As you may have noticed, we know a thing or two about the attraction of playing a traditional game on this website. There is nothing like sitting down and relaxing with friends or family with cards, dice or dominoes, taking your mind off your troubles and having a bit of fun in the process.
Indeed, while playing games online or on consoles of course remains hugely popular, there does seem to be a rising number of people spending at least a few hours away from the online world in order to relax.
According to a study conducted by The Associated Press and researchers at the University of Chicago, 58 percent of young people aged between 13 and 17 have taken a break from social media with many feeling positive about having time off. Considering this age group is perhaps most commonly associated with using devices like smartphones, it is a finding which shows that the online world maybe does not have as strong a grip on people as many might think.
A human touch
Such trends should not be too surprising, as in many forms of gaming there have been signs for some time now of people wanting a more human touch in terms of how they play. Take online casino websites for example, where games which once used random number generator algorithms have been replaced by “live casino” options in which real-life dealers host games on a video feed. It is not just a niche offering either, with live casinos online like Mr Smith offering a range of games in the format including variations such as Caribbean Stud Poker, French Roulette and Three Card Poker.
Such a shift towards human interaction has also been seen in video gaming, where top franchises like Call of Duty and FIFA are now generally more popular for multiplayer options which connect gamers from around the world rather than their standard single-player modes.
Going offline
With a growing number of people seemingly wanting a “real” experience from their gaming, it should not perhaps be a major surprise that interest in offline “hobby games” – a catch-all term that covers everything from board, dice and card games – has gone through the roof in recent years.
According to a study compiled by ICv2 last year, sales of such games in the US and Canada reached a stunning $1.4 billion in 2016 with that figure marking a 21 percent rise from the previous year. The trend also appears to be in rude health too, with a range of classics being brought to market either in a traditional or revamped form. For example, an ancient Japanese card game called Panda, which was apparently played in the country up until an invasion by the Chinese, has just been rebooted by entrepreneurs in Dubai.
All in all, it is safe to say that while video and online gaming remain as popular as ever, all of the signs suggest that heading offline to enjoy more traditional games is on the rise too – and we are delighted to hear it.