I played Dinosaur Island three times to conclude I still disliked it. Not a good use of gaming time. A heavier game often does need a second play to know whether you like it. Our first play of Arkham LCG was a disaster, but then we realized how many rules we got wrong, played it again, and fell in love. 120+ plays later, worth it. A friend I introduced Vindication to initially hated it, but then played it again and it became one of her favorites. However, I do think the first play has to at least intrigue enough to earn a second play.
Glad you mentioned your business, I had missed that, as I do many things, excited to check it out. My #1 collecting tip: Is the artwork on the board really cool? Yeah? Buy it now!
About ratings: I’ve noticed, that 5.5 rating on bbg is the spot where the game might be interesting for me. That rating usually says: Not for everyone, but some really like it.
Maybe it is because I enjoy games with high complexity but also play with friends and family who are more casual players. BBG tends to rate games for experienced players higher than games for casual players. But it does not really matter. I am usual watching a let’s play anyway to see if a game is something for me and my wife.
Keep all my games contained to one shelving unit (not on top). If I want a game, wait a few years and see if I still do. Do not get any games if there are any unplayed games on the shelf. No kickstarters.
I swear every time you put out a video of this nature you trigger a purge of my games lol. So thank you Alex, your giving me the kick in the butt i need to get rid of some games. Your time argument is so on the money. I usually try and take the time to teach myself the game by playing some demo rounds, so I can familiarize myself before explaining it. Even then there are some games on my shelf I never found the time to do that for. Even when I manage to get a new game to the table, it means one of my more niche favorites doesn't.
I think the other thing to keep in mind with BGG ratings is that they are skewed towards the preferences of the BGG voting audience. This trends to more complex and involved games - look at the top 100 and there are a lot of heavyweight titles there. Yes, there are others that are not so complex, but in general the largest voting bloc on BGG are "boardgamers" who are looking for those deep and thought-involving releases.
I really appreciate your videos. You look at the hobby from an other point of view then most other board game content creators. You have helped me save a lot of money over these past months in lockdown 😊
I really appreciated this video. I disagreed with the second-time play, but honestly, I do the same myself. If it doesn't hit on the first or second try, it's out. Dominion was a play-once game for me. Villainous was fun the first time with 2 players, but awful with 3-players. The biggest topic you talked about was time. Oh man that's huge! I used to play games (board, card, video, computer) daily as a kid, so when I started playing card and board games again after 15 years in 2016, I went in with the same "I'm gonna play daily mindset". Not to mention, I was loaded compared to my childhood years. Sadly, I was working most of my days away and was only playing a couple times weekly. But I still had this habit of buying games I would've played as a kid. It wasn't until I went through the budget a couple years later and realized I'd spent over $10K on board games that I had an epiphany moment. Up to that point, I hadn't even played any of these games for close to a year. These days, I'm lucky to play once a week. That's even less time than when I started this collection! Now I have 2 kids, and it's gonna be 6-10 years before they're really capable of playing these high-level board games with me which also poses its problem: in 10 years, board games will most-likely change drastically. Every year, better games are releasing as well as newer editions of classics. Who knows what's gonna happen with my soon-to-be-vintage collection. Not to mention the biggest issue, my kids might not even wanna play with me. I have tons of games I decided to cull before COVID and never realized there was a board-game-specific place to do it! I saw you on Quackalope and had no clue BoardGameCo referenced a company, not just a UA-cam channel I'd seen before. Very exited to see what your site offers!
I could add a couple of tips that I try to follow. A) Who will I play this game with? Could I play this game with my friend that comes over or my game group. B) Does this game do something another game in collection does? How many area control or deck builder games do you need? I have a few, but some are bag builders and some use the mechanic to control a pawn on a board.
Timeless advice here. Thank you, Alex, for sharing those pieces of insight with us. Your video, alongside my own experience, has been a part of the journey that has led me to enjoy my game collection a lot more than I used to, by lowering its size from 120+ to 30ish. I now love and often play every game in my collection, which gives me greater enjoyment than before. One thing about "Ratings are just advice": you are 100% correct on this in my own experience, especially since ratings don't take into account critical factors: is that game of a weight you'll willing to play, does it feature mechanices you love, or will you find friends/a group to play it with?
I think the second tip is more specifically: "Don't force yourself to give games a second chance." All those complex games that "require" multiple plays should be able to get you intrigued or excited about the possibilities after one play. However, it's not enough for you to want a second play. If your group isn't intrigued, you're still essentially trying to force a second chance.
@@daveyjones5702 it's possible to both recognize the potential of the game and recognize you and your group will not have the drive nor time to unlock that potential. The end goal isn't just to have a collection of good games. The end goal is to have a collection of games that get played.
Davey Jones I think he literally said if you really want to give a game a second shot, by all means. Personally as I play more and more games, what I am finding is that my desire to really dig in and see the nuance maybe is sometimes misplaced. If the game isn’t pulling me in thematically or really getting my mind going, what am I trying to figure out. Is a really nuanced game that is super tight and mechanically perfect ultimately the only thing that matters? Not for me, because more and more I am realizing that my gaming groups aren’t wired that way either. I do get that for other people, the beauty is in the perfect mechanics or novel mechanics.
Davey...I literally said both because you should play games you already know you love, as well as other games you want to play. Not sure how you can argue cult of the new when I said that you should prioritize cult of the old right there :)
Got another bone to pick with you now. Everdell is in my To Sell pile and this is the 3rd video I've seen this week where someone states it's a good game. You're killing me lol. Have a good day and love the videos as always.
The tip with the lists is what I do with books and it‘s really helped me to not have tons of unread books at Home but still keep track of stuff i want to read.
I just started my collection, so as long as I have enough space I will keep games, even ones that I didn't really enjoy, until I can replace them with games that I actually like and play. Lots of games that I backed on Kickstarter will only arrive next year, so I might have to make decisions sooner than I think and I will come back to this video at that point :)
I totally agree with the wishlist. Amazon has been a really difficult thing for me to use wisely, and I’m given to impulse. I started a private wishlist called “Whim List” that I throw the SHINY WANNA GET IT NOW things on before I actually put them on a public wish list. It’s helped... until I finally after 2 years decided I wanted to get into Arkham Horror: LCG.
Having a fluid collection is great if you live in the US where board games are easy to trade and buy. In NZ there is some of that but it is a lot harder to pick up games so I am more incentivised to hold on to games until I really don't want to play them again as I probably won't be able to buy them again.
I've been selling off a bunch of games to my local board game groups, sorry Alex :). I've been discovering so many games in my collection that I did not enjoy. Tip 2 and 3 hit hard with me recently. I played Ascension, Race for the Galaxy, Roll for the Galaxy, Arkham Horror the Card game, and Lord of the Rings the Card game this week. Half way through the games, I realized they were not for me. Packed the game up and listed them for sale. These are HIGHLY rated games on BGG, so I was looking through other people's comments thinking I may be crazy, or I needed to give it a second chance. This video came at the perfect time. If I couldn't even finish the game, I doubt playing it more would change my opinion. I play board games for the Fun Factor. If half of the people at the table are not enjoying it, then the game gets sold.
One reason I love legacy style games is that it solves the question of time investment - after a limited number of sessions, the game is complete. There is a sense of satisfaction, instead of guilt/anxiety over “I should play this more” or “I wish I played this more” or “I should get rid of this some day.”
The list is perfect when you browse through used sites/groups. You wait untill you find a good price for games you are interested to play. This way, it's cheaper and you can usually sell it back for the same price or even higher. I like to buy several games at a time to try to negociate a deal. When someone is selling a game cheap, there is a good chance other games are also a good deal. This is the reason I also keep a list of games I don't want to get.
I have a wish list of games and I even rank them by how badly I want them. Lately I've had to start culling titles on my list lol! I'm really trying to limit the number of new games entering my collection right now because I feel I'm about at my limit. One thing I do to slow down the purchasing of new games is only buy games that are on my list and only when they are on sale. I've also been doing a lot more math trades lately to try to cycle games. The next thing I know I should do is downsize my collection even more, but it gets hard when all I have left are good to great games. One thing that makes me hold on to games longer than I should is the idea of giving a game a second chance, and what you said in this video has really made me re-consider that rule for me. Thanks for the great content!
I am doing exactly the same. First: one game in = (at least) one game out. Second = think of which mechanics are in a game - do you have any that are better and thus more likely to hit the table? Do you have others of these that you don't play enough (indicating you might not like this kind of mechanic.... or think of the reason why this isn't hitting the table)? Is there REALLY a reason to add this to your list or are you again getting sucked in because of FOMO / Components / Theme? Especially with Kickstarters, this is important. I also think that the 'don't give it a second chance' is a good rule UNLESS it's because of it being a new mechanic that you might just not understand yet.
