Board ‘em up

MANILA, Philippines - Back when the cure for boredom was still board games (also known as: before the age of the smartphone), it was rare to meet anyone who didn’t understand the satisfaction that came from finishing before the last few grains of sand drops down in an hourglass timer. Everyone remembers going through the motions of picking a cashier for that seemingly endless game of Monopoly, making up random words with Scrabble tiles, and having to try to figure out whether the drawing on their Pictionary pad was a scribble or a pencil. 

To bring the friendly competitive spirit back to the city, Puzzles: Board Game Lounge BGC opened its doors last July 24. As the successor of their flagship store in BF, Paranaque, the café has all the same amenities — complete with the chalkboard menu, well-stocked board game shelves, and quirky furniture.

In the spirit of a good ‘ol board game, here are a few instructions that are guaranteed to help you breeze through your first visit. (Note: These are just tips, and you’re more than welcome to eat at the café without playing any board games, or play without having to buy food.)

Objective: Puzzle BGL’s main goal is to create real and genuine connections among family and friends over good food and unique games. Their goal for your experience is to enjoy eating and playing.

Equipment: Included, but not limited to, your best game face, hand-eye coordination, strategy, and money for the Stay and Play fee and food.

Number of players: Since most of the games are designed to be played by two people or more, it would be great if you could bring a friend or two.

How to stay ‘n’ play:

Game master: Level up on energy while playing with Puzzles’ food selection.

STEP 1

Head to Puzzles BGC for a break from your usual routine any time between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday or 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Pay the P100 Stay and Play fee at the counter, which will guarantee you whole-day access to their collection of over 150 board games.

STEP 2

Settle down at a table (we think the wooden ones in the artificial grass area have a homier feel). As the place tends to fill up at night, you can always opt to head to the second floor, which has a great view of the whole café.

STEP 3

Order from their carefully curated menu of pig-out snacks and drinks. Some of our favorites include the mac ‘n cheese, grilled cajun pork, mojo jojo’s mojos, and chicken fingers. Pair them with a chocolate, Oreo, or vanilla milkshake, and you’re ready for an intense round of (board) gaming.

STEP 4

Pick a board game, and ask any of the in-house board game coaches to help you get started. You can also ask them to suggest games for you to try. Puzzles is readily stocked with classics like Monopoly, Cards Against Humanity, and Jenga, but below are a few suggestions if you’re up to trying something new:

• If you have good hand-eye coordination, and are feeling competitive but are not too keen on thinking much, try Speed Cups.

• If you’re feeling adventurous, have a lot of time (read: eight hours) on your hands, and get a kick out of conquering other lands, try A Game of Thrones: The Board Game.

• If you like Pictionary and Pass the message, try Telestrations.

DISCLAIMER: Young STAR is not responsible for any fights that might break out as a result of playing these games.

STEP 5

Have fun playing, minus the gadgets. The place is totally Instagrammable, though, so feel free to take photos regardless if you win or lose. Remember, no one likes a sore loser! 

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You can find Puzzles: Board Game Lounge BGC at The Fort Complex right beside Early Bird Breakfast Club, Bonifacio Global City. For more information, visit facebook.com/PuzzlesBGL and instagram.com/puzzlesbgl.