As much as I try to get people face to face to play table top games, I pause at times to reflect that may be digital versions of games might pull people into the rich and powerful world of table top games. If you get the time to look at this deal and try some of them out, I would love to know if any of these inspire you to some day sit at a table to play with others.
All of the games in the description below would be considered gateway games which are ones someone might use to introduce people to the incredibly vast and complex world of today's tabletop gaming world. Note that all of these games have been around in paper/board copies for years and still are. I am seeing that with around 3 hours of socially interactive game play, adults and youth start developing so many positives. These include better sense of well being, higher flexibility of thinking and adapting, and more resilience to failure or frustration. All three of these positives can greatly impact some of our learners today.
Humble Bundle is now offering an awesome group of digital games for only $10. Humble Bundle is an online marketplace that is well respected and very popular around the world. Companies donate their games/books/music/products to Humble Bundle and whatever you pay you get the chance to break down how much goes to Humble Bundle, the producers of the content and how much to charity (you pick the charity as well). Here is what you get in this gaming bundle that ends in 13 days:
Ticket to Ride: ALL EXPANSIONS!!! One of the greatest games to introduce people to tabletop gaming with all the expansions they have made... this alone is worth the money.
Sentinels of the multiverse: This is a great collaborative super hero game in which the whole team succeeds together or fails together. They include an expansion as well as the base game and there will be hundreds of hours of fun in this one.
Mysterium: Think modern day clue, but online. Up to 7 people can play this together and one person can even act as the author that sets up the entire crime and crime scene.
Pathfinder Adventures: This is another collaborative game in which players have different decks of cards that represent their different abilities. Only through cooperation can teams hope to succeed!
Carrcassonne: This is a tile laying game in which players are building a country side with castles, roads and pastures. Placing your workers well as the land build before you is a vital component of this game! Of course paying attention to what others are trying to do will allow you to interfere with their plans if you so wish.
Tailsman: This comes with two expansions and although there are people that love this game, I feel it lacks a bunch for me. If monopoly met role playing adventure, it might have produced something like Tailsman. Still, the game has been hugely popular for over 20 years.
Armello: Cute little forest creatures are a whole bunch more vicious than they look. All of them are preparing for some dark times while working with and against each other.
OK if you are still reading this, did you remember that I said this is all for just $10? These are great fun for adults and kids and I can't think of a better use of $10 than to introduce people you love to the joys of gaming. (Hint: it is helpful when you play with others you know and love too). My question to everyone here is, "Do you think starting off with digital versions of board games, like the ones offered here, would increase interest in learners/teachers trying the real physical-face-to-face experiences?"
Humble Bundle sells you STEAM keys. If you are not familiar with STEAM, it is a game service that provides hundreds of thousands of games all in one place. If a player starts a game in STEAM and then goes to some other computer somewhere, they can simply log into STEAM, download their games and pick up where they left off. Effectively, you can never loose any of your games and you can play them most anywhere. I believe a PC, Mac or Linux machine is needed for most games although you occasionally catch some mobile games for phones/tablets. (the above offer has two of the games available for Android I believe)
Any questions on games as an educational tool or on any of the above, please leave a comment.
Click picture below to see the bundle for yourself.
