Have you heard of the U-shaped happiness curve? The idea comes from researchers who study how happiness varies with age. What these researchers find is that we tend to be happiest when we’re younger and when we’re older, yet in the middle, those adult years when we’re working hard and raising families, our happiness is at its lowest.

There are many reasons for this (sandwich caregiving, lack of affordable childcare, ahem!) but I would also offer this: those midlife years tend to be the least playful years of our lives.

Just look at games. The youngsters have Candyland and Sorry! The elders have bridge, canasta, and mah jongg. But in midlife, what do we get? Hard core gamers might go in for Settlers of Catan or Dungeons and Dragons. There’s chess, but that sometimes feels a little heady for after a full day of work and childcare. And of course there are party games, but most of us aren’t throwing parties every week. For just relaxing and having a little fun, it’s not always easy to think about what to play.

And this is a shame because board games can be such a joyful way to unwind. Playing a game connects us with family and friends, providing an interactive alternative to binge-watching. And playing can be a great way to get to know people and deepen your bonds. Play promotes laughter, decreases self-consciousness, and relieves stress and anxiety. What other activity can do as much in just 60 minutes?

12 Beautiful Board Games To Play Again and Again

So, in this post we put together a collection of beautiful board games, the kind whose design is as inspiring as the games are fun. (Some game designers really raised the bar with these!) Our hope is that you might even feel inclined to leave some of these in a visible place, increasing the chances you’ll opt for play over doomscrolling some evenings. Check them out and let us know your favorites in the comments.

GEO PATTERN DOMINOES

These dominoes inspired by Cubist and Abstract Modernism art were designed for MoMA by Panisa Khunprasert, who comes from a family of toy designers. Instead of the typical dots, these dominoes are matched by their geometric patterns, forming a colorful mosaic.

Scrabble Del Mar Shagreen Edition

The shades of aquamarine coupled with gold and coral-colored accents create an oceanic feel to this beautiful edition of Scrabble. The varying textures of the faux-sharkskin box, the suede tile pouch, and the metal tile racks bring an extra dimension of joy to the game.

Snakes and Ladders Bandana Board Game

How clever is this bandana board game? Doubling as a fashion accessory, this beautifully illustrated game from Four Rabbit makes the classic board game for kids more portable than ever. The boldly-patterned design aids the bandana in functioning as both a wearable item and a game, allowing for fun on the go.

Designworks Ink Backgammon & Checkers Set

The vivid colors on this dual-sided Backgammon and Checkers Set brings a fresh twist to the well-loved game. I love how the black and white pieces pop against the colorful squares.

Eames Playing Cards

This set of playing cards, designed by Art of Play in collaboration with the Eames Office, was inspired by the iconic Hang It All rack designed by Ray and Charles Eames. The colorful circles on each card provides a playful visualization that pays tribute to the influential design work of the Eameses.

Lucite Jumbling Tower

I used to think I didn’t have a hidden talent. Then I discovered Jenga. Some combination of steady hands and an eye for balance makes me a formidable opponent at this stacking game. The translucent blocks remind me of stained glass windows, and make this Jenga-like tower game just as joyful to look at as it is to play.

Monopoly for Anthropologie

My childhood games of Monopoly sometimes got so serious that they went on for days at a time, the board sometimes taking over the coffee table for a whole week. I certainly wouldn’t mind, though, if I had this beautiful set from Anthropologie. Every part of this Monopoly set, from the board, to the cards, to the box, is designed in a boho style that brings new life to the classic game for families. The wooden frame around the edge of the board creates a handy dice-rolling area. (This item is out of stock but still available on ebay.)

Printworks Pick Up Sticks

Pick up sticks are the definition of abundance: a simple form, multiplied and multicolored, becomes joyful. Here, the timeless game of Pick Up Sticks is updated by Printworks with a fresh color palette. In addition to being played, the game is also designed to be displayed on a shelf.

Ludo Horse Race Lumina Version

Designed to interact with light and shadow in interesting ways, this Ludo Horse Race game from Maztermind is hand-crafted from vegan leather, wood, resin, and stainless steel. The weighted tokens, leather board, and harmonious colors create a multi-dimensional experience.

Papier Tigre Memory Game

Papier Tigre’s memory game features geometric patterns on each of the cards. Though this is traditionally a game for kids, the bold colors make finding a match just as enjoyable for adults.

Travel Cornhole

Is this technically a board game? Maybe not, but this lightweight wooden cornhole game is only 10 inches long, making it the perfect game to take out and about. The vibrant beanbag colors pulled from the gradient on the boards add to the playfulness of the miniature version of the game.

Luxe Dominoes Rummy Tile Game

Designed by Luxe Dominoes, this new take on Rummy comes with hand-bent acrylic racks and an acrylic box with a colorful transparent lid. The tiles are elevated by pops of color and this luxurious storage compartment.

For more joyful games, check out this post. And for other ways to pass the time, see our list of joyful TV shows to stream right now.

Know of any more beautiful games? Let us know in the comments!

This post includes contributions from Ava BooydeGraff.