Anonymous wrote:What’s not to like about board games?

They are boring AF.

My nuclear family can't even play monopoly without someone crying, or someone accusing someone else of cheating or someone quitting in protest. It's always a mess. I have failed as a parent.

I’ll take board games over any form of charades or make believe games any day.

I will play Monopoly for about 30 minutes. When I feel like quitting, even if I’m ahead, I put all my stuff in the middle so someone can hit a jackpot if the land on “Free Parking.”

I will play a few rounds of Dominoes. I will work on a puzzle for a bit.

With my small children, I’ll play a full game if they ask me to, but only if there are no other willing adults around. I hate playing anything with my ILs, who take no shortcuts and belabor every game with frequent references to the rules, etc. Who cares. Get it over with.

We are not board game people but card and dice. The appeal is being able to have conversations and actual interaction with each other. Keeping the games short is key. Two favorites are an oldie, Farkle and a new one called The Game. Maybe try switching it up, take the lead!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I married into a COMPETITIVE board game family. My family played a lot of games, but we were very chill about it, helping each other, redos etc. My in-laws are hardcore and it definitely took some getting used to.

It feels like a lot of old family dynamics really get amplified around the Monopoloy board while waiting for the turkey to cook on thanksgiving.

Monopoly is a terrible, boring game, and if that’s what your family plays, you need to go to Target and find some better games

I am just so-so on board games, but my dad did and my brothers did. I married a board game guy and now I have board game kids.

I play with my family because it’s a way to spend time with them. I also put limits on what I’ll play. I like cooperative games a lot more than competitive games, so we play a lot of those. I like rail games and engine building games more than direct conflict games, so we play more of those as a family.

We find stuff that everyone can enjoy or st least tolerate.

My mom always skipped board games, and it did not feel good when I was a kid. She never wanted to play with us.

I love board games!

Anonymous wrote:I married into a COMPETITIVE board game family. My family played a lot of games, but we were very chill about it, helping each other, redos etc. My in-laws are hardcore and it definitely took some getting used to.

It feels like a lot of old family dynamics really get amplified around the Monopoloy board while waiting for the turkey to cook on thanksgiving.

I married into a COMPETITIVE board game family. My family played a lot of games, but we were very chill about it, helping each other, redos etc. My in-laws are hardcore and it definitely took some getting used to.

I married into one! And I don't mind the simple ones, but the ones that require 10 pages and 20 minutes of explanation beforehand?? Nope

My SIL was married a board game guy. A little easier because I didn’t have the pressure of the entire family, though everyone else seemed to love playing with him. When a game started up, I would just cheerfully say no thanks and pick up my book. I did play the occasional game to be polite.

He and my SIL have since divorced (amicably) and I miss seeing him at family events because he was a nice guy, but I don’t miss the board games.

Yes and it's incredibly boring and I hate it. I usually try to wash dishes instead.

What’s not to like about board games?

Or did you grow up in a board game family? If you weren't born with "enjoys board games" gene, how do you cope with the endless games during family gatherings?