When it comes to board games, Karan Gupta wants to make sure they are accessible to everyone.
I remember when my friends and I found out that we were going to Disneyland together. We were thrilled. It was a break from schoolwork and stress, or so we thought in 4th grade. With my dad in the driver’s seat, we packed into our cars, stopping along the road for bathroom breaks. Between the ravines of our seats, we stuffed board games, card games, and our iPads. During that trip, board games and card games became our way of having fun outside of the park.
We would stay up past our bedtimes and talk over the tabletop board game of Catan. Catan is a strategy game where you collect and trade resources to build roads, settlements and cities in a race to conquer the map. My dad introduced our group to it, and it quickly became a favorite. We dove into a world of settlers and horses, trying to compete for land. It was special how we could gather around, laugh, strategize and compete against each other. It became a shared experience, and in the years following, many games of Catan were played.
Catan was my dad’s favorite game. Before he passed away in 2021, he had taught me everything I knew about it. He would slowly lean over the board to suggest my next move. He would guide my settlements and roads, teaching me the best ways to think ahead. He taught me to embrace the unexpected nature of the game, laughing and staying composed during mistakes. Catan wasn’t only about winning or losing, it was about learning, bonding and finding sanctuary with each other.
As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized that play isn’t just about escaping reality and pretending, but about connecting with it differently. When my father passed away, I found other games as respite. I continue to learn how play impacts my everyday life: through strategy, community and memories. Because, for me, play has always been a way to find joy, heal, and keep my dad’s memory alive. With a Perspective, I’m Karan Gupta.