Image showing board game characters against video game characters

Debate photos courtesy of families; Illustration by Aarón Martínez

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Board Games or Video Games?

Video games are more popular than ever. Last year alone, Americans spent more than $57 billion on them. Meanwhile, sales of board games have also been rising in recent years. Both are fun—but which is better?

Fans of board games say there are many reasons that classic games like chess, Scrabble, and Monopoly have been around so long. For starters, you can enjoy the same board games for years. You don’t need to buy updated versions or expensive new devices to play them on. Also, playing board games keeps kids from being glued to screens. Too much video-game time can strain your eyes and cause neck and wrist pain. 

But other people say board games can’t compare to video games. They point out that you can play video games alone or with other people—either in person or online. Plus, studies have shown that playing video games can improve hand-eye coordination and decision-making skills. And, gamers say, because technology is always improving, video games just keep getting better. 

Here’s what two of our readers think.

Playing board games is a great way to spend time with your family. My family has game nights on Fridays. We enjoy playing Monopoly and Sorry! Playing board games helps build relationships because everyone is in the same room. Talking to other video gamers over a microphone just isn’t the same. 

I like being able to touch game pieces and move them around the board. That’s better than possibly damaging your eyes by staring at a screen. 

Video games have bright, colorful graphics, and many of them tell exciting stories. Most games have a lot of different levels, so you can play them for longer. I like playing handheld games to help pass the time on trips. They don’t take up a lot of space, and they don’t have a lot of pieces that can fall out and get lost.

Also, playing video games can connect you with people around the world. I play online with my cousins even though they live in a different house. 

What does your class think?

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