Board games were and are a favorite form of family entertainment. They are a form of a platform that allows for positive interactions with social groups. Also, board games help develop interpersonal skills and confidence. There are many more surprising health benefits of board games, but those are just a few. Critical thinking board games, however, are beyond entertainment. Board games which are based on analytical thinking test and improve your brain skills.
The Best Board Games for Critical Thinking
Board games are more than just a form of entertainment. They provide us with an escape, push us to become more competitive, and allow us to use our brainpower. There are thousands of board games that exist with more and more being created each day. Although a lot of them are entertaining, here at Aurosi, we like to think that the classics will suffice. Here are just a few of the board games we find are great at improving your brain skill.
Chess
The first game that strikes us when discussing critical thinking board games is chess. An intelligently designed game, chess is about strategy, tactic, evaluation, calculation, and logical thinking. While playing chess, your brain is evaluating the infinite possibilities that can result if you move your knight from f6 to e4. All pieces are linked and moving them forms a pattern on the board that surfaces gradually. Our brains can identify these patterns and analyze the game accordingly, but we may not necessarily know how to practice that ability. If your opponent has allowed his or her rook to enter your territory, there is a plan in place that you have to identify. What move is expected from you? Where would it lead your army?
Backgammon
Backgammon is known to be the oldest board game, inspired by the ancient Egyptians. Despite its age, backgammon retains its status of being one of the most famous critical thinking board games. While backgammon has been subjected to luck vs. skill debate for long, the mental skills required to dominate the game cannot be undermined. The two most important skills for a successful backgammon strategy are the basic understanding of arithmetic and probability and identifying patterns. Backgammon is a game of numbers. You roll two dices, which means you are going to get several sums – 36 to be precise. While you don’t have any control over the numbers, you do have control over your moves. Which move will put you at an advantage in case your opponent gets lucky with the dices? Which move would be the least damaging? Which step could get your opponent nervous?
Monopoly
How would a real estate board game like Monopoly qualify to be in the category of critical thinking board games? Surprising as it may be, Monopoly can improve your math skills. Monetary transactions are the critical element in the game – you pay rent, buy properties, negotiate with other players, and deal with the banker. In short, you are the real-life investor who calculates to improve his finances without depending on luck. Monopoly not only requires the brain’s cognitive skills like planning and decision-making, but it also requires social skills like negotiating and trading. Do you come off as an arrogant buyer? When should you take the risk? When should you play safe? You may not have enough estates as your opponents. Does that mean you have lost while the game is still on?
Critical thinking board games are not just for fun. Playing challenging board games infuses us with an enthusiasm to win, which isn’t possible without using brain skills like assessments, logic, evaluations, and decision-making. The fact that necessary arithmetic skills can be applicable make these board games remarkable.
