WHAT ARE PARTY GAMES?
Party games are games in which several people participate simultaneously - often in a group setting. They can be traditional board or card games or modern titles with elements of co-operation, strategy and chance. What they all have in common is that they promote social interaction and community, with the experience often valued as highly as winning. For example, games such as Monopoly Junior, The Christmas Gift Game and Ludo have become classics in many homes, bringing generations together around the gaming table.
RECOMMENDED GAMES FOR BEGINNERS AND FAMILIES
For those who want to get started with joint games, there are some particular favourites. Monopoly Junior is a child-friendly version of an economic game, while The Christmas gift game is perfect for festive occasions thanks to its fun element of surprise. Ludo is a simple and quick classic that is enjoyed by children and adults alike. These titles illustrate how traditional and accessible games can work for different ages and occasions.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
Party games have a long history dating back to ancient civilisations. Archaeological finds from Mesopotamia and Egypt show that board games were used both as a pastime and a social activity. During the Middle Ages, card games became common in Europe, and in the 19th century the production of board games was industrialised, making them available to a wider audience. These historical developments show that games have always been part of human culture and community.
WHO IS PLAYING?
Party games is enjoyed by people of all ages and in different social settings - families, friends and school groups. It is an activity suitable for both children and adults, with game nights being a recurring tradition. Games like Monopoly Junior are clearly tailored for younger participants, while the Christmas Gift Game is often used at larger family gatherings during the Christmas holidays.
WHERE AND WHEN?
Party games are used in homes, schools and at social events. At Christmas, the Christmas present game and Fia with a push are often picked up - rules that are easy to understand and adaptable to group size and time. For spontaneous gatherings or organised game nights, these titles offer activation and interaction for all ages.
WHY PLAY?
It goes beyond entertainment: games encourage direct interaction without screens. They train skills such as strategy, problem-solving and co-operation. Fia with a push introduces competitive elements in a playful way, while The Christmas Gift Game creates laughter through unexpected elements. Tradition and community also contribute to their long-term popularity.
PARTY GAMES FOR CHILDREN
Children get more than pleasure - the game is an educational tool that reinforces logic, turn-taking, sharing and co-operation skills. Monopoly Junior uses colour and simple rules to introduce concepts like money and property management. Fia with Push teaches children turn-taking and consequential thinking. These games are often used both in the home and in the school environment as part of learning.
STUDIES SHOWING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARTY GAMES
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL
A Swedish study of preschool children aged 4-6 years showed that both competitive and cooperative games elicited equal amounts of cooperative and prosocial behaviour. The children liked cooperative games better "cooperative and competitive board games elicited equal amounts of cooperative and prosocial behaviour" (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
COGNITIVE SKILLS AND MATHS DEVELOPMENT
In a controlled school project with third and fourth grade children, visuospatial short-term memory, working memory and maths skills improved after game-based lessons. Third graders showed medium effects in visuospatial memory and number counting, while fourth graders slightly improved problem solving (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
MOTIVATION AND LEARNING
A review study showed that thematic educational games improve motivation, communication and knowledge acquisition and can be usefully integrated into teaching to promote learning (bpsmedicine.biomedcentral.com, reachandteach.net).
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF LANGUAGE LEARNING
A systematic review of 35 studies (2017-2021) in Malaysian schools found that games were significantly used to improve oral English skills - with increased language production, motivation and interaction between students (mdpi.com).
THE INFLUENCE OF DIGITALISATION ON PARTY GAMES
Digitalisation has broadened the availability of traditional games. Classics such as Monopoly Junior and Fia with a Push are now available in digital versions as apps and web-based platforms. This allows games to be played even remotely, opening up opportunities for families and friends to meet online. Studies suggest that digital board games can retain many of the social and cognitive benefits of physical games, but that physical interaction often results in stronger social exchanges (researchgate.net, springer.com).
GAMES IN DIFFERENT CULTURES
In Japan, traditional games such as Go and Shogi have long been used for both entertainment and mental training. In the Nordic countries, classics such as Ludo and Julklappsspelet are examples of how games are anchored in traditional celebrations. International research reports show that the social function of games often adapts to culture and context, but the underlying benefits - social interaction and cognitive stimulation - remain constant.
CONCLUSION
Scientific evidence shows that group games can support children's social, cognitive and language development. They act as a valuable complement to traditional teaching - at home as well as at school - and offer tools for both learning and community. Games such as Monopoly Junior, The Christmas Gift Game and Ludo represent this combination of simplicity, tradition and educational potential.
