I used to play games all the time in high school and college, many of them with very complex rules. But now that I am in my 50s, I have become such a normie. On my down time I don't want to spend half the night learning a bunch of rules. I just want to hang out with my friends and family and the game is just a vehicle to do so.
@@rokmare I bought Great Western Trail because of all the hype and after reading the rules thought I can do this if I just find the right group! After running a 4 player game at an event for 3+ hours, I felt awful as I watched our table look longingly at other people going through multiple games of Gizmos, Space Base, etc. I think the happy medium is a game like Viticulture or Scythe (& they still require the right group).
Interesting fact: the Arabic verb "istal'aba" means "he asked to play". This is so beautiful that this can be said in just 1 verb in Arabic. Learn Arabic good-wise! Arabic is very good for your brain!
This is me. But I enjoy solo play a lot in the heavy games like Mage Knight. I have made a friend who likes some of the heavier games though, and he introduced me to more and I ended up buying more games because of him lol.
this video is like looking in a mirror. I'm totally that person who gets hyped about a game after binging reviews online, then somehow talks myself into buying it. But here's the kicker - I'm a single mom with a full-time job and other hobbies, so these games just sit there, unopened and unused. I swear I'm playing Tetris in my tiny apartment, trying to squeeze in one more game box. It's like I'm hoarding dreams of epic game nights that never happen. The potential for fun and making memories is there, I just can't seem to make it a reality. Anyone else feel like they need a strategy to break this cycle? This video is somewhat of a relief, knowing that the struggle is shared. It's comforting to see I'm not alone in this.
I got my kids into it but my problem is that we enjoy different genres. My daughter likes to play Sheriff of Nottingham, my son likes Catan and Cascadia, but I like much heavier Euros like Le Havre. Hopefully when they get older they will develop a deeper taste for complex heavy time consuming games.
I'm similar. I have over 700 games but I keep thinking that the new party game everyone loves will make great memories with friends. I've got so many games though that I already have the preference game for every situation.
You are definitely not alone in this... I have over 500 boxes of potential fun and epic game nights.... that sadly never happen... and still I keep buying games...
Ah, this is so me too... . I'm pretty much solo parenting two kids, and can't seem to stop buying games. It's all driven by non-materializing dreams to host game nights with my kids and their friends, or even just finding a group of buddies to play with, but between working and all the kids' needs I don't have the energy or time to make it happen 😵. I even have some games for me and my mates from high school who love board games, but who are scattered around the world - we get together only once every couple of years. When we do it's a blast, and it makes me want to buy more for the next time 😭
We are living in the golden age of boardgaming. We are spoilt for choice but the problem is also we are getting BGs with sub-par design that is probably flashly, bloated with content etc. Not to forget that we have lots of influencers who are pushing games to the community without providing honest opinions.
Fully agree on all terms! Tons of games have huge plastic minis, making the game 5x as big as it needs to be. If it just had standees it would fit in an envelope!
I'd say we past the golden age of boardgames. The golden age started to end with the boom of kickstarter games and was over with the price spike in the pandemic.
New Board Games are not ruining your Board Game Hobby. Mindless consumerism is ruining your decision making. I'm content with the 20-something board games we have, and happy to play them. We get 1 or 2 new ones a year on special occasions, if the stars and reviews align. What you describe is a consumerist addiction, that can be fixed by a little bit of self discipline.
This is me after buying close to 20 games in less than 3 months. I realized I need to stop myself urgently, my wallet and shelf can't handle my spending.
One of my favorite gaming experiences was playing "Dice Masters" every weekend for five to seven hours with a friend. Repeated plays of a game (particularly one you like) is the best way to best know and enjoy the game. Sadly, most people just want to keep trying something different. Different is okay from time to time, but that which is tried and true is more preferable IMO. It also cuts down on play time, as well as having to teach rules for every game played.
I have played 100+ games of 7 wonders, at least 5 times more than any of my other games. Partly because it is pretty easy to teach and I've played it with so many different people, cities and leader expansions are easy to swap in and out and add a lot of variety. But the biggest deciding factor is that pretty early on and definitely by now there is zero need to refresh anyone on the rules, I don't even have to set up or clean up anymore. I don't really mind doing that for other games but it makes 7 wonders have a really special, relaxed feel.
For many people, learning rules and discovering clever systems is a considerable part of the joy of games. That does not mean its sustainable to buy or let alone possess all the games you want to try. Thats why sharing between game groups, or even game libraries are so important.
I limit myself the same way. I have to keep it at 100 or less. If I haven't played something in a year I usually try to unload it or finally play it. It is very hard to skip out on the new hotness.
The worst part about this is, I paused this video three times to look up one of your games on BGG, then two of them I went to Amazon to check the price and availability. What's wrong with me!
That's why I never have more then 10 games in my collection. For a new game to enter, it must compete for my precious time with the ones I already have. For a new game to enter, it must kick one I already have out, and for that, it must offer something different that none of the others have, and actually make me want to play it over then sometimes.
I stepped completely out of the hobby of being a “board gamer”. The industry, the hype, the influencers and shills, the never ending trickle of “this new game I got” at games nights, where somebody will invariably mention another game they have “backed/ordered” before the first few rounds of this new one is even over. I stepped out of the machine. I feel so free. I now play the games I did back before being a “board gamer” was ever a thing.
When we moved house I sold a lot of the games I had. Never really missed them. Sometimes I see this awesome new game on BGG or a crowdfunding site. It gets me going but I tell myself, 'I'll check it out later!' Then, a week or two later the game passes by again and I think, 'Seems familiar, I saw this earlier.' But there's none of the buying anxiety. Counter your impulses!
I finally played Isle of cats with my kids after having it in my pile of shame for 2 years and we love it (we play the family version so far). Finding unplayed gems or unread gems (books) in your shelves feel great.
I tend to find I'm less enthusiastic about the new games coming out because so many of them are functionally just re-themes of the same mechanics I've seen a hundred times before.
I genuinely believe I like learning games more than mastering them. I am super interested in new designs and to see what’s in new in a newly released board game. The potential for innovation is great and sometimes new games surprise me with their cleverness. So yeah…for me board gaming IS about dipping into games and moving on. I just need to he honest about. Every 20-30 games I play I do strike gold and meet the game I want to play many many times more. So I know I am capable of loving a game deeply but it takes a lot. Maybe because I have seen so many games my bar for enjoyment has been raised? It’s just rare for me to feel like I want to dedicate my time to exploring a game instead of checking out a new one. The most recent game that had me stay and explore was Slay the Spire but the 10 games I played before it came and went.
