France reached a historic milestone in 2024 by becoming the European leader in board games, even surpassing Germany. With 34 million boxes sold and a turnover of 587 million euros, France recorded a growth of 4.5% compared to the previous year. On social networks, in game libraries and even in game bars, which are springing up all over the city, the phenomenon illustrates an underlying dynamic: more and more French people are play, with family, friends, or even alone. Every second, a box of games goes through the checkout in the country. A multifactorial increase in the market, which can be explained by a desire to return to screen-free activities, but also by the explosion of a market, until now dominated by a few timeless classics, but more frankly innovative.
The classics still lead
The fact remains that while new games are quickly eating into their market share, the most popular games in France remain the great classics. Ahead of Monopoly and Uno, Scrabble ranks first in our country. Combining vocabulary, strategy, and thinking, the game has become, over the years, a national passion that shows no sign of weakening, fueling official clubs, competitions, and evenings with friends. At least, that's what the figures from a recent study conducted by Solitaire.net, based based on the analysis of Google searches from 36 European countries, including France.
Monopoly and Uno dominate the European market and remain safe bets in France, which prefers vocabulary games. The fact remains that France isn't satisfied with its classics. Every year, nearly 1,000 new board games are launched on the market. In 2024, titles like the excellent Bomb Busters and Château Combo delighted players, illustrating the diversity of an ever-growing offering.
Watch out for the wall
While growth is on the agenda, the sector also faces certain challenges. Overproduction makes the market highly competitive and weakens some independent publishers. The ecological impact of games is also starting to be questioned, especially in the era of digital platforms. The fact remains that in France, more than anywhere else, adults' enthusiasm for games helps maintain the sector's momentum. Between an attachment to classics like Scrabble and a thirst for new things, France is establishing itself as a major player in board games.
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