Getting Rid of Half of My Board Games 

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"Do you really want to keep both Brasses? Yea I kinda do." Followed by savagely cutting Kanban EV while Elaine cries "Noooooo". This video is gold.

I think I like this laid-back 'chat to the camera' format. It suits you guys.

I picture one of those: Dice Cup: "Let me put you on hold to discuss with my staff" *mutes phone* IMPROMPTU DANCE PARTY! Dice Cup: "It'll be a squeeze, but I think we'll be able to help you with that"

I did this one year ago and got rid of 190 games. Something that makes me happy is going to a friends house and seeing them break out one of the games we gave them. If we are not careful, our possessions can define us.

"maybe that race for the galaxy is the only thing keeping our marriage together" "I'll take the chance" 😂🤣🤣

Another good option for donating board games is to local hospitals. There are in patient wards for mental health and long term care where people stay a week or more. They desperately need books, games or anything they can do since it’s very hard to sit around a hospital all day with no electronics allowed. Also domestic violence shelters could probably use them as well. Very proud of you for getting rid of so many!

Efka, you have inspired me to finally donate some games. Its been something that has been heavy on my heart and mind lately. and this was the straw that actually convinced me. Thank you. this video didn't look easy to make. it was very heartfelt and real!

"The things you own end up owning you", I only have 16 games in my collection and I'm already starting feeling like this.

My wife and I are moving across the country soon and I sold off half of my pretty sizable collection to make the move a little easier (otherwise half of our boxes would probably be just board games). I wish I could say that I felt positive about it now that it's done, but I do miss many of those games quite a bit. Those boxes of overpriced plastic and cardboard meant a lot to me. Board games are a weird hobby.

Your Arkham Horror review was the video that brought me to your channel. It's a shame there won't be a part two.

Just as the pandemic happened I realised I had to "cull" about two thirds of my collection, or about 250 games, due to needing to downsize as I was going to be lacking an income. It was REALLY tough, but almost two years later and there's only a couple I truly miss. Ended up loading a van with the games and selling to a chap from a London board game group who also brought a van to a motorway service station when we were all on lockdown. It actually felt kinda naughty...

Battle for Rokugan had me on edge.... sorry to see it go

Loved this video! Culling half in one swipe is a giant undertaking but I’m a big proponent of trying to keep your collection manicured. I buy and cull a lot, likely too much, but I’m learning what I like, what will or will not be played, and I want others to get joy out of the games rather than them just take space on my shelf. Cheers!

This was a tug of the heart strings video. I really enjoy both of you so much. Thank you for bringing us into your journey! Super touching.

Well, since you took 5 back in the end, here's my list of what those 5 would've been had I chosen: Arkham Horror LCG Pax Pamir Race for the Galaxy (or possibly Agricola if there were no other Uwe Rosenberg games left in the collection) Root Watergate (or possibly Die Macher if I had enough 2-player games left in the collection)

Wow, that was impressive! Watergate and Root are two of my absolute favorites.

I regularly get rid of the games which I am not fond of or (in a much more difficult vein) my gaming groups are not fond of. Your video convinced me to also let go of the couple of ones I am still keeping for sentimental reasons. You could have got a sponsorship from Marie Kondo for this one ;)

This is very respectable. In a hobby that is growing as this one is, there is a constant feeling of missing out on something great. But the truth is, if we're not playing these games with the people whose company we enjoy - I mean, that's why I play games - then are we actually missing out on anything at all? So, kudos! But, I think I'm even more curious now about the games you decided to keep!

Pax Pamir took so little space! Good Night Sweet Prince!

I'm pushing 450 games now (including expansions) - I have two 5x5 Kalax's full, as well as some other smaller ones, and piles of games all over the house! I can totally relate. The struggle is real! I don't know what happened ...only a few years ago I had like 50 games...and now this!

This is tough…looks like it was tough. Really nice you guys are donating them. Looking forward to more content from the both of you!

Thanks. This was very helpful, mostly knowing that there are others with the same struggle to reduce their collections. One bit of advice my father gave me years ago when selecting what to buy or keep - "...tomorrow morning when you wake up, will you wish you bought/kept the other one?"

This was incredibly brave. I’ve done tiny versions of this when I’ve looked at my collection and realized “crap, I have over a hundred board games” and cleared a bunch out - usually ten at a time. I’ve been using the pandemic as a reason not to for several months now, but this has inspired me to take a good hard look at them. Thank you!

