7 Best Classic Online Games that Connect Generations

What Rabindranath Tagore said “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time,” is true. Those who had a hard time understanding their parents as they were growing up, find themselves in the same position now as parents. It is a good thing that modern innovations are able to find fun ways to connect the old and new generation through classic games that are playable online.

These days, kids spend more time inside the house than out sans pandemic. Yes, even before the pandemic hit, they would rather stick with their gadgets instead of playing ball, riding a bike, fiddling with the guitar, reading books. mastering the Rubik’s cube and other things that we enjoyed when we were young. However, one would find that there are age-old pass time activities that the kids are also enjoying now. These techie kids will be surprised to know that their favorite online games of monopoly, scrabble, chess, and even solitaire are the same games that their grandparents enjoyed. Of course, these games also had gone through several make-over to keep up with the changing times.

Games For A Cause

Take bingo games for one. When I was a child, they were usually held in town halls or club houses during fundraising activities. Playing bingo back then was like participating in a live game show as the designated host is usually very entertaining. We had to dress up and bring along a pouch of pebbles or pennies that would serve as markers for our bingo cards.

Nowadays, you don’t even have to leave the house for a bingo game. There are neither cards to mark nor an entertaining host to call out the numbers. All you have to do is find an online bingo site, sign up for the games, and pick your online tickets. The winning numbers are electronically picked and automatically marked in your ticket. This feature allows players to get into multiple games and chat with the other players online while keeping an eye on their tickets and the winning numbers.

Classic Online Games and their Traditional Counterparts

Playing traditional games and online games will be difficult to compare as they each have an interesting appeal to offer. What I appreciate about having two versions of classic games is that it provides a bonding opportunity for young and old alike. The young ones can teach the oldies how to play the modern version and vice versa. One generation teaching another about the joys of playing games during their time. Here are some of the traditional games and their online versions we’ve played.

Board Games

Chess probably comes to mind when one says board game. It’s the most popular brain teaser game then and now, and those who dominate it are considered as smart and are strategic thinkers that can look forward to the many possible outcomes. The game helps one develop good memory, have a knack for pattern recognition, and enhance calculation abilities. Aside from chess, backgammon and the other checkers game are also popular both as a traditional board game and as an online one.

Memory match is another game that fosters brain activity, and online, it’s as fun and educational. One such good game is BrainBox World, a 10-minute recall game which tests players what they can remember. This version features lots of fun and fascinating facts about the nations, cultures, and people of the world. Online, you’d find a lot of memory match games that may be as easy as finding three identical items, or the more complex ones like Brainbox.

For most, there are a number benefits one can get from playing board games. For smaller kids, this includes developing patience (waiting turns), practicing eye-hand coordination, working on motor skills, identifying colors and numbers, and learning how to count.

Card Games

UNO cards, deck cards teaches help kids be familiar with numbers and assist them out with counting and identifying numbers, recognizing colors and shapes as well.  It also teaches them the value of honesty, as simple as not looking at other players cards to get ahead in the game.

When there was no one to play around, I played Solitaire to pass time. I learned the Klondike version from my dad. This card game teaches perseverance to a certain degree as you patiently turn each card hoping to finish all suits. Online, I’ve learned that there are a handful of versions one can play, and each is still as fun and sometimes frustrating as it used to.

History and Geography Games

There’s a lot of games that are quiz-like geography formats, and the National Geographic games are some of the most loved. National Geographic Global Pursuit board game is a trivia board game that challenges one’s geography knowledge. Brain Games – The Game is an intelligence-boosting game based on the beloved National Geographic Channel show Brain Games. The National Geographic Challenge players explore the earth through geography and history, and begin a journey through the ages touching on the different developments of humankind.

While we couldn’t write about all the classic online games that now have their counterparts, we’re sure that you have one or two that you love and still play to this day. In these times, mental health is as important as physical health, and these games can on a certain degree help us and the kids, whether you play them as classic online games or as traditional ones, it’s fun.

—