There is something almost magical about unboxing a new board game. The crisp, untouched cards, those tiny plastic pieces arranged just so, the promise of hours spent laughing, plotting, maybe even trash-talking your best friends. Yet, every time I dive into a fresh game, I try to hit pause before jumping to opinions. Why? Because I’ve learned the hard way that my expectations can really mess things up.
Maybe you feel the same way. You see a game with vibrant artwork, funky rules, or a buzz online and think, “This has got to be good.” Or maybe you think, “Ugh, this looks complicated,” and shut the box before giving it a chance. We all do it. Expectations sneak in like unwanted guests at a quiet dinner party, shaping how we react before we even start playing.
Here is the thing about board games: every single one has its own vibe, its rhythm, and its way of sneaking into your brain. And all too often, we miss what a game really is because we expect it to be something else, something “better” or “faster” or “smarter.” It feels like having a dinner guest who only eats steak and then complains about the pasta we made just because it is pasta. No. Every meal, every game, deserves a fresh set of eyes.
Why Expectations Can Mess With Game Reviews
Think about the last time you heard someone rave about a game that did not make you feel a thing. You might have thought, “What am I missing?” Or maybe the opposite happened — a game you loved was dismissed by others because it was “too simple” or “not serious enough.” These moments are reminders that expectations act like lenses, tinting everything we see.
Board games come with baggage — names, designers, popularity, the buzz of Kickstarter campaigns, shiny awards. It is easy to assume that a game from a famous designer must be a masterpiece or that a game with flashy components must be shallow. These biases sneak into our minds without us realizing.
The tricky part is that once an expectation takes root, it can be almost impossible to spot the game’s own voice. Suddenly, a game is not just itself; it is the “next best thing,” the “traditional throwback,” or “just another Euro-style game.” And often, it means good games get dismissed and mediocre games get hyped.
How I Try to Keep My Mind Open: A Few Tricks From the Trenches
I am not perfect. No one is. I have swallowed my pride more times than I care to admit when a game I dismissed early on turned out to be fantastic. But I have learned some ways to slow down the rush of judgment and give each game a fair shot.
1. Forget the Name and the Hype
- Before I even read the box, I ignore the title and any buzz that’s floating around. I want to meet the game without knowing who made it or how popular it has become. It is like meeting a new person without Googling them first.
- This step is hard because it is almost impossible to erase some information. But I try to do it so thoroughly that I am only thinking about the basic elements I see — like the theme, the number of players, the general look of the components.
2. Play Like a Beginner, Even if I am Not
- Once we start playing, I remind myself to resist the urge to “win.” Instead, I focus on understanding the flow, the challenges, and what the game asks from me. That means sometimes making decisions that are not about strategy but about discovery.
- It sounds weird, but playing as a newbie can open new doors. You notice rules that shape the pacing, moments that change the mood, and the little surprises the game offers. Winning comes later. Right now, it is about curiosity.
3. Watch Everyone’s Faces, Not Just the Scorepad
- A big part of board gaming is the experience shared around the table. I pay attention to how players feel. Are they laughing? Frustrated? Silent with deep thought? Sometimes the best games are the ones that create an emotional rollercoaster, even if they are not the most elegant or complex.
- These moments reveal the soul of the game. They give clues about whether the game brings people together or pushes them apart. No score will tell you that.
4. Avoid Comparing Too Much
- Have you ever heard someone say, “This game is just like [insert popular game], but worse”? Ugh. I try to silence that voice in my head. Every game comes from a different place, with different goals.
- Sure, some games share mechanics or themes, but it is a mistake to let this define your whole experience. Instead of asking “Is this game better than X?” I ask, “What does this game do differently? What makes it interesting on its own?”
5. Let the Game Breathe Over Time
- Sometimes, a game does not reveal itself right away. I give it a few plays, if possible. Some games grow with familiarity, like a song you did not like at first but now hum all the time.
- This approach requires patience, which is not always easy when there are so many new games waiting on the shelf. But it can turn a “meh” into a favorite.
How These Habits Changed the Way I See Games
Let me tell you about a game called “Cartographers.” I had skipped it for a long time because it was “just another tile-laying game,” and I thought I knew everything there was to know about those. Then, on a random game night, someone brought it out, and I decided to play with a blank slate.
At first, it seemed simple — draw shapes on a map to score points based on weird scoring rules. But as the game went on, I noticed something magical. The quiet tension of drawing just so, the little bursts of laughter when someone sneaked in a tricky shape, the shared sighs of disbelief when the scoring revealed who did the best job. It was not just a game but a mood, a moment.
Since then, I have revisited the game with new eyes each time, discovering fresh layers beneath the surface. If I had judged it by my initial assumptions, I would never have found this.
Practical Tips to Stay Open When Trying New Board Games
Now, you might be wondering, “How do I put this into practice?” Here are some simple ideas you can try before your next game night.
Write Your First Impressions Down, Then Revisit Later
Jot down what you think during your first play. But do not stop there—come back after a few days or a second play. You might find your feelings have shifted.
Ask Someone Else What They Felt
Get a second opinion, maybe even from someone who does not usually play games. It can reveal fresh perspectives you missed while focused on rules and strategy.
Focus On What the Game Wants To Be
Is it a light filler, a social bluffing party, or a heavy strategy beast? Every game has a place. Trying to force it to be something it is not only leads to frustration.
Turn Off Your “Scorekeeper” Brain Sometimes
Winning is great, but sometimes just having fun and being present is more important. Let the game surprise you without overanalyzing every move.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Board gaming is about joy, connection, and sometimes discovery. When bias creeps in, it steals that. It tells us a game needs to meet some checklist before it is worth our time.
But life is messy, and games are messy too. Some nights you want deep strategy, other nights you just want to mess around and make a fool of yourself. Holding on tightly to expectations misses those moments.
What if we all agreed to meet games where they are? To give them a chance to surprise us? To let ourselves be silly, curious, frustrated, and delighted in equal measure? The shelf of board games is a wild, weird world. Getting to know it means looking beyond the surface, beyond the hype, beyond our own blinkers.
So next time you open a new game, try to set your expectations aside. Try to play like a kid again. You might find something wonderful waiting for you that you did not even know you wanted.