It's so true! There's way too much coming out to keep up. FOMO used to get me but it became overwhelming to the point where I don't really car anymore. Haha
This isn't a board game issue. It's an idol issue; this thing will save me, but it doesn't... Some people are addicted to board games, some to clothes, some to food, some to working out, some to work. But nothing saves and delivers on the promises 'cept faith, but that's a whole journey unto itself. Boardgaming can be some people's crack, and it sort of is to me, but I also keep it in perspective and boundaries and take breaks - no consumer debt. As to promises of fun unfulfilled... Do people not go to local gaming events and build new friendships through the hobby? Do people not evangelize to friends by just giving non gamer friends old games that are a good fit but haven't been tried by thay friend yet?
I've been having the same thoughts in 2024. I actually went 3 months with buying a new game this year on purpose (which hadn't happened in 3 years). I was amazed at how much more fun gaming was in months two and three. Playing games we all knew refreshed my family's desire to play games. Unfortunately, I fell back into old habits and went on a buying spree. Fortunately, in back on another the month hiatus from buying. Great video as always. Thanks for these.
I've gone through the same thinking process and I love the tips. Here's some things I've been doing recently: 1. Look closely to the people you play often with and learn which mechanics, complexity/weight, themes they enjoy the most. Once you understand it, stop buying games you know (and I know that you know) they won't play or enjoy. It's okay to have 1 or 2 to try to explore new things but you don't need 10 games you'll never be able to play. 2. Play each game in your collection at least 3-4 times to make a decision whether you like it or not and before looking for new ones. I remember that the first time I played Red Rising, I found it "ok" but after a couple games, I started understanding cards/colors synergies much better which changed how I felt about the game completely. 3. Stop buying expansions before you really exhaust the base game possibilities, unless it's public knowledge that the expansion makes the base game 10x better.
You guys are so great! I’m right there with you. I make my kids learn new games all the time! I know what you’re saying is a great idea and something I need to do in my own way too. Letting them pick and just enjoying all the games we have It’s easy to lose sight of the point of playing games which is enjoying the people you’re with. And instead making it about learning and acquiring new games. As I say this I have over 10 games coming from Noble Knight games with credit I got from selling a bunch of games we weren’t playing:). Good luck on your commitment. I know you can do it!
I'm so glad you guys are making a video like this. I got into the hobby just a few years ago and I've really taken this message to heart. Be careful about buying new games all the time, and try not to overwhelm the people you love with new games all the time because it might ruin it for them. Also, great production on this video! Fantastic job, very entertaining too!
Love to see the bromance on display, it’s this kind of friendship and banter (and of course the sharp editing and cinematography!) that is refreshing to see in the UA-cam space on board game content.
I'm more of a quality-over-quantity enjoyer. I try to get the best game in the particular niche or theme and pass on all the games that are "just ok". How I know that the games are the best or just ok? - I usually check if anybody in our playgroup (~50 people) has the game or join online discord group for the game and play the game on Tabletop Simulator once or twice to get a feel for it, or watch somebody play the game online - only if it passed my test I add it to the list of games to play/get - and I only buy it if it was an excellent game or there is some cheap option that popped up and nobody in our group had the game. Then every time the game is played I add some bling to it - paint minis, 3d print some pieces, buy expansion or Etsy add-on. We play a game every ~4 days and on average we play 30 games per year, so every game gets played 3-4 times (not every game is played every year). Haven't been excited about any game for a couple of years though, they all feel and play samey or not my cup of tea. Only waiting for the Iron Forest as I don't yet have any dexterity board games yet.
Your narrative style is fantastic. Never fails to make me smile. I TOTALLY have the same issue. Many of my friends are happy just playing Dixit or something light when I desperately want them to try "deeper" games. I say "deeper" because even some medium of light games feel too "deep" for non-gamers. Patience. Must learn patience.
Dude you guys have excelled as presenters. And your channel has literally DOUBLED since I started following how AMAZING!!!!! Well deserved my Latvian lads.
If you go to the movies with a friend it’s going to set you back $60 including food. You probably never see the movie again. I always think a minimum of three plays for a game is a decent return on your investment. Similar price to a date night at the movies but enjoyed three times. Don’t sweat it bro!
It's good to keep in mind that with a movie, you can't mess up the experience for yourself, you get the experience the director intended. With boardgames, at least medium to heavy, first couple plays is just learning the game so you went mess some rules up badly 😄 It's like going to a restaurant vs cooking yourself. Gonna take longer to get a RoI, but cheaper in the long run if you stick to it.
I managed to solve this problem for both boardgames and videogames (it's as much as a problem on steam with very good discounts), luckily. The Epiphany for me came when i received my first two kickstarters, joan of arc and zombicide invaders. Those games were so big, so unwieldy that even organizing them was a feat in itself. At that moment i decided it was too much and decided to cut 70% of my collection. from that time (around 5 years ago) only bought a couple of games.
Before buying a new board game, we always ask each other; 1.do we really need it? 2.Do we have something similar in the library? We usually never need it and we do have similar games. We only buy games after some times, when the reviews are out and there is a game that exceeds expectations. That way, we buy 1-2 games per year and that's it. I have found that we tend to love these games a lot more because they were selected and appreciated by us. I also made a cheat sheet with the main rules for every board game we own. It was a tedious process but I did it. Now, starting a game is easier and we focus on having a great time as a couple rather that playing a specific game just for the experience or the excitement of a brand new game. We currently love Everdell and Galaxy Trucker, we are busy and these games are quick, easy to remember and to set up plus we enjoy some wine and have some music while playing. I am thinking of setting a new rule, to have 2-3 games out of the categories we enjoy. We will cherish the hobby, no matter what!
This is like an add for boardgamers anonymous.... And I ought to be a member.🙈 I even have a shelf of shame, where games I don't want to play goes. And then I regret it and move them back after a while 😂
YES, I'm a victim of a person that won't stop buying new games. I'm burned out from never really learning games (because we don't replay them). So I don't boardgame nearly as much anymore - I just solo the ones that I like.
I can relate to this struggle; although, I do not back games on Kickstarter. Once the game is published for retail sale, I’m on it. I enjoy researching the new games, watching reviews and figuring out how to play new games. I’m a fan of expansion sets too. You’re correct though, some people around me get a bit fatigued and stressed by me introducing new games, despite my efforts to try to choose ones suitable for the type of players (casual gamers, non-gamers and gamers). I like your 3 month rule! Right now, I only have a few unopened/unplayed games. I do slow down with the purchase of games during the summer.
Some people I know are hoarders also. I always pick a game with a mechanic that I dont already have. This way I always look forward to the new game because it would really feel new and I will have a specific game for a specific company or event. On the other hand, the amount of research I do for every single game is maybe a tiny bit overdone.
I play a game 3 times when I get it - which makes me enjoy the excitement I had when getting the game and explore it sufficiently before putting it back on the shelf. If I don't play a game in a year, I get rid of it. I've also found tracking my plays helps me focus on playing my games vs. buying them (especially with the Cost per play metric)! Finally, I don't start a new campaign game until I finish the last.
