Guest Author - Megan Romer

Board games that are made out of high-quality materials, such as wood, metal, glass and fabric can cost a bit more than games made out of paper, cardboard and plastic, but generally, they're worth it. Board game companies that are thoughtful enough to make their games out of attractive materials generally take the time to make the games fun to play, also! Sometimes (but not always) these games can cost a bit more, but it's worth it, for several reasons. A wooden playing board will last significantly longer than a cardboard one, for example. It also simply feels better to play a quality game, enticing players to play more frequently.

Most chess and checkers sets, as well as Mancala sets, are made out of wooden, clay, stone or glass pieces. Jenga is also a modern classic that is made out of woods, and, of course, Scrabble is made with wooden tiles. However, if you're looking for a brand new game made out of similarly nice materials, here are some ideas:

Granny Apples - A game that teaches kids about fractions while they're having fun! This game is very small and portable, making it a perfect pick for a kids' travel game.

Leaping Lizards - This game, published by the same company that makes Granny Apples, uses cute little wooden lizards as playing pieces, and instead of a traditional game board, it uses a piece of cord strung with wooden beads! Your kids will learn matching skills from this one, and it's also a great travel game.

Gobblet! - This board game is basically a very snazzed-up version of tic-tac-toe. The rules have been changed and twisted, and instead of an old scrap of paper, the game is played with beautiful wooden pieces on a cool wooden board. Because the game box is wooden, this game is super-sturdy and will hold up for a long time!

Maask - This is a really cool and colorful wooden board game made by the same folks who make Gobblet! It's a memory game that's playable by even relatively small children. They'll have fun lifting the wooden branches to reveal the colorful wooden pegs.

Sleepy Princess and the Pea - This game is European, and might be more difficult to find, but if you get a copy, you'll be glad you did. It's a motor-skills game, designed to be played by children who are in Waldorf or Montessori educational programs, both of which stress tactile play (meaning not playing with cheap plastic junk). It's a good equalizer, you might find yourself having just as hard of a time stacking up the fabric pillows as your children do!

Chaturanga - Chaturanga is the earliest known version of the game we now call chess. Unlike chess, it can be played with two to four players, so it's more suitable for a family. Chess fans will enjoy this game (and the history behind it), but you don't need to be able to play chess to play it. The playing pieces are clay, the board is fabric and the dice (yep, there are dice involved!) are wooden.

Old Century Stretch Run - This game, with a gorgeous Shabby Chic look, simulates a horse race... without any of the PETA-inflaming violence that horse-racing sometimes invokes. The board is really cool; it actually folds out of the game box itself. It looks hand-painted and it's beautiful enough to leave on display while you're not playing.

Dread Pirate - This game is the most "gourmet" of the bunch. Each facet of the game is equally beautiful. It comes in a wooden "pirate chest". Each playing piece is a die-cast metal ship. The playing board is fabric. It comes with metal coins that look like real pieces of eight. It also comes with "jewels" (glass beads) which each player holds in their own velvet bag. It's gorgeous and fun, and while it might run a little bit pricey for your average game-buyer, any die-hard gaming fan should be proud to have it in their arsenal.