5 Board Games Other Than Chess That Will Sharpen Your Critical Thinking Ability

Chess has long been regarded as the model game for critical thinking, but there are many more options that might help you develop your strategic thinking skills. These activities are a fun way to develop thinking, creativity, decision-making, and problem-solving skills that go beyond the gaming board and contribute to all areas of life.

Here are five outstanding board games that promise to sharpen your critical thinking skills. Let's find out more about them.

Settlers of Catan: Forging Alliances and Resource Management

This is a modern classic game that challenges players to allocate resources, broker deals, and adapt to the ever-changing game landscape. Success depends on quick thinking, calculated risk-taking, and the ability to read opponents' intentions. With an ever-changing landscape,players need to adapt their plans and negotiate with others, fostering resourcefulness, negotiation skills, and adaptability. Each turn presents a puzzle of possibilities, encouraging players to anticipate others' moves while maximising their gains.

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Pandemic: Collaborative Problem-Solving and Decision-making

In Pandemic, players work together to contain global outbreaks of diseases. It takes teamwork, smart planning, and setting priorities to win this cooperative game. As a group, you will come up with plans to fight diseases, sharpening your analytical abilities and developing the ability to think critically under pressure. As students fight for the world's survival in a race against time, teamwork, strategic planning, and crisis management take centre stage. The game's realistic circumstances foster teamwork and lateral thinking.

Ticket to Ride: Crafting Railway Networks and Risk Assessment

Embark on a train adventure across various countries in Ticket to Ride. Your mission: connect cities with railway routes to complete destination tickets. This game hones your ability to assess risks, make calculated decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances. The game promotes spatial reasoning, optimization, and quick-thinking strategy changes to deal with unforeseen challenges. Additionally, you will learn to balance short-term goals with long-term strategies, enhancing your critical thinking and spatial reasoning.

Codenames: Wordplay and Deductive Reasoning

Communication is the most important factor in Codenames, where players give one-word clues to help teammates identify their "agents" among a grid of words. This game sharpens deductive reasoning, lateral thinking, and effective communication. Also sharpen your ability to decipher abstract connections, weigh probabilities, and think outside the box.

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Splendor: Economic Strategy and Efficient Planning

In Splendour, you can put on the hat of a Renaissance trader and gather gems to buy shops, mines, and transportation. This game tests your economic intuition by having you evaluate costs, advantages, and the best way to manage your resources.With limited resources at your disposal, you'll cultivate strategic thinking, learning to make the most of what you have. Players must devise long-term strategies, adapt to changing market conditions, and prioritise goals to secure victory.

Beyond the confines of chess, a fascinating world of board games exists that are just as effective in honing critical thinking abilities. These games teach the art of strategic thinking, adaptability, risk assessment, collaboration, and the art of communication. Each of these games offers a unique cognitive workout. Whether you're a student looking at enhancing your problem-solving abilities or an individual seeking intellectual engagement, these board games provide a delightful yet challenging path towards sharpening your critical thinking skills. So, gather your friends, set up the game boards, and let the strategic battles begin!

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