The Return of Board Games in the Digital Age, According to Elle Decor Italia
The Return of Analog Play in a Screen-Driven World
As highlighted in the December 2025 issue of Elle Decor Italia’s article “Scacco Matto / My Crossing” by designer and writer Marta Lavinia Carboni, we are witnessing a renewed return of analog play within design and interiors. But what does this shift really mean, and why is it happening now?
We live in a world where nearly every aspect of daily life is mediated through a screen. From communicating with friends and family to working, relaxing, and being entertained, digital devices have become constant companions. Entertainment, in particular, has largely moved online, whether it’s sitting on the couch streaming content or endlessly scrolling on a phone. As a result, much of life can now be experienced without ever stepping away from a screen.
Why Screens Are No Longer Enough
Yet, as convenient as this digital immersion may be, it has also revealed its limits. Screens often pull us away from presence, from meaningful connection with others, and from our physical surroundings. Increasingly, there is a collective realization that digital experiences are not as fulfilling as they promise to be. In response, analog play is re-emerging as a way to reclaim attention, connection, and intention.
From Holidays to Everyday Life: Reclaiming Play
Carboni asks, “But what if, at least on holidays, we rediscovered concrete, tactile gestures, such as moving a chess piece, shuffling a deck of cards, or playing a game of Monopoly?” Moments like holidays naturally invite us to slow down, step away from screens, and reconnect with our surroundings, and board games become powerful tools for doing exactly that. But what if this reconnection didn’t have to be limited to special occasions? What if analog play became part of a daily or weekly ritual, built into everyday life?
The Tangram Gemstone Puzzle as Interactive Design
As showcased in Elle Decor Italia, the Tangram Gemstone Puzzle is an object that naturally belongs in the home, not only as a visually striking decorative piece, but as an experience meant to be lived with. It can take the form of a five-minute daily pause or evolve into a longer, shared moment of play, adapting easily to different rhythms of everyday life. Beyond its classic configuration, the puzzle encourages creativity, allowing each user to experiment with shapes and compositions in their own way.
In doing so, the Tangram responds to a daily need for our eyes and minds to reconnect with physical materials, our surroundings, and active problem-solving. It challenges the idea that décor exists only to be observed. Instead, the puzzle collection, which includes the best-selling Gemstone Soma Cube Puzzle or the TicTacToe Stone Puzzle, invites interaction, transforming design into a tactile ritual. Crafted from precious gemstones sourced from the Peruvian Andes, each piece brings material depth and cultural heritage into the home, reinforcing the idea that meaningful design can be both functional and emotionally engaging.
Kidult Culture: Why Play Isn’t Just for Kids
There is a long-standing misconception that play is something we outgrow. With the rise of analog play, however, a cultural rebellion towards not 'growing up' and embracing one's inner child is playing out in the 'Kidult' trend. The term refers to adults who enjoy activities, objects, or forms of play traditionally associated with childhood, not as a sign of immaturity, but as a conscious choice. For many, returning to play is rooted in nostalgia, stress relief, and the simple recognition that joy and curiosity do not disappear with age.
Engaging with toys, puzzles, and games as adults offers more than entertainment. It provides moments of focus, happiness, and mental stimulation, while reminding us that meaningful experiences do not require screens. In this context, play becomes a tool for presence rather than distraction. As Carboni suggests, “play can become a powerful tool for transforming daily perception and experience.”
The puzzle collection exemplifies how play can be reimagined for adulthood: luxurious in its materials, intentional in its design, and sustainable in its making. Handcrafted from precious gemstones, each puzzle carries natural variations in colour and texture, ensuring that no two pieces are alike. More than a game or a decorative object, it reflects a growing understanding that play can be thoughtful, tactile, and deeply aligned with adult life.
Curated Spaces That Celebrate Analog Play
This renewed interest in analog play can also be seen in curated retail spaces like Art of Play, which is likewise highlighted in Elle Decor Italia as part of a broader movement that celebrates play, design, and wonder. Through its focus on puzzles, games, and tactile experiences, Art of Play reinforces the idea that play can be both visually compelling and intellectually engaging, naturally aligning with the philosophy behind DAR Proyectos.
Rethinking Décor Through Play and Presence
As analog play returns, it invites us to rethink how we decorate our spaces. Objects no longer need to exist as passive décor, but can become quiet invitations to slow down, engage, and reconnect with the physical world.
