If there is one constant in the universe, it’s that old-fashioned board games have always had a place in the American household. These games, whether they are classics like Monopoly or modern games like Deal Or No Deal, have managed to entertain players of all ages, despite their simplistic game play (in comparison to video games created for the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3) and minimalist story lines. Not to mention that board games have consistently managed to bring both friends and families closer together in ways that no other medium has even dared to duplicate.

From the time I was first able to read, I have enjoyed playing board games. As a matter of fact, some of my happiest childhood memories involve sitting around the living room at my grandmother’s house with copies of classic games like Monopoly, Clue, Battleship, and Sorry lying around. Of all the board games that have been released over the past 27 years (yes, I’m revealing my true age – so sue me), my favorite has been, and always will be, Scrabble from Milton Bradley.

Scrabble was my favorite simply because of the way it challenged me on the intellectual level. I was constantly having to learn new or longer words (which came in handy when I competed in spelling bees during grade school) which, despite my being at an early stage of development, expanded my vocabulary. Not only that, but it also gave me a sense of pride (and a load of laughs) to correct my family members whenever they used illegal word of misspelled everyday words. The only thing I didn’t like about the game: my stepfather always won.

So, what is your favorite board game and what did you like about it? Do you still play it to this very day. Leave your thoughts and insights in the comments below!