Thats why I really have a rule where I pick up a game that is different enough from the games I already own so I dont double or triple stack the same 3 style of games that I'll only play once each.
I’ve seen the same pattern in another hobby of mine. I enjoy whisky, I usually have about three bottles on my bar. I joint a FB group located in my region hoping to meet others who enjoy whisky and talk about it. The reality, it was posting after posting of pictures of what they bought that week over and over. it’s mostly guys with hundreds of bottle and taking pictures of how many they have. It’s pretty much the same way in my war game group, pictures after pictures of what they purchases. Some play but it’s mostly all about how many games they have. So many have dozen of games they have never played. I’ve seen post of some saying “oh yeah I got that game, purchased it back in 1985 but I never played it” For me that is just mind boggling, I do not understand this mind set people have now of not enjoying their hobbies but mostly just try to out do each other for social media likes
I limit myself to at most 1 new game every 2-3 months. That way we can give it a good few plays and then decide whether to add it to the regular rotation or sell it on.
Maybe we are all united in that we our slaves to our imagination sometimes, the pretty pictures on the box cover, website, and components along with the "cool" story or theme of the game, the "interesting" mechanics, and clever marketing, fire up our dreams, as we start imagining this new world, this new experience and how awesome it will be. And for a lot of us that is part of the fun, we get a kick out of looking at the latest board games, finding ones we can fall in love with, and start dreaming about. It's kinda funny because even if we never actually play any of them, it's still an experience. And sometimes when we do play them, they don't quite reach our expectations, and so the cycle continues.
I feel this impacts the way we critique games too! I’ve seen so many criticise Dune: War for Arrakis for being unbalanced or trying to house rule it after
I made a rule to only buy games after they've been out for 2 or 3+ years and are still being talked about / highly praised. So many games come out and then a couple years later another one will make It obsolete. I agree as well, my game group is made up of non-hobbyists and they don't love learning new games every week lol I learned that quickly
This is why I love solo LCG games. You pick one and then you can play it thousands of times over and over. And there is always new stuff to buy for it if you get that urge to waste money. Then after a while you have so many Marvel Champions cards that you can start playing the brand new game of, “How do I store all these cards?” and you can collect card sleeves and game mats and upgrades and watch strategy videos and podcasts and endlessly annoy your wife. And the whole time you never have to learn new rules. Except for the dozens of times that FFG updates the game with new rulings and card types…
Been there, but now I have control. The two unplayed games I have in my collection are games I got in the last week (and it's summer, so most people are away, hence very little gaming opportunities), I also aim to play my games every year, and I'm actually right on track there :)
This is why I love Leder Games. If their designs are for you, you don’t need anything else! They’re made to have massive replayability and allow you and your group to really sink your teeth into them. Root and their newest, Arcs, really stick out in this regard.
Big IF. Also they havf an incredibly high entry barrier for non and casual gamers, so very niche and mostly not applicable. Which is why I hardly ever get to play Root (tiny violins play)
I agree. When I was young I played the first hero quest and oh man. I loved to play more and more. And now... I have games that I have never played, are unfinished or played once but they were really good. I mean I really love unboxing, learning new games but how is this possible if I don't have mastered so many previous ones...
I usually don't comment but this video inspired me (plus I love you guys). I've been getting into BG something around October/November last year, and it has been such an adrenaline/dopamine rush for 2 or 3 months as I was discovering all the famous games I didn't know, selecting the ones I wanted to get and worst of all, CROWFUNDINGS. It feels like I came at a moment when there was so many big campaigns and titles that talked to me (mostly video games inspired), and I threw away so much money into so many campaigns (Nemesis, the Witcher, Elders Scrolls, Dead Cells, Kelp, DCeased, The Last Spell, just to name a few) while fighting really hard not to participate even more. In the meantime I realised at some point that this sort of hype never really ends, there are always interesting games that come out and that look really interesting, and I do think that there is way too much content that gets out there for us to really enjoy. I feel there's also this issue with video-games but on a much lesser extent as video-games are quickly consummed, whereas board games take a much longer time. I also gauged much better how often I was able to play games with my friends & family, and realized that I went way overboard with the games I funded/bought and that I will never play half of them, and I know that whereas I haven't received a third of them yet. All this kind of put me off board games altogether, and since I'm still subscribed to a lot of newletters I see passing all those interesting campaigns but don't even look at them anymore, which is a shame as it is a beautiful hobby that I would have loved getting more into under other circumstances, but I got burned too much too fast :(
So true, so true. I said the same thing then went to Origins this year. Yesterday I got a box in the mail that made the new game pile even higher. You should make a video on a 12 step program to detox!
The game burnout is real. My wife and i each pick three games we want to play and play through those. I tend to throw in games we havent played in a long time or new games. This strategy makes it easier to choose a game when we have time to play. Best of luck with the challenge!
I try to not replace a theme anymore or I get rid of the previous one. I have Camp Grizzly and won’t get any other horror/slasher game unless I’m ready to get rid of that one. I had Nemesis and Lockdown and backed Retaliation but have since sold Lockdown and got a refund on Retaliation.
I am really picky with my hobbies. I am a huge Sci-Fi fan,but you won't know that by how little movies,TV shows,and books I have. Same with Video Games. The hobby that I have the most stuff is Anime/Manga. With tabletop gaming, I have a list of what a game needs for me to even think of wanting to get it. 1)Theme. I mainly love Sci-Fi, Superhero, and History. 2.Type. I love grand strategy(Sci-Fi, History, Mythology (Greek), sports(F1, Olympics) Campaigns(Mainly Sci-Fi-Space Opera, Mythology (mainly Greek).
I realized years ago that it's a problem, half of my games were never played or over a year ago, so I only bought games if I could get them 2nd hand from one FB-group. When it finally became available it was like Xmas! Less is more.
I agree 110%. What kills me is when people add more plastic in the form of card sleeves. I predict game board sleeves next. I'm 61 and have fond memories of family games with worn cards...adds character!
I am a minimalist. I hardly own much stuff. I own a couple of board games. And for the rest, I buy one at a time until I’ve played it to bits. I sell it and then buy it again a year or two later when I’m interested in playing it again. Board games have great resell value
I have a big collection of games and expansions to the game. I have zero unfinished ongoing games and I have zero games I have not played. I always play the new game I bought and then play it again when we feel like it, but always go back to old favourites. Most played games I own are Catan, Blindside and Carcassone.
Craving the newest game seems to be woven into the fabric of board gaming these days. Temptation is always present with a constant flow of new games being released at retail and crowdfunding every week. If I'm craving a new game, I compare it to a game already in my collection. For example, excited about a boss battler on KS? Play Astro Knights or Sentinels of the Multiverse today. Campaign game on Gamefound? Play Sleeping Gods or Legacy of Yu now.
