Revealing America’s Best-Loved Board Games
When it comes to tabletop battles, a recent study has crowned chess as the undisputed monarch of America’s favorite board game. Online game website World of Card Games donned virtual detective hats, filtering through Google searches for 605 board games. Geez! I hope they had coffee or Red Bull on hand. Armed with the almighty trio of ‘board game,’ ‘how to play,’ and ‘rules,’ they unraveled the web of interest built around each game. This dubbed chess as the all-time favorite for Americans. Checkmate, indeed!
1. Chess
Chess is undisputedly the king of America’s board game hierarchy, with an average of 490,983 monthly searches – confirming its popularity.
On the battlefield of a classic 8×8 grid, where dark and light squares clash, the game unfolds with each side using eight pawns and an elite squad of special pieces, all strategically maneuvering to corner their opponent in a checkmate. Traditionally, chess sets mirror this contrast, with one set gleaming in white or light hues and the other covered in black or deep colors.
Zooming in on chess curiosity, the Empire State, New York, emerges as the grandmaster of intrigue. It registers an average of 192.9 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. A razor-thin victory over Massachusetts’ chess-savvy minds, where the quest for strategic genius clocks in at 192.8 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Hot on their heels, New Jersey claims third with 187 searches per 100,000 residents, while Florida and Nevada secure their spots in the chess arena, ranking fourth and fifth with 175.9 and 169.1 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents, respectively.
2. Checkers
Checkers sits pretty as America’s runner-up favorite, receiving 261,683 searches every month.
It is played on an 8×8 board of alternating shades, not unlike its cerebral cousin, Chess. Back when I was a child, I always thought Chess and Checkers rules were similar. Surprisingly, I still think the same today.
Anyhow, the pieces, a dark and light army, face off on the dark-colored squares, twelve warriors each in the first three rows, usually painted in midnight colors for the dark squad and bright hues for the light.
Nebraska is the leading state, with an astonishing 161.1 searches per 100,000 residents, proving their undying love for this classic confrontation. Following closely in this game of interest, Kansas claims the second spot with 130.5 searches per 100,000 residents, while Wyoming secures a third spot with 111.5 searches per 100,000 residents. As the tale unfolds, New York and Delaware become the fourth and fifth states captivated by the Checkers saga, with 96.3 and 89.1 searches per 100,000 residents, respectively.
3. “Monopoly’s” Third-Place Triumph In America
Monopoly, securing third place in America’s board game popularity contest, has a monthly search average of 186,591—proving that wheeling and dealing with fake money is serious business.
This game extends on a square area adorned with a variety of properties, ripe for the taking and development. With the skill of a seasoned tycoon, players roll the dice, faced with the difficult decision to either snatch up the landed property or fork over hard-earned cash to the smirking landlord. The ultimate goal is to collect a property empire large enough to bankrupt adversaries, all in the name of capitalist supremacy.
Heres the actual image.
Monopoly has always been a fun and informative game for me. Each time I played, I was focused, driven, and felt as though I was in real-life situations.
When it comes to Monopoly lovers, Nebraska takes the lead with 136.8 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Not to be outshined, Kansas follows closely behind with 103.3 searches, embracing the game like a chess match. Wyoming, New York, and Texas join the board game party as the honorable third, fourth, and fifth contenders, each state showcasing its unique flavor with monthly searches of 95.2, 70.8, and 65.8 per 100,000 residents, respectively. It’s not just about passing “Go”; it’s about conquering the digital landscape with a Monopoly spirit!
4. Clue (Cluedo)
Clue appears as the master of mystery, claiming the fourth spot in America’s favorites with 135,150 monthly searches. Known as Cluedo beyond the borders of North America, Clue transforms the gaming table into a crime scene. It challenges players to solve the mystery surrounding a brutal murder. Crafty detectives-in-the-making strive to determine the who, where, and with what weapon of an evil fictional demise.
Here’s the actual image.
Adding a whiff of geographical interest, the Cornhusker State, Nebraska, stands out as the most dedicated Clue fan, with 124.7 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Following in the detective’s footsteps, Kansas and Wyoming step onto the board as the second and third most Clue-curious states, with 100.2 and 86 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents, respectively. It seems the temptation to solve fictional homicides has cast its investigative spell far and wide across the American landscape!
5. Tracking America’s Monthly Quest For The Ancient Game, “Mancala”
Rolling in at the fifth spot on America’s board game popularity list is Mancala, with 72,716 searches every month! Although I have never played this game before, it appears to have been around for quite some time, which makes it all the more intriguing. Thankfully, the popularity of this product has not diminished.
Mancala is a game where tactical skill meets a board peppered with holes and stones called seeds. It’s a timeless game played on a sacred stage. The board is marked with pits, pits where the seeds, and the gamers, rest and plot their moves.
In this ancient competition, two rows of six pits stand as the battleground, crowned by mancalas at each end. Seeds are then divvied up evenly among the pits at the game’s beginning. The goal is to emerge victorious with more seeds in your mancala kingdom than your worthy competitor.
