Retirement Is A Chance for Fun: The Games People Play
Category: What to do in retirement
February 2, 2022 — When people retire they (and their friends and spouses!) wonder how the new retiree will fill their day. Will they just shuffle around the empty house, rearranging the tools in the garage, and counting the hours until they can crank up the riding mower? Or will they be so busy playing golf and pickleball, travelling around the globe (not so much of that lately), or putting in countless hours volunteering at some worthwhile cause like the library or food pantry, that they pine for the carefree days when they were working? This article will explore some of the ways people in retirement spend their time when it comes to fun that is game related. We hope you will supply more in the Comments section at the end, and fill in your favorite games and pastimes in the quick poll embedded in this article.
Electronic games
Even if you haven’t become addicted to them, it is a safe bet that you have been seated next to someone (not just a teenager) who is riveted to a game on their phone. Some, like Candy Crush, solitaire, and Call to Duty, you have probably heard of. Other popular ones like PUBG Mobile, Garena Free Fire, and Mobile Legends: Free Fire have millions of downloads but are unknown to us. Obviously not all of these games are for people like us of a certain age.
Word games might be better suited for some baby boomers. The most recent fast growing phenomenon is Wordle, recently acquired by the New York times. In this game you write in your 5 letter word and try to guess what the word of the day is. If your word(s) contain a letter that is somewhere in the word of the day, that letter will turn yellow. If the letter is in the correct position it will turn green. You get 6 tries to guess. Your editor failed to get yesterday’s, a disappointment. Currently Wordle is free, but we suspect it will probably become part of The Times Games package or be advertising supported in the near future.
Another that has millions of fans is Spelling Bee, also from the NY TImes. A free version lets you play for a while, but to try for Genius level you have to subscribe to the Games package. In this game you try to guess words with at least 4 letters from a circle with 7 letters in it. Each word must contain the center level, and letters can be repeated. The panagram (a word using all 7 letters) gives you extra points. We know many people who will not start their regular day or go to bed without hitting genius level (not that easy!). Words with Friends, a Scrabble like game, continues to have millions of fans competing against each other, and Bananagrams is another that has many fans.
Board games
The pandemic caused a resurgence in board games of all types. Facebook has been filled with images of happy puzzlers smiling next to their completed, and often gigantic and complex, jigsaw puzzles. Board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, etc. are still popular, but newer ones like Scythe, Small World, Anomia, Gyro, Seven Wonders Architects, and Hunger are listed as some of the more popular ones for 2021.
Card games
Solitaire is an extremely popular game online, with many versions available to play on your phone or tablet. Some people enjoy playing with physical decks of cards, including the pinochle version. But online bridge games like Bridgebase.com really took off in the pandemic, allowing people to play against real and virtual opponents who can be very far away geographically. They are so much fun and easy that many people now find it hard to play with actual cards.
Take the poll!
What is your favorite game?
We have undoubtedly overlooked many popular games that you enjoy. Please share with everyone your favorite game of pastime. Whether it is a new one or an old one, we would all love to hear what you enjoy spending time on. Do you spend more hours on it since the pandemic started, or fewer?
Comments on "Retirement Is A Chance for Fun: The Games People Play"
Mick says:
I am a longtime tournament bridge player. Alas, just about the time I started playing (1970) the number of people playing dropped dramatically due to the exercise/tennis craze and much more competition for the entertainment dollar (cable TV, video games, etc.).
We are seeing some takeup of bridge with the online move, but the problem for tournament players is that you really can't rise to the top class unless you start young.
Eventually if I want to play tournaments I'll have to travel further and possibly even go to Europe, where there are more young people playing the game.
Louise says:
Spider Solitaire, 2 suits, on my home computer.
Richard says:
Book of NYT Crossword Puzzles.
Green TBird says:
Wordle (with my granddaughters) and solitaire on the computer (several different games), and any crossword puzzle that comes along.
Laurie says:
I love a mix of word games and jigsaw puzzles. I like the NYT SpellingBee and crosswords well enough to subscribe. When my mom was dying, we set up a puzzle in her living room as a light distraction as we took turns sitting with her. By the time she passed I think every sibling had worked on that puzzle. We finished it the night she died, and my SIL took a picture of us with that finished puzzle, our eyes red rimmed and our sad smiles. She loved her crosswords and her jigsaws and I inherited her crossword dictionaries and half filled puzzle books. So enjoyable to pick up where she left off. Living in WI you need to have activities you can do inside on the coldest days, and word games and jigsaws certainly fill that need.
Sue says:
Mah Jongg and Wordle.
Staci says:
Wordle, Nerdle and Quordle. Plus some apps on my phone.
BillyBogey says:
Since I am now well passed the age of getting "The Call"!! either for Hockey or Ball am spending a great deal of time doing puzzles, or asking HRH if I may help with Household Chores. Get the short answer there so spend more time then I should on Navel Gazing. Hope, COVID19 passes by next Winter so I can go South & play Golf & listen to the stories that my Bud's provide!! Some good; most Baaddd!!
JCarol says:
I play Wordle on my tablet, but not at the one time play each day website. I play a version that allows continuous play and your choice of the number of letters in the solution word. 7 characters is my current favorite.
Spider solitaire on my desktop, but the old version with no ads and it's not online.