of Board Games
One type of board game that you can play over Zoom is crossword puzzles. Crossword puzzles are often in the form of paper pamphlets or books which can be used virtually by sharing the screen and writing out the answers together with a computer mouse on various graphic programs like Google Docs’ drawing tool or Paint.
A strategy-based card game is another type of game you can play online with friends or family over Zoom calls. Popular games like Uno, Catan, and Dominion are just some of the titles that have an online version which makes it easy to play games over video calls.
Benefits of Playing Board Games Over Zoom
Board games are an excellent way to stay connected with friends and family, even when you can’t meet in person. Playing games over Zoom is a fun, engaging activity that can help strengthen bonds and increase communication skills. When playing together remotely, it allows people to interact in creative ways while still having the same level of enjoyment that they would when they’re all together physical. By being able to see each other’s faces, moods and reactions in real-time, you get the feeling that while the physical distance may be separation, the emotional connection remains strong.
Playing board games also encourages players to think creatively, expressing thoughts and opinions as part of strategic discussions which helps improve communication skills by making them more confident speaking about their ideas in front of others. Sharing thoughts for turns enables players to practice essential negotiating tactics like diplomacy, settling disputes and brainstorming solutions as a team so that everyone is on the same page during gameplay. It also gives an opportunity for learning by teaching each other new strategies or facts about various subjects discussed during game play. Board games rely heavily on understanding everyone involved’s point of view which increases empathy among people who share different perspectives that might not usually be reinforced every day.
Tips for the Best Zoom Board Gaming Experience
• Make sure everyone has the game they need. Ask the host to send all participants a link to the board game before the meeting, so each attendee can download it on their own device.
• Use an online dice roller to avoid physical dice rolling. If there’s no clear choice for a specific board game, look up different online options and find one that suits your needs best.
• Talk about technical issues in advance. Before you launch into your virtual game night, make sure everybody is on the same page about how audio and video will work. Establish ground rules for staying in sync; for example, hide video until someone speaks or turn off audio if it’s not necessary for the game.
• Prepare internet connection backups without fail. Always ensure that at least one participant has a stable internet connection as backup (e.g., wi-fi hotspot). This way, if somebody else loses their internet connection or experiences speed problems during the gaming session, a backup will be available to use instead.
Conclusion
Many board games can be played over Zoom to encourage people to stay connected with each other. There are a number of games available, ranging from classic traditional board games like Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, and Jenga, to more modern game types like Ticket to Ride and Codenames.
In order to make playing these games over Zoom an ongoing activity and one that encourages people to keep interacting with each other, strategies can be employed. For instance, setting up a time for certain games where multiple friends or family members can join in at the same time on a regular basis is one possible approach. This creates a social event that everyone looks forward to attending.
Another strategy may be having different people host the game sessions or even come up with creative ways of incentivizing others such as giving out shared rewards when someone wins or getting creative with team play options. Creating a sense of competition or rewarding players in some way can help foster enduring engagement in the activity. Additionally, setting up competitions or ranking systems among players also helps drive enthusiasm in board gaming over Zoom as users strive towards earning points or prizes by progressing in rank as they master particular games.
I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.
I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.
