For most of us, finding games we like to play isn’t ever a problem. There are so many fantastic ones out there already, and there are thousands more being released every year. With all these options the real struggle becomes knowing which ones to buy and how many to own. No one wants to have a shelf full of games that go unplayed, but having a good collection can make all the difference when you feel the need to pull out a game.
So how many board games is too many? There is no hard and fast rule to determine how many board games is too many to own, but most people won’t reach for more than one or two dozen games from their shelves. Board game hobbyists may enjoy a larger assortment somewhere in the range of 30-50 games; while extreme hobbyists may enjoy 100 or more.
Because there isn’t a definite idea for how many board games is too many, a checklist to consider when making this decision includes the following
- Evaluate your typical game-playing situations
- Determine whether you ever play them
- Decide whether you actually love a game or if it was it just a fun game night
- Consider available storage space
- Think about how much each game actually costs
- Clean out the rejects
Using this list of items will help you refine your purchasing attitudes and may even help you scale back how many games you currently own. Another way to filter through to find some of the very best games around is to use our resources page—where we list our favorite games in each of the most common game categories. Believe me, it’s worth taking a look. Click here to open a new tab on our resources page.
For the rest of you, let’s take a closer look at this list of items to evaluate when deciding how many board games is too many to own.
1) Evaluate your typical game-playing situations
One of the most important things to do when determining whether or not to actually buy a board game is to look at what types of board-game playing situations you find yourself in. There are so many board games to play that require such different settings and scenarios—that some may fit your gatherings perfectly, while the others just turn into occupied space on your shelf.
If you are someone that is always having large parties with mixed groups of people, you would likely own very different games than you would if you usually have very small setting of close friends that all like to play the same types of games. For the former, party type games, that are much simpler and designed to be played by large groups would be your best bet. They facilitate interaction between strangers and tend to give a large group of people something to do (rather than just sit around and talk). For a list of our all-time favorite party games, check out our link here. I promise you will find one on this list that you will really enjoy.
For the latter group—people that tend to have smaller, more intimate game nights—more complicated and strategic games tend to rule the roost. These games usually take longer to teach and understand because there tend to be more rules and processes to follow. A person that hosts game nights in these settings would have much use for a large party game with little substance.
Obviously, there is no official rule or no black-and-white distinction between the two. Some games have a foot in both camps—or in neither. These obviously aren’t the only categories that can be used to describe games. But thinking about which games you might want to own through this lense will start you in the right direction.
The point is to look at what types of games work well within your typical game nights. If you own games that won’t ever be played in those scenarios (and won’t ever really be used), then it may be a good time so say goodbye to them. If you’re looking at buying one that doesn’t fit, then don’t do it. It won’t be played.
2) Determine whether you ever play them
Another important thing to consider when determining how many board games is too many for you is to determine how much you actually play that type of game; or how much you play that game specifically. You may think this seems intuitive, and it may be for some; but I’ve looked at many game closets full of games that never get played…ever. I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia or hoarding tendencies or something else; but I see it a lot.
So if you’re evaluating if you’ve reached your game collection maximum or not, ask yourself if you’ll play that game on a regular basis after purchase. If you like it enough that you already play it regularly in certain gatherings (a friend owns it), and would do the same if you bought it; then do it. If not, look for a game you would prefer over it. On the other hand, if you have a close friend that already owns it, consider just using his or her copy instead of purchasing your own. Just don’t be mooch.
Other times it’s not that easy. Some of us are considered the board game pioneers or our friends or family. It gets a lot harder to know which games you’ll like to play if you don’t know anyone that owns them. If this is the case, the best thing to do is complete the steps below. They can help you get a better idea of whether or not a new game could be one you really enjoy.
- Look for a board game cafe or store that has game nights with the game you’re looking to buy
- Find a board game reviewer on Youtube that you trust and see what they say about it
- Read the countless number of reviews online see what others say about it (duh right?)
Obviously, the same applies to games you already own. It’s pretty easy to know whether you really like a game if you own it and don’t play it. But we’ll talk about that more in section 6.
