Card games may conjure up images of innocent family fun, but they’ve undergone a mature makeover in recent years, with Exploding Kittens the latest title to gain popularity through its violent and somewhat taboo subject matter. Why are card games becoming as controversial as video games?

Board games conjure up images of a bygone era, the annual Christmas Monopoly tournament or family holidays spent playing Snakes & Ladders. But in 2013 more money was raised on Kickstarter for tabletop games than video games. How has the digital world instigated nostalgia for the past?

With long work hours and smartphones creating a constant connection, the 'always-on' lifestyle can be exhausting. But people are pushing back and spending more time relaxing at home – and good old-fashioned board games are proving to be the perfect accompaniment to a big night in.

Board games are enjoying a renaissance, fuelled by a surge in indie, adult-focused titles and dedicated cafés and bars. Yet while Monopoly and Cluedo have long drawn people together at family gatherings, what do modern games offer players to pull them away from screens and around a table?