Appreciation post: My neighbor's board game nights are becoming a full-time hobby

My neighbor Jeff is super into board games, which I usually think is cool. But now he wants to host game night every single Wednesday, and it always runs past midnight. Last time, we played a strategy game so complicated that half the group fell asleep before it ended. I love hanging out, but I can't keep losing sleep over wooden tokens and rulebooks. How do I gently ask to switch to shorter, simpler games sometimes? Got any tips for managing a friend who takes gaming too seriously?

3 comments

3 Comments

grant3807d ago

Have you ever had a friend who gets so deep into a hobby that it stops being fun? I had a buddy who treated weekend bike rides like they were Tour de France stages, complete with spreadsheets and mandatory early mornings. It got to the point where I had to say I just wanted a casual ride, not a training camp. We worked out a deal where some days were for serious biking and others were just for cruising around. That compromise kept us both happy and still riding together. Your situation sounds similar, where stating your need for shorter games might be the best fix.

brooke_taylor6d ago

You mentioned half the group falling asleep. Maybe Jeff doesn't even realize people aren't having fun because he's so into it. I'd just be honest and say the late nights are killing the vibe for you.

corah757d ago

Losing sleep over wooden tokens is a real thing, man. I remember this one time my cousin got into these super complex games and we'd be up till 2 AM trying to figure out the rules. It's okay to say you need a break from the heavy stuff. Maybe ask Jeff if you can mix in some quick games like Codenames or something between the big strategy ones. That way, you still get the social time without the all-night commitment.