The Need for “Focus” is Bringing Back Old Methods
If you thought board games were just for dusty attics or holiday dinners, think again. Gen Z is leading a massive analog revival, trading screen time for strategy, laughter, and real-life connection. From innovative new designs to a simple craving for face-to-face fun, here are the top 20 reasons why tabletop gaming is the must-try trend of 2025.
1. Digital Fatigue Fuels Analog Play
With screens now dominating every aspect of life, from schoolwork and social media to entertainment, Gen Z is experiencing a real sense of digital overload. This has created a massive hunger for screen-free experiences and a physical way to relax and connect. For example, some schools implementing phone bans have seen lunchrooms suddenly fill with students playing games and puzzles, replacing the usual silent scrolling with genuine laughter and interaction. Board games offer an immediate, tactile, and simple form of analog relief, providing a dedicated, focused break from the constant notifications and low-grade stress of the digital world. The simple act of shuffling cards or rolling dice becomes a surprisingly restorative act of rebellion against ‘always-on’ culture.
2. Massive Market Momentum
The resurgence of board games isn’t a small niche trend; it’s a rapidly accelerating global industry. Already valued at an impressive $14.4 billion in 2024, the board game market is forecast to more than double, expected to surge to $32 billion by 2032. This phenomenal growth, maintaining an annual rate of over 10%, is clear evidence that the revival is being driven by mass adoption and new players, not just old-timers clinging to nostalgia. This rapid expansion is fueling innovation in game design, manufacturing, and retail, signaling that tabletop gaming is becoming a mainstream leisure activity with serious staying power. It’s an economic movement demonstrating Gen Z’s commitment to investing in meaningful, physical entertainment.
3. Tabletop Games Are Growing Fast
When you look beyond traditional Monopoly-style board games and include the broader category of tabletop gaming, which encompasses collectible card games, role-playing games (RPGs), and miniature war games, the scale of the revival is even clearer. This expanded category has jumped from $20.8 billion in 2023 to a projected $35.3 billion by 2030. This rapid growth highlights that Gen Z’s interest isn’t limited to a few classic titles; they are embracing the entire spectrum of social, analog play. Whether it’s a sprawling Dungeons & Dragons campaign, a quick card game like Love Letter, or an immersive cooperative board game, the shared experience of social gameplay is becoming big business, proving its relevance as a top entertainment choice for the decade.
4. A Movement Toward Meaningful Connection
The generation that grew up with social media has also been the first to openly critique its superficiality, leading to a profound desire for more genuine, high-quality social interactions. Board games perfectly meet this need because they are designed for shared presence and focus. They offer a physical space for tangible interaction, mandatory teamwork, problem-solving, and genuine laughter, all things that streaming or passive consumption simply can’t replicate. Gen Z wants to share moments, not just status updates. A shared game session becomes a rich, focused event that builds inside jokes and lasting memories, transforming casual acquaintances into friends through a common, engaging goal.
5. Retro Gaming Culture Sparks Interest
Gen Z’s fascination with analog is part of a broader “retro tech” trend that extends well beyond the board game shelf. This generation is actively seeking out and playing with the tech of the past, seeing it as a more focused and charming alternative to their high-powered smartphones. For example, a significant 24% of Gen Zers in the UK now own retro consoles like the original Game Boy or SNES systems. This cultural interest signals that the appeal isn’t just about an individual game, but about a wider desire for a digital escape and a connection to a simpler era of play. For a digital native, the simple mechanisms of a classic board game feel fresh and charming, part of a curated, vintage aesthetic.
6. Party Games Feel Fresh Again
Classic board games and simple party staples are experiencing a surprising renaissance, especially on platforms like TikTok, where hashtags like #RetroGaming and #BoardGameNight rack up millions of views. Games that might have been collecting dust, like Monopoly, Clue, or even Charades, are being rediscovered by digital natives. The reason they feel so new is their inherent analog simplicity: no updates, no power cords, and rules that can be explained in five minutes. This straightforward nature makes them perfect for quick social gatherings and easy to share on social media, proving that sometimes the most basic forms of fun are the most appealing to a generation constantly dealing with digital complexity.
