Rethinking heavy strategy games after a chat with my niece

She told me that games like Agricola feel like doing someone else's homework for 3 hours. I always thought those big euro games were the peak of the hobby, but she made me realize that fun is more important than complexity. Has anyone else changed their mind about what makes a game truly good?

3 comments

3 Comments

dixon.james1d ago

Try introducing her to something in the middle like Ticket to Ride or Carcassonne to see if she likes strategy with a lighter touch. It's all about meeting people where they are instead of forcing them into the deep end right away. I've had way better game nights since I started matching the game to the group instead of just pulling out my favorites.

karenb971d ago

Oh man, that "someone else's homework" line hit me right in the guilty conscience. My shelf of unplayed heavy games is basically a monument to my own overconfidence as a game teacher.

robert6591d ago

Funny you say that, I was the same way for years. That "someone else's homework" thing got me too - I used to think heavy games were the only "real" games. @dixon.james makes a good point about matching the game to the group instead of forcing stuff.