About giving second chances, I totally agreed, with just a little consideration, a game can feel totally different according to the group you play with and if someone knows the rules or not, so give only one chance to a game you have read the rules, you understand, you give a try and don't like, but I've played games with people not fit for the game, some bored by it doing crap, and at a time we were all tired, and I got back to the game alone and that was a whole new universe
Well my big problem is any competitive game I have, two of my friends suck the fun out of the game. When their together they just but heads, cause one likes to win and sticks it in everyone face, and the other likes to win and hates and complains when he is loosing. So when I have them show up I like playing games were we are all on a team and trying to help each other beat an AI force. It just sucks cause these competitive games I have never get played, and I steer away from them on Kickstarter.
Good video Alex, good tips. The time tip is valuable and true. We only have a few hours per week/month. I usually only get about 6 hours a week at most to game with others. Unfortunately I live in a place where acquring board games is expensive. I usually import my games from the US. The games that are available in my country are usually not very good ones. But sometimes there are used gems for sale, I was able to get great western trail and Gloomhaven: JOTL used. For Scythe I had to pay around double the amazon price at the time just to import it due to box size and the weight. But its my favorite game. I own around 60 board games , but now I usually only buy games when I travel or when someone who really cares about me is willing to bring me a board game. (I was lucky enough to bring Everdell and Dune imperium in a trip at the start of the year).
I always liked board games, but kept my collection modest over the past decade (Catan, Carcassonne, other simple games). When Covid started I really got dragged into it though, especially with all the new shiny Kickstarter campaigns that appeared in 2020. I hardly ever have a chance to play board games with my friends (expat life), maybe it will change when I find some people to play with locally. Despite all my intense urges to back all the cool KS campaigns and buy a ton of board games, I am trying to stay reasonable and keep the number of games low. Besides time, humans (that are into board games) are also a commodity, and I build my collection with consideration to them. I have three more KS games coming at some point this year (last ones I ever buy, hopefully), and that should complete my collection in terms of genres of games (my favourites), and their complexity: from very basic, (Carcassone, Codenames) to quite advanced (Spirit Island, Dead Reckoning, Euthia).
i really appreciate all the caveats with the 2nd tip because i was initially going to disagree, until you got into that it can have exceptions. One which has happened with me in the past is i have ~4 different groups of friends who i will play games with independently, and games that are fun with one group have been a slog with others. As far as Tip 3, i try to find reviewers that i have something in common with and look to them as the better advice for guiding games. And it's different for different types of games as well.
I also advocate for not giving games a second chance. There are so many amazing great games out there that a game that is iffy or just good won’t last. My favorite games are often complex enough that I won’t get the full experience the first time but often times you can tell if a game will be better next time or if it’s better to just try another.
Nice video today. According to BGG site I have 55 games now in about 6 months, about 1/2 of those are KS's not here yet though. We have a semi empty area in our house so I'm ok for space for now but when the KS's all arrive we'll see. I might have to start applying some of these tips soon. Going to attempt to play Terraforming Mars for the first time today solo to figure things out and than play with my wife later today or tomorrow.
That is something I've struggled with. I have a few games I've not enjoyed after first play, but I keep them in case I get the chance to play with other players at some point in the future. Different players can alter the enjoyment of a game for better or worse. And player counts too. So I try to give a game a fair chance.
I see your point about not playing games a second time, but if someone brings a game over, and I haven't played it before, sometimes I feel it takes one play through just to learn the mechanics of a game before I try and go for strategic plays. The second time I played numerous games I enjoyed them more because I had a better understanding of the play and could focus on the playing of the game rather than the learning.
Most of the time I give games a second try is because either the rules were hard to understand or misinterpreted and needs another shot to make sure it’s possible if the game can be enjoyed. Also depends on the amount of players. Mostly were just playing with 2 players but want to try it again with 3 and see if it’s any better.
Totally hear that. To minimize that I generally read rules twice at a minimum before playing, and only ever play my first game at the recommended player count
Good list, although I would probably change #2. I think you should give games a second chance, especially at different player counts or with different people. What I would add is don't buy into the hype and FOMO. Control yourself. Think about it rationally. Add a cancel date to your calendar so that when a Kickstarter is ending, you can decide if you really think it is worth it.
I am a compulsive list maker so I have that part down. My real problem is I keep buying games to play after the pandemic knowing they will sit on my shelf until some nebulous time. The desire is strong to get these to the table at least.
I was once (and maybe I still am) a compulsive buyer and whenever I wanted to buy something I wanted to buy it REALLY BAD. That is why I made a rule for myself that whenever I wanted to buy something that is not a necessity, I will wait for a period of time (usually 3 months if there is no limit in when I have to buy it) and see if I still have that strong urge to buy it. Cuz chances are, usually after waiting for a period of time, you will know if you will still be interested in buying that thing or has your brain become more conscious and think that "Hmm maybe I don't really want / need to buy it". It helps me a lot in terms of saving money in buying useless things.
The way I use the bgg wishlist function. 1-2 should be games I expect to stay in the collection. 3-4 is for games I am unsure of, or games that are older and a new, streamlined game may come out to replace it (which is why Robinson Crusoe is at a 3). The higher the number, the more excited I am for it, or the more my group may enjoy it. (Heavier games tend to be on the 2 or 4 side due to this). I also keep highly regarded games on 4 to keep in mind, like the West Kingdom series. 5 I use to notate games that have apps that I plan on getting first to test the game, or in place of the game, like Terraforming Mars. For Kickstarter and unreleased games, I put them in the Want to Play category. I use BoardGameCo, Dice Tower kickstarter segment, and King of Average to sort through kickstarter releases. Lastly, I go through the list occassionally, including my collection, to gauge my current interests and move or remove games (some move up as well). It's important to go in with the mindset of removing games since so many new ones are coming out. Only keep ones you have the potential to love and keep around. It's difficult, but if you can sort them by genre type, that helps with seeing if you have too many of a specific mechanic.
Lots of good comments here and enjoy seeing your community grow. I am coming around to your way of thinking and starting to cycle my collection. One thing I am curious from your opinion is mechanics vs theme. I am enjoying trying different styles of games and working my way through some of the highly rated games to see what I like from a mechanics perspective but ultimately my keepers end up being a blend of good tight mechanics married with theme. Everdell and Root both scratch that itch and Everdell while it may not be as nuanced and brilliant as other games is so beautiful and thematic, it is easier to get people to play. Root isn’t easy but that is more a byproduct of the teach and the asymmetrical factions, but I will make that exception because I love it so much, and will get a group up on it. Would love to see a top 10 of games where mechanics and theme together made a keeper for you despite maybe not being the best example of that style of game.
Just one last question since I just watched your lizard wizard review but in the context of my suggestion, games you love with an auction mechanic that are thematic and fun. I have no games with that mechanic but would love to try one. Lizard wizard is a maybe but if I wanted one available today what would you recommend that is thematic.
@@BoardGameCo You give great, honest reviews, I really benefit and appreciate you doing it. All the best from the UK. I realise your busy,but could you please do a review of Folklore the Affliction?
Kinda surprised "track your plays" wasn't on the list. I use that to determine what should be on my sell list. I give anything I haven't played in a year a long hard look.
A great choice :) I do reference amount of time but it isn't hard and fast for me. I did a video a few months ago about the exceptions, the 13 or so games that I hadn't played in more than a year but was still keeping and why.
Time is a huge one. We really do lie or trick ourselves into believing we will actually play all the games we purchase or want to play. It's a weird thing. I know I won't have time for them, but I buy or trade for it anyway. Because of that I've tried to implement a "in and out" policy for my collection. I'm trying to keep my collection under a certain number (still not sure what that number is), trying to fill as many thematic/mechanical/player counts/situational holes as possible, and if I ever want a new game at least one game needs to leave my collection before the new one(s) come in. It's been great so far!
Time is certainly something that I consider when buying games simply because the longer games are more difficult to get to the table consistently. They also require a very specific gaming group. Not everyone enjoys the more complex games that take an hour or more to play, which is unfortunate since the longer and more involved games tend to be my favorite to play. Also, I 100% agree with the wait a week concept. Amazon makes instant gratification easy. Want a game? You can have it in 48 hours or less. And this is why I am currently looking for a better shelving system. Ha.