7. Cooperative Gameplay Wins Over Competition
A subtle but significant shift in Gen Z’s preference for social interaction is their movement away from ruthless competition toward collaboration and teamwork. Recognizing this trend, even classic brands are adapting. For instance, Scrabble recently launched a “Scrabble Together” mode that eliminates solo competition in favor of shared word-building, helper cards, and simplified scoring. This reflects a generational desire for empathy-focused design and shared success. Cooperative board games, where all players work together to beat the game itself (like Pandemic), resonate deeply with Gen Z’s values, making the experience more about the bond than the ultimate victory.
8. Narrative-Driven Legacy Games
Gen Z has a deep, proven love for immersive storytelling, binge-watching shows, and diving into rich fictional worlds. This appetite for narrative finds a perfect analog match in Legacy games. Titles like Pandemic Legacy or Gloomhaven are designed to evolve with every playthrough; the rules change, the board gets permanently marked, and characters face permanent consequences, creating an evolving story that spans multiple sessions. This format satisfies the generation’s need for deep engagement and personalized experiences. The sense of an unfolding, collective narrative, built session by session with friends, makes the game feel less like a one-off activity and more like a shared, living story.
9. Board Game Cafés Are Social Hotspots (Offline Events are Thriving)
One of the most tangible signs of the revival is the explosion of board game cafés in cities and towns around the world. These spaces are far more than just retail stores; they are dedicated social hubs. Offering extensive curated libraries of games, comfortable seating, and often paired with good food and drinks, these cafés provide a low-pressure environment perfect for casual hangouts, first dates, or community meetups. They successfully bridge the gap between analog play and modern lifestyle, turning a simple activity into a desirable night-out destination. These spots are where the Gen Z love for experiences, not just possessions, meets the desire for accessible, face-to-face community.
10. Strategy Games Feed Thinking
In an age of instant gratification and passive content feeds, strategy-heavy games offer a welcome and engaging intellectual challenge. Eurogames like Catan (The Settlers of Catan) and Carcassonne are hugely popular because they let Gen Z flex their strategy and long-term planning muscles without the need for a screen. These games are inherently immersive and cooperative, even when competing, players are often trading or making alliances, appealing to the generation’s preference for complex, yet collaborative, interaction. They provide a mindful mental workout, rewarding deep thinking and planning, which feels genuinely stimulating and productive compared to mindless scrolling.
11. Crowdfunding Fuels Innovation
A significant driver of the current board game boom is the ability of creators to bypass traditional publishers and launch their ideas directly to the community through platforms like Kickstarter. Gen Z, being digitally savvy and value-driven, is highly supportive of this model. Massive success stories, such as the epic-scale game Frosthaven, show how this generation actively supports indie board games that offer complex, unique, and fresh experiences. This direct support injects creative new concepts and high production values into the market, ensuring the analog medium isn’t just relying on old classics but is constantly breathing new life into creativity with Gen Z-designed and funded concepts.
12. Revival of Retro Toys
The board game revival is part of a broader cultural moment where Gen Z and Gen Alpha are showing genuine interest in physical toys and objects from the past. Iconic products like Care Bears, Tamagotchis, and Subbuteo are all seeing major revivals. This isn’t just about collecting or reselling; the toys are being actively played with, merging toy nostalgia with game nostalgia. For a generation that often views consumerism with skepticism, the durability and simple, tactile nature of these retro items, including board games, offers a charming and low-tech form of engagement. This cross-pollination of toy and game nostalgia reinforces the trend of valuing physical, analog fun over ephemeral digital content.
13. Murder Mystery Craze in China
The global scale of the analog revival is perfectly illustrated by the massive popularity of “Jubensha,” or scripted detective games, among Chinese Gen Z. This intense form of live-action, narrative-driven murder mystery gameplay became a phenomenon, with sales reaching $2.2 billion by 2021. These games blend the immersive power of long-form storytelling with the fun of live teamwork and role-playing, often requiring players to fully embody a character. This explosion of a dedicated, analog-focused social game proves that the appetite for storytelling plus teamwork is a universal trend, demonstrating the unique “analog magic” that these face-to-face experiences can conjure.
