Introduction

Board games have been gaining time in the spotlight in this first slice of the 21st century— independent game stores opening, board games popping up in pop culture and mainstream media, department and home stores showcasing classic games. In fact, just as I was putting finishing touches on this book, Fortune magazine reported online that board game sales had seen a nearly 25 percent jump the previous year, with more growth expected for the coming year. That makes it likely that you, dear reader, have found yourself around a table playing a game with some friends not too long ago.