This is definitely a topic that needs to be discussed because I think a lot of gamers feel this way and think "what's wrong with me?" I went thru the playing a modern board game and loving it then finding out there is so many other games we just live and get addicted to that new game rush. Then getting overwhelmed of having to learn the game so you out it off then you end of with a shelf of shame which makes you feel bad about but not enough to stop chasing the rush of that new game experience so you keep on buying. But then you have so many games that even ones you've played before but you have to relearn it all over again each time you play. Now I only buy larger games for Xmas and set up a challenge for the rest of the year too play them all so many times. The smaller games I only get a few at a time no longer chasing the free shipping which here in Canada it's usually $200 worth lol. So I am not overwhelmed and feel better about my cost per play to at least the price of a movie ticket. 😂
Just sell the games you never play, they hold value if you've looked after them. After selling for $20-50 less than you bought them for they will feel like they were just rentals. Soon you'll be able to open the door to your spare room again. I only really keep the games that are getting played and maybe 2 that I wish to play in the future. That is a total of 5 games, I used to have 30 or so.
i owned waaaaaaaaay to many boardgames. i sold/gave away every game i didn't play regularly. i know only have 5 big, 10 medium and 20 small games (roughly). they all get played and i love the hobby again. 🎉
Oh my gosh, I have been thinking about this for months now. I am retired now, and when I was growing up (in the 70s -90s), we were lucky to have ONE new game a year. And we would play that game for YEARS. In my new gaming group, with ages from late 20s to 40s, some of the younger gamers bring 1-3 new games EVERY WEEK. It's just too much. It's overkill. It's rules overload in my brain. And EVEN if we find a game we like, and want to play it again, we rarely can, because they are using a dump-truck to shovel games in our laps so fast.
I quit chasing the cult of the new about 2 years ago and I'm way happier in the hobby now. I've since made a rule that the shelf space I have in my house is all that I can have, and so in order to bring in a new game I have to get rid of a game or games enough to make room on the shelf for the new box. This has worked out wonderfully for me as I'm MUCH more careful about the choices I make, and it leads me and my family to playing the games we know we love rather than taking a chance on a big flashy game that looks pretty but ultimately lacks substance.
I have at least 20 games i havent managed to get to the table yet and probably twice as many that i have only played once or twice, generally because its hard to get the right number of players or the right type of players together. The games that see the most light of day are splendor and patchwork (because my wife will play them with me); lotr lcg and robinson crusoe (because they play well solo); gloomhaven and twilight imperium (with my gaming group) as well as snake oil and codenames (at parties). I do quite like having plenty of other options and i still cling on to the hope that one day i will find exactly the 6 right people to finally play diplomacy with. 😂 The pile of shame keeps growing but it's nothing compared with my still boxed miniatures!
I would love to have a home is where your games are metal poster if you guys are expanding on merch!! Would be a nice piece to put in my living room above my boardgame table!
We moved about 7 months ago and that was the big wake up call for me. When you have to carry hundreds of games up 2 flights of stairs (Basement to a Loft). You realize things may have gotten out of control. LOL
The main problem is that there are too many new games coming out each month. The only thing that helps a bit is to become way more critical about the games and sort out more before buying.
So true, every word but luckily I have stepped back a little and now manage to just buy a handful of games per year and they are not necessarily the new shiny ones but just ones I find interesting. I know many people who are buying and excited about buying all the new shiny stuff but it is just not possible to play everything. I limit my collection to about 100 games and play my favorites and now and then something new and sell something old.
I'm new to this channel, this is the first video I've seen of you. What a painfully true video! love it! Immediately subscribed to your channel (thank you, youtube algorithm, for recommending this).:)
Hmmm if you are a Wargamer, this would be very difficult. Many of my absolute favourites were purchased on a whim and incredible finds. My rule is only used games, and only 1 new game per year.
Very good video, short, to the point, humorous… subscribed half way through. It is sad to look back at an old favorite and wonder if you realistically will ever play it again.
I got up to 300 games. I'm in process of downsizing and will only keep my fav 20 games. Everyone wants to play their own games since they spend $ on them, time to learn them and organize/upgrade them. It's also frustrating bringing 20 games to meetups and MAYBE 1 gets actually played. I looked at all my games less than 15% get played in a year. Give me that $ and shelf space back! Also, the ridiculous bloat on KS now is insane. 30+ games a month released and each has 100 minis and 100 hrs of campaign? CHILL GUYS!
I was close to owning 200 games. then I trimm that to less than a 100 and still going lower. the thing is, we are buying a feeling how we expect to feel in this imaginative situation of playing a game. it never happens as we just keep on buying that feeling rather than paying games. and games these days are poorly designed compared to those released 5,10 years ago.
I love the idea of only having one unplayed game but it’s like my aspiration of only having one set of miniatures left to paint……….not going to happen😂😂😂
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My biggest issue is owning complex hardcore board games but my family and friends are casuals that dont have the attention span for them 😓
I used to play games all the time in high school and college, many of them with very complex rules. But now that I am in my 50s, I have become such a normie. On my down time I don't want to spend half the night learning a bunch of rules. I just want to hang out with my friends and family and the game is just a vehicle to do so.
@@rokmare I bought Great Western Trail because of all the hype and after reading the rules thought I can do this if I just find the right group! After running a 4 player game at an event for 3+ hours, I felt awful as I watched our table look longingly at other people going through multiple games of Gizmos, Space Base, etc. I think the happy medium is a game like Viticulture or Scythe (& they still require the right group).
Interesting fact: the Arabic verb "istal'aba" means "he asked to play". This is so beautiful that this can be said in just 1 verb in Arabic. Learn Arabic good-wise! Arabic is very good for your brain!
This is me. But I enjoy solo play a lot in the heavy games like Mage Knight. I have made a friend who likes some of the heavier games though, and he introduced me to more and I ended up buying more games because of him lol.
this video is like looking in a mirror. I'm totally that person who gets hyped about a game after binging reviews online, then somehow talks myself into buying it. But here's the kicker - I'm a single mom with a full-time job and other hobbies, so these games just sit there, unopened and unused.
I swear I'm playing Tetris in my tiny apartment, trying to squeeze in one more game box. It's like I'm hoarding dreams of epic game nights that never happen. The potential for fun and making memories is there, I just can't seem to make it a reality.
Anyone else feel like they need a strategy to break this cycle? This video is somewhat of a relief, knowing that the struggle is shared. It's comforting to see I'm not alone in this.
Same.
I got my kids into it but my problem is that we enjoy different genres. My daughter likes to play Sheriff of Nottingham, my son likes Catan and Cascadia, but I like much heavier Euros like Le Havre. Hopefully when they get older they will develop a deeper taste for complex heavy time consuming games.
I'm similar. I have over 700 games but I keep thinking that the new party game everyone loves will make great memories with friends. I've got so many games though that I already have the preference game for every situation.
