What’s the Ultimate Game of My Life?

“Wow, I’ll get to play so many board games now!” I rejoiced when the quarantine started. “We should even like… dedicate a special day in the week for it,” I concluded. I figured that the reason I didn’t play games that much was simply because I didn’t have time. 

But as the quarantine progressed, I spent my free time writing, meditating, learning German, practicing yoga, watching movies and shows, dancing salsa, cleaning and de-cluttering the apartment… I always found something I needed to do more than playing games. 

Yes, Alex and I played Carcassonne once. And I kept checking the clock every five minutes, and every time I reached into the bag for a new tile, I tried to feel how many were left. “Oh my god, there’s still so many!”

I couldn’t believe it. The descendant of a family in which it was unthinkable to go for a ski weekend without five different decks of cards, the one who already at an early age endangered her father’s mental stability by constantly insisting on playing Člověče, nezlob se. And now what? I’m not into games? 

There is only one possible explanation – I just haven’t discovered the ultimate game for my adulthood. So I took my playmate Alex, and we ventured on a journey of discovering the ultimate game of my life. We raided our game shelf, picked five games that fit the criteria – 1) easy rules, 2) quick to play and 3) portable and we got to it.

UnoCorns

A glorified and fancy version of the game all Czech kids know as Prší! It’s dynamic, and luck is a big factor, but you can turn it on your side by making the right choices. This mix of nostalgia and the pure joy of screwing over your opponent made me realize how much fun this game was.

TicTacToe

Piškvorky, another common activity helping Czech kids pass time. We usually played it with paper and pencil back in the day. This cool looking board Alex and I played with only makes a nice decoration. It took approximately 20 seconds to figure out that one of us would have to be a complete dummy to lose in this version of the game.

Last Word / Poslední slovo

Moving on to Slovní kopaná. This sounds familiar too, right? As a kid I’d just use my imagination; this version of the game is visually pleasing and requires focused attention. We quickly discovered that the rules are quite open to interpretation, so we had to kind of modify them as we went. But I liked being able to make the game our own, and it’s good for practicing languages too!

Spot It

Spot It is a very dynamic and straightforward game. It requires a lot of focused attention, but no complicated strategy or decision making, which I love about it. However, it’s not the kind of game I’d play each night at home; I feel like playing it more as a side activity when on a trip, by a lake, or at a picnic in a park.

Jenga

And now for something completely different. I used to love Jenga when I was an Erasmus student more than ten years ago. Ironically, I was usually drunk while playing this game that is a little bit about strategy but mainly about physical agility, stability, and coordination. It’s still an ok option today, but I guess it’s more fun when there’s some challenge added or something is at stake.

The Search Is On!

Ok. So I haven’t found the ultimate game of my life in this round. I would need to broaden the criteria and explore a bit more. However, I discovered that generally, I do enjoy games that are very dynamic, give me a chance to recover if I make a mistake, and aren’t overly focused on keeping score or are even cooperative.

There are perfect games out there to fit each mood, occasion, and personality. I don’t believe there is something like, “Not being into games”. I’m still in search of my ultimate game. And you? What do you play? What do you enjoy? Do you have the recipe on how to find the ultimate game of your life?

Write me a message on my Facebook Page or join the conversation there! And here something on top:

Unipony’s tip:

Wanna enjoy a game with your friends and explore new ones without having to commit to spending a lot of money? Get a drink and borrow a game at Bohemia Boards and Brews.

Czech Unicorner:

Člověče, nezlob se. – Man, Don’t Get Angry. (A game similar to Sorry!)

Piškvorky – TicTacToe

Slovní kopaná – Word-Football

Prší! – It’s raining! (A game similar to Uno)