We remember them from our childhood. Stacked up high in the closet, the colorful little square boxes were a Friday night treat for the whole family. Popcorn was popped, and the soda and juice were poured. I’m talking about board games, and they are back!

Actually…they never really left. Board games were pushed aside for so long during the 90s in favor of video games, that we almost forgot about them.

Well, we can all rest easy now. According to an article on Money.com, board game sales have risen 23.5 percent since 2008 and accumulated over $800 million in the United States alone last year. Couple that with the decline of annual movie ticket sales, (down almost 50 percent since 2008), and one can only wonder how many more people are choosing board games over movies and pricey video games.

When I first moved out of my house at 22 and into my own apartment, I learned very quickly how to manage my money. I was working part-time at Starbucks as a barista and hardly making enough money to survive. In an effort to conserve some funds, my roommates and I hosted board game nights. We invited over friends, replaced the soda and juice from our childhood with beer and wine, and the fun happened organically. To us, board games provided a simple, new way to spend our time and money.

Having a “board game night” of your own is not only an inexpensive way to spend your free time, but it is a way in which you can flex your creativity as well. It allows a different kind of social experience that you could never get from going to the movies or to the local corner bar.

“A board game becomes like a party,” said Mike LeBoeuf, 23, an Apple Specialist and avid board game fan from Bloomfield, NJ. “If my friends and I are sitting around doing nothing, it’s like ‘hey why don’t we play a board game’, and it’s usually more fun than it probably should be.”

And that’s usually true. They don’t require much set up and their rules are rarely too complex, which gives you the convenient option of playing more than one game throughout the night.

According to an article on About.com, you can learn more about someone by playing a game than going on 10 dates. “I like playing board games with close friends because you get to learn more about them,” said Amanda Fernandez, 23, of Bloomfield, NJ.

The article also states that you can learn more about yourself by playing a game than you can from several therapy sessions. Who would have thought you could exercise your demons while you exercise your mind? Board games force you to be use your creative juices more than a video game might. “There’s no interaction [with video games],” said LeBoeuf, “[Board games] become something that you can flex your creativity, and be competitive and have a good time.”

If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to conserve your cash during the economic downturn or are just looking for a night away from the usual bar crowd, consider one of these games as your alternative form of entertainment for the night. Most are available at your local Barnes & Noble or online at Boardgames.com and retail between $14.95 and $29.95.

Twilight Creations Inc.’s Zombies!!! appeals to the horror movie fan who is no longer content with just watching the movies and wants in on the action. Playing as a survivor or “pawn”, you maneuver yourself across the board to safety. The game also offers eight expansion packs, so the action never gets stale.

Not in the zombie-killing mood? That’s okay; there are plenty of games that offer the same level of fun and excitement without the need for chainsaws or machetes.

All Things Equal, Inc.’s Loaded Questions tests your knowledge of your opponents by asking random questions and guessing who said what. They also offer a more “adult” edition filled with silly sex questions and one entitled “Political Party”, which allows players to poke fun at politics.

Late For The Sky’s Brew-opoly is a creative take on Monopoly. In Brew-opoly, you have the chance to buy and trade various different beers as well as the opportunity to purchase certain microbreweries, acting something like the hotels in Hasbro’s version. It also features actual microbreweries from around the United States, such as Brooklyn Brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company, and Rogue Ales.

Hasbro’s Monopoly has and always remains a definite crowd pleaser. The classic game of real estate trading can last all night and, for a brief moment, make you feel like a millionaire.

Another of Hasbro’s biggest selling games is Scrabble. Everyone and their mother have played this game, and it is an anagrammer’s delight. Hasbro now offers a more compact folio edition that sits conveniently in your bookshelf.

So the next time you’re in a rut about money and don’t feel like drowning your woes at the bar or spending your life savings going to the movies, don’t be afraid to invite some friends over, pull out your favorite board game and learn something! Doing anything else would be balderdash.