Oh, time is a really limited resource these days. I decided not to buy any more games for a at least one year. I'm going to focus on those I already have: the 7nd continent all-in, Tainted grail core pledge, Robinson Crusoe with all expansions and promos, Spirit island+Branch and claw, Everdell base box, Inis, Unbroken (should be delivered very soon). This list is more than enough for one or even 2 next years. Saying that, I really want to add Too many bones and Nemo's war to my collection.... Gonna sell Architects of the west kingdom, probably Azul and Photosynthesis. I agree with you about "recycling" the collection, especially that board games are not going down in price too much. Adding games to the list to trick your mind is a nice trick, I agree, It reminds me of putting a task/idea out of your mind into an inbox list - helps to really clean it up. ps FOMO is not really relevant anymore: It is always possible to buy them second hand later paying a bit extra or even cheeper sometimes. The only KS I'm pledging currently is the 7th citadel and I'm not going to back any other game for now. I'm glad I didn't back the latest Spirit island expansion because I do not play the core much and I didn't even try the first expansion(Branch and claw) yet... pps really nice channel, your vids are always resonating with me
I have an excel with a randomizer , every time we pick with the randomizer , this way great games that have been forgotten ( like El grande or Troyes) come back to the table, and not just the recent spoiled ones
Great tips! I actually follow #5 by having an Amazon wishlist and when I see the prices dropping I can choose to buy (I don't always do it), but it does help to focus on other things. Also #3, I got Fire Rescue because I liked it, but my wife didn't, so we don't play it; we could give it a second chance, but I'd rather play some other game I'm 100% sure my wife will enjoy; it's still in my collection because I don't have many games, so there's still a lot of space
This was a great one. I have limits to my buys. Usually it is not more than 5 games a year, which makes me a light weight in the hobby. For me time has become my biggest metric. I want to play a game multiple times when I get it, and If I flood myself with new games, then I may not get to a game more than once, which feels wrong to me (I know that goes against your advice). I also love watching KS campaigns because I get so excited, but I tend to try to only back 2 a year (which I factor into my 5. I do sell a decent amount of my games, probably 3 out of the 5 per year. My local library has a pretty good, ever expanding game selection, which allows me to play somethings whenever I want without owning it. I have probably checked out 5 tribes 3 time this year, and though I want to own it, I feel like I kind of do having access to the library. (They even will buy games that I suggest)
My favourite records didn't immediately jump out at me, took multiple plays but ultimately stayed with me over the years. Many (mostly pop) records got me on the first listen but I stopped playing after a week. I'd say if you hate a game first time, sure... But if there is anything that piques your interest at all go for a second stab. Personally I'd say 90% of all my games I didn't think hell yeah on the first play and yeah the games that got me straight away are the lighter games without much depth.
"time" is such a grown up problem. When you're a kid w/less responsibilities, you though being and adult would be awesome because you do whatever you want. unfortunately being carefree and having as much time as you want passed by a long time ago... ah to be young again...
Being an adult is awesome. We can focus on the cons....but when I was a kid, I had to beg my parents to get what I wanted...now I just have to beg responsible me. And he and I have a much better relationship.
I'm still really new to designer board games and I've already amassed a lot of smaller games! The sad part is that it seems there is only my wife and myself to play, mostly (the dog can't seem to pay attention long enough to learn the rules), and more often than not, just me. So I'm looking at good solo games. Thanks for an informative channel!
reddit.com/r/soloboardgaming if a great place to look. There are also quite a few solo-dedicated YT channels you can catch on the right banner of the subreddit.
Good advice Alex thank you! I appreciate how you get down to the truth of the matter even when it may be controversial. Yes it’s opinion but it’s based on experience and reality not wishes. Good video!
Best tip or advice that I have taken from your videos is when you say about kickstarter games would you buy it for that price if it was on the shelf in the store? Very simple advice but it's saved me a ton of money.
I have such a hard time deciding what to cull from my collection. I have a couple that I *could* cull but then I think: “I will play that game, I like the game and could play it, I want to play it” but then usually don’t. But the idea that I *could* play it makes me hesitant.
A strategy I've seen work through the years is only buying new stuff (games) with money earned from selling old stuff (games or otherwise). Helps with the money, space, and time issues but it's OH so hard lol.
The hotness wait list is definitely something I'm doing with Kickstarter now. Pledges are only ever $1. I'll commit in the Backerkit if I still want to buy it. Worst case scenario: I spent $1 to avoid an impulse buy.
Yeah the big problem is I have a lot of games, but because I like Big Campaign games the best, none of the other ones get played. Like I have everything for Descent 2nd Edition but have never played it lol. The thought was to finish Descent 1st edition, which we did and then go to 2nd edition, but then people wanted to play Too Many Bones, and then Gloomhaven lol. I am almost done with Gloomhaven, but then Etherfields with come in and I will defiantly play it right away. Main reason I didn't go for Massive Darkness 2, cause I don't even know when I will have time for what I already have.
Another way to turn an unplayed game into a new game is to look up variants and house-rules. They can often dramatically change the experience in a way that you enjoy. I think it's different from giving a game a second chance as you are actually changing the game, not hoping for a different experience with the same game.
There are problems with a fluid collection and not giving a game a second try if you live in a small country in Europe. Selling usually comes with a loss of at least 30-40% here so I try to get as much value/play time out of a game as possible and then sell it off.
I can understand someone not liking Unmatched the first time. If you don't know they kinds of things that are in an opposing deck it can really be frustrating being ambushed. However... It plays so well and is a great game once you have the slightest familiarity with the decks. A second playthrough is so much better than the first one.
I just start my board game collection for my group, but I already feel like we have too many games to play. We have hard time to choose what game to play. Time is also a problem with my group. We like to play several games per sitting, but most of the game we have are at least 45 minutes to an hour. So we set up the rule to play 1 light game, 1 moderate game, and 1 heavy game per sitting. Because Wingspan and Gloomhaven should never be played in the same night.
I generally keep a list. and when I see a great deal for one of the games on the list I weight the value and possibly purchase it. I remember buying Wingspan for $25 new. I can't pass these deals up. I also agree the games on Kickstarter are harder to do that with simply because you don't know if the game will hold it's value later. A company having a solid track record also helps, but the bling and wow factor can really tug at your wallet and the impulse to jump in. :)
That list thing would be really useful. I love dead of winter and the collector in me really wants to have all 3 boxes of dead of winter (DOW, DOWLN, DOWWC). And everytime i see it on a website i have this urge to click add to cart. Hahaha However, I know that I dont really need 2 copies of the same game. I also know that to get the full experience of warring colonies i need to get a large gaming group and convince that large game group to play a really long game. Just thinkin about the logistics of it is already stressing me out. So i'll make a list. Just to take my mind off of it because i am also stressing about the fact that i may never be able to get the full dead of winter experience. Thanks for the advise. Subscribed!
I think that the tip about not giving games a second chance just apply if you have a broad access to boardgames. Where I live If you got a game for whatever reason you want to be sure before getting rid of it ... getting it back is not a real option ...
I found maintaining a list has helped me cull my collection. I have a robust excel spreadsheet of all the games I owe. It allows me to quickly review my collection by set parameters that I feel are important. When I am debating on picking up a game I review my list and compare it to each of my owned games. Do I need another 4.0+ weighted game which rarely hit the table when I already own some that are either not played or underplayed? Does it bring a unique mechanism to my collection? If it's not filling in a gap I either don't buy it or I look to sell a similar game that is going underplayed. I know its a very personal thing and sounds a little silly but selling games has left me with a healthier relationship with my collection. But that's a whole other discussion.
I am having such a hard time with the concept of the "fluid" collection. I know I'll eventually need to get there as my shelves are filling... but I kinda like them filled. But slowly grinding well past the hundred games in my basement... I know very well I ain't playing all of them again. Three games in particular are almost hidden in the back of the secondary shelf, but they're there... filling a void. I feel like I won't be selling until I need space. Which might happen sooner than later tbh.
Completely agree with tip 3 about ratings. Mansions of Madness is in top 30 BGG and 8 out of 10 and it didn’t work for me at all... whereas Eldritch Horror is one of my favourite games it is ranked and rated lower
Interesting video, I find the try a second time advice to be the most difficult one, but I get it, for example grand Austria hotel I didn't liked it, and my brother adviced me to try it a second time but have yet to do it.
I keep trying to give Spirit Island a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th try and still haven't figured out why it's highly rated by many gamers. Too much bloat on a good foundation, at least in my opinion. Maybe I'll leave it behind despite enjoying the theme and art of it, at your suggestion.
I have never sold my games to break even, either I give them away or sell them to my LFGS for a small credit. The games I want to get rid of that are worth some money, I just hold onto. I’m finally slowing down my buying, and now that I know my tastes better, I only buy games I know I’m going to like and that my play group will like. Which cuts out a lot of Kickstarters because you don’t really know if a game is good or not. I wish I could get into selling.. because it would help me buy some of the more expensive games I really want (like Arena the Contest)
Not sure if your gun shy about the process, or if you have a hard time letting go of games, but you'll find once you start, it's a lot easier than you think. Mentally, it's a weight off my mind to get rid of games I'm not playing anymore and I don't feel as guilty buying new ones. I still keep some just to keep, but I just started with a few and go from there. Alex's videos had really helped me a lot in that regard.
