12 Puzzles and Board Games Everyone Had but No One Finished
Some games looked fun on the box, but they turned into endless projects or confusing challenges once opened. We all had puzzles and board games that gathered dust halfway through. These 12 were in every home, started with excitement, and rarely got finished.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
Board games and puzzles have always promised hours of fun, but not every one delivered a satisfying ending. Many people remember starting these games only to lose interest, run out of patience, or just get plain confused. From pieces that disappeared to rules that no one really understood, these games were often abandoned mid-play. Here are 12 puzzles and board games that everyone owned, but almost no one ever finished.
1. Monopoly
Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels
Monopoly always started strong with high hopes of real estate glory. However, it dragged on for hours, and someone always flipped the board before it ended. Most games ended with everyone walking away or arguing over fake money.
2. Risk
Document02 on Wikimedia
This game of world domination seemed exciting at first, but quickly became a slow-moving battle. One turn could take forever, especially with players debating every move. Rarely did someone actually conquer the world.
3. 1,000-Piece Nature Puzzle
Magda Ehlers on Pexels
Those big, scenic puzzles with blue skies and green trees felt peaceful until you had to find the 300 identical sky pieces. It lived half-done on the dining table for weeks. Eventually, someone boxed it up with missing pieces and no regrets.
4. The Game of Life
Unknown author on Wikimedia
Spinning the wheel, getting jobs, and filling your car with peg-people started out fun. However, somewhere between retirement and counting tiny pink babies, attention faded. Most never really finished the whole board.
5. Mouse Trap
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Mouse Trap was more about building the trap than actually playing the game. Once set up, people rarely followed the real rules. It turned into a toy instead of a board game with an actual winner.
6. Trivial Pursuit
ChristianHeldt on Wikimedia
Unless you were a trivia genius, this game got frustrating fast. Earning all those pie pieces felt nearly impossible. Eventually, someone gave up and just started reading the cards for fun.
7. Rubik’s Cube
MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
It sat on shelves everywhere, scrambled and untouched. Solving it without peeling off the stickers was a dream few achieved. Most people twisted it for five minutes before giving up.
8. Axis & Allies
cottonbro studio on Pexels
The setup alone took over an hour, and gameplay was even longer. Only the most dedicated players ever finished a full session. It was often packed up halfway through with confused looks all around.
9. Clue
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Clue was fun until someone forgot to mark their sheet or peeked at the cards. Accusations flew, and games ended in suspicion instead of logic. Few games made it to a real, fair solution.
10. 3D Castle Puzzle
Google DeepMind on Pexels
It looked amazing on the box and felt like a fun challenge. However, once the tiny foam pieces started breaking or leaning sideways, the joy disappeared. Many castles were never fully built.
11. Sorry!
Kaboompics.com on pexels
The bright colors and simple moves made Sorry! a childhood favorite, but it could turn mean quickly. Constantly sending people back to start created tears or tantrums, and games often ended before anyone reached home.
12. Electronic Battleship
Studio Alijn on Wikimedia
Futuristic lights and sounds made it feel like a high-tech war game. However, once the batteries died or someone cheated by moving ships, the fun faded fast. Most battles ended in silence or confusion.