Yahtzee and biscotti: A visit to Southern California’s board game cafe
We’re betting that in your home or apartment there’s probably a tabletop board game, like “Monopoly,” “Candy Land,” or “Clue,” somewhere. Maybe it’s one under the couch in the den,…
By Saul Gonzalez • • 1 min readSince it opened last year, GameHaus has attracted a loyal local following and become a must-stop place for board game enthusiasts, bloggers and designers visiting Los Angeles. (Photo: Saul Gonzalez)
We’re betting that in your home or apartment there’s probably a tabletop board game, like “Monopoly,” “Candy Land,” or “Clue,” somewhere.
Maybe it’s one under the couch in the den, or you have several stacked in small towers in a hall closet. If you haven’t played in a while and those games are gathering dust, you might think board games were relics, made obsolete by computers, video games, smart phones and other bright and shiny digital devices.
But you’d be wrong if you thought board games had gone the way of 8-track.
Board games have experienced a renaissance in recent years, and there are more interesting and challenging titles on the market than maybe ever before, with a complexity for every age and IQ.
This board game boom has also encouraged two Southern Californians to create the region’s first board game gathering spot, the GameHaus board game café in Glendale. It’s a place where board gamers — both veterans and newbies — are encouraged to come together and enjoy the pleasures of conversation, company and play over a board game.
Listen to our story about this board games crossroads below:
And check out our photos and a discriminating list of board game picks:
If this story and post has encouraged you to take a board game for a spin, Robert and Terry were kind enough to offer their respective suggestions. See you around the tabletop!
Robert’s Picks
Tammany Hall
A strategy game set in the in the rough and tumble world of New York politics in the 19th Century
Agricola
A European game about farming
Bohnanza
A card game involving trading and negotiation
Arkham Horror
An epic cooperative game based on the macabre stories of H.P. Lovecraft
Virgin Queen
A huge historical war game set in the Elizabethan Era. Be warned, average play time is 8-12 hours!
Terry’s Picks
Betrayal At House on the Hill
A haunted house game where the board is constructed one room at a time as the house is explored
Zombicide
A zombie apocalypse survival game that’s very “Walking Dead” in feel and scope
Letters From Whitechapel
A deduction game set in the days of Jack the Ripper
Alhambra
A tile game where the players construct the Spanish Alhambra
Fury of Dracula
A continuation of Bram Stoker’s novel in a board game