I just got back from a trip to Kentucky, along with some other Southern states. It was wonderful to get away, spend time with the in-laws, and tour the various states and cities my wife lived in while a missionary before we were married. There are countless stories to be told from the trip, but one in particular stands out to me as pertinent.
My cousin and her family recently moved to Kentucky. Being in the same state, we figured it was a good idea to see each other (naturally). My wife and I (and our two boys) made the short trip and had dinner with them. Their family consists of my cousin, her husband, and their four children. After dinner was game time.
As many of you know, I love games. What made this game special was that I was playing with extended family who I really didn’t know very well. The game was Betrayal at House on the Hill. It’s a story-driven game with narrative and plot. While the game itself was a lot of fun, what I found fascinating was how perfectly the game brought the family together. The kids were all excited to play, everyone was eager to take part in the story, and the excitement was palpable.
Everyone was smiling and laughing, and it got me thinking. This game, so seeped in narrative, is much like a family gathering around a dinner table or fire while camping and swapping stories. Instead of just one person talking while the other listens, however, playing this story-driven game had everyone involved, with each person making decisions. Because Betrayal at House on the Hill is a cooperative game (more or less…there is a traitor in the midst), we were all crafting the story together. Everyone had a role to play.
And, when all was said and done, we continued talking about the game: what we had done wrong or right, how we had almost lost, and the fun moments we wanted to relive. Because storytelling is a huge part of our lives (and by “our” I mean mankind, human beings, etc.), it’s little wonder that we would get so immersed in a game that has the players creating the story as they go along. It was a fantastic experience. Telling stories through board games is just one more medium of storytelling, and one I hope to be able to give my family once my kids are older.
What are some story-driven games you play? Let me know in the comments!