You've still got 118 fantastic games (not withstanding the work stuff) in a finely curated collection and you will never run out of games to play or enjoy. Congratulations on getting a load off. (Getting rid of Mechs and Minions and Undaunted makes you a braver person than I.)

I reused most of my bits from Pandemic Legacy Seasons 1 + 2 to make a small game design toolkit.

I worked with a now, very successful board game developer and ended up going to 5 GenCon’s and ended up with a similar amount of board games. I’ve gone through this process probably twice and its nice to see someone else go through it. Its funny how you can have a shelf of games you’re SURE you’re keeping and then ONE game from that shelf goes and it starts a cascade of “well if i didnt need THAT game then i dont need THIS game”. The final result being of lightness and being surrounded with games you truely love is always worth it in the end i find.

Proud of you guys. Collection purging can be very difficult, but equally rewarding. Regret nothing! That being said, my heart broke a little when Watergate left your shelf. My wife and I picked up a copy after your compelling and insightful review, and it quickly became one of our all-time favorites. We know how much you loved it, and I'm sure that was a hard one to part with. At the very least, know that your previous possession of the game led to many happy evenings of play for another couple.

Just want to say thank you for letting us go through your game collection culling journey. I’m on the verge of moving again, and mix of that and during pandemic when my game being plays got to be very limited, I have always thought of what to do with games I don’t get to play…hope I can conjure up some courage like you guys do!

According to my current count of games previously owned, I have gotten rid of more games than I still have. Once you get over the first hurdle, it gets easier. But Kanban EV? Why?

Also as someone who's out of the loop podcast-wise I was still waiting by my doorstep for that Arkham part 2 review and I shall mourn this loss intensely (but I'm sure it was for good reasons! Will check out the pod, hope it wasn't too much of a pain!)

One thing I have done is put some into a storage where intend to get rid of some afterwards (some cool stuff I think I’ll keep forever even if I don’t play). I think it helps put into perspective how little I miss them and really care for them.

Thank you for spreading this message. My journey into minimalism started with getting rid of almost All of my boardgames to be able to afford a nice camera. At that point in my life i was done with boardgames and when I traded something I didn’t use anymore for something I was using all the time (the camera), something clicked. Onwards from there I sold more and more and more of my stuff and it felt so great. I‘m still in the process of getting rid of more stuff 3 years after. Since then I‘ve gotten back into boardgaming and I‘m buying more stuff than I used to and I don‘t like that. I‘m still very picky and mindful about what I buy and keep. I wanna have a small quality over quantity Collection with the games I really want to play over and over again, such as Brass and Root. I felt this video a 100%, to me it might be your best one yet. Respect for pulling through, I think you did the right thing.

Flip side: what a privilege to even PLAY that many, let alone more than once.

A few years ago I had to move and only kept about 1/3 of my games. I still think about Star Wars Rebellion...

I JUST watched Johnny Cash singing "Hurt". And, then I watch THIS! After this, I ain't got no more tears, man.

I did this with boardgames, comics, books, records, badges, tour programs, you name it. The majority had never seen the light of day for the past 25 years. At the end of the day I looked at it all as wads of cash sat there. Ended up with a nice bank float i tell you.

You're a good man! Eventually, given the human condition, it all goes. I'm sure you felt that at the end of the video. Board Games, when it's all said and done, are reasons to spend time with people and create memories... you still have over 100 board games... you are still a board game guy. In 2 years time you will need to remove 100 more.

Love you guys! All of your material is inspirational, but this one especially heals also for your viewers. A big thanks is in order! You've got me thinking and as always - you've got me feeling.

Heh, I chuckled when I saw the Watergate/Targi/Welcome To pile, mirrors my shelf very closely. The only difference being that if I had to get rid of something, Watergate would probably be one of the first things to go.

I am in one of the very few places in the world, that hasn't had the pandemic but even I have reached the point I don't really want to keep expanding my collection because I can't carry that many games to my friends places so most are left behind. I have a few that just never get played for a variety of reasons (Tekanoko, Azul 2, Suburbia, Photosynthesis). But its Christmas time and people start asking me what I want for Christmas and I all I can think of is boardgames

Love the emotional support the puppy is providing

The last couple of years I brought my collection from 96 games down to 23, because I get a restless feeling of all those games on the shelf that don't get played; just having them means nothing to me. 20 of 23 games I have played 4 times or more this year. AND... I have friends who own boardgames, so their collection is a sort MY collection too :)

I loved how you could hear the occasional moments of hysterical despair surfacing in Efka's voice during this video. But all quips aside - this was great. Very funny while also being genuinely quite heartwarming!

