Recommended Games to Study
March 2023 Update: My lists on this page have broke due to Amazon changing some of their code. Which is too bad, because I put a lot of work into them! I hope to have them fixed within a few months. If you've subscribed to my contact list (select "Contact" in the top nav area), I will let you know when they're ready.
It’s time to study games by playing games.
After years of examination, I’ve come up with a tried-and-true list that’s non-digital. I focus on non-digital games because they’re low cost and low technology. They’re also more interactive, since people can socialize while playing them together in face-to-face groups. But most importantly, their mechanics are simpler to analyze than digital games. This means any teacher, trainer, or game designer can benefit--no game experience necessary--just by picking up a few of these games and trying them out with a family member, friend, or colleague. If you’re the director of an organization, this is THE list of games you should purchase for casual game days or even professional development workshops.
My list of games (see link below) is divided into three parts:
Part I: Board games and Card games
Classroom Games: These games teach subject-specific skills (like grammar or division) and are divided by discipline (Math, English, etc.). They’re appropriate for all levels of students from ages 8 through Adult. This list is mainly of interest to teachers.
Games for Modifying: This list contains several of the best-designed games in the world. In my opinion, they are perfect for teachers, trainers, and designers to play with each other in casual settings or in more formal workshops, in order to learn about game actions and mechanics (e.g. “set collection”) that might be adapted for your instructional activities. Unlike classroom games, you wouldn't play these games with students, unless your goal was simply to have fun while learning general critical thinking skills.
If you want to read a little more about why modifying games is a such great instructional exercise, particularly for professional development events, click here. If you'd like to know more about how any game can help your school or company, click here for the success stories.
Part II: Workshop Game Components
Running a workshop? These are special resources you will need to create your own games (tokens, dice, cards, etc). Some items make great door prizes!
Part III: Workshop and Conference Supplies
Need general supplies for any conference or workshop, not necessarily game-related? These are common items (poster boards, index cards, ID holders and lanyards).
And Now, the List!
Click on the below image of “Prof Joe Games” to access my recommended list of games to study:
Did you find my list useful? Great! Then I simply ask that if you decide to purchase these items, you do so by clicking directly on my website's Amazon links (rather than going to these retailers off my site). I certainly appreciate it, since these retailers give me a small credit that helps me maintain my website. The price is the same for you either way. And do recommend this page to others!