The holiday season has arrived, and that means it’s time to break out the board games!

This pastime is a staple of festive gatherings with friends and family, and for good reason: it can be an enjoyable way to break the ice, unwind, and encourage people to mingle. But you may be surprised to learn that it can also provide many benefits for your mind and body. Read on to learn more about the health upsides of board games along with some top-tier options to consider trying.

Build connections

First and foremost, playing a board game provides the perfect opportunity for interactions that form positive bonds, which can go a long way toward improving your overall well-being. Studies show that socially connected individuals tend to be happier, live longer, and have less risk for serious illnesses like heart disease and dementia.

Most games designed for groups can help foster such connections, but some may be especially suited for getting to know one another. The Resistance: Avalon, for instance, promotes conversation and reveals players’ strategic strengths (or weaknesses) as they try to identify which knights are loyal in the kingdom. Or try Mind the Gap, which features trivia from various periods to help bring boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers alike closer together.

In addition, board games can encourage the development of beneficial social skills, especially for children; age-appropriate ones like the classic Trouble can teach them how to follow rules and wait their turns. But even adults may strengthen their collaborative abilities through cooperative games. Consider Pandemic, where players must work together to protect the world from disease, or Castle Panic, in which participants fight to keep at least a part of their castle standing against an onslaught of monsters.

Uplift your mood

When you’re having fun with loved ones, there’s bound to be a lot of laughter, something that can relieve stress to boost your mood and, in the long term, improve your immune system and even mitigate pain. To really take advantage of this benefit, opt for an especially hilarious game like Spontuneous—no one will be able to keep a straight face as players endeavor to be the first to belt a tune containing a selected word. Herd Mentality is another great option that involves everyone trying to come up with answers to questions that fit in with the crowd’s. Who knows just what wacky opinions or habits may be revealed each round?

Even when played solo, board games can banish boredom, a state that can spur more serious conditions like depression and loneliness. So don’t wait until a holiday gathering to pull one out if you’re feeling a bit antsy. Options that support a single player include Alices Garden, in which you are tasked with creating a beautiful garden for a queen, and Spirit Island, where your goal is to defend your territory from invading forces.

Challenge your mind

Among the most popular board games are ones that require careful strategy—such intense engagement is not only fun but can also strengthen the brain and keep it functioning at its best. Though research is still being done on this benefit, it has been found that these games may help improve your focus, memory, decision-making abilities, and more. Chess, checkers, and backgammon are three classics that can offer these upsides, but you can also try the more recent Azul, which involves building horizontal rows of beautifully designed tiles to gain points. Or opt for Pentago, a game similar to Connect 4 but with a twist, to work on your logic and spatial skills.

Learn something new

One of the best ways to protect your brain from the negative benefits of aging is to continually pursue learning. Studies have shown that doing so promotes neuroplasticity to strengthen neural pathways and create new ones, in turn enhancing cognitive skills such as attention to detail. Plus, learning something new can provide a great confidence boost simply from having increased knowledge.

Board games are an ideal avenue for this since you can do it while being entertained. For instance, Wingspan, which involves building and filling a personal aviary, can teach you how to distinguish several species of birds, including by, of course, their wingspans. Trekking the National Parks allows you to “visit” these public spaces and discover more about their features and wildlife. And even those with a black thumb may enjoy growing make-believe houseplants in Planted, where you can get all the essential care details to keeping such greenery alive.

Whether you’re looking to unwind or host a lively game night, playing a board game can be a fantastic option—and you and your loved ones may just reap some extra health benefits along the way.