As adults, we often forget what it’s like to dive into a game with the same creativity and abandon that kids do.
Children have this natural ability to turn any situation into an adventure, and they’re not bogged down by social norms or the idea of playing the “right” way.
That’s where our game, Scare B&B, comes in: it’s designed to help everyone; kids and adults alike find that joy of play all over again.
In Scare B&B, each player designs a little haunted Bed & Breakfast layout using nine cards for their opponent and then you both flip over cards to explore the spooky rooms. The goal is to find the key card and then the door and if you don’t, you shuffle the unexplored rooms for a light little “gotcha” twist.
What we noticed is that kids instantly loved the simplicity and the element of surprise. They jumped right in and started having fun.One of our favorite stories comes from the board game reviewer “The Board Game Nook” who shared that their nine year old nephew was so immersed in the creativity and imagination of the game that “He was literally shaking with excitement.”
His enthusiasm was contagious, and it drew in everyone at the table helping the adults relax and fully enjoy that shared experience.
During our playtests with people of all ages we saw the same pattern repeat: kids gave the adults “permission to play.” Adults who might start out reserved soon followed the children’s lead rediscovering their own creativity and sense of fun.
In the end, Scare B&B becomes a little bridge between generations. It’s not just a game, but a way for adults to step back into that world of imagination and playful exploration that we often leave behind. It’s a reminder that play isn’t just for kids it’s for everyone.
And sometimes, all we need is a little “permission” from the younger ones around us to find that joy again.
