Board games – mostly adult board games – have existed for centuries and have been played in most cultures and societies throughout time. In the 1800’s the board game market started commercializing games and their popularity started growing.

Erik Arneson, an adult board game expert quoted his Top 10 since the 1800’s as:

1. Monopoly (1935)
2. Dungeon and Dragons (1973)
3. Acquire (1962)
4. Risk (1959)
5. Settlers of Catan (1995)
6. Scrabble (1948)
7. Magic: The Gathering (1993)
8. Trivial Pursuit (1982)
9. The Mansion of Happiness (1843)
10. Crokinole (1876)

In recent years board games have experienced more significant increases in sales. No doubt access to new graphics and materials, online variants, people seeking more creative use of time and more variety. Additionally more people are wanting fun in the safety of their homes too, contributing to the recent growth. Adult board games are played at parties, family gatherings, by couples and even by groups of people who share the same interest (Hobby games), but previously did not know each other.

More board game websites are now available listing games, and adding reviews, and increasingly in tighter categories, with a newer one being sexy adult board games.

Having reviewed some of the games available, including the more eye opening games through adult sex board game sites, we discovered there were few games creating fun and quality discussions around love, intimacy and breaking down stigma’s. Most were ‘move here and take this off’ and so on. We decided to create a tasteful game for the mind and body and we cheekily called it ‘How Game Are You – Couples Intimacy Edition’.

There are 150 main question cards, another 25 in the sealed section box for the more adventurous, plus activities for after the game to continue the game connection into the real world. Suitable for one couple, or 2 close couples prepared to share some personal thoughts and laughs together.

You’ll have fun, learn, laugh and create a closer relationship with your partner.

How Game Are You? Couples Intimacy Edition is now available through our website, Amazon (US and AU) and Ebay (AU). You can view full details here or order your own copy of the game now and be one of the first to receive it.

Get on board (pardon the pun), order the game, give it a go and let the fun begin.

Physical and verbal exercise to build Intimacy are crucial in a relationship. Jordan Gray, a relationship consultant and coach usually suggest to his client to do to further build their intimacy. (If you happen to be more of a verbal person, verbal exercises will follow after this content).

Below are some examples of physical and verbal exercise to build Intimacy:

• Soul Gazing. Facing each other in a seated position, hold 3-5 minute eye-to-eye contact with your partner without talking. You are allowed to blink, though. If the silence is too long select a 4-5 minute song while doing the exercise
• Extend cuddle time. Change your bedtime routine. Being distracted with electronics or reading books, gives us the thought of having a more good nights sleep. However, cuddling and/or sex releases hormones that helps you get to sleep much easier.
• The 7 breath forehead connection. With your foreheads touching, breathe seven deep, slow breaths in sync with your partner. Just like how the eye-to-eye exercise this connects you to your partner more intimately and sexually.
• Uninterrupted listening. Set a timer and let your partner say whatever they need to say to vent to you. During the whole venting moment, the other party is not allowed to comment or react verbally. They can react through body language or facial expressions. When the timer stops, the role switches.
• The weekly CEO meeting. Talk about your unfinished business (e.g. unfinished argument, unmet expectations, unheard desires) the whole course of a busy week. Just setting a non-negotiable 30-minute time with you and your partner away from all distractions (phones, computers, kids, etc). You can start with simple questions as:

• • How are you feeling about us today?
  • Is there anything you feel incomplete about from this past week that you would like to talk about?
  • How can I make you feel more loved in the coming days?

• 5 things. You and your partner will both list and/or discuss “5 things” within a certain topic. This can be 5 things you love about your partner, 5 things you want to do with your partner, 5 things that you’re grateful for your life, etc.

And here goes the verbal exercise, questions you can ask to go deep in your relationship:

• • “Is there anything I can do for you in this moment to help you more comfortable or feel loved?”
  • “How can I better support you in your life?”
  • “Is there anything I have done in the past week that may have unknowingly had hurt you?”
  • “When you come home from work, what can I do or say that will make you feel the most loved?”
  • “Is there any kind of physical touch that I can engage in more that helps you feel loved?”
  • “Do you think you will need more closeness or more alone time in the next couple of weeks?”
  • “Is there any argument that we had this past week that you feel incomplete about?”
  • “How do you feel about our sex life lately?”
  • “What are the main stressors currently in your life, and is there any way I can alleviate that stress for you, if only a small amount?”
  • “When do you find speaking difficult and how can I best support you through those moments?”

If you need some help on these exercises, buy the How Game Are You? Couples Intimacy game to take things up a notch. You can view the full details of the game here. The game helps in building connection through communication and is now available through our website, Amazon (US and AU) and Ebay (AU). You can order your own copy of the game now and be one of the first to receive it. Let the fun and romance begin and take your intimate relationship to another level.

There’s no single “formula” to a perfect and successful relationship. However, we’ve studied an awful lot about what long term successful couples do. While everyone’s relationships are a bit different, but we can take away a lot from what we know works.

Positivity Matters

In a study published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers found that the way couples react to each other’s good news — either with excitement, pride or indifference — is crucial in forming and maintaining a strong bond and a successful relationship.

Communicate Correctly

Not surprisingly, studies show that conflicts about money and poor communication lead to unhappy couples more than almost anything else. This includes expecting your partner to read your mind, not speaking up, and harping on pointless issues. Talking and sharing is critical and this is why we created the How Game Are You? board games, to start people talking and sharing, and to see that its not that hard to achieve a successful relationship once you’ve started.

Maintain Strong Friendships Outside Your Relationship

Put fewer emotional demands on spouses. Married couples have a lot to gain by fostering their relationships with family members and friends. The happiest couples, she says, are those who have interests and support “beyond the twosome”.

Try New Things Constantly and Often

Couples who make time for fun activities tend to stay together longer, and become the long term successful relationship couple.

Sex Is Important

As you’d expect, several studies show that couples who have sex at least two to three times a week are happier with the relationship. Put bluntly, regardless of the age, the more sex you have, the higher the level of relationship satisfaction. Talking openly about sex and finding a middle ground regarding frequency appears to be very important for overall sexual and relationship satisfaction. Many couples say this is the hardest topic and yes it needs to be handled delicately and respectfully, but it does need to be discussed. Play the Couples Intimacy game and you have a great starting point, and its fun.

Don’t Be A Selfish Jerk

• Contribute to the household chores
• Quit video gaming your life away
• Quit hashing out problems over text messages
• Even out your drinking habits
• Be nice, keep open lines of communication, and try to do the things that matter.

Take action

Every successful relationship needs tending to keep it successful. Invest the time into some of the above activities that may have slipped, keep your communication open and develop your trust.

If you need some help and some extra fun, buy the How Game Are You? Couples Intimacy game to take things up a notch. How Game Are You? Couples Intimacy Edition is now available through our website, Amazon (US and AU) and Ebay (AU). You can view full details of the game here or order your own copy of the game now and be one of the first to receive it. Let the fun and romance begin and take your intimate relationship to another level.