First off, as I've mentioned many times, I prefer the physical board game on my table over their digital counterparts. However, I've come to learn there are some positives to having digital versions as well.
That being said, here's another case AGAINST digital board games... Now this may blow some minds...
Physical board games DO NOT have updates that take place.
ALSO....
Games on your table DO NOT need 'patches' to make them function more efficiently.
It's the reason I stopped purchasing new video game systems. When I got my PS3, I would buy a new game off Marketplace and want to try it out. So I'd have 30min or so just to turn it on and see what it's like. Oh but wait... It needs to update! 10-15min of your 30min just disappeared. The retro systems didn't need that!!!!
I'm now running into similar encounters with digital versions of games on Steam. Please take into account, I am not talking about 'early access' games (like my digital version of Brass Birmingham). People buying 'early access' know (or should know) that there will be bugs, updates, patches etc... There have been many of my digital board game versions updating recently. The most recent was an update that occured with Terraforming Mars on Steam, and suddenly I've had issues. 🙄 Compared to before the update when I had NONE. 😯 It's a shame because what they're "fixing" actually sounded pretty good (in theory).
It's just another reason why physical board games, on my table will always be my number one go-to. They are what they are (until you buy an expansion or upgrades by your own choice that is 🤣). Every time you sit down to play a game at the table, it'll be what it was since you last played. 5, 10, 50 years down the road, it'll be what it's always been. That's special! Especially in today's world where something is 'old' or 'out-dated' in less than 2-years. There's no worries at the table that maybe you won't make it through a game because something messes up or doesn't work properly. If something does mess up, it's just YOU! And YOU have the ability to fix.... YOU. 🤣
If I can get my head to think differently, I can take the money spent on digital board games and save for physical games and just try to get more creative in the spaces and times I can play them. 🤔
Rant done.
Both points well-taken! My only issue with Digital games is, I can't cheat! 😄
Image Source: WinningPonies
Ha ha, I'm myself a proponent of digital board gaming... But for a precise reason.
I love to try out games, to know how they work. All games I have never played exert a special appeal on me. I just want to explore what lies in these systems, in these boxes!
But this is a risky venture. First of all, I must find the game. Then, board games are usually expensive - let's say in the 20-60 range. Even when I own it, I am not too sure to find the time and the opportunity to play it, especially if it's a multiplayer one! So I have lots of new in shrink game that sit in the dungeon, waiting for their trial. And the truth is, most of them will disappoint - or rather, lose the appeal they had because they were unknown. Once I will have a better notion of what they offer, there will usually other games I just prefer to play in almost all circumstances. And so it's time to part off. But selling games, especially with not too much of a loss, is hard (or super easy if you've got the latest hyped thing).
Digital board gaming solves this problem. I can find games for €5. I very seldom go higher than that and I try to benefit from sales as much as possible. Then, it only takes a download (usually short, they are not AAA productions), and I can try the game against an AI. In most cases, it turns out the game is not quite for me. The only game I bought after trying it online is Dragonheart. Very light game, but I love it!
Last game I tried was Shards of Infinity. The solo expansion just got released in France, so I put it in my cart (I wanted to reach the 60€ for free shipping as I was buying another game... that I will soon display here). Then I thought: "Hey wait a minute silly boy, you've got the game on Steam, so go have a try!" I spent a nice moment playing the game, I thought it works well and has a few interesting mechanics, but now that I know what it is, I just don't see the need to own it as a lasting board gaming possibility.
Digital board gaming also allowed me to play Root again at last after a year and a half parenthesis due to Covid and parenting constraints.
So, in short, I like digital board gaming, not as a substitute for physical board gaming, but because it just saves me money, storage room, and the cumbersomeness of trying to sell games I end up not liking too much. It quenches my thirst of discovery at a much smaller cost!