Hasbro, the company behind beloved board games like Scrabble and The Game of Life, is making some changes to these classic games so that seniors can continue to enjoy them without difficulty.
According to Ted Fischer, CEO of Ageless Innovation which is in partnership with Hasbro, the updated board games will include several age-inclusive features, including larger and easier-to-grasp play pieces, larger text on the boards, and updated content that is more relatable to the older demographic.
The Scrabble Bingo 3-in-1 edition will now include three games –the classic word game of Scrabble, Scrabble Bingo, and Scrabble Pass– with all three games featuring larger letter tiles that are easier to hold and read for players.
Similarly, the popular trivia game Trivial Pursuit has been given a new spin with generation-specific trivia.
While Trivial Pursuit Generations, will still include the traditional six subject categories – geography, entertainment, history, art and literature, science and nature, and sports and leisure – it will now also features 1,500 new questions specific to different generations, such as the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z.
The Game of Life Generations edition introduces a new feature where players are prompted to choose a generation before starting the game. The gameplay is then segmented by age, with players experiencing life events unique to their chosen generation.
For instance, when a Gen Z or Millennial player reaches the Pay Day spot on the board, they must pay $10,000 due to university debt, while Baby Boomer players do not have to pay anything as they are less likely to have university debt.
“Our insights from older adults told us that game and age-inclusive toys help foster fun and joy and meaningful connections and help to combat loneliness and isolation, which we know was a problem during the pandemic,” Fischer said.
“We saw this during the pandemic when families were isolating together and needed something to do, board games spiked in popularity.”
With the new games set for release this June, Hasbro also has plans to market these new board games differently than their traditional toy line.
Fisher expressed excitement about entering the healthcare market, stating that the games would not only be available at major retailers but also in the health and wellness section of stores.
Jim Silver, a toy industry expert and CEO of Toys, Tots, Pets & More, has chimed in saying he believes that the age-inclusive games are a smart move.
“The pandemic showed everyone likes to play good old-fashioned games,” Silver said.
“It’s a no-brainer. Scrabble is abundantly found in senior living centres and it’s great to make it easier now for the elderly to play it. I’m interested to see if Hasbro adds other board games, like Monopoly, to this effort.”
In addition to being enjoyable, board games can also provide significant health benefits for older adults. Engaging in brain games and puzzles serves as a mental exercise that may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.