Far from the time when only Monopoly ruled, Board games are currently enjoying a sharp increase in popularity, primarily due to their variety and quality, but also due to the pandemic.
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“The world of board games is in turmoil. We still sell several copies of classics such as Scrabble, Monopoly or Trouble, but we see that customers are enthusiastic and want to try new concepts, especially in Quebec,” emphasizes Paule Rancourt, general manager of Cadeau KID
“The COVID period was definitely an accelerator. “Hundreds of thousands of people didn’t know what to do at home, so board games suddenly became the activity par excellence,” adds Michel Bédard, co-owner of La Revanche.
For his part, the manager of the Imaginaire store in Laurier, Quebec, Jean-Philippe Giguère, believes that games are much more accessible today than they used to be.
“I don't want to offend those who like old games, but board games are made good and accessible. They are much more attractive and have also improved in terms of duration. It no longer takes three hours to play a game and you can finish it on a Tuesday night, for example,” he explains.
Photo Didier Debusschere
A popular gift
As the holidays approach, Mr. Giguère explains that board games are “still an extremely popular gift” as the store has been full of customers in recent weeks.
“It's extraordinary, it seems like people only give board games as gifts for Christmas. Yes, we sell Lego and a lot of other things,” he says with a laugh.
Photo Didier Debusschere
“For a while, board games were considered a gift for children, but now there is something for every taste, every age and regardless of the number of players,” adds the manager.
Quebec stands out
While the popularity of board games has been skyrocketing for some time, so have certain Quebec creations that have gained international prominence.
“We are fortunate to have extremely talented board game developers from Quebec. Maxime Tardif, for example, who created Earth, the game of the year. “It is therefore incredible that the Quebec Games are internationally recognized,” emphasizes Jean-Philippe Giguère.
“One thing is certain, it bodes well for the future,” he concluded.
Photo Didier Debusschere
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