Board game memes are a weird little corner of the internet. Some are painfully relatable, others are properly awful, and a few somehow manage to be both at the same time.
But the real problem is once you think of one, it sticks. Like the chorus of It’s Raining Men. You might hate it, but it’s already too late. It’s in your head and will stay there for the rest of the day.
So rather than suffer alone, I’m dragging you down with me. Here are 10 board game memes that are equal parts cringe and uncomfortably accurate. You’re welcome. And also, sorry.
1. “You’re Trash, Dagger!”
Deck-building games are all about efficiency. Your starting deck is full of weak cards you want to trash as quickly as possible to make room for better ones. Enter this meme of dark Peter Parker calling out Brock for his familiar-looking photos, and all I could think of was the Dagger card from Dune: Imperium.
If you know, you know.
2. Losing Is Fine, Right?
Ever have a game you love but are terrible at? For me, it’s BattleCon, the 1v1 fighting game. Before making this meme, I’d lost five matches in a row. Yet, somehow, I was still having a blast