I went through this same thing about 6 months ago. I just ran out of space for games. I paired down 200 games too about 50 games, with the idea that I could then buy back up, over time, to about 100 games. It was painful and sad, but I felt such relief and joy after it was done. The biggest thrill is I've been able to buy games again. I just picked up Brian Boru:High King of Ireland and was able to play it this last weekend. I would have never allowed myself to do this before because I just didnt have space for it. Curating a collection on a regular basis is part of the hobby. Its sometmes painful, but very necessary. Thank you for making this video and sharing your experience as I'm sure everyone will and has gone through this at some point in this hobby. Cheers!

I am moving to Europe from Australia to be with my Mrs and I had to do this with household stuff, and especially books. Books I never thought I'd throw away ended up in the garbage bin (no one wants science textbooks). I have thrown out $3500 valued couches (ok not worth that much now after 14 years yet still in brilliant condition), etc etc etc. It is way cheaper to buy brand new once I get to Europe than to take all this extra stuff with me, even via ship. So I understand the sentimental experience very well. Now until I move, and most things are boxed up I am living an extremely minimalistic life.....even my bedroom only has a bed, an upside box as a table, a desk lamp, and an alarm clock. So yep, know how you felt going through this. One does get over it and after months, forget what we had, to a certain extent. The things we accumulate over the years is almost astonishing lol

A part of me died inside when you added Watergate to the pile. At least Gaia Project survived.

Efka & Elaine you have inspired me to thin down my collection. I do trade games on a regular basis and I’m certainly not going to be as ruthless but when i look at my shelves i could be more rigorous as there are just too many games that haven’t hit the table in years.

Having not even read through the rulebook completely yet. I had already bought card sleeves and reusable stickers for Gloomhaven because I can not handle having to throw it away after we play it. I have a few people now who are too young, but hopefully we will be able to play through again when they are older.

I genuinely love this channel. There’s so much heart in these videos. I’m also a heavy culler and I’m glad to see I’m not alone.

The only game that is on this list that I'm shocked is going away is Mechs Vs Minions. I love that game so dearly.

This was surprisingly touching, I didn't expect it to be so telling about well I don't know, so many things. It was looking through a mirror of past, present and future I didn't know I had in me but was pretty much there. Also, as a side note, your review of Kanban EV was the first video I watched of this channel, so watching you leave it for the end felt especially tough. I basically had Elaine's same reaction.

During long time i had little place in my home for board game, and I keept all I have with a lot of triple guilt : it take place, i haven't played them/played them enought, it was money that i have spent. At one point i started to give my boardgames that i have stop play (no even because they were bad, but just because me and my group of friends have stop discovering thing with theses games) at my local club/a cool cafe-board game local/a local charity resseling shop. Nothing that gave me money back. But I discover that it stopped the guilt feeling because I enjoy the idea of having given a second (or sometimes even first) life for theses games and that somewhere somebody was enjoying or maybe just discovering them. Now I have more space and I keep some boardgame that have lot of emotionnal value even if I don't play then that often (my full collection of Aeon's End touch more dust than tables). But I continue to do so. It's really a good feeling. I also started to do that with some ttrpg book that I enjoy but never DMed. And now at my local club peoples are playing full campaign of these games. That's really good to see.

My wife and I started a campaign of pandemic legacy S1 with a group, and then had to move about half way through. We ended up just carrying it on as a two player, but I still have a shrinkwrapped box of season two waiting in the wings that I just can't see happening with a full group anymore. Time to send it on to someone else I guess.

What a really wonderful and heartwarming video. Thanks for sharing that moment with us. Despite being somebody who has regularly gotten rid of their games I felt an incredible mixture of emotions, both the relief and the tension. I'm so glad that you recorded yourselves doing it - it felt visceral but also something to live through and experience so others can feel both the liberation and the toughness of the act. But, as Efka said, in my experience it also eventually becomes only liberating, especially when you know that others are enjoying your former collection. Best of all, we help with the endless waste and capitalistic tendencies of our hobby when we recycle our games like this.

Wait, the dice cup? Awesome sauce. On that note, would you do anything relating to blood on the clocktower in Nottingham. You can get the wonderful Ben Burns to story tell and there's been an issue with interest though that might be in part due to advertising

I gave a bunch of games to my friends when they first started their own collections, and they couldn't believe it. I pretty much said the same thing each time. It's a good game, but I don't play it because I've got better games. Someday you'll hand this to someone else. A few years later, they're starting to hand them off to friends. It's a good feeling to take a game you aren't playing but you know someone else will and just give it to them. Also it helps not to call it a collection. Collections are meant to stay together. Call it a library. Library items are meant to be shared.

