12 Board Games That Took an Entire Day to Finish

Some board games felt less like a quick activity and more like an all-day commitment. What started as a fun idea in the morning could easily turn into a multi-hour journey filled with dice rolls, alliances, and dramatic rule checks. These games tested patience, strategy, and friendships as players pushed through hour after hour of intense competition. Whether played on rainy weekends or during holiday gatherings, they always required snacks, breaks, and serious time dedication.

1. Monopoly

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Monopoly is infamous for stretching well into the afternoon, and sometimes into the evening. Between auctions, bankruptcies, and endless property trades, each turn felt like a mini-game on its own. The game could drag on exceptionally long if players refused to sell or if house rules extended the process. Arguments over rent and rules were part of the tradition. Even when someone clearly dominated, the end never seemed close.

2. Risk

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Risk promised world domination, but it took an entire day to get there. Battles could stall, alliances formed and dissolved, and players spent forever deciding on each attack. The map became a full-scale warzone as hours passed by unnoticed. One bold move could flip the game in the final hour. Finishing without giving up felt like an achievement in itself.

3. Axis & Allies

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This World War II strategy game required commitment from the moment it hit the table. It involved complex coordination, global planning, and meticulous army movement. Every player had a different role and turn that could last twenty minutes or more. A single session could go from lunch until bedtime with breaks in between. It was more of a campaign than a casual game.

4. The Game of Life (With All the Expansions)

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The base game was long enough, but add in career twists, pets, and kids, and the day vanished. Spinning the wheel seemed simple, but decision after decision made the game crawl. Between marriages, house buying, and financial surprises, it was never quick. Every player had their own path and distractions. The finish line always felt like a distant dream.

5. Civilization: The Board Game

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Inspired by the video game series, this tabletop version asked players to build empires from the ground up. Progress took time, with every round requiring detailed planning and long-term thinking. Expanding borders, discovering technologies, and managing resources meant no move could be rushed. Each hour introduced a new layer of strategy. The longer it went, the deeper the game became.

6. Twilight Imperium

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Known as one of the longest board games ever created, Twilight Imperium demanded nearly the whole day by design. With dozens of planets to explore and multiple factions to manage, it became an epic space saga. Players negotiated, traded, and battled across galactic sectors in turns that could stretch indefinitely. Most games lasted six to ten hours. It was less a game and more an interstellar adventure.

7. Diplomacy

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Diplomacy stripped away luck and forced players to negotiate their way to victory. Without dice or cards, it all came down to written orders and secret deals. Games often stalled as players debated alliances and betrayals in hushed voices. Every round felt like a political thriller. A single session could span an entire day, especially if everyone took the game seriously.

8. Settlers of Catan (With All Expansions)

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Catan is fast-paced in its basic form, but the expansions turn it into a long-term strategy fest. Add seafarers, cities, knights, and new resources, and things get complicated fast. Players took longer turns to consider every option and build carefully. Trading became more intense and involved multiple parties. Finishing a full session with expansions could take several hours easily.

9. Dungeons & Dragons (Board Game Versions)

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While not the original tabletop RPG, board game versions of Dungeons & Dragons still required serious dedication. Character sheets, dice rolls, and dungeon maps made setup alone take nearly an hour. Gameplay was slow and story-driven, unfolding like a fantasy novel in real time. Players immersed themselves deeply, often losing track of time. A single dungeon could eat up the entire day.

10. Clue: Master Detective

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An upgraded version of the classic Clue, this edition added extra rooms, suspects, and weapons. With more possibilities came more thinking, guessing, and double-checking facts. Players took longer with each turn, trying to piece together the mystery. Games stretched out as everyone became increasingly cautious. Winning required sharp memory and hours of slow deduction.

11. Arkham Horror

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This cooperative game plunged players into a complex world of monsters, portals, and investigations. The turns were slow, the rules deep, and the story thick with suspense. Every round introduced new challenges, and players needed to work together through careful planning. The sense of danger and growing tension made it worth the time. Full playthroughs could easily last six hours or more.

12. Talisman

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Talisman took a fantasy adventure and turned it into a never-ending quest. Players wandered through magical lands collecting items, avoiding traps, and battling creatures. Movement was often slow and based on luck, which meant going in circles was common. Winning required a balance of patience and the right cards. It was exciting, but definitely not a short game.

• Tags:
• board games
• Strategy
• Classic
• marathon
• Family