You are definitely not alone in this... I have over 500 boxes of potential fun and epic game nights.... that sadly never happen... and still I keep buying games...
Ah, this is so me too... . I'm pretty much solo parenting two kids, and can't seem to stop buying games. It's all driven by non-materializing dreams to host game nights with my kids and their friends, or even just finding a group of buddies to play with, but between working and all the kids' needs I don't have the energy or time to make it happen 😵. I even have some games for me and my mates from high school who love board games, but who are scattered around the world - we get together only once every couple of years. When we do it's a blast, and it makes me want to buy more for the next time 😭
We are living in the golden age of boardgaming. We are spoilt for choice but the problem is also we are getting BGs with sub-par design that is probably flashly, bloated with content etc. Not to forget that we have lots of influencers who are pushing games to the community without providing honest opinions.
Fully agree on all terms! Tons of games have huge plastic minis, making the game 5x as big as it needs to be. If it just had standees it would fit in an envelope!
I'd say we past the golden age of boardgames. The golden age started to end with the boom of kickstarter games and was over with the price spike in the pandemic.
Everything from Chess to Milton Bradley was the ancient era, MB including Monopoly was the classical era, and now we are in the Renaissance.
Amazing video guys. Love it!!!
"ARcs Izz sO gReAT guyz"
New Board Games are not ruining your Board Game Hobby. Mindless consumerism is ruining your decision making. I'm content with the 20-something board games we have, and happy to play them. We get 1 or 2 new ones a year on special occasions, if the stars and reviews align. What you describe is a consumerist addiction, that can be fixed by a little bit of self discipline.
I build a cool fort with my board games
They also keep me warm at night
😂
Yaaaaas!
This is me after buying close to 20 games in less than 3 months. I realized I need to stop myself urgently, my wallet and shelf can't handle my spending.
One of my favorite gaming experiences was playing "Dice Masters" every weekend for five to seven hours with a friend. Repeated plays of a game (particularly one you like) is the best way to best know and enjoy the game.
Sadly, most people just want to keep trying something different. Different is okay from time to time, but that which is tried and true is more preferable IMO. It also cuts down on play time, as well as having to teach rules for every game played.
I have played 100+ games of 7 wonders, at least 5 times more than any of my other games. Partly because it is pretty easy to teach and I've played it with so many different people, cities and leader expansions are easy to swap in and out and add a lot of variety. But the biggest deciding factor is that pretty early on and definitely by now there is zero need to refresh anyone on the rules, I don't even have to set up or clean up anymore. I don't really mind doing that for other games but it makes 7 wonders have a really special, relaxed feel.
I met a guy that said he never plays the same game twice. Blew my mind. I was like do you never listen to the same song twice too??
For many people, learning rules and discovering clever systems is a considerable part of the joy of games. That does not mean its sustainable to buy or let alone possess all the games you want to try. Thats why sharing between game groups, or even game libraries are so important.
I have 30 games. I limit myself to this. When i buy a new game i sell/give away one i own.
I limit myself the same way. I have to keep it at 100 or less. If I haven't played something in a year I usually try to unload it or finally play it. It is very hard to skip out on the new hotness.
Exactly the same for me! But most of the times I trade them with others!
I’m similar but my number is 100 😅
@@nikosmessis nice
@@petergross7235 I like that. I'd probably do 100 as well if I still lived in the states.
The worst part about this is, I paused this video three times to look up one of your games on BGG, then two of them I went to Amazon to check the price and availability. What's wrong with me!
Hmm, which ones? ;)
Nothing is wrong with you.
Sounds perfectly normal to be. But I'm a shopper and an enabler. 😇
That's why I never have more then 10 games in my collection. For a new game to enter, it must compete for my precious time with the ones I already have. For a new game to enter, it must kick one I already have out, and for that, it must offer something different that none of the others have, and actually make me want to play it over then sometimes.
I stepped completely out of the hobby of being a “board gamer”. The industry, the hype, the influencers and shills, the never ending trickle of “this new game I got” at games nights, where somebody will invariably mention another game they have “backed/ordered” before the first few rounds of this new one is even over. I stepped out of the machine. I feel so free. I now play the games I did back before being a “board gamer” was ever a thing.
👏 👏 👏
When we moved house I sold a lot of the games I had. Never really missed them.
Sometimes I see this awesome new game on BGG or a crowdfunding site. It gets me going but I tell myself, 'I'll check it out later!' Then, a week or two later the game passes by again and I think, 'Seems familiar, I saw this earlier.'
But there's none of the buying anxiety. Counter your impulses!
So much of the boardgame industry relies on FOMO. If you can learn to resist that, your wallet will thank you and your brain will too.
Telling yourself “I’ll check back in a week or two” is a good strategy
I finally played Isle of cats with my kids after having it in my pile of shame for 2 years and we love it (we play the family version so far). Finding unplayed gems or unread gems (books) in your shelves feel great.
I tend to find I'm less enthusiastic about the new games coming out because so many of them are functionally just re-themes of the same mechanics I've seen a hundred times before.
I genuinely believe I like learning games more than mastering them. I am super interested in new designs and to see what’s in new in a newly released board game. The potential for innovation is great and sometimes new games surprise me with their cleverness. So yeah…for me board gaming IS about dipping into games and moving on. I just need to he honest about. Every 20-30 games I play I do strike gold and meet the game I want to play many many times more. So I know I am capable of loving a game deeply but it takes a lot. Maybe because I have seen so many games my bar for enjoyment has been raised? It’s just rare for me to feel like I want to dedicate my time to exploring a game instead of checking out a new one. The most recent game that had me stay and explore was Slay the Spire but the 10 games I played before it came and went.
It's so true! There's way too much coming out to keep up. FOMO used to get me but it became overwhelming to the point where I don't really car anymore. Haha
This is the truest video about board gaming in a LONG time!
Brilliant stuff guys 😆
This isn't a board game issue. It's an idol issue; this thing will save me, but it doesn't...
Some people are addicted to board games, some to clothes, some to food, some to working out, some to work. But nothing saves and delivers on the promises 'cept faith, but that's a whole journey unto itself.
Boardgaming can be some people's crack, and it sort of is to me, but I also keep it in perspective and boundaries and take breaks - no consumer debt.
As to promises of fun unfulfilled... Do people not go to local gaming events and build new friendships through the hobby? Do people not evangelize to friends by just giving non gamer friends old games that are a good fit but haven't been tried by thay friend yet?
I've been having the same thoughts in 2024. I actually went 3 months with buying a new game this year on purpose (which hadn't happened in 3 years). I was amazed at how much more fun gaming was in months two and three. Playing games we all knew refreshed my family's desire to play games. Unfortunately, I fell back into old habits and went on a buying spree. Fortunately, in back on another the month hiatus from buying.
Great video as always. Thanks for these.