I can't believe how many splotters you got rid of. Food chain magnate and bus are two of my groups favorites!

I feel you: in the past 2 years, I've been moving through 4 cities and 1 country. I did sell most part of my collection too, but eventually renewed it so much, I'm very happy with the result.

This was in equal parts poignant and cathartic. Both my wife I screamed nooooooo when you reached for Kanban EV (after it came sooo close to making the cut). Great to know that people local will be getting to enjoy them. A quarter of my games are currently up for trade so the 25% figure is pretty doable for me, but 50% would be a real struggle. Enjoy filling those shelves again.

Really nice video. It must have been tough. Really. I went through a very similar phase the last few months. My first son was born and my boardgame room got converted to his baby room. So I got rid of 70% of my collection, and donated most of it to a local board game cafe too so your video resonated with me! This must have been extremely personal and difficult and thanks for that.

fair play that must have been rough. for me the worst is games i love but none of my gaming group seem to gel with/like the theme. So they just sit there staring at me but i can’t face getting rid 🤦‍♂️

The voice crack at the end just pierced a bit of my heart I didn't know exist.

The part at around 7:30 when the pup was interested just melted my heart. i've thought of doing this but decided against it for now. All of games bring me joy, even if I do not play them. Im at around 120 games last I checked lol.

Last month I also gave away 4 board games. Sometimes it's best to get rid of material stuff to make life simple again. I also feel like it sets you free again in a weird way.

After 8+ years of collecting myself, I've refined my "taste" recently and culling the stuff I have trepidations about is relieving. I am ditching things that "I may play that again" or "that is great for X group" as you say, and I couldn't be happier. Seeing a shelf full of things that I actually want to play ALL of the time is great. I still have a few that are special to me, but the majority are things I keep, I would play at the drop of a hat. Be it with my kids, my friends, or even solo, I have figured out that the balance of actually enjoying the games I buy is better that the FOMO or anxiety of just looking at them.

I have mostly played Captain Sonar 2 player, and haven't really had the opportunity to play 8 people, but it's still tense and loads of fun.

Hello, this is my first video of yours I have seen and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. You as a presenter, your friends, your discussions are wonderful. Something that hit me particularly well was your intentions on eco-friendliness, something I appreciate a lot and see the deeper meaning of. Thank you, I have happily subscribed

12:53 XD Priceless

Wow - what an emotional trip! My local hobby shop hosts a used game auction a couple times a year, I usually try to dump 5-10 games each time.

Ouch that was brutal. Thank you, you are both very brave and I hope you don't wake up screaming in a panic of realization that something may be gone forever...shiver... Now you can have all the fun of building your collection up again, look at all that free space.

This was quite wholesome and I'm glad others will be able to enjoy all those games :)

I feel you ... Getting rid of the games that are "okay" or even "good" is fairly easy. When games get "This is great. i really like this" it get's HARD. Right now i don't know if i will get grid of Dixit. It was one of my first games in the hobby and the first one my wife really liked but we haven't played it in 4 years and it doesn't look like it will get played in the next weeks or so.

Absolutely GRIPPING ad break. And this whole exercise opened my third eye. Thank you for going through this and sharing it. Profound.

I have a far smaller game collection and I’ve been trying to get every game I’ve got played this year. It’s helped me whittle down about 15% of my collection. It feels quite liberating to get it trimmed down, and watching this definitely makes it feel like the right thing to do.

I share your pain and your relief. When I gave up commission painting when Covid hit I really felt it. But getting rid of almost 10k worth of paints, models, and equipment was also a big pressure off of my shoulders that I didn't even realise I was carrying around. When you collect for work it loses the love and becomes a weight around your neck. Now if I paint, which is rare, I find peace in it again. I haven't felt that since I started being a commission painter many years ago.

I would love a video about what you kept!

There is only 3 games out of your list of games you got rid of that I would have personally kept. Agricola, 1775, and Race for the Galaxy. I play two of them fairly regularly with my wife, and we enjoy those games quite a bit. Interesting video, and good on you for doing this admittedly drastic action.

You're a very sweet man, Efka. It was obvious how hard that was. Attachment is real. I'm glad you both got through it, and made some room for fresh air.

:O I had no idea you were based in Nottingham!? I love the Dice Cup and play there every week! It might mean that I might be playing with your donated games then! haha

There are some really great games on that list but I support what you are doing and how you are disposing of them. Even with the sadness of all you're getting rid of, this video is actually encouraging in the end and really puts things into perspective.