The searches grow in the land of maple syrup and breathtaking landscapes—Vermont, where Mancala captures 39.2 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Following suit is Maine, with its residents logging 32.5 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. New Hampshire comes in third with 30.9 monthly searches per 100,000 residents.
6. Rummikub
Rummikub gracefully waltzes in at the sixth spot, drawing 33,440 monthly searches.
This game is a colorful mix, weaving together elements from classics like Rummy and Mahjong (which I’ve played numerous times and loved). In this tile-based spectacle, players skillfully lay down tiles, conjuring runs or sets in a sort of ballet.
It also consists of a set of 106 tiles, a mosaic of possibilities, featuring four color-coded sets of 13, each numbered one to 13, and a duo of wildcard jesters. The game’s introduction begins with players being dealt 14 tiles, and the big moment arrives when a player orchestrates a winning performance by uttering the word, “Rummikub,” or until there are no more moves available.
Here’s the actual image of the illustration.
The leading triad of states actively supporting this game are Vermont, Idaho, and Utah. It’s as if the board game gods have showered their favor upon these lands, with an average of 19.8, 18.8, and 16.6 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, turning them into true Rummikub destinations.
7. “Pictionary” Shines As One Of America’s Favorites At 7th Place
You may want to grab your sketchpad and roll the dice because Pictionary is riding high as the seventh favorite of America’s board game scene, with 24,658 monthly searches. Teams huddle, creativity sparks, and the battle of wits begins. What’s even more exciting is that layers channel their inner artists, sketching away to depict secret words while their teammates play detective. I like this game! This sounds like a very educational and cognitively stimulating experience.
Additionally, you can advance through the game board and unlock victory by successfully decoding the cryptic drawings. It’s a journey where every stroke of the pen inches you closer to triumph. The words to be illustrated are the wild cards drawn from the Pictionary deck and the squares players strategically land on.
The actual illustration is here.
But no hints, no words, or no numbers are allowed. It’s a visual display where creativity is the key.
And guess which state is passionately leading the Pictionary charge? Washington brings in an average of 11.3 searches per 100,000 residents. New Hampshire and Massachusetts retain the lead, with 9.7 and 9.6 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, turning the Pictionary challenge into a regional inquiry for artistic glory.
8. Chinese Checkers (Sternhalma)
Gearing up for the game night spotlight, Chinese Checkers claims the eighth spot among America’s beloved board games. It receives 14,414 monthly searches.
This popular game includes a star-shaped board, and six intelligent players who are in it to win it. Chinese Checkers extends on an unusual board, marked with holes, challenging participants to navigate their ten pieces across enemy lines. It’s a skill game, where each move inches you closer to victory, either by cautious single steps or daring leaps over rival pieces.
As far as Chinese Checkers aficionados are concerned, Vermont comes first place, followed by Wyoming and Alaska in the second and third spots. These states showcase their love for the game with an average of 9.5, 9, and 8.5 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. The first time I heard of this game was in one of my favorite movies when one of the characters mentioned it. As soon as I heard the word, I assumed it was a type of food.
9. America’s Affair With “Go” Continues To Flourish
Go sneaks into the ninth spot on America’s board game favorites, attracting an average of 8,121 curious clicks each month.
This game is a competition where skill takes over. Two minds engage in a brain scramble, placing stones on a 19×19 grid, aiming to outsmart and surpass their opponent. The battleground is an detailed network of black lines forming a mesmerizing matrix where stones find their homes at the crossroads, each point a potential game-changer.
The players, armed with white and black stones, produce their moves until a silent agreement arises. The game ends when both players decide to call it quits or if one gracefully bows out. Victory? It’s not just about the stones on the board. It’s a detailed tally, counting unclaimed territories, prisoners held hostage by the opponent, and even factoring in handicaps or komi, a little bonus for the player in white.
If you’re wondering where Go ranks in interest, look no further than the Garden State—New Jersey leads the way with 8.3 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Washington and California, in turn, follow closely with 5.3 and 5 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, respectively.
10. “Settlers Of Catan” In America’s Gaming Heart
Lastly, Settlers of Catan declares its spot at number ten, with an average of 8,116 monthly searches.
But Settlers of Catan has undergone a chic transformation, now simply known as Catan. It’s a jump across the fictional island of Catan where players, like savvy settlers, craft settlements and engage in resource-rich trade-offs. Success, untouchable yet tantalizing, is achieved through the artful construction and expansion of settlements.
Here is the actual image.
Vermont prevails in the search race, achieving 7.9 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Utah claims the silver, with Wyoming next, both states showcased respectable averages of 6.8 and 6.5 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, respectively. The search is on!
World Of Card Games’ Spokesperson Gives Insights
A spokesperson speaking on behalf of World of Card Games commented on the findings:
“Chess is a cultural touchstone, with terms such as checkmate being a staple of the English language,” they said. It has been studied for centuries, and skill at the game is considered shorthand for a person’s intelligence.” In addition “It has even seen a new wave of popularity in recent years as more people learn of its intricacies. It is fitting then that chess is America’s most popular board game.”
Continued comments….
“It will be interesting to see if chess continues to grow in popularity in the coming years and how that might impact how people play the game online and offline, both professionally and at the amateur level.”