I've gone through the same thinking process and I love the tips. Here's some things I've been doing recently:
1. Look closely to the people you play often with and learn which mechanics, complexity/weight, themes they enjoy the most. Once you understand it, stop buying games you know (and I know that you know) they won't play or enjoy. It's okay to have 1 or 2 to try to explore new things but you don't need 10 games you'll never be able to play.
2. Play each game in your collection at least 3-4 times to make a decision whether you like it or not and before looking for new ones. I remember that the first time I played Red Rising, I found it "ok" but after a couple games, I started understanding cards/colors synergies much better which changed how I felt about the game completely.
3. Stop buying expansions before you really exhaust the base game possibilities, unless it's public knowledge that the expansion makes the base game 10x better.
Love all of the outtakes at the end! Always keep that sense of humor, and good luck with resisting the newest and shiniest! :)
Thanks. Will try to :)
You guys are so great! I’m right there with you. I make my kids learn new games all the time! I know what you’re saying is a great idea and something I need to do in my own way too. Letting them pick and just enjoying all the games we have It’s easy to lose sight of the point of playing games which is enjoying the people you’re with. And instead making it about learning and acquiring new games. As I say this I have over 10 games coming from Noble Knight games with credit I got from selling a bunch of games we weren’t playing:). Good luck on your commitment. I know you can do it!
I'm so glad you guys are making a video like this. I got into the hobby just a few years ago and I've really taken this message to heart. Be careful about buying new games all the time, and try not to overwhelm the people you love with new games all the time because it might ruin it for them.
Also, great production on this video! Fantastic job, very entertaining too!
Love to see the bromance on display, it’s this kind of friendship and banter (and of course the sharp editing and cinematography!) that is refreshing to see in the UA-cam space on board game content.
Always love bloopers! Great video, excellent message. You’re not the only one and I wish you success with I continue to hoard!
I saw you put "Welcome to.." away in that box and my heart broke.
I'm more of a quality-over-quantity enjoyer. I try to get the best game in the particular niche or theme and pass on all the games that are "just ok". How I know that the games are the best or just ok? - I usually check if anybody in our playgroup (~50 people) has the game or join online discord group for the game and play the game on Tabletop Simulator once or twice to get a feel for it, or watch somebody play the game online - only if it passed my test I add it to the list of games to play/get - and I only buy it if it was an excellent game or there is some cheap option that popped up and nobody in our group had the game. Then every time the game is played I add some bling to it - paint minis, 3d print some pieces, buy expansion or Etsy add-on. We play a game every ~4 days and on average we play 30 games per year, so every game gets played 3-4 times (not every game is played every year). Haven't been excited about any game for a couple of years though, they all feel and play samey or not my cup of tea. Only waiting for the Iron Forest as I don't yet have any dexterity board games yet.
Collecting board games and playing board games are two different hobbies.
Your narrative style is fantastic. Never fails to make me smile. I TOTALLY have the same issue. Many of my friends are happy just playing Dixit or something light when I desperately want them to try "deeper" games. I say "deeper" because even some medium of light games feel too "deep" for non-gamers. Patience. Must learn patience.
your family picture is sooo good. can't stop laughing :-)
My wife and I played many, many games of Maneuver on a flight from the US to Europe a few years back lol
Laughed through the entire video, and felt uncomfortably seen. My wife kept yelling “this is YOU!” So, yes, I’m with you my friend.
You are not alone :)
Try being into OSR ttrpgs, that is one kickstarter addiction madness. Every week another hipster book for 100€…
This video captures the essence of every hard gamer or collector's dilemma. I Feel exactly the same.
Dude you guys have excelled as presenters.
And your channel has literally DOUBLED since I started following how AMAZING!!!!!
Well deserved my Latvian lads.
If you go to the movies with a friend it’s going to set you back $60 including food. You probably never see the movie again. I always think a minimum of three plays for a game is a decent return on your investment. Similar price to a date night at the movies but enjoyed three times. Don’t sweat it bro!
Will try to! Thanks.
It's good to keep in mind that with a movie, you can't mess up the experience for yourself, you get the experience the director intended. With boardgames, at least medium to heavy, first couple plays is just learning the game so you went mess some rules up badly 😄
It's like going to a restaurant vs cooking yourself. Gonna take longer to get a RoI, but cheaper in the long run if you stick to it.
@@araklaimight still not enjoy the experience the director intended tho
I managed to solve this problem for both boardgames and videogames (it's as much as a problem on steam with very good discounts), luckily. The Epiphany for me came when i received my first two kickstarters, joan of arc and zombicide invaders. Those games were so big, so unwieldy that even organizing them was a feat in itself. At that moment i decided it was too much and decided to cut 70% of my collection. from that time (around 5 years ago) only bought a couple of games.
Before buying a new board game, we always ask each other; 1.do we really need it? 2.Do we have something similar in the library?
We usually never need it and we do have similar games. We only buy games after some times, when the reviews are out and there is a game that exceeds expectations. That way, we buy 1-2 games per year and that's it. I have found that we tend to love these games a lot more because they were selected and appreciated by us.
I also made a cheat sheet with the main rules for every board game we own. It was a tedious process but I did it. Now, starting a game is easier and we focus on having a great time as a couple rather that playing a specific game just for the experience or the excitement of a brand new game.
We currently love Everdell and Galaxy Trucker, we are busy and these games are quick, easy to remember and to set up plus we enjoy some wine and have some music while playing.
I am thinking of setting a new rule, to have 2-3 games out of the categories we enjoy.
We will cherish the hobby, no matter what!
Your video quality has gotten impeccable. Also, i didnt think about what you said about teaching new games to non gamers
This is like an add for boardgamers anonymous.... And I ought to be a member.🙈
I even have a shelf of shame, where games I don't want to play goes. And then I regret it and move them back after a while 😂
YES, I'm a victim of a person that won't stop buying new games. I'm burned out from never really learning games (because we don't replay them). So I don't boardgame nearly as much anymore - I just solo the ones that I like.
Collecting games is a valid experience too. Personally I want to play everything I own, but its simply not possible now.
I can relate to this struggle; although, I do not back games on Kickstarter. Once the game is published for retail sale, I’m on it. I enjoy researching the new games, watching reviews and figuring out how to play new games. I’m a fan of expansion sets too. You’re correct though, some people around me get a bit fatigued and stressed by me introducing new games, despite my efforts to try to choose ones suitable for the type of players (casual gamers, non-gamers and gamers). I like your 3 month rule! Right now, I only have a few unopened/unplayed games. I do slow down with the purchase of games during the summer.
Some people I know are hoarders also. I always pick a game with a mechanic that I dont already have. This way I always look forward to the new game because it would really feel new and I will have a specific game for a specific company or event.
On the other hand, the amount of research I do for every single game is maybe a tiny bit overdone.