Alex did a really good video on this topic .... Watch "Where To Sell Your Board Games - The Board Gamer's Guide To Collecting" on UA-cam ua-cam.com/video/_BORdBqadG0/v-deo.html
Deep Water Games is doing a KS for the new Fantastic Factories expansions "Manufactions" at the end of September. I wonder if it will make it any tougher.
I think you should give a game the second chance if you like the theme and play mechanism. If you where very unlucky the first time and didn`t get into the game properly. The second time it might seem right and you might decide then to like it or not....
If you ever feel the drive to play a game a second time, you should definitely do so. I'm just saying you should never force yourself to do so. because there are plenty of new games as well as plenty of old games that you already like.
If you're going to play it it's a great deal, if you're going to solid for a profit that's not bad either... But if you just bought a cheap game that you won't play just because it's cheap.....
BoardGameCo I like their games but have not played Tapestry. I’ll try it and if I don’t like it I’ll sell it as people might be into it with the expansion coming up
Great video, but then again Words are Great! Rules not so great at least not for me and my game collection. I do however follow game rules. You scared me with that don"t force a second play, until you allowed the whole unless something is saying play this again because.... game rankings don't influence my buying reviews and you(unfortunately) do. I think the list thing for me would be better if games I purchased had to pass a criteria list prior to purchasing, my other half is not a gamer, so I need to purchase games my group will play, even if I am drawn to heavier fair. If I listed the games I own and the game zdx my group actually plays I would be getting rid of more than half of my games. I need to find a heavier group. The revelation this video has caused. Thank you for your time and content. I don't need to get rid of games I need to find another group.
Have to ask....1) What are those game boxes on top of City of Kings? 2) And is it just me, or are game boxes changing shapes and going from elongated rectangular flat(-ish) to taking up less LxB, but adding H? 3) And Is this because they are now seeing how people really want better inserts that you can take out and play game more quickly - or is there another reason?
Time is definitely the main limiting factor for me and my partner. We have other hobbies: reading, video games, TV shows etc... That's why jaws of the lion is the first campaign game we will try. Doubt we would go with something bigger. I love lists too, for everything, it helps so much keeping thoughts and intents in order.
My girlfriend and I just got into board games pretty recently ourselves, and let me say that JOTL has been THE best experience we have had yet. I am still surprised by just how quickly we gravitated to the game and how accessible it is out of the box. Enjoy!
@@NotedEel nice to know, we are pretty new to board games too (beginning of the year) and we went pretty quickly from from forbidden island to terraforming mars haha campaign/legacy is the only thing we haven't touched yet really.
So ratings are just a piece of advice... I guess I'd agree with that but it does give some idea of popularity. It definitely won't guarantee that you'll like it so I see what you're saying.
Hahaha my husbands main hobby are guns and in Poland when you get a permission for having guns you also get a document that tells you how many guns you can have. If you want more then you have to do much paperwork to extend your license. So my husband is going to make similar for me and my board game hobby :D in next year I'm going to get limited license on gaming and will have to ask for permission for any new buy and it will be limited to fixed amount of games :D
Both have pros and cons...to complex for a simple answer. I find math trades to work well, are a lottery...tons more work with potential promise, but I'd rather do nearly anything else once I realize how much work I'm spending.
+1 don't give a game a second chance. So many times I've been given a bland experience a second chance and been dissapointed. Nusfjord, viticulture, cosmic encounter
i just sold my gloomhaven and bought jaws of the lion due to a lack of time. I thought the latter one fits me better. If I got more time for boardgames in the future, I might get it back. Or maybe jaws of the lion will suck me in?
heres my thing.research your intended game.get on the geek.many times.watch videos about it for like a year or more.if it still looks good after a year or two, then buy it.because who can afford to buy it for $60 or way more,throw it away, and then buy it again next year when they wanna play it one more time? thats cray
No co-ops, no multiplayer solitaires, and no Stegmaier games. Follow this advices, and you should be fine! ;-) The BGG ranking can't really be used for much. 1) Do the ranking show the most sold tabletop games in the world? No, not at all. 2) Do the ranking show the most played tabletop games in the world? No, not at all. 3) Do the ranking show the most bought tabletop games BY the BGG users themselves the last 3/5/10/20 years? Nope! 4) Do the BGG ranking show the most played tabletop games BY the BGG users themselves (in minutes) the last 3/5/10/20 years? Nope! The programmer Ryan Opp's work show also that the rating of approx 700 games seem manually tampered with. Among these; games like Carcassonne, Catan and Risk. The users of BGG are by large part average skilled players, and thus, yes you guessed correctly... with downgrade deeper and more skill rewarding games. A game's depth is not directly linked to the number of rules, cards and pieces.
I understand disliking the BGG rankings but you're eliminating giant swaths of games that many love...your rating system above will already be less helpful than BGG :)
BoardGameCo My previous comments of how BAD the terrible biased s*** ranking of BGG is, are 100% correct. I believe you understand me, what the hell do that joke of a ranking actually show?! The ranking CONTRADICT in many ways which games the BGG users THEMSELVES buy and play the most. A game like Gloomhaven should only be played DIGITAL. Because of a dedicated niche of xxxx nitpickers love a game of epic nitpicking, DO NOT make it the best game ever made. A tragic joke. Its logic... its an expensive game, and mostly ONLY nitpickers play it = explain the high ratings. Stegmaier games are a hot mess. And remember its AVERAGE gamers who love his games. I call him the King of loss aversion.
I understand I don’t have all the time in the world. If I buy a game, It’s going into my collection and most likely staying. I will not buy a game unless I do plenty of research, watch play through, reviews, and if it’s my own personal taste. I have about 30 games in my collection and I do play all of them and will be down to play them anytime. I don’t even like getting games as gifts unless I told them to get it. I hate wasting space on my shelf, plus it’s annoying to resell. It makes no since to me seeing a guys collection of 200+ games and 75% are trash games
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Always give games a second try, never give them a third one
Tip #6 😂
I played Dinosaur Island three times to conclude I still disliked it. Not a good use of gaming time. A heavier game often does need a second play to know whether you like it. Our first play of Arkham LCG was a disaster, but then we realized how many rules we got wrong, played it again, and fell in love. 120+ plays later, worth it. A friend I introduced Vindication to initially hated it, but then played it again and it became one of her favorites. However, I do think the first play has to at least intrigue enough to earn a second play.
Wow Alex - never mind board games, these are lessons for life when thinking about buying anything!!!
Thanks! :)
Absolutely 100% agree! This video made me rethink my book collection which I've always felt ambivalent about. Thank you, Alex!
Glad you mentioned your business, I had missed that, as I do many things, excited to check it out.
My #1 collecting tip: Is the artwork on the board really cool? Yeah? Buy it now!
Lol that sounds like a solid selection process.
About ratings: I’ve noticed, that 5.5 rating on bbg is the spot where the game might be interesting for me. That rating usually says: Not for everyone, but some really like it.
Interesting, I tend to avoid under 6, I think 6.5ish is the lowest rated that I've still enjoyed myself.
Maybe it is because I enjoy games with high complexity but also play with friends and family who are more casual players. BBG tends to rate games for experienced players higher than games for casual players. But it does not really matter. I am usual watching a let’s play anyway to see if a game is something for me and my wife.
Keep all my games contained to one shelving unit (not on top). If I want a game, wait a few years and see if I still do. Do not get any games if there are any unplayed games on the shelf. No kickstarters.
Yes, the games we have today are always good as is.
I swear every time you put out a video of this nature you trigger a purge of my games lol. So thank you Alex, your giving me the kick in the butt i need to get rid of some games. Your time argument is so on the money. I usually try and take the time to teach myself the game by playing some demo rounds, so I can familiarize myself before explaining it. Even then there are some games on my shelf I never found the time to do that for. Even when I manage to get a new game to the table, it means one of my more niche favorites doesn't.
Lol same here, I picked two games to purge while putting together the notes :)
I think the other thing to keep in mind with BGG ratings is that they are skewed towards the preferences of the BGG voting audience. This trends to more complex and involved games - look at the top 100 and there are a lot of heavyweight titles there. Yes, there are others that are not so complex, but in general the largest voting bloc on BGG are "boardgamers" who are looking for those deep and thought-involving releases.
Yes for sure. For myself I do skew that way as well but for sure it's another reason to take ratings with a grain of salt.
True dat
I really appreciate your videos. You look at the hobby from an other point of view then most other board game content creators. You have helped me save a lot of money over these past months in lockdown 😊
Thank you!
I really appreciated this video. I disagreed with the second-time play, but honestly, I do the same myself. If it doesn't hit on the first or second try, it's out. Dominion was a play-once game for me. Villainous was fun the first time with 2 players, but awful with 3-players.
