Cooperation, 'deck building' are latest trends in board and card games

These are kinder, gentler times in the board game world.

A big trend this year, says Mike Compton, manager of Game Night Games, located in Sugar House, is for cooperative games. There are several new offerings where "you're all on the same team."

"The game itself is your opponent, so you all win or you all lose," says Compton. Most of them are games that are fairly quick to learn and play in about an hour. Often the board varies each time, so each game is different.

For those who don't like the confrontation of some of the strategy games, "these games take that out of the picture," says Compton. "They are good learner games because new players can ask questions, and you won't be giving away strategy or hurting the game. They are very significant-other friendly."

Many, also, can be played by just one player.

Also popular, says Compton are "deck-building" games. "They've all come along since Dominion, which is now our best-selling game." The pictures change, but a lot of the method is the same.

At SimplyFun, the in-home party (and online) game company co-founded by BYU graduate Matt Molen, games have always been considered a vehicle for family bonding. "So much goes on during games that builds relationships," says Molen. Games also teach a lot of things such as sportsmanship, self-esteem and social-interaction skills. But this year the Washington-based company is putting an emphasis on games that also teach specific skills such as science, geometry, money management and geography. "We think families can connect and learn through play."

In tough economic times, games are still a bargain, says Molen. "But you get one that teaches while you have fun, and it's a smart purchase."

Casey Sartain, of the Tutoring Toy on Foothill Drive, has also noticed a trend for games that do double-duty. "One thing that is very hot this year are games where you build the board and then play the game. Lego has introduced a whole series, using its blocks. They're a lot of fun, and a huge hit."

Sartain has noticed some "scaling back" by many game companies, due to the economy. "They've been conservative with new development, and have been pushing the classics. Retro packaging is very big."

But, he adds, games always seem to do well, even in tough times. "You get a lot of bang for your buck. And they don't wear out. We still have a Life game that we played in the '50s."