I play a game 3 times when I get it - which makes me enjoy the excitement I had when getting the game and explore it sufficiently before putting it back on the shelf. If I don't play a game in a year, I get rid of it. I've also found tracking my plays helps me focus on playing my games vs. buying them (especially with the Cost per play metric)! Finally, I don't start a new campaign game until I finish the last.
Thats why I really have a rule where I pick up a game that is different enough from the games I already own so I dont double or triple stack the same 3 style of games that I'll only play once each.
I’ve seen the same pattern in another hobby of mine. I enjoy whisky, I usually have about three bottles on my bar. I joint a FB group located in my region hoping to meet others who enjoy whisky and talk about it. The reality, it was posting after posting of pictures of what they bought that week over and over. it’s mostly guys with hundreds of bottle and taking pictures of how many they have. It’s pretty much the same way in my war game group, pictures after pictures of what they purchases. Some play but it’s mostly all about how many games they have. So many have dozen of games they have never played. I’ve seen post of some saying “oh yeah I got that game, purchased it back in 1985 but I never played it” For me that is just mind boggling, I do not understand this mind set people have now of not enjoying their hobbies but mostly just try to out do each other for social media likes
I limit myself to at most 1 new game every 2-3 months. That way we can give it a good few plays and then decide whether to add it to the regular rotation or sell it on.
I go to a great board game meetup every Monday evening, and I get to play new games as much as I like.
Maybe we are all united in that we our slaves to our imagination sometimes, the pretty pictures on the box cover, website, and components along with the "cool" story or theme of the game, the "interesting" mechanics, and clever marketing, fire up our dreams, as we start imagining this new world, this new experience and how awesome it will be. And for a lot of us that is part of the fun, we get a kick out of looking at the latest board games, finding ones we can fall in love with, and start dreaming about. It's kinda funny because even if we never actually play any of them, it's still an experience.
And sometimes when we do play them, they don't quite reach our expectations, and so the cycle continues.
Totally get all this. Great video!
We also try to keep campaign games to 2 active ones on going.
I like youre new earrings but trust me get another on on the other ear as well, symmetry and looks much cleaner and more stylish
I feel this impacts the way we critique games too! I’ve seen so many criticise Dune: War for Arrakis for being unbalanced or trying to house rule it after
I need more videos like this! My wallet and brain are starting to get frustrated with me. 😭
I made a rule to only buy games after they've been out for 2 or 3+ years and are still being talked about / highly praised. So many games come out and then a couple years later another one will make It obsolete. I agree as well, my game group is made up of non-hobbyists and they don't love learning new games every week lol I learned that quickly
That family picture!! 😶😱 Do creepy!!! 😂
I limit myself to just one game, Battletech. 40 years of BT fills my whole office, under the beds and closets.
This is why I love solo LCG games. You pick one and then you can play it thousands of times over and over. And there is always new stuff to buy for it if you get that urge to waste money. Then after a while you have so many Marvel Champions cards that you can start playing the brand new game of, “How do I store all these cards?” and you can collect card sleeves and game mats and upgrades and watch strategy videos and podcasts and endlessly annoy your wife. And the whole time you never have to learn new rules. Except for the dozens of times that FFG updates the game with new rulings and card types…
My unplayed games I got on sales in my Steam library are looking at me menacingly
Been there, but now I have control. The two unplayed games I have in my collection are games I got in the last week (and it's summer, so most people are away, hence very little gaming opportunities), I also aim to play my games every year, and I'm actually right on track there :)
This is why I love Leder Games. If their designs are for you, you don’t need anything else! They’re made to have massive replayability and allow you and your group to really sink your teeth into them. Root and their newest, Arcs, really stick out in this regard.
Big IF. Also they havf an incredibly high entry barrier for non and casual gamers, so very niche and mostly not applicable. Which is why I hardly ever get to play Root (tiny violins play)
@@l.schmidt9132 yeah, I’m lucky in that regard. I have a rotating group of 5-6 school friends I play both Root and Arcs with.
I agree. When I was young I played the first hero quest and oh man. I loved to play more and more. And now... I have games that I have never played, are unfinished or played once but they were really good. I mean I really love unboxing, learning new games but how is this possible if I don't have mastered so many previous ones...
I usually don't comment but this video inspired me (plus I love you guys). I've been getting into BG something around October/November last year, and it has been such an adrenaline/dopamine rush for 2 or 3 months as I was discovering all the famous games I didn't know, selecting the ones I wanted to get and worst of all, CROWFUNDINGS. It feels like I came at a moment when there was so many big campaigns and titles that talked to me (mostly video games inspired), and I threw away so much money into so many campaigns (Nemesis, the Witcher, Elders Scrolls, Dead Cells, Kelp, DCeased, The Last Spell, just to name a few) while fighting really hard not to participate even more.
In the meantime I realised at some point that this sort of hype never really ends, there are always interesting games that come out and that look really interesting, and I do think that there is way too much content that gets out there for us to really enjoy. I feel there's also this issue with video-games but on a much lesser extent as video-games are quickly consummed, whereas board games take a much longer time. I also gauged much better how often I was able to play games with my friends & family, and realized that I went way overboard with the games I funded/bought and that I will never play half of them, and I know that whereas I haven't received a third of them yet.
All this kind of put me off board games altogether, and since I'm still subscribed to a lot of newletters I see passing all those interesting campaigns but don't even look at them anymore, which is a shame as it is a beautiful hobby that I would have loved getting more into under other circumstances, but I got burned too much too fast :(
I like games too, but I haven't got anyone to play with. 😢
So true, so true. I said the same thing then went to Origins this year. Yesterday I got a box in the mail that made the new game pile even higher. You should make a video on a 12 step program to detox!
HEY kislux !! I have been watching you for years and im so proud of where you have made it! I love you so much! Also thanks for making my day
The game burnout is real. My wife and i each pick three games we want to play and play through those. I tend to throw in games we havent played in a long time or new games. This strategy makes it easier to choose a game when we have time to play. Best of luck with the challenge!
I try to not replace a theme anymore or I get rid of the previous one.
I have Camp Grizzly and won’t get any other horror/slasher game unless I’m ready to get rid of that one.
I had Nemesis and Lockdown and backed Retaliation but have since sold Lockdown and got a refund on Retaliation.
I am really picky with my hobbies. I am a huge Sci-Fi fan,but you won't know that by how little movies,TV shows,and books I have. Same with Video Games. The hobby that I have the most stuff is Anime/Manga. With tabletop gaming, I have a list of what a game needs for me to even think of wanting to get it. 1)Theme. I mainly love Sci-Fi, Superhero, and History. 2.Type. I love grand strategy(Sci-Fi, History, Mythology (Greek), sports(F1, Olympics) Campaigns(Mainly Sci-Fi-Space Opera, Mythology (mainly Greek).
I realized years ago that it's a problem, half of my games were never played or over a year ago, so I only bought games if I could get them 2nd hand from one FB-group. When it finally became available it was like Xmas! Less is more.