The biggest topic you talked about was time. Oh man that's huge! I used to play games (board, card, video, computer) daily as a kid, so when I started playing card and board games again after 15 years in 2016, I went in with the same "I'm gonna play daily mindset". Not to mention, I was loaded compared to my childhood years.
Sadly, I was working most of my days away and was only playing a couple times weekly. But I still had this habit of buying games I would've played as a kid. It wasn't until I went through the budget a couple years later and realized I'd spent over $10K on board games that I had an epiphany moment. Up to that point, I hadn't even played any of these games for close to a year. These days, I'm lucky to play once a week. That's even less time than when I started this collection!
Now I have 2 kids, and it's gonna be 6-10 years before they're really capable of playing these high-level board games with me which also poses its problem: in 10 years, board games will most-likely change drastically. Every year, better games are releasing as well as newer editions of classics. Who knows what's gonna happen with my soon-to-be-vintage collection. Not to mention the biggest issue, my kids might not even wanna play with me.
I have tons of games I decided to cull before COVID and never realized there was a board-game-specific place to do it! I saw you on Quackalope and had no clue BoardGameCo referenced a company, not just a UA-cam channel I'd seen before. Very exited to see what your site offers!
Yup, it's a constant problem. I was 6K and 400 games long before I realized I had to have solution, that was 7 years ago.
I could add a couple of tips that I try to follow. A) Who will I play this game with? Could I play this game with my friend that comes over or my game group. B) Does this game do something another game in collection does? How many area control or deck builder games do you need? I have a few, but some are bag builders and some use the mechanic to control a pawn on a board.
Timeless advice here. Thank you, Alex, for sharing those pieces of insight with us. Your video, alongside my own experience, has been a part of the journey that has led me to enjoy my game collection a lot more than I used to, by lowering its size from 120+ to 30ish. I now love and often play every game in my collection, which gives me greater enjoyment than before.
One thing about "Ratings are just advice": you are 100% correct on this in my own experience, especially since ratings don't take into account critical factors: is that game of a weight you'll willing to play, does it feature mechanices you love, or will you find friends/a group to play it with?
I think the second tip is more specifically: "Don't force yourself to give games a second chance."
All those complex games that "require" multiple plays should be able to get you intrigued or excited about the possibilities after one play.
However, it's not enough for you to want a second play. If your group isn't intrigued, you're still essentially trying to force a second chance.
@@daveyjones5702 it's possible to both recognize the potential of the game and recognize you and your group will not have the drive nor time to unlock that potential.
The end goal isn't just to have a collection of good games. The end goal is to have a collection of games that get played.
Davey Jones I think he literally said if you really want to give a game a second shot, by all means. Personally as I play more and more games, what I am finding is that my desire to really dig in and see the nuance maybe is sometimes misplaced. If the game isn’t pulling me in thematically or really getting my mind going, what am I trying to figure out. Is a really nuanced game that is super tight and mechanically perfect ultimately the only thing that matters? Not for me, because more and more I am realizing that my gaming groups aren’t wired that way either. I do get that for other people, the beauty is in the perfect mechanics or novel mechanics.
Davey...I literally said both because you should play games you already know you love, as well as other games you want to play. Not sure how you can argue cult of the new when I said that you should prioritize cult of the old right there :)
@@BoardGameCo really? that odd since i just went through great lengths to explain it to you.
😶
Got another bone to pick with you now. Everdell is in my To Sell pile and this is the 3rd video I've seen this week where someone states it's a good game. You're killing me lol. Have a good day and love the videos as always.
Everdell is amazing :) I gave it up..got it back, and I hate old me.
The tip with the lists is what I do with books and it‘s really helped me to not have tons of unread books at Home but still keep track of stuff i want to read.
Same! I started this idea years ago with books and then ported it over to games.
I just started my collection, so as long as I have enough space I will keep games, even ones that I didn't really enjoy, until I can replace them with games that I actually like and play. Lots of games that I backed on Kickstarter will only arrive next year, so I might have to make decisions sooner than I think and I will come back to this video at that point :)
Oh KS will make your shelves fill up pretty quickly :)
I totally agree with the wishlist. Amazon has been a really difficult thing for me to use wisely, and I’m given to impulse. I started a private wishlist called “Whim List” that I throw the SHINY WANNA GET IT NOW things on before I actually put them on a public wish list. It’s helped... until I finally after 2 years decided I wanted to get into Arkham Horror: LCG.
Whim list is an excellent name :) That's effectively what it is for me.
Having a fluid collection is great if you live in the US where board games are easy to trade and buy. In NZ there is some of that but it is a lot harder to pick up games so I am more incentivised to hold on to games until I really don't want to play them again as I probably won't be able to buy them again.
That's totally fair
I've been selling off a bunch of games to my local board game groups, sorry Alex :). I've been discovering so many games in my collection that I did not enjoy. Tip 2 and 3 hit hard with me recently.
I played Ascension, Race for the Galaxy, Roll for the Galaxy, Arkham Horror the Card game, and Lord of the Rings the Card game this week. Half way through the games, I realized they were not for me. Packed the game up and listed them for sale. These are HIGHLY rated games on BGG, so I was looking through other people's comments thinking I may be crazy, or I needed to give it a second chance. This video came at the perfect time. If I couldn't even finish the game, I doubt playing it more would change my opinion.
I play board games for the Fun Factor. If half of the people at the table are not enjoying it, then the game gets sold.
One reason I love legacy style games is that it solves the question of time investment - after a limited number of sessions, the game is complete. There is a sense of satisfaction, instead of guilt/anxiety over “I should play this more” or “I wish I played this more” or “I should get rid of this some day.”
Completely agree :)
The list is perfect when you browse through used sites/groups. You wait untill you find a good price for games you are interested to play. This way, it's cheaper and you can usually sell it back for the same price or even higher. I like to buy several games at a time to try to negociate a deal. When someone is selling a game cheap, there is a good chance other games are also a good deal. This is the reason I also keep a list of games I don't want to get.
Board game gun control. #needed. Love your content Alex, really refreshing. I watch every day.
I have a wish list of games and I even rank them by how badly I want them. Lately I've had to start culling titles on my list lol! I'm really trying to limit the number of new games entering my collection right now because I feel I'm about at my limit. One thing I do to slow down the purchasing of new games is only buy games that are on my list and only when they are on sale. I've also been doing a lot more math trades lately to try to cycle games. The next thing I know I should do is downsize my collection even more, but it gets hard when all I have left are good to great games. One thing that makes me hold on to games longer than I should is the idea of giving a game a second chance, and what you said in this video has really made me re-consider that rule for me. Thanks for the great content!
I am doing exactly the same.
First: one game in = (at least) one game out.
Second = think of which mechanics are in a game - do you have any that are better and thus more likely to hit the table? Do you have others of these that you don't play enough (indicating you might not like this kind of mechanic.... or think of the reason why this isn't hitting the table)? Is there REALLY a reason to add this to your list or are you again getting sucked in because of FOMO / Components / Theme?
Especially with Kickstarters, this is important.
I also think that the 'don't give it a second chance' is a good rule UNLESS it's because of it being a new mechanic that you might just not understand yet.
About giving second chances, I totally agreed, with just a little consideration, a game can feel totally different according to the group you play with and if someone knows the rules or not, so give only one chance to a game you have read the rules, you understand, you give a try and don't like, but I've played games with people not fit for the game, some bored by it doing crap, and at a time we were all tired, and I got back to the game alone and that was a whole new universe
Yes! I'll often get a feel of that from the game though, as to whether it was suboptimal based on other players preferences or "into it" levels.
Well my big problem is any competitive game I have, two of my friends suck the fun out of the game. When their together they just but heads, cause one likes to win and sticks it in everyone face, and the other likes to win and hates and complains when he is loosing.
So when I have them show up I like playing games were we are all on a team and trying to help each other beat an AI force. It just sucks cause these competitive games I have never get played, and I steer away from them on Kickstarter.
Good video Alex, good tips. The time tip is valuable and true. We only have a few hours per week/month. I usually only get about 6 hours a week at most to game with others.
Unfortunately I live in a place where acquring board games is expensive. I usually import my games from the US. The games that are available in my country are usually not very good ones. But sometimes there are used gems for sale, I was able to get great western trail and Gloomhaven: JOTL used.
For Scythe I had to pay around double the amazon price at the time just to import it due to box size and the weight. But its my favorite game.
I own around 60 board games , but now I usually only buy games when I travel or when someone who really cares about me is willing to bring me a board game. (I was lucky enough to bring Everdell and Dune imperium in a trip at the start of the year).
You listed some great games, it definitely can be harder when you have to pay more for things.
