Even in this digital age, many people still enjoy playing board games with friends and family, which is why there are board game of the month clubs. However, board games are not a new invention. Instead, board games have evolved over the centuries and new ones have been invented to teach and entertain us over the years.
Evidence of board games stretches back to the 7th century A.D. though it is strongly believed that board games existed before this; unfortunately, nothing was preserved well enough to confirm this suspicion.
One of the first board games invented that still exists today is chess. It’s believed that it was first invented in India and was initially known as Chaturanga. As the game traveled over the world through Persia, Arabia, and later Europe, it evolved into the game we know today.
However, other games did not stand the test of time, like Mehen, a game found in ancient Egypt four to five thousand years ago. The Mehen game board was designed like a coiled snake with the head in the center and the tail on the outside. Marbles and lion figurines have been found with these boards, no evidence of how the game was played has ever been discovered.
The earliest board game recovered goes back about 6,000 to 10,000 years, during the early farming years in the east where Jordan, Syria, and Iran exist today. Scientists have uncovered stone boards that resemble Mancala type game boards. Though the boards have been found, the pieces were not, so it is thought that stones, seeds, and other tokens were used to play.
In addition to Mancala and chess, 20 Square, also known as the Royal Game UR, also survived the centuries. Around 100 boards were discovered in the Middle East that date back 4,500 years.
Of course, these board game of the month clubs tend to focus on newer games, ones that families will already be familiar with. And, if you have kids to entertain, you could also check out kids crafts clubs, puzzle subscription boxes, science kits, or a toy of the month club.
Board Game of the Month Clubs
- Unbox Boardom
- Game Night Gear
- Awesome Pack
- Button Shy Game
Board Game Gift Basket
- Kremp Florist
Unbox Boardom
Unbox Boardom was founded by Phil Jacobs, a long time board game enthusiast. The idea for Unbox started when Phil’s wife wanted to get him a board game of the month subscription. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find what she was looking for online. Shortly after, a friend mentioned that Phil had a knack for finding and acquiring fun, unique games.
After that, Phil decided that there was both a need and an audience interested in a board game of the month club, and Unbox Boardom was founded. Phil’s goal is to share great board games with others and help people reconnect and unplug.
Though Unbox is a board game of the month club company, they sell some of the previous month’s choices individually. However, if you choose to sign up for the board game subscription, you will be able to choose from 3 different plans:
- Gaming Guru Monthly for $29.99/month
- Casual Gamer Bi-Monthly for $30.99/month
- Board Game Beginner Quarterly for $31.99/month
After selecting your game plan, you will receive an email with 3 different game choices. Each month you will receive an email with new games to choose from, though if you prefer, you can select “Trust the Experts.”
When you select Trust the Experts, the people at Unbox will select your games for you each month for the duration of your membership or until you request to choose your own.
The different months’ selections often include a family game, a strategy game, and a party game, though it does vary each month. Examples of previous month’s choices include:
- King of Tokyo
- Photosynthesis
- Detective: Season 1
- Paranormal Detectives
- Sheriff of Nottingham
- Klondike Rush
- Power Grid
- Chronicles of Crime
- My Little Scythe
Games normally ship around the 15th of each month; shipping is an additional $5 per month.
Game Night Gear
Game Night Gear is a board game company specializing in unique games that are harder to find. Game Night Gear offers games for sale individually as well as game subscriptions. In addition to games, they also sell game board supplies such as bands, card sleeves, knockdown meeple dice tower, and deck boxes.
Plus, they have a few Game Night Gear Shirts for sale, too, in both men and women’s sizes.
Their board game subscription is available in four different options:
- Better Box Subscription for $30/month. Available for delivery every 1, 2, or 3 months
- Trial Box $30 (single box)
- 6-month prepay for $171
- 12-month prepay for$324
Game boxes ship out the around the first of the month. The prices above do not reflect the cost of shipping.
Awesome Pack
Awesome Pack is more than just a game subscription box; in addition to games, they also include various other fun activities and items. There are two different Awesome Pack options:
- Family Pack – Contains 6-8 fun things for the whole family, ideal for families with kids 15 years and younger.
- Big Kid Pack (Adults) – 4-6 special items focused on an older audience
Both options are $39.99 per month. When you sign up, you get to create a family profile, so the staff at Awesome Pack know what to include in each month’s box. Each box is carefully packed with items specific to your family, so you never need to worry about getting things that are not age-appropriate.
Each month’s box is full of fun, unique games, educational activities (for the kids), card games, and more. And if you have a pet, be sure to include them in your profile since Awesome Pack will add some goodies for them too!
Some of the board games you might find in your Awesome Pack include Apples to Apples, Funglish, Smallworld, and Spuzzle.
You can expect your Awesome Pack Box to ship the last two weeks of each month.
Button Shy Game
Button Shy Game is a unique game of the month club. Button Shy is not the typical board game; instead, it is a postcard game. Each month you will receive new cards to play a continuous game until the next game is released.
Though the games do change, the current game offered for 2020 is Personal Space, designed by Jason Tagmire. The game may be played daily or as time allows. In addition to the cards, you can also choose to log in online and interact with other subscribers to trade and interact.
There are two different game club options:
- Digital Only for $3/month
- Board Game of the Month for $5/month, which provides postcard size games
Button Shy also offers expansion games, chain mail promo cards, and wallet games.
Board Game Gift Basket
Kremp Florist
Kremp Florist, located in Willow Grove, has been in business for more than 60 years. It is a family-owned and operated business that strives to make each of its customers feel special.
In addition to flowers, Kremp Florist offers an array of other gift options such as:
- Gourmet food gift baskets
- Candles
- Balloons
- Jewelry
- Bath and body products
- Picnic baskets
And when you are looking for the perfect gift for the board game lover in your life, Kremp Florist has you covered with their Fun and Games Gift Basket.
The basket features several popular and transportable games such as UNO and Dominoes. Plus, there are games for all ages like Old Maid and Go Fish. And no game night is ever complete without some tasty snacks, which are also tucked in amongst the many games.
Top 7 Bead of the Month Clubs
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