Board Games in Antarctica: No Special Game, But People Play

No board game is exclusive to or officially "played in" Antarctica. But researchers and support staff at stations (McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott, etc.) definitely play games.

Why Games Matter There

• Isolation: Months of darkness, no flights, small crews (40–1000).
• Mental Health: Games provide structure, socialization, cognitive variety.
• Tradition: Midwinter (June 21) celebrations often include tournaments.

What Gets Played

• Classics: Chess, Scrabble, Backgammon, Cribbage, Poker — durable, no batteries.
• Modern Hobby Games: Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, Codenames — brought by enthusiasts.
• RPGs: D&D, Call of Cthulhu — long campaigns fill winter months.
• Custom/Ice Games: Invented on station (e.g., "Ice Chess" with frozen pieces).

Logistics

• Games arrive on annual resupply ships/flights.
• Weight/volume limited — card/deck games favored over big boxes.
• Digital games limited by bandwidth (Starlink improving this).

Fun Fact: The South Pole Station has a dedicated game library maintained by winter-overs.