The five tips are words of wisdom. That is what I love about this channel. I think I need to meditate on it.
Awww :)
I always liked board games, but kept my collection modest over the past decade (Catan, Carcassonne, other simple games). When Covid started I really got dragged into it though, especially with all the new shiny Kickstarter campaigns that appeared in 2020. I hardly ever have a chance to play board games with my friends (expat life), maybe it will change when I find some people to play with locally.
Despite all my intense urges to back all the cool KS campaigns and buy a ton of board games, I am trying to stay reasonable and keep the number of games low. Besides time, humans (that are into board games) are also a commodity, and I build my collection with consideration to them. I have three more KS games coming at some point this year (last ones I ever buy, hopefully), and that should complete my collection in terms of genres of games (my favourites), and their complexity: from very basic, (Carcassone, Codenames) to quite advanced (Spirit Island, Dead Reckoning, Euthia).
Great advice, Alex. I also use a list for the games I want and it works well.
Yes! It's my favorite tip ☺️
i really appreciate all the caveats with the 2nd tip because i was initially going to disagree, until you got into that it can have exceptions. One which has happened with me in the past is i have ~4 different groups of friends who i will play games with independently, and games that are fun with one group have been a slog with others.
As far as Tip 3, i try to find reviewers that i have something in common with and look to them as the better advice for guiding games. And it's different for different types of games as well.
Ya, I probably should have just called it "Don't Force yourself to play it a second time" as one other commentor mentioned.
I also advocate for not giving games a second chance. There are so many amazing great games out there that a game that is iffy or just good won’t last. My favorite games are often complex enough that I won’t get the full experience the first time but often times you can tell if a game will be better next time or if it’s better to just try another.
Yep, I've occasionally had second thoughts and tried again...but more often than not I end up sticking with my first impressions. With exceptions.
Nice video today. According to BGG site I have 55 games now in about 6 months, about 1/2 of those are KS's not here yet though. We have a semi empty area in our house so I'm ok for space for now but when the KS's all arrive we'll see. I might have to start applying some of these tips soon. Going to attempt to play Terraforming Mars for the first time today solo to figure things out and than play with my wife later today or tomorrow.
That is something I've struggled with. I have a few games I've not enjoyed after first play, but I keep them in case I get the chance to play with other players at some point in the future. Different players can alter the enjoyment of a game for better or worse. And player counts too. So I try to give a game a fair chance.
For sure on different players/player counts!
I see your point about not playing games a second time, but if someone brings a game over, and I haven't played it before, sometimes I feel it takes one play through just to learn the mechanics of a game before I try and go for strategic plays. The second time I played numerous games I enjoyed them more because I had a better understanding of the play and could focus on the playing of the game rather than the learning.
Most of the time I give games a second try is because either the rules were hard to understand or misinterpreted and needs another shot to make sure it’s possible if the game can be enjoyed. Also depends on the amount of players. Mostly were just playing with 2 players but want to try it again with 3 and see if it’s any better.
Totally hear that. To minimize that I generally read rules twice at a minimum before playing, and only ever play my first game at the recommended player count
Good list, although I would probably change #2. I think you should give games a second chance, especially at different player counts or with different people.
What I would add is don't buy into the hype and FOMO. Control yourself. Think about it rationally. Add a cancel date to your calendar so that when a Kickstarter is ending, you can decide if you really think it is worth it.
Both great additions! As far as playing twice...sadly I'll stick with that one unless of course I have the desire to play it twice.
He has 40 unplayed games on a shelf xD.
You will prob play each a few time more if you have small collection
Your line "Time is a limited commodity" will be my fav line in rest of my life ❤️😁
:)
I am a compulsive list maker so I have that part down. My real problem is I keep buying games to play after the pandemic knowing they will sit on my shelf until some nebulous time. The desire is strong to get these to the table at least.
I was once (and maybe I still am) a compulsive buyer and whenever I wanted to buy something I wanted to buy it REALLY BAD. That is why I made a rule for myself that whenever I wanted to buy something that is not a necessity, I will wait for a period of time (usually 3 months if there is no limit in when I have to buy it) and see if I still have that strong urge to buy it. Cuz chances are, usually after waiting for a period of time, you will know if you will still be interested in buying that thing or has your brain become more conscious and think that "Hmm maybe I don't really want / need to buy it". It helps me a lot in terms of saving money in buying useless things.
The way I use the bgg wishlist function. 1-2 should be games I expect to stay in the collection. 3-4 is for games I am unsure of, or games that are older and a new, streamlined game may come out to replace it (which is why Robinson Crusoe is at a 3). The higher the number, the more excited I am for it, or the more my group may enjoy it. (Heavier games tend to be on the 2 or 4 side due to this).
I also keep highly regarded games on 4 to keep in mind, like the West Kingdom series. 5 I use to notate games that have apps that I plan on getting first to test the game, or in place of the game, like Terraforming Mars.
For Kickstarter and unreleased games, I put them in the Want to Play category. I use BoardGameCo, Dice Tower kickstarter segment, and King of Average to sort through kickstarter releases.
Lastly, I go through the list occassionally, including my collection, to gauge my current interests and move or remove games (some move up as well). It's important to go in with the mindset of removing games since so many new ones are coming out. Only keep ones you have the potential to love and keep around. It's difficult, but if you can sort them by genre type, that helps with seeing if you have too many of a specific mechanic.
Lots of good comments here and enjoy seeing your community grow. I am coming around to your way of thinking and starting to cycle my collection. One thing I am curious from your opinion is mechanics vs theme. I am enjoying trying different styles of games and working my way through some of the highly rated games to see what I like from a mechanics perspective but ultimately my keepers end up being a blend of good tight mechanics married with theme. Everdell and Root both scratch that itch and Everdell while it may not be as nuanced and brilliant as other games is so beautiful and thematic, it is easier to get people to play. Root isn’t easy but that is more a byproduct of the teach and the asymmetrical factions, but I will make that exception because I love it so much, and will get a group up on it. Would love to see a top 10 of games where mechanics and theme together made a keeper for you despite maybe not being the best example of that style of game.
Just one last question since I just watched your lizard wizard review but in the context of my suggestion, games you love with an auction mechanic that are thematic and fun. I have no games with that mechanic but would love to try one. Lizard wizard is a maybe but if I wanted one available today what would you recommend that is thematic.
Cyclades :) but it's a beast :)
Alex, between your reviews which I watched again and this you convinced me and my bundle from BoardGameCo is ordered. Can’t wait to try it out.
I have limited time, and I just spent some to write you a thank you. Great video as always. Seriously
Aww 🥰
Great advice. Thanks.
Anytime!
@@BoardGameCo You give great, honest reviews, I really benefit and appreciate you doing it. All the best from the UK. I realise your busy,but could you please do a review of Folklore the Affliction?
@@carlwoods4564 sadly I haven't played that one yet :(
@@BoardGameCo Shame I was looking forward to your review. Maybe one to consider? Thanks.
Kinda surprised "track your plays" wasn't on the list. I use that to determine what should be on my sell list. I give anything I haven't played in a year a long hard look.
A great choice :) I do reference amount of time but it isn't hard and fast for me. I did a video a few months ago about the exceptions, the 13 or so games that I hadn't played in more than a year but was still keeping and why.
Good tip. There are still a couple of unplayed games in my list still.
Time is a huge one. We really do lie or trick ourselves into believing we will actually play all the games we purchase or want to play. It's a weird thing. I know I won't have time for them, but I buy or trade for it anyway.
Because of that I've tried to implement a "in and out" policy for my collection. I'm trying to keep my collection under a certain number (still not sure what that number is), trying to fill as many thematic/mechanical/player counts/situational holes as possible, and if I ever want a new game at least one game needs to leave my collection before the new one(s) come in. It's been great so far!
In and out is a great concept ...I don't apply it literally only because I'm constantly purging anyways.
Time is certainly something that I consider when buying games simply because the longer games are more difficult to get to the table consistently. They also require a very specific gaming group. Not everyone enjoys the more complex games that take an hour or more to play, which is unfortunate since the longer and more involved games tend to be my favorite to play. Also, I 100% agree with the wait a week concept. Amazon makes instant gratification easy. Want a game? You can have it in 48 hours or less. And this is why I am currently looking for a better shelving system. Ha.
