The Quiet Return of Analogue Life: Why Board Games, Vinyl and Wargaming Are Making a Comeback
- Paul Francis
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
On a damp Thursday evening in Barnsley, a group of friends gather around a table at a dedicated wargaming club filled with laughter, dice rolls, and the comforting thud of cardboard game boards. Several streets away, a shop specialising in vinyl records is preparing for its busiest weekend of the year and in a nearby hobby shop, hobbyists paint miniature soldiers for a tabletop battle set in the distant future. None of it is digital, and none of it is accidental.
Across the UK and much of the world, there is a growing cultural shift. People are quietly turning away from screens and rediscovering the tactile joys of the physical world. Board games, vinyl records, typewriters, film cameras, and even wargaming are experiencing a boom. For many, this return to analogue is not about rejecting technology completely, but about regaining a sense of connection, community, and control.
Rolling the Dice Again
Board games are one of the clearest success stories of this analogue revival. Once dismissed as the preserve of children and rainy-day entertainment, modern board games are booming. Strategic, cooperative, competitive, and creative titles now line the shelves of dedicated board game cafés and independent shops. Global hits like Catan, Wingspan, and Ticket to Ride have helped reshape the market, while indie publishers have brought fresh storytelling and art into play.
In Germany, often considered the spiritual home of board games, more than 50 million are sold each year. In the UK, the market is growing by between 5 and 10 per cent annually. And crucially, it is not just families playing, it is adults in their twenties, thirties and forties, eager for face-to-face interaction after years of online-only living.
"People are craving social experiences again," says Sarah, co-owner of a Leeds board game café. "You sit at a table with real people, make eye contact, laugh, and compete. You can't get that from a screen."
Spinning Back to Vinyl
Vinyl records, too, are having their moment. In 2024, vinyl sales in the UK reached over 6.7 million units, a level not seen in more than three decades. Gen Z, often thought of as digitally native, is leading much of the charge. Nearly 40 per cent of Gen Z adults say they have bought a vinyl record in the past year.
For many, vinyl is not just about sound. It is about ritual, the physical act of placing a record on a turntable, flipping it halfway through, and admiring the artwork. It is music with weight and presence.
“Streaming is convenient, but it’s passive,” says 22-year-old Owen from Manchester. “With vinyl, I feel like I’m really listening. Plus, it looks great on the shelf.”
The appeal is emotional as much as practical. Vinyl offers a connection to the past, a sense of owning something tangible in a digital world full of fleeting playlists and lost files. Record Store Day has become a cultural event, and vinyl is once again a staple in major retailers like HMV and John Lewis.
The Rise of Wargaming Clubs
Perhaps more surprising is the quiet resurgence of tabletop wargaming, a hobby long seen as niche. Games like Warhammer 40,000, Bolt Action, and Star Wars: Legion are seeing renewed interest. Wargaming combines strategy, creativity, and social interaction, and local clubs across the UK are reporting increased attendance.
"We’ve seen a huge influx of new players since the lockdowns eased," says Paul, organiser of a long-running wargaming club in Doncaster. "People are looking for hobbies that get them out of the house and let them be creative and sociable again. Wargaming ticks all those boxes."
Many returning players cite nostalgia, often having played as teenagers. Others are completely new, drawn in by detailed models, expansive universes, and a slower, more hands-on hobby than gaming on a console.
Social media has helped create vibrant communities, with Instagram feeds full of hand-painted miniatures and YouTube tutorials offering guidance for newcomers. But the core of the hobby remains deeply analogue, with brushes, paint pots, and battles fought on felt-covered tables with measuring tape and imagination.
A Desire for the Tangible
So what is driving all this?
Part of it is digital fatigue. After years of Zoom calls, remote work, and scrolling through social media, many people are actively seeking experiences that feel more present. Board games and vinyl demand attention. Wargaming and model-building take time and patience. There is satisfaction in doing things with your hands, and a mental break in slowing down.
There is also a strong current of nostalgia. Even younger generations are embracing retro objects they never grew up with. Film cameras, cassettes, and typewriters are being used not for irony, but for authenticity. These items offer a sense of permanence and identity in a fast-changing digital landscape.
Finally, it is about community. Whether through gaming clubs, record shops, or hobby groups, people are coming together again. These are spaces where strangers become friends, where conversation happens face-to-face, and where the pace of life is just a little bit slower.
Not Anti-Tech, Just Pro-Choice
None of these signals a full rejection of technology. Most of these communities still have a strong online presence. Events are organised through Facebook groups, collections are shared on Reddit, and tutorials are watched on YouTube.
But the analogue revival is a reminder that digital convenience is not always enough. In an era when everything is streamed, downloaded, or delivered instantly, there is a growing appreciation for the physical, the deliberate, and the meaningful.
Whether it is dropping a needle on a record, placing a game piece on a board, or rolling dice in a miniature war, people are rediscovering what it means to feel present.
And in doing so, they are quietly building a future that borrows the best of the past.
