Give That Board Game a Second Chance

It’s a Rare Game That I Won’t Give a Second Chance

There aren’t many board games that I’ve played that I didn’t enjoy the first time I played them. In fact, I can only think of a few that I didn’t really care to play again after that first attempt.

1. Power Barons
2. Probe
3. Puerto Rico

Hm, maybe I should just avoid board games starting with the letter “P”.

You probably have had similar experiences with at least a game or two that you own, especially if you’ve bought and played a lot of different fun board games. My question to you today is this: What did you do with that game you didn’t enjoy?

There are several options available.

1. Do nothing with it; just let it collect dust on the shelf
2. Throw it away
3. Give it away
4. Trade it for a different game
5. Trade it for something other than a game
6. Sell it
7. Play it again

Based on the heading at the top of this post, you can probably guess which option I’m going to recommend, but let’s first take a quick stroll through the others.

1. Do nothing with it

This one is a waste of space and money. It’s contributing to that rule that says something about the amount of available space will always be filled with enough stuff to fill it. I think it’s one of the corollaries to Murphy’s Law. You’re not spending any new money on it, but the cost per play is much too high, since it’s only hit the table once.

2. Throw it away

Unacceptable! There are no bad games, only games you don’t like to play. If you’ll never play it again, at least attempt to find someone who will.

3. Give it away

If you’re really feeling generous (and there’s nothing wrong with that), donate it to a friend, relative, or charity who might appreciate it.

4. Trade it for a different game

Wise choice, but it can be difficult to find the right person, and you may have to pay shipping costs to complete the trade.

5. Trade it for something other than a game

This feels like a remote possibility to me. I think it would probably be tougher to pull off than #4.

6. Sell it

You may not have to pay shipping, but you’ll probably be out some fees, unless you go the rummage sale or Craigslist route.

7. Play it again

Here’s the best option of all. Get over that first play that turned you off for some reason. Maybe you were just having an all-around bad day, and it showed in the attitude you brought to the game. Maybe you played the game wrong! I’ve done that more than once. Reread the rules to see if there’s anything amiss. Maybe the other players did something to sour your feeling toward the game. Did they all gang up on you?

Again, whatever the reason, get over it and give the (potentially) fun board game a second chance. There are some games – even wildly and widely popular ones – that take some repetition before you warm up to them. Race for the Galaxy comes to mind here. That’s not one that I had a problem liking right off, but I know someone who hasn’t given it a second chance yet following a confusing first shot.

My list above includes one of the most popular board games of the past decade – Puerto Rico. Maybe I expected too much from it the first time. After all, I knew it was (at the time) the #1 ranked board game at BoardGameGeek.com. I didn’t give up on it though. It’s still not in my top 10 favorite games list, but I’ve played it over 30 times. I think I enjoy it a little more each time we play.

I’m afraid I can’t say the same about Power Barons and Probe though. I have given each more than one play, but they’re just not for me. I’m fine with that because I did give them a second chance.

Without going into detail, I can tell you there’s something about each of them that tells me I’ll never take to them like I have to many other board games that are better in my opinion. Somewhere there are players who love these games and would play them time after time, if given the opportunity. Sorry, folks, I can’t provide that opportunity anymore.

So don’t quit after just one play. Not every game will tickle you fancy, but you may have a real winner on your hands and just don’t realize it yet.