From the highs of a triple word score on Scrabble, to the lows of drawing four cards in Uno, board games can leave emotions running high, and Brits are gearing up for a competitive festive season with more than six in ten Brits (62%) saying it simply ‘wouldn’t be Christmas’ without board games. However, for many Brits this could mean a festive family showdown, with new figures showing that two thirds (63%) of British adults admit a friendly board game with friends or family has descended into conflict.
The study found that 27% have had an actual ‘argument’ with a loved one, while more than one in ten (11%) fell out with a friend or family member as a result of a board game dispute. The research is from toy manufacturer Mattel, which quizzed Brits over their board game habits in the run up to Christmas, where playing games with family forms an important part of the holidays.
Despite some familial disputes over game play styles, the tradition of playing board games can help families connect and make key memories playing a big role in Christmas fun – three quarters (73%) say it ensures their family are not glued to screens all day and a similar number (71%) say playing board games mean their family spends more time together than they otherwise would.
However, the new research has found that despite being a beloved tradition, game play can lead to disputes. Cheating was found to be the main cause of disagreements (49%) while a slightly more diplomatic 46% said a player ‘made up new rules’ and 43% said it was a result of a contentious ‘interpretation’ of the rules. Another contributing factor could be the fact that 78% of board game players admit they sometimes try to bend the rules themselves.
What starts as a friendly game can quickly turn more intense – 70% of Brits admit that playing board games brings out their competitive side, with 23% going as far as to calling themselves ‘extremely competitive’. Perhaps explaining why so many are driven to cheat – and explains why 35% of arguments are a result of a player ‘taking the game too seriously’.
Impatience could also be a factor, with just 13% of board game players say they always clarify the rules before embarking on a game is also likely contributing to the disagreements. Oftentimes, the fall outs can lead to an immediate ‘game over’ – 36% say that the disagreement led to the game being halted and left unfinished.
The research highlights that Christmas traditions that bring so much joy can also see some crack under the pressure. Other traditions that cause discord between loved ones include hosting Christmas lunch (11%), entertaining the children (11%), or bad presents (7%).
Some board games are more likely to see creativity in players than others; the nature of Scrabble and the vastness of the English language make it perfect for trying to get away with the occasional bending of the rules. In fact, more than six in ten board game players (61%) point to a time where a player has tried to convince other players that a completely made-up word was in fact real.
“Board games have always been a key part of Christmas – I loved playing them so much with family when I was younger, I never stopped, and went on to become a World Champion,” comments Scrabble World Champion and UK Grand Master, Brett Smitheram.
“But it looks like some Brits are bending the rules and creating more festive strife than an overcooked turkey! My top tip for those with particularly competitive or ‘creative’ members of the family is to opt for games which are more team oriented. UNO Teams is an easy way for the family to learn to collaborate, and Scrabble Together is a great option for this – all the fun of the classic game but aimed at being more collaborative and faster-paced than the classic version.”
