Summary
It’s tough to find a great board game that everyone can enjoy for a game night. There are so many different qualities that can make for a good board game, and not everyone always agrees on what the best type of game might be. Some people prefer shorter games, while others prefer longer, more complex ones. However, there are some games that, in our opinion, are not worth anyone’s time.
These games are either too short, too long, overly complex, not complex enough, or are just far too casual. Pick your poison, because these games are purely unfun and aren’t really for people who actually like to finish tabletop games.
8Cards Against Humanity
What Year Is It?
Talk about board and card games that really had their moment and then died horrible deaths. In college, I played Cards Against Humanity to death, as did everybody at one point or another. However, this game has really seen better days.
To be honest, if you’re still busting this game out at parties, I implore you to look for some other options out there.The entirety of the Jackbox Party Packis at your disposal. Plus, this is one of those games that never really ‘finishes,’ it just kind of fizzles.
7Risk
I’ve Never Finished This Game Once
Risk is a great board game, in my opinion, but it’s one of those games that I think casual players pick up because they think it’ll be like Stratego or something to that effect, and then learn how actually complicated it is. This is one of those games that I’m not sure I’ve ever really finished, actually.
While I believe a lot of the mechanics are fun, this game is definitely one of those games that takes way too long for what it is. The number of times I’ve seen a game of Risk just laid out on a coffee table unfinished is staggering to me.
6Trivial Pursuit
Your Grandma’s Fave
This is the first of the games on this list that I’m not sure people always actually play to their fullest extent. A lot of the time, when people play this game, I end up seeing them just pulling random cards out and reading the trivia to a mildly bemused crowd of people.
Obviously, longtime lovers of this game know that there is a full set of rules and pie pieces to collect. But, to be honest, this is one of those games that I think gets pulled out when the conversation dies down. Definitely a casual gamer’s dream.
5Scene It
Did Anyone Actually Use The Board?
Okay, before I go down the rabbit hole on this one, I have to say that I have owned many Scene Its in my lifetime and I do enjoy them all. However, I’ve added this one to the list for one very important reason. Yes, technically, this game is a board game, but I’ve truly never seen anyone use the board.
Most of the time, when my friends and family played this game, we would just click around on the DVD menu and answer random questions. I basically ignored the cards altogether. Again, I know this might be considered blasphemous, but can you honestly say you’ve never done the same?
4Personal Preference
A Hidden, Unpolished Gem
This is a fun game that’s another casual gamer’s vision of a perfect evening. While I can find this game charming at times, it’s also one of those games that feels designed for lulls in conversation, as opposed to genuinely loving board games. I don’t really see much intersection between Personal Preference playersand DND players.
In this game, you’ll take turns matching up personal preferences on certain topics and categories with the right person you’re playing with. This is a great game to see how well you know your friends, not such a great game to whip out with a hardcore board game expert.
3Mancala
Mindless Fun
Truly, the most fun part about this game is the different types of marbles, tokens, and more that you may find in different versions. This game has a relatively straightforward ruleset and really feels like a staple in elderly relatives' homes across the world. But it’s another one of those games that feels like it’s designed just to keep your hands busy, rather than for actual fun.
I will say, compared to a lot of the other games on this list, Mancala is a game that does have a decent amount of strategy. The game is also quite old, which gives it some novelty. This game is great for math people, which, to be clear, is not me.
2Monikers
Great For Non-Gamers
Another game on this list that I actually secretly really enjoy. However, this game once again falls into the category of ‘Does anybody actually play the full game?’ Monikers is an off-shoot of games like Charades, in which two teams take turns working through the same deck of clues in three rounds. In the first round, you can say whatever you want. In the second, you must only say one word. And, in the third, you’ll be tasked with Charades-style restrictions.
This is another game that just ends up being an endless series of drawing cards and giving clues. Plus, you can kind of stop at any time, much like Charades. Of course, if you play by the full rules, that’s a different story, but people hardly ever do.
1Monopoly
Most DNFs Per Capita
I had to include Monopoly on this list, which is already full of plenty of games that people never finish,particularly casual players. When I sit down to play a game of Monopoly, of course, I intend to finish, but it all depends on who you’re playing with. I think, like many of the other tabletop games on this list, people start Monopoly with good intentions that fall flat.
Most casual gamers have heard of or played Monopoly, but they’re not necessarily all that interested in actually finishing. I can’t think of a better example of a DNF game than Monopoly, or a game that’s perfectly designed to not be finished, thanks to its grueling second half, once all the properties have been purchased.
