Beyond the familiar titles of Monopoly and Scrabble lies a rapidly growing world of competitive board gaming. This report profiles Benoît Serre, a passionate advocate driving the formalization of board game competition in France, from local gatherings to a nationally-recognized federation, now extending even to French Guiana.
Serre’s work highlights a surprising trend: board games are evolving beyond casual entertainment and entering the realm of organized sport.
Benoît Serre carries his passion with him – a large bag filled with board games. For those unfamiliar with anything beyond Monopoly, Uno, and Skyjo, it’s a whole new world. Knarr, 7 Wonders – he takes the time to explain each one. “I love the cards in Knarr. They resemble tarot cards. It’s a game centered around Vikings.” He knows a remarkable number of games, though he’s reluctant to reveal exactly how many. This hobby consumes 4 to 6 hours of his week.
Serre’s love for gaming began with family vacations. “When we all played together at the campsite.” As an adult, he and friends sought an activity that would bring them together. That activity became board games. “Board games are the only activity that allows you to gather around a table without necessarily having to eat. It’s the only activity that brings together multiple generations.” According to Serre, board games have universal appeal. “It’s like a book, there’s always a game that suits you.” And, naturally, the holiday season is a prime time for gaming.
But Serre’s involvement with the game took on a new dimension five years ago when he helped create the French Ludisport Federation in Gap. The idea was to establish a competitive element around board games, complete with a championship. Today, federations exist in numerous departments, even as far as French Guiana. At 33 years old, he became the vice-president this past autumn. His role is to promote these gatherings throughout France. That requires staying up-to-date on the latest releases, testing them before they’re included in the championship. Drafting, tiling, construction, development – the vocabulary quickly becomes technical. “The best players are able to push the rules to their limits,” he explains. When asked about the complexity of the rules, he points out there’s something for everyone. He often says, “The game is in the title.” Case closed.
