Blog #2 - Board Games VS Video Games | Round 1 - Visuals

Video games have always been a big part of my life, from watching my dad play Resident Evil on the first Playstation, to experiencing amazing stories like Bioshock or The Last of Us for myself and playing online games as a way to stay in touch with friends after I moved away. But here's the thing, as I got more and more into board games, I noticed that I'm spending a lot less time playing video games, so the two obviously seem to scratch the same itch for me, but how do they compare to each other? And, when all is said and done, which hobby comes out on top?

Let's start this showdown with the visuals. Well, that's an obvious win for video games isn't it? There is just no way a painted cardboard can measure up to the powerful graphical engines of today's consoles, right? Well hold you horses there, bucko, because I'm about to make one hell of a case of not only how both platforms can have equal merit when put next to each other, but how, with a one-two combo, the underdog might actually come out on top in this one.

While it is true that a board game would struggle to match up to the beautiful landscapes found in Witcher 3, the gorgeous sunsets of Journey or the bleak hallways of Resident Evil 2, I think there is something to be said about how much board game art can accomplish with what little it has compared to its competitor. A video game will last for ten, twenty, sometimes many more hours and during that time will throw different areas and visuals at you to keep you entertained throughout the campaign.

A board game does not have that kind of luxury - every time I set up my copy of Viticulture it will always be the same picture of rural Italy looking back at me and every time I play Eldritch Horror it will always be on the same world map. Of course, some games have tried mitigating it with modular boards (the varying set ups of Gloomhaven or Memoir '44 come to mind), but, at the end of the day, if the art doesn't convey the theme perfectly, if it's not something you're proud to show off at game night and happily look at for multiple play sessions, the game will stay on the shelf, never to be played or recommended to others. If video game visuals are a window to the world's most stunning locations, then the art in board games is more like a painting in a museum - timeless, evocative and maybe something to be admired over a glass of wine.

That's not all though, I mentioned a one-two combo that might score the point to board games in this round. The first part of the combo is of course the art, but let's get to the second one now. I said that video games are a window to the most amazing places in the world, but that's the problem - all of the amazing things are happening on the other side of the window. You're the one making your character do the actions, but it's all a bit like being locked in your room on a hot summer day and shouting instructions to your friend who's playing football outside. And this is where, at least for me, the tactility of board games comes in - the fact that you can physically touch all the beautiful pieces, that every soldier, spaceship and worker you move, every building you build and tile you place is done with your own hands immerses you in the game world and makes you an integral part of it.

Visuals in any game are meant to convey the theme, attract the player and make sure he feels immersed in the world. Both competitors use every method at their disposal to achieve this - video games by keeping you constantly entertained and astonished, board games by creating a piece of art you can admire and interact with physically. In the end, I don't have a unanimous winner for this round. If I had to pick which one I would rather watch player (based only on visuals), I would pick a video games - even if I'm not playing it would still act as a good movie, but if I had to pick which one to play, I think board games would edge out a win ever so slightly simply because I am actually, physically playing with the stunning visuals it presents.

The bell rings and first round of the show down is over! Both competitors took some heavy hits and threw some good punches, but this is still anyone's match! Next time - Round 2 - Player Interaction!

But in the meantime, what do you think? Video Games or Board Games? Which is better when it comes to visuals? And who is the overall winner?