Oh, time is a really limited resource these days. I decided not to buy any more games for a at least one year. I'm going to focus on those I already have: the 7nd continent all-in, Tainted grail core pledge, Robinson Crusoe with all expansions and promos, Spirit island+Branch and claw, Everdell base box, Inis, Unbroken (should be delivered very soon). This list is more than enough for one or even 2 next years. Saying that, I really want to add Too many bones and Nemo's war to my collection.... Gonna sell Architects of the west kingdom, probably Azul and Photosynthesis. I agree with you about "recycling" the collection, especially that board games are not going down in price too much. Adding games to the list to trick your mind is a nice trick, I agree, It reminds me of putting a task/idea out of your mind into an inbox list - helps to really clean it up.
ps FOMO is not really relevant anymore: It is always possible to buy them second hand later paying a bit extra or even cheeper sometimes. The only KS I'm pledging currently is the 7th citadel and I'm not going to back any other game for now. I'm glad I didn't back the latest Spirit island expansion because I do not play the core much and I didn't even try the first expansion(Branch and claw) yet...
pps really nice channel, your vids are always resonating with me
What great tips! Thanks.
Anytime :)
I have an excel with a randomizer , every time we pick with the randomizer , this way great games that have been forgotten ( like El grande or Troyes) come back to the table, and not just the recent spoiled ones
Great tips! I actually follow #5 by having an Amazon wishlist and when I see the prices dropping I can choose to buy (I don't always do it), but it does help to focus on other things. Also #3, I got Fire Rescue because I liked it, but my wife didn't, so we don't play it; we could give it a second chance, but I'd rather play some other game I'm 100% sure my wife will enjoy; it's still in my collection because I don't have many games, so there's still a lot of space
Excellent idea for a list!
This was a great one. I have limits to my buys. Usually it is not more than 5 games a year, which makes me a light weight in the hobby. For me time has become my biggest metric. I want to play a game multiple times when I get it, and If I flood myself with new games, then I may not get to a game more than once, which feels wrong to me (I know that goes against your advice). I also love watching KS campaigns because I get so excited, but I tend to try to only back 2 a year (which I factor into my 5. I do sell a decent amount of my games, probably 3 out of the 5 per year.
My local library has a pretty good, ever expanding game selection, which allows me to play somethings whenever I want without owning it. I have probably checked out 5 tribes 3 time this year, and though I want to own it, I feel like I kind of do having access to the library. (They even will buy games that I suggest)
That's awesome! None of the libraries here have anything like that.
My favourite records didn't immediately jump out at me, took multiple plays but ultimately stayed with me over the years. Many (mostly pop) records got me on the first listen but I stopped playing after a week. I'd say if you hate a game first time, sure... But if there is anything that piques your interest at all go for a second stab. Personally I'd say 90% of all my games I didn't think hell yeah on the first play and yeah the games that got me straight away are the lighter games without much depth.
"time" is such a grown up problem. When you're a kid w/less responsibilities, you though being and adult would be awesome because you do whatever you want. unfortunately being carefree and having as much time as you want passed by a long time ago... ah to be young again...
Being an adult is awesome. We can focus on the cons....but when I was a kid, I had to beg my parents to get what I wanted...now I just have to beg responsible me. And he and I have a much better relationship.
I'm still really new to designer board games and I've already amassed a lot of smaller games! The sad part is that it seems there is only my wife and myself to play, mostly (the dog can't seem to pay attention long enough to learn the rules), and more often than not, just me. So I'm looking at good solo games. Thanks for an informative channel!
I feel you. I played nearly exclusively with my wife for the first 2 years in the hobby.
reddit.com/r/soloboardgaming if a great place to look. There are also quite a few solo-dedicated YT channels you can catch on the right banner of the subreddit.
Good advice Alex thank you! I appreciate how you get down to the truth of the matter even when it may be controversial. Yes it’s opinion but it’s based on experience and reality not wishes. Good video!
Thanks :)
Fantastic Factories is relaxing, especially solo.
Interesting, never tried that one solo.
Best tip or advice that I have taken from your videos is when you say about kickstarter games would you buy it for that price if it was on the shelf in the store? Very simple advice but it's saved me a ton of money.
That's a good one too :)
I have such a hard time deciding what to cull from my collection. I have a couple that I *could* cull but then I think: “I will play that game, I like the game and could play it, I want to play it” but then usually don’t. But the idea that I *could* play it makes me hesitant.
A strategy I've seen work through the years is only buying new stuff (games) with money earned from selling old stuff (games or otherwise). Helps with the money, space, and time issues but it's OH so hard lol.
I imagine your eventually have to stop buying unless you're really really good at that :)
The hotness wait list is definitely something I'm doing with Kickstarter now. Pledges are only ever $1. I'll commit in the Backerkit if I still want to buy it. Worst case scenario: I spent $1 to avoid an impulse buy.
Yup...although I actually hate the $1 pledges as they give me more time to agonize.
Great advice!
Glad it was helpful!
Yeah the big problem is I have a lot of games, but because I like Big Campaign games the best, none of the other ones get played. Like I have everything for Descent 2nd Edition but have never played it lol. The thought was to finish Descent 1st edition, which we did and then go to 2nd edition, but then people wanted to play Too Many Bones, and then Gloomhaven lol. I am almost done with Gloomhaven, but then Etherfields with come in and I will defiantly play it right away. Main reason I didn't go for Massive Darkness 2, cause I don't even know when I will have time for what I already have.
Great tips!
Glad it was helpful!
Another way to turn an unplayed game into a new game is to look up variants and house-rules. They can often dramatically change the experience in a way that you enjoy. I think it's different from giving a game a second chance as you are actually changing the game, not hoping for a different experience with the same game.
Not giving that game a second chance, that was meh, makes so much sense. Thank you for these tips. =)
Thanks!
There are problems with a fluid collection and not giving a game a second try if you live in a small country in Europe. Selling usually comes with a loss of at least 30-40% here so I try to get as much value/play time out of a game as possible and then sell it off.
Time is indeed a good condition to keep/buy a game.. And I agree that if I don't really like a game at the first or second game, I'll get rid of it..
Yep, there are too many amazing games as it is.
I can understand someone not liking Unmatched the first time. If you don't know they kinds of things that are in an opposing deck it can really be frustrating being ambushed. However... It plays so well and is a great game once you have the slightest familiarity with the decks. A second playthrough is so much better than the first one.
Totally respect that but in general skirmish games are a tough fit for me.
I just start my board game collection for my group, but I already feel like we have too many games to play. We have hard time to choose what game to play. Time is also a problem with my group. We like to play several games per sitting, but most of the game we have are at least 45 minutes to an hour. So we set up the rule to play 1 light game, 1 moderate game, and 1 heavy game per sitting. Because Wingspan and Gloomhaven should never be played in the same night.
Lol, I want that on a t-shirt
So close to 10k subs.....been a good month so far......
I generally keep a list. and when I see a great deal for one of the games on the list I weight the value and possibly purchase it. I remember buying Wingspan for $25 new. I can't pass these deals up. I also agree the games on Kickstarter are harder to do that with simply because you don't know if the game will hold it's value later. A company having a solid track record also helps, but the bling and wow factor can really tug at your wallet and the impulse to jump in. :)
Yep, lists really help....except for KS....it's annoying :)
That list thing would be really useful. I love dead of winter and the collector in me really wants to have all 3 boxes of dead of winter (DOW, DOWLN, DOWWC). And everytime i see it on a website i have this urge to click add to cart. Hahaha
However, I know that I dont really need 2 copies of the same game. I also know that to get the full experience of warring colonies i need to get a large gaming group and convince that large game group to play a really long game. Just thinkin about the logistics of it is already stressing me out.
So i'll make a list. Just to take my mind off of it because i am also stressing about the fact that i may never be able to get the full dead of winter experience.
Thanks for the advise. Subscribed!
I think that the tip about not giving games a second chance just apply if you have a broad access to boardgames. Where I live If you got a game for whatever reason you want to be sure before getting rid of it ... getting it back is not a real option ...
That's definitely fair.
I found maintaining a list has helped me cull my collection. I have a robust excel spreadsheet of all the games I owe. It allows me to quickly review my collection by set parameters that I feel are important. When I am debating on picking up a game I review my list and compare it to each of my owned games. Do I need another 4.0+ weighted game which rarely hit the table when I already own some that are either not played or underplayed? Does it bring a unique mechanism to my collection? If it's not filling in a gap I either don't buy it or I look to sell a similar game that is going underplayed. I know its a very personal thing and sounds a little silly but selling games has left me with a healthier relationship with my collection. But that's a whole other discussion.
You're talking to the right guy... Doesn't sound silly at all. Sounds exactly like how I make decisions.
I am having such a hard time with the concept of the "fluid" collection. I know I'll eventually need to get there as my shelves are filling... but I kinda like them filled.
But slowly grinding well past the hundred games in my basement... I know very well I ain't playing all of them again. Three games in particular are almost hidden in the back of the secondary shelf, but they're there... filling a void. I feel like I won't be selling until I need space. Which might happen sooner than later tbh.