I agree 110%. What kills me is when people add more plastic in the form of card sleeves. I predict game board sleeves next. I'm 61 and have fond memories of family games with worn cards...adds character!
I am a minimalist. I hardly own much stuff. I own a couple of board games. And for the rest, I buy one at a time until I’ve played it to bits. I sell it and then buy it again a year or two later when I’m interested in playing it again. Board games have great resell value
I have a big collection of games and expansions to the game. I have zero unfinished ongoing games and I have zero games I have not played. I always play the new game I bought and then play it again when we feel like it, but always go back to old favourites.
Most played games I own are
Catan, Blindside and Carcassone.
Just play Vijayanagara, 2 hours, full experience, doesn't require 10 plays :D
Craving the newest game seems to be woven into the fabric of board gaming these days. Temptation is always present with a constant flow of new games being released at retail and crowdfunding every week.
If I'm craving a new game, I compare it to a game already in my collection. For example, excited about a boss battler on KS? Play Astro Knights or Sentinels of the Multiverse today. Campaign game on Gamefound? Play Sleeping Gods or Legacy of Yu now.
This is definitely a topic that needs to be discussed because I think a lot of gamers feel this way and think "what's wrong with me?"
I went thru the playing a modern board game and loving it then finding out there is so many other games we just live and get addicted to that new game rush. Then getting overwhelmed of having to learn the game so you out it off then you end of with a shelf of shame which makes you feel bad about but not enough to stop chasing the rush of that new game experience so you keep on buying. But then you have so many games that even ones you've played before but you have to relearn it all over again each time you play. Now I only buy larger games for Xmas and set up a challenge for the rest of the year too play them all so many times. The smaller games I only get a few at a time no longer chasing the free shipping which here in Canada it's usually $200 worth lol. So I am not overwhelmed and feel better about my cost per play to at least the price of a movie ticket. 😂
Just sell the games you never play, they hold value if you've looked after them. After selling for $20-50 less than you bought them for they will feel like they were just rentals. Soon you'll be able to open the door to your spare room again. I only really keep the games that are getting played and maybe 2 that I wish to play in the future. That is a total of 5 games, I used to have 30 or so.
i owned waaaaaaaaay to many boardgames. i sold/gave away every game i didn't play regularly. i know only have 5 big, 10 medium and 20 small games (roughly).
they all get played and i love the hobby again. 🎉
Oh my gosh, I have been thinking about this for months now. I am retired now, and when I was growing up (in the 70s -90s), we were lucky to have ONE new game a year. And we would play that game for YEARS. In my new gaming group, with ages from late 20s to 40s, some of the younger gamers bring 1-3 new games EVERY WEEK. It's just too much. It's overkill. It's rules overload in my brain. And EVEN if we find a game we like, and want to play it again, we rarely can, because they are using a dump-truck to shovel games in our laps so fast.
That is a good approach. I will take up some of these ideas too.
I quit chasing the cult of the new about 2 years ago and I'm way happier in the hobby now. I've since made a rule that the shelf space I have in my house is all that I can have, and so in order to bring in a new game I have to get rid of a game or games enough to make room on the shelf for the new box. This has worked out wonderfully for me as I'm MUCH more careful about the choices I make, and it leads me and my family to playing the games we know we love rather than taking a chance on a big flashy game that looks pretty but ultimately lacks substance.
I have at least 20 games i havent managed to get to the table yet and probably twice as many that i have only played once or twice, generally because its hard to get the right number of players or the right type of players together. The games that see the most light of day are splendor and patchwork (because my wife will play them with me); lotr lcg and robinson crusoe (because they play well solo); gloomhaven and twilight imperium (with my gaming group) as well as snake oil and codenames (at parties). I do quite like having plenty of other options and i still cling on to the hope that one day i will find exactly the 6 right people to finally play diplomacy with. 😂 The pile of shame keeps growing but it's nothing compared with my still boxed miniatures!
I would love to have a home is where your games are metal poster if you guys are expanding on merch!! Would be a nice piece to put in my living room above my boardgame table!
Wow. This video hits hard on every point. Well done.
Thanks for this video, It resonated with me so much. And prime day came around and I bought 4 games out of FOMO. Will they get played, who knows?
We moved about 7 months ago and that was the big wake up call for me. When you have to carry hundreds of games up 2 flights of stairs (Basement to a Loft). You realize things may have gotten out of control. LOL
The main problem is that there are too many new games coming out each month.
The only thing that helps a bit is to become way more critical about the games and sort out more before buying.
I have nearly 500 games... I have such a problem.
Aye, ur not alone!
If you like board games i dont think thats a problem
So true, every word but luckily I have stepped back a little and now manage to just buy a handful of games per year and they are not necessarily the new shiny ones but just ones I find interesting. I know many people who are buying and excited about buying all the new shiny stuff but it is just not possible to play everything. I limit my collection to about 100 games and play my favorites and now and then something new and sell something old.
Great video, practical ideas. Thanks! 🎉🎉
Also suggest the 3-Minute board games "Don't buy that game video".
I'm new to this channel, this is the first video I've seen of you. What a painfully true video! love it! Immediately subscribed to your channel (thank you, youtube algorithm, for recommending this).:)
Hmmm if you are a Wargamer, this would be very difficult. Many of my absolute favourites were purchased on a whim and incredible finds. My rule is only used games, and only 1 new game per year.
About 1/3rd of my games have never been played. I'm right there with you. My goal is to stop buying and start playing.
Amazing video, as always, guys! Janis, I accept the challenge and am officially joining you! I appreciate the inspiration 🤘
Very good video, short, to the point, humorous… subscribed half way through. It is sad to look back at an old favorite and wonder if you realistically will ever play it again.
Thanks for the sub. And yes, it is.
I thought I was having this problem, but comparing my curated list of 25 games to everyone else makes me realize that you're the ones with problems.
I got up to 300 games. I'm in process of downsizing and will only keep my fav 20 games. Everyone wants to play their own games since they spend $ on them, time to learn them and organize/upgrade them. It's also frustrating bringing 20 games to meetups and MAYBE 1 gets actually played. I looked at all my games less than 15% get played in a year. Give me that $ and shelf space back!
Also, the ridiculous bloat on KS now is insane. 30+ games a month released and each has 100 minis and 100 hrs of campaign? CHILL GUYS!
I was close to owning 200 games. then I trimm that to less than a 100 and still going lower.
the thing is, we are buying a feeling how we expect to feel in this imaginative situation of playing a game. it never happens as we just keep on buying that feeling rather than paying games.
and games these days are poorly designed compared to those released 5,10 years ago.
I absolutely feel your pain. What you say is dead on.
I love the idea of only having one unplayed game but it’s like my aspiration of only having one set of miniatures left to paint……….not going to happen😂😂😂
YOU ARE TEARING ME APART, BOARD GAMES!