A June 2019 Intellectual Takeout article reported that many people preferred the face-to-face interaction that board games provided to digital games. Industry insiders attribute the rise of board games to a few factors.

According to a December 2022 Washington Post article, the board game market is valued at between $11 billion and $13.4 billion, with a projected growth of about 7 percent and 11 percent. Industry experts reported that board games were already becoming popular before and leading up to the COVID-19 shutdown but have continued to rise in popularity. Board games have become so popular that cafes and bars that cater to those who love to play them have been popping up.

One reason for the rise in board games is pandemic-related, with people being forced to interact with one another. However, after the pandemic, people continued playing board games to satisfy their craving for social interaction after being forced to remain indoors for a few years.

Furthermore, consumers are realizing there are so many different types of games available outside of the traditional Monopoly and Candy Land. Some board game themes include managing a farm with one’s family, hunting down werewolves, going into space, building railroads, and a Viking game with players competing for a place of honor during Ragnarok. In 2022, Wingspan, a game about bird watching on Amazon, was a top seller.