13 Board Games That Took Forever to Explain
These board games are legendary for taking forever to explain because of their complex systems, endless rules, and layered strategies.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Some board games are so elaborate that teaching them feels like running a class rather than starting a play session. From sprawling space operas like Twilight Imperium to dense economic challenges like Brass: Birmingham, these titles overwhelm newcomers with rules before the fun begins. While tough to learn, they reward patient players with some of the richest gaming experiences available.
1. Twilight Imperium
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Twilight Imperium is a galactic conquest game where players control unique civilizations fighting for dominance. The game has an intimidating rulebook covering politics, trade, warfare, and exploration. Most groups spend an hour or more just learning the mechanics before the epic space opera even begins.
2. Gloomhaven
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This cooperative dungeon crawler mixes legacy storytelling with complex combat mechanics. Players need to understand card-driven actions, character progression, and a branching narrative system. It can take several play sessions before new players fully grasp the depth of the game.
3. Arkham Horror (Second Edition)
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Arkham Horror plunges players into the world of H.P. Lovecraft with endless scenarios and intricate rules. The game’s turn structure, monster movement, and card interactions overwhelm newcomers. Explaining the setup alone feels like a full session before investigators can even start battling cosmic horrors.
4. Mage Knight
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Mage Knight combines deck-building, role-playing, and exploration in one massive package. Players must juggle movement, combat, spellcasting, and city conquest mechanics. It is often described as rewarding but exhausting to teach, with even veterans pausing to check the rulebook.
5. Advanced Squad Leader
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A detailed World War II strategy game, Advanced Squad Leader is infamous for its dense rulebook. The mechanics cover line of sight, morale, terrain effects, and weapon capabilities. Many fans joke that learning the game feels like taking a college course in military tactics.
6. Food Chain Magnate
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This economic strategy game puts players in charge of fast-food empires. The mechanics involve complex branching strategies, employee management, and marketing systems. Teaching it often means explaining dozens of possible interactions that only make sense after playing.
7. Lisboa
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Lisboa is a heavy eurogame set during the reconstruction of Lisbon after a devastating earthquake. The rules involve a card system that drives urban planning, trade, and political influence. Many first-time players need a detailed walkthrough just to understand scoring.
8. Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
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Through the Ages lets players build civilizations from ancient times to the modern era. With countless cards, military conflicts, and cultural development paths, the rules can feel overwhelming. Even experienced players often explain the game in phases rather than all at once.
9. On Mars
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Designed by Vital Lacerda, On Mars is about colonizing and developing a Martian settlement. The rules are incredibly intricate, with resource management, technology upgrades, and shifting player roles. Teaching it usually requires breaking the explanation into multiple learning sessions.
10. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
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Eclipse combines exploration, resource management, and galactic combat. Players must learn how to balance economics, research technologies, and conduct battles. While less overwhelming than Twilight Imperium, it still takes a long time to cover all the rules clearly.
11. Terra Mystica
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This fantasy civilization builder requires players to terraform land, expand territories, and balance resources. The interactions between factions and terrain types make the rules surprisingly dense. Explaining power bowls and income mechanics alone can take a significant amount of time.
12. Brass: Birmingham
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Brass: Birmingham is a deep economic game set during the Industrial Revolution. Players must learn networks, industries, loans, and evolving markets. Teaching the phases and subtleties of strategy often takes longer than playing the first few turns.
13. Sid Meier’s Civilization: The Board Game
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Based on the classic video game series, this board game lets players guide civilizations from ancient times into the future. The rules cover exploration, technology, warfare, and diplomacy. Explaining how each system connects can leave new players’ heads spinning before the first move.