Game on: Old school play still holds sway

PHOTO | AALIYAH BOWDEN

Cecelia Bain-Ross (left), Donna Kirts, and Linda Bain-Clark (right) sitting at Polo Clubhouse at Mountain Island Lake, a senior citizen community, play the board game Mahjong.

Game night is a little different in 2023.

Every Tuesday, Linda Bain-Clark gathers to play Mahjong with her sister and a couple of her neighbors at the Polo Clubhouse at Mountain Island Lake.

Bain-Clark started playing a couple of years ago after there was a sign posted in her neighborhood.  

“I think it's good. It's the game that really excites me,” Bain-Clark, 76, said. “I think it's a game of strategy. You have to think and plan moves. I play with a group of wonderful women and they are just delightful and we have a really good time together.”

Bain-Clark’s sister, Cecelia Bain-Ross said she enjoys spending time with friends and Mahjong.

“The camaraderie is wonderful and everybody's on a level playing field,” said Bain-Ross, 70, who has played for three years.” “It doesn't matter who you are, how well you play. If you like to have fun, it's just a nice game.”

Even though the game originated in China, between 60 to 70% of people who play Mahjong are Jewish. There is no data that shows how many African Americans play. Mahjong is played with four people and has rectangular pieces with illustrations of Chinese characters and symbols called tiles. The object is to collect winning sets of tiles similar to the card game gin rummy.  

Some people still play board games like Monopoly or Taboo while others resort to card games like Uno, Spades, or Black Card Revoked. During the pandemic, board games made a comeback when folks were stuck in the house with their family.

According to a 2020 survey, more younger people enjoyed playing board games compared to older generations. In the survey, 38% of Gen Zers found them very enjoyable while only 31% of Baby Boomers found board games somewhat enjoyable. Thirty-eight percent of younger Americans enjoy playing board games more than older generations.

Now that game night is back, are board games still played?

“I actually recently played both board games and card games with my brother, sister, and our cousin when he came to visit about two weeks ago,” said Gamah Toney of Charlotte.

“We ended up playing Trouble, and we played a few other board games and a card game. I think between the two I would say that I had the most fun playing the board games —definitely interactive fun.”

Toney, 24, said her favorite board games are Monopoly, Clue, Guess Who, and Scrabble.

According to an unscientific poll by The Post, 57% of participants said they preferred card games, while about 43% said they like board games more. Two people said they enjoyed both.

Card games have grown in popularity among young people. “I think our generation just from what I've observed and what's popular, definitely more card games,” said Toney.

Chris Ford, who lives in Greenville, N.C., prefers card games. His favorites are Uno and spades.

“Card games, because for one you don’t have to worry about bringing out a big board, and then cards, you can pretty much bring them out anytime and just have fun,” Ford, 26, said. “I will say it’s becoming card games, like Questions, especially towards dating. Whenever it’s time to have a drinking game, people mainly pull out a card game.”

Ford added that on weekends when he is relaxing with his family, they may play Monopoly.

Whether you play board games or card games, it’s OK. Both are good for improving brain function, relieves stress, and are great ways to socialize with family and friends.  

Aaliyah Bowden, who covers health at The Post, is a Report For America corps member. 

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