This is great timing as we begin the Black Friday game deal rush.

Thanks for you video, I've yet to try Castles of Burgundy and most content producers rave about it. Maybe after the pandemic is over. Tough decisions being made there, glad to see you both still together.

Upset to see Pax Pamir 2nd Ed going. A game I’ve wanted for so long but never even come close to owning.

Watching this is stressful, knowing I will have to do this eventually. Lol

I also culled about 100 games over the course of the pandemic. I always want to be a player first not a collector. Great video!

Would be very interesting to see the list if the games you kept. As a Knizia fan, I noticed a handful of games I can't find on the list of the games you didn't keep: Whale Riders, Tigris & Euphrates, Ra and Stephenson's Rocket.

A very thought provoking video and one that I must never let my wife watch! I have a collection of about 70 games but some of those have loads of expansions e.g. Zombicide Black Plague, Fireteam Zero and I play a lot of Kill Team, Underworlds and Star Breach, which means I have lots of plastic soldiers and terrain. We live in a small house and one room is mostly games. Kickstarter has meant that there are also games on the way, some of which are going to be space hogs (not a game), like Oathsworn. At the beginning of the year I vowed to be much more controlled over the games that I pledged on with quite a few being pledged on and then cancelled as the red mist of FOMO settled. I also started to sell some of my collection as I considered 'will I play this again/at all'. I am a mini painter as well as a player and some games I spent hours painting and then sold them as I didn't want to play them enough for them to stay. Kemet Blood and Sand and Cthulhu DMD left this way. I bought Ankh with the stretch goals, with no real desire to play the game. I just want to paint it! Sea of Legends, Deep Madness and Steampunk Rally Fusion have also left. I have realised that what I really like is skirmish style games and so anything else is fair game? I also know that I don't have time to play campaign games or any friends to play them with, so I am battling with my collector nature around keeping such games. After watching this I am thinking about donating to a local boardgame cafe, as this seems to be a much better idea than trying to sell on Evilbay. Cheers!

RIP SW Legion. Love that game, it is a pain in the ass to paint all the minis tho

The Dice Cup is great - really fun place to eat, meet, and game. Cheers for sharing Efka 🍻

Thank you for that video! It's really important to talk about the over consuming in the industry. Also I wasn't aware of this episode of the podcast about Arkham horror (might have skip it). It's really sad there's not gonna be a part 2 but I understand. It's sad that there wasn't that much interest from your followers and the backlash from both sides of the isles regarding the theme. Again I understand your decision and hey you guys had fun doing the first video so that's that.

That moment you go, "Do I even have a 'local boardgame cafe?'" and the answer is, "No.'" Also, sad about Oceans. I love that game and it's so pretty.

I admire your courage, as usual. I've almost doubled my collection during the pandemic. Without cons to sell them off, they accumulated. Hoping to cull a lot if March looks OK for going to a con.

That was a great video. The rest of this comment was written live while watching. I've played Captain Sonar more than most games in my collection, because I play it several times at every convention. Also "the convention will probably have a copy"? Yes. And it's often my copy! Hahah! So that's staying in my collection. "I'm not getting rid of Inis." I love you, Efka. Hopefully I'll get to play Inis with you at a future SHUX. Bye bye, Race for the Galaxy. I never really enjoyed you. I have a copy of Mastermind that I got as a gift... I should really get rid of it too. Re: Legacy Games: Find board game designers and give them to them for use in prototype games. The components will find a new, loving home as part of the birth of new, soon to be loved games. That's what I did with my Risk: Legacy and Pandemic: Legacy boxes. Did you get rid of Burgle Bros 1 and 2? Wow. Cool. Cool cool... After the Inis thing I thought we could be friends... Follow up video about your new collection?

This is one of the most painful, but therapeutic, board gaming videos ever released.

From what I could see in the last shot, the only ones you got rid of that I personally wouldn't have are Race for the Galaxy and Bus, both of which are in my top 3.

I'm thinking of culling my collection also. I have way too many board games and need to make some tough decisions.

I needed this today. I also have an entire room full...

Would you let me know which size of Kallax units work best for the "average" board game box storage? I need shelving, but if the individual boxes are too small it won;t workout too well. Thanks guys. I feel your pain and should probably do the same exercise myself, but I get a cold sweat thinking about it.

TBH I never have a problem to let go of a old game i played 10+ times. There is always cool new stuff to discover!