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Zen originally referred to a 12th-century school of Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on using meditation to restore your energy, boost your memory, sharpen your prioritizing and planning skills, build greater empathy and acceptance, spark your creativity, and cultivate a more positive attitude. (Whew!)
Zen later came to signify a calm state of clear-eyed attentiveness in which you become one with your environment and yourself. And one with whomever or whatever is the focus of your attention. Today, being Zen generally means you’re feeling peaceful and relaxed. (Sweet.)
All this to say that given the unpredictability of life, especially now, we could all probably use a little Zen, however you choose to define it. That’s why we’ve assembled these beautiful and truly chill games. Easy to learn, tons of fun and loads of laughs, they’re sure to make everyone feel good and focus on the joy at hand. Ready? Set. Relax.
Azul
Ages: 8+/Players: 2–4/Duration: 30–45 minutes
Azul challenges you to decorate the Royal Palace of Evora with beautiful ornamental tiles. You can score extra points by creating specific patterns or completing sets. But you can also lose them by wasting tiles. Fittingly, the player with the most points wins!
In the Palm of Your Hand
Ages: 10+/Players: 2–8/Duration: 30–45 minutes
Can Grandfather Leon find the memory you’ve all just mimed among the clue cards left on the table? Marrying imagination with tactile recognition, In The Palm of Your Hand is an original and emotional gaming experience that’s best played collaboratively or competitively. It’s your choice.
Dream Catcher
Ages: 4+/Players: 2–4/Duration: <15 minutes
Specially created for kids, Dream Catcher lets their imaginations run wild as they race to fill their dream clouds! But first, they must stave off “the nightmares” using, what else? Plush toys!!! While larger plushies offer more protection, the smaller ones can lead to even bigger dreams.
Mandala
Ages: 10+/Players: 2–4/Time <15 minutes
Using coloured cards, you and your opponent race to fill in your respective Mandalas. Once a Mandala has been completely filled, you both then take it apart. The challenge is to outthink and out strategize your opponent while collecting the most valuable cards. The catch is that no one knows which cards are valuable until the game is well underway!
Click here to find these and other Zen games at a local retailer near you.
Namaste and play.