3) Decide whether you actually love a game or if it was just a fun game night
One of the hardest things for me to do is to differentiate between when I actually love a new game and when I enjoy a game simply because it was new—or because the people I was playing with were especially fun. In those situations, a mediocre game (or even a fun game) seems better than it actually is. Everyone is laughing and having a great time joking back and forth. And everyone confuses the fun night with what they think is a fun game. Then they rush out and purchase the game only to realize they don’t like it as much as they thought they would. That’s not to say that these games aren’t fun; they just aren’t as fun as we initially think they are.
Obviously, the opposite is true too. Sometimes a great game can turn an okay game night into a fantastic one. The game itself can bring a spirit of playfulness or excitement that doesn’t manifest with other games. This can be equally hard to detect, but is usually a bit easier to see. There are usually many elements within the game that appeal to you as a game player, that show you it’s a game you truly enjoy.
The important thing to do isn’t necessarily to detect which of the two it is, but to realize that this bias can happen. It’ll bring it to the top of your mind so you can consciously think it through and process whether you really like a specific game or not.
One trick to use is a pretty obvious one. Play the game several times, and that bias will likely go away. It’s easy for a game single handedly make a fun night, once. But it’s much harder to make that happen two or three separate times—unless it’s a game that is good enough to own. And when we say “several times” we don’t mean twice. It should be three or more times on three or more occasions to really determine whether it’s a game you should personally own.
4) Consider available storage space
One of the most important factors when determining the limit to the number of board games you should own is the amount of storage space you have available. Another obvious suggestion right? Well, whether or not it’s obvious, it needs to be mentioned because it makes a difference when you’re at the point of purchase, still undecided.
If you consciously recognize that you have limited space in your game closet, you will be more selective with the games you buy. A game you may have just impulsively bought just because you remember it being pretty fun, won’t make the cut when considering the limited space that could be occupied by a game you enjoy much more.
You can take it one step further by purposely limiting the amount of storage space you have available. For example, you may have a large amount of space that you can use for board games and you’re worried that you may accumulate far more games over the years than you’ll ever want or need. One way to combat this is to find a smaller space in your house to put all your board games. As soon as the space is full, you must either 1) stop buying games or 2) get rid of a game each time you buy a new one.
Even if you don’t follow the previous tip, most people—no matter how big the storage space available—will eventually find the space getting a little cramped. The same principle can apply to anyone. So it really comes down to the size of space you want to maintain for your games. That space can be the way to determine how many games you should own.
5) Think about how much each game actually costs
Games can be expensive. It’s a much easier pill to swallow, though, if you pull that game out constantly with friends and family. But have you ever bought a game that you really only played once or twice—and then it just sits on your shelf for the rest of eternity? I know I have. The problem with this is that all you did in this scenario is buy a one-time experience. For example, if you bought a $40 game and played it once, you paid the price of a dinner date to play a mediocre game, one time. That same game just sits on your shelf never to be looked at again.
Even if you played the game four times, then it’s as though you paid $10 for each time you played. Instead of paying for that, you could have bought four boxes of Crumbl cookies; if you’ve never had Crumbl cookies, you should definitely look to see if they have a location near you. They’re the best cookies you’ll ever eat! Every bite is a heavenly assortment of flavors sent down from the gods.
Anyway, the point is to look at it in this perspective. Would you pay $10 to this game? If not, then definitely don’t buy it. And obviously, the more you play a game, the lower the “price” is each time you play.
6) Clean out the rejects
Even if you haven’t yet determined how many board games is the right number, it’s always a good idea to clean out your board game collection. But it’s especially important if you have already determined that number. Going through and getting rid of the games that you haven’t played in years—or haven’t ever really played—can quickly make a lot of room for more suitable games.
One thing to note is that, naturally, as you play more games, and as more games are invented, your preferences will likely change. What used to be one of your favorite games might fade into the background—and one day find itself on the chopping block. I know there are several games I used to love, that I don’t find myself wanting to play anymore.
Tip: If I set a limit of 50 games, I’m never going to throw out a game the second I have 51. I look at it as more of a zone to hover near than it is a hard number.
Conclusion
If you’ve read this far, you probably like games just as much as we do; which makes this process much harder to carry out. But it’s a good idea to do it anyway. That way, every game you pull off your shelf is one you’ll be happy to play anytime.
Each of these steps will help you decide what the right number of games is and how much room you want to reserve for them. Only you can really answer that question. So, good luck!