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 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 of British adults admit a friendly board game with friends or family has descended into conflict.
Scrabble world champion and UK grand-master, Brett Smitheram, said: “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.
“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.”
A study has found that 27% have had an actual ‘argument’ with a loved one, while more than one in ten 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 have key memories playing a big role in Christmas fun – three quarters say it ensures their family are not glued to screens all day and a similar number say playing board games means 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 in near half of the instances.
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’.
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 point to a time where a player has tried to convince other players that a completely made-up word was in fact real.