Completely agree with tip 3 about ratings. Mansions of Madness is in top 30 BGG and 8 out of 10 and it didn’t work for me at all... whereas Eldritch Horror is one of my favourite games it is ranked and rated lower
Interesting video, I find the try a second time advice to be the most difficult one, but I get it, for example grand Austria hotel I didn't liked it, and my brother adviced me to try it a second time but have yet to do it.
I keep trying to give Spirit Island a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th try and still haven't figured out why it's highly rated by many gamers. Too much bloat on a good foundation, at least in my opinion.
Maybe I'll leave it behind despite enjoying the theme and art of it, at your suggestion.
I am passing on Hamburg (on kickstarter now). I have had bruges on my radar for years but to many games I want to play first
Having a fluid collection is a hard concept to internalize. I'm moving in that direction though.
It's much more fun :)
man you're going really meta on this one
lol in what sense?
@@BoardGameCo as in play managing you boardgame collection as a boardgame :)
I have never sold my games to break even, either I give them away or sell them to my LFGS for a small credit. The games I want to get rid of that are worth some money, I just hold onto. I’m finally slowing down my buying, and now that I know my tastes better, I only buy games I know I’m going to like and that my play group will like. Which cuts out a lot of Kickstarters because you don’t really know if a game is good or not. I wish I could get into selling.. because it would help me buy some of the more expensive games I really want (like Arena the Contest)
Not sure if your gun shy about the process, or if you have a hard time letting go of games, but you'll find once you start, it's a lot easier than you think. Mentally, it's a weight off my mind to get rid of games I'm not playing anymore and I don't feel as guilty buying new ones. I still keep some just to keep, but I just started with a few and go from there. Alex's videos had really helped me a lot in that regard.
Doug Cerulli Where do you sell your games?
Alex did a really good video on this topic .... Watch "Where To Sell Your Board Games - The Board Gamer's Guide To Collecting" on UA-cam
ua-cam.com/video/_BORdBqadG0/v-deo.html
Deep Water Games is doing a KS for the new Fantastic Factories expansions "Manufactions" at the end of September. I wonder if it will make it any tougher.
Interesting :) My issue wasn't the difficulty, I'd rather play other games but I did really like it.
I think you should give a game the second chance if you like the theme and play mechanism. If you where very unlucky the first time and didn`t get into the game properly. The second time it might seem right and you might decide then to like it or not....
If you ever feel the drive to play a game a second time, you should definitely do so. I'm just saying you should never force yourself to do so. because there are plenty of new games as well as plenty of old games that you already like.
I just threw your advice out of the window lol. Tapestry at $45 was too of a good deal lol
If you're going to play it it's a great deal, if you're going to solid for a profit that's not bad either... But if you just bought a cheap game that you won't play just because it's cheap.....
BoardGameCo I like their games but have not played Tapestry. I’ll try it and if I don’t like it I’ll sell it as people might be into it with the expansion coming up
So much wisdom
Lol thanks!
Great video, but then again Words are Great! Rules not so great at least not for me and my game collection. I do however follow game rules. You scared me with that don"t force a second play, until you allowed the whole unless something is saying play this again because.... game rankings don't influence my buying reviews and you(unfortunately) do. I think the list thing for me would be better if games I purchased had to pass a criteria list prior to purchasing, my other half is not a gamer, so I need to purchase games my group will play, even if I am drawn to heavier fair. If I listed the games I own and the game zdx my group actually plays I would be getting rid of more than half of my games. I need to find a heavier group. The revelation this video has caused. Thank you for your time and content.
I don't need to get rid of games I need to find another group.
Words are the best James. The very best :)
Have to ask....1) What are those game boxes on top of City of Kings?
2) And is it just me, or are game boxes changing shapes and going from elongated rectangular flat(-ish) to taking up less LxB, but adding H?
3) And Is this because they are now seeing how people really want better inserts that you can take out and play game more quickly - or is there another reason?
Time is definitely the main limiting factor for me and my partner. We have other hobbies: reading, video games, TV shows etc...
That's why jaws of the lion is the first campaign game we will try. Doubt we would go with something bigger.
I love lists too, for everything, it helps so much keeping thoughts and intents in order.
My girlfriend and I just got into board games pretty recently ourselves, and let me say that JOTL has been THE best experience we have had yet. I am still surprised by just how quickly we gravitated to the game and how accessible it is out of the box. Enjoy!
@@NotedEel nice to know, we are pretty new to board games too (beginning of the year) and we went pretty quickly from from forbidden island to terraforming mars haha campaign/legacy is the only thing we haven't touched yet really.
That's awesome to know, I keep meaning to add this to my rotation but have to finish Death May Die first :)
So ratings are just a piece of advice... I guess I'd agree with that but it does give some idea of popularity. It definitely won't guarantee that you'll like it so I see what you're saying.
Yep....I use it as a reference point of course.
Hahaha my husbands main hobby are guns and in Poland when you get a permission for having guns you also get a document that tells you how many guns you can have. If you want more then you have to do much paperwork to extend your license. So my husband is going to make similar for me and my board game hobby :D in next year I'm going to get limited license on gaming and will have to ask for permission for any new buy and it will be limited to fixed amount of games :D
Lol enjoy that
What are your thoughts on math trades with a group vs selling?
Both have pros and cons...to complex for a simple answer. I find math trades to work well, are a lottery...tons more work with potential promise, but I'd rather do nearly anything else once I realize how much work I'm spending.
Board Game Geek ratings tend to skew to heavier games. A hobbyist is more likely to rate favorites and log plays than a casual player.
100% true.
+1 don't give a game a second chance. So many times I've been given a bland experience a second chance and been dissapointed. Nusfjord, viticulture, cosmic encounter
Games with mechanics i felt were broken and confirmed with a second unnecessary play
i just sold my gloomhaven and bought jaws of the lion due to a lack of time. I thought the latter one fits me better. If I got more time for boardgames in the future, I might get it back. Or maybe jaws of the lion will suck me in?
I'm being nosey here, but how many games would you have in your collection?
Around 250 or ao
Instead of selling less played games, another option would be to lend it to a friend or family member, or to donate it.
For sure! An excellent option.
I had seen that Fantastic Factories was getting a new expansion Kickstarter soon... Hmm.
Intriguing...
@@BoardGameCo Just saw the ad again www.kickstarter.com/projects/deepwatergames/fantastic-factories-manufactions
heres my thing.research your intended game.get on the geek.many times.watch videos about it for like a year or more.if it still looks good after a year or two, then buy it.because who can afford to buy it for $60 or way more,throw it away, and then buy it again next year when they wanna play it one more time? thats cray
Yep, waiting can save you a ton of money.
Note to self, rewatch this video every 3 months...
I'll keep putting stuff like this out, no worries there :)
Hey Alex Radcliffe from Boardgameco!
Hey Jimmy020889 :)
No co-ops, no multiplayer solitaires, and no Stegmaier games. Follow this advices, and you should be fine! ;-)
The BGG ranking can't really be used for much.
1) Do the ranking show the most sold tabletop games in the world? No, not at all.
2) Do the ranking show the most played tabletop games in the world? No, not at all.
3) Do the ranking show the most bought tabletop games BY the BGG users themselves the last 3/5/10/20 years? Nope!
4) Do the BGG ranking show the most played tabletop games BY the BGG users themselves (in minutes) the last 3/5/10/20 years? Nope!
The programmer Ryan Opp's work show also that the rating of approx 700 games seem manually tampered with. Among these; games like Carcassonne, Catan and Risk.
The users of BGG are by large part average skilled players, and thus, yes you guessed correctly... with downgrade deeper and more skill rewarding games. A game's depth is not directly linked to the number of rules, cards and pieces.
I understand disliking the BGG rankings but you're eliminating giant swaths of games that many love...your rating system above will already be less helpful than BGG :)
BoardGameCo My previous comments of how BAD the terrible biased s*** ranking of BGG is, are 100% correct. I believe you understand me, what the hell do that joke of a ranking actually show?! The ranking CONTRADICT in many ways which games the BGG users THEMSELVES buy and play the most.
A game like Gloomhaven should only be played DIGITAL. Because of a dedicated niche of xxxx nitpickers love a game of epic nitpicking, DO NOT make it the best game ever made. A tragic joke. Its logic... its an expensive game, and mostly ONLY nitpickers play it = explain the high ratings.
Stegmaier games are a hot mess. And remember its AVERAGE gamers who love his games. I call him the King of loss aversion.
I understand I don’t have all the time in the world. If I buy a game, It’s going into my collection and most likely staying. I will not buy a game unless I do plenty of research, watch play through, reviews, and if it’s my own personal taste. I have about 30 games in my collection and I do play all of them and will be down to play them anytime. I don’t even like getting games as gifts unless I told them to get it. I hate wasting space on my shelf, plus it’s annoying to resell. It makes no since to me seeing a guys collection of 200+ games and 75% are trash games