Bonus: Best Games to Start Playing (2025 Picks)
Looking for a place to interact with board games and diverse players? We have few suggestions for you! Check the bonus section in the next slide.
Uncommon Game Cafés
You don’t have to buy a shelf full of games to dive in, you just need to know where to find a good community. Board game cafés are now social hotspots, offering an expertly curated library of hundreds or even thousands of games, from brand-new releases to deep cuts and classics like Carcassonne or Catan. These spots, such as popular chains like Snakes & Lattes or independent local gems, provide a low-pressure, lively environment where you can try games out for a small cover charge while enjoying snacks or coffee. They often feature Game Gurus, staff trained to recommend a perfect game for your group and teach the rules in minutes. For Gen Z, who value experiences over ownership, this is the ideal entry point: immediate fun, no commitment, and guaranteed social connection.
Classic Reissues
The current revival has led to fantastic reissues of foundational titles, which provide the perfect, tactile way to grow a permanent game shelf. Look for modern classics like a newly updated version of Catan (which often serves as the “gateway drug” into strategy gaming) or cooperative twists like Scrabble Together, which changes the classic competitive word game into a shared, low-stakes building experience. Legacy games, like a new season of a Pandemic Legacy title, offer a commitment to an unfolding story that can last a year, scratching the narrative itch that Gen Z loves. These re-releases often feature improved components, clearer rules, and modern, inclusive design, making them an excellent investment for repeatable social entertainment.
Single-Session Hits
Not every game night needs a three-hour commitment. The market is full of fantastic, quick-playing games that deliver a huge amount of fun and laughter in a short amount of time. Games like Azul, a beautiful tile-laying abstract game, or the tiny, narrative-driven deduction game Love Letter, can be learned in minutes and finished in 20-30 minutes, allowing for multiple rematches and easy rotation. Party games like Codenames (a word-association spy game) or Wavelength (a team-based game about finding a shared mental frequency) are guaranteed group hits that generate massive laughs and instantly create inside jokes. These titles are perfect for casual hangouts, ensuring wins and laughs are fast and highly accessible.
Kickstarter Gems
Gen Z’s interest in supporting independent creators and unique ideas is fueling a massive wave of innovation on platforms like Kickstarter. By backing a new project, you can get a fresh, complex experience with high-quality components that you won’t find in big-box stores. Projects range from highly social, narrative-heavy RPGs to beautiful, intricate strategy games. Look for indie publishers and designers who are embracing themes of inclusivity, sustainability, or deep collaborative storytelling. Backing a Kickstarter game not only gets you a unique piece of analog art but also directly supports the fresh, Gen Z-designed gameplay that is actively shaping the future of the entire hobby.
Educational & Cooperative Titles
For groups who want to work together or appreciate an intellectual challenge, cooperative games are the gold standard. Pandemic remains a perennial favorite, forcing a team to work together to save the world from outbreaks, making collaboration mandatory and highly satisfying. For something lighter but still strategic, Ticket to Ride teaches resource management and strategic routing in a relaxed, travel-themed environment that anyone can learn. For two players, a tight, critically acclaimed co-op like Sky Team puts you in the cockpit of a plane, coordinating a landing, a high-stakes, rewarding experience. These games reinforce the Gen Z preference for teamwork and shared accomplishment while still being profoundly engaging.
The return of the board game isn’t just a passing trend; it’s a conscious choice. By stepping away from the screen and sitting down at the table, Gen Z is redefining what fun, connection, and social life look like for the future. Are you ready to roll the dice and join the analog revolution? Like this story? Add your thoughts in the comments, thank you.
This story 13 Reasons Gen Z Is Reviving Retro Board Games (And Loving It) was first published on Daily FETCH
