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We are all so very conditioned to play board games to the end. Most games have some sort of end game trigger and a form of end game scoring. They want us to play them all the way through. Yet, when a player’s win is all but guaranteed, continuing to the end seems pointless. The enjoyment of a game often matters more than strictly following the rules. Adapting play to the situation and the group’s mood can keep board gaming fun and engaging. I want to look at this in some more detail and explore why so many of us insist on playing to the very end.
Read the full topic discussion article or listen to the audio version here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/09/23/to-the-bitter-end-board-games-dont-have-to-finish-topic-discussion/
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To the Bitter End - board games don't have to finish (Topic Discussion) | Tabletop Games Blog

We are all so very conditioned to play board games to the end. Most games have some sort of end game trigger and a form of end game scoring. They want us to play them all the way through. Yet, when a player’s win is all but guaranteed, continuing to the end seems pointless. The enjoyment of a game often matters more than strictly following the rules. Adapting play to the situation and the group’s mood can keep board gaming fun and engaging. I want to look at this in some more detail and explore why so many of us insist on playing to the very end.

Tabletop Games Blog
Sep 23, 2025 at 10:48amWeb
Show threadlachlan slowly taming rustSep 23, 2025
@tabletopgamesblog It's interesting: lots of 18xx players (and I think wargamers) are a lot more willing to call it once a winner becomes evident than most other board gamers. I suspect it's because there can still be an hour or two if it's just played through to the inevitable conclusion.
Show threadGraysonSep 23, 2025
@tabletopgamesblog
That's one of the things that I learned from @jcl that you essentially play till either you can determine the winner or the game does it for you.

My recent game of Innovation drives it home; sometimes you're just not going to win, might as well setup and go again (and hopefully learn something) if you have time.
Show threadTabletop Games BlogSep 23, 2025
@grayson @jcl Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I completely agree. If you feel the game is basically over and there is nothing left in it for you, as long as everyone agrees, you might as well stop and start over or even play a different game. 😊👍
Show threadJ C LawrenceSep 23, 2025
@tabletopgamesblog I go one further, and call/restart games when there's a categorical loser, not only when there's a categorical winner.
Show threadTabletop Games BlogSep 23, 2025
@jcl Very true. It works both ways. It’s just often easier to call when there is a categorical winner, because the majority of players are more likely to be happy to call it. If there is a categorical loser, there are more people who still feel they have a chance of winning. But yes, even then it’s good to check if everyone is happy to call it. Nobody wants to sit out a game when they know they have lost. 🙂👍