Name of the game: Board and card games still offer family-friendly fun

Since we live in such an electronic world, you might think things like board games are passe.

Not so, says Greg Jones, manager and "Prime Minister of Games" at Game Night Games in Sugar House. "There were lots more new games this year. The number of titles is really picking up. It's exciting and, at the same time, a bit overwhelming."

Maybe it's because we live in such an electronic world. Board, card and party games offer old-fashioned fun — the kind that doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles.

That's not to say there aren't some splashy games out there. Graphics, component parts, design are all top-notch, says Jones.

When people think of board games, they often tend to think of traditional games, such as Monopoly and Risk. And while those are still out there — even in updated versions (this year you can get a Disney-Pixar Monopoly game or a "Star Wars" version of Risk) — there's a whole lot more going on in the game world.

The biggest trend, says Jones, has been the emergence of what is called Euro-style games. "These games share certain characteristics that make for a much more engaging and socially interactive experience," he says.

They generally don't have player elimination, so no one has to find something else to do while other players battle it out. They often play out in less than an hour. They typically have more player interaction and they have high-quality components and varied, interesting themes.

Many of them originate in Germany, where gaming is serious business. "In Germany, newspapers run reviews of board games next to the book reviews," says Jones.

And they are perfect for Utah, he says, where there's a "culture that supports board games. There's an emphasis on families and family fun. I hear from our distributors that games do better here than in a lot of places."

Consider, for example, the fact that the Tutoring Toy, located in Foothill Village, outsells New York's famed FAO Schwartz when it comes to the card game Ruckus. The game is based on creating (and stealing) matching sets of cards. It's a great family game, says Casey Sartain, buyer for the store his family owns, "because it's one of the few games where you can sit a 6-year-old, a teenager and a parent at the same table and they'll be equally entertained and have an equal chance of winning."

That's what games are all about, he says. They can be a good bonding tool, provide a good reason to get together and interact — as well as have fun.

Games have a strong social aspect, agrees Jones. "Kids can learn a lot socially by engaging in competitive games. They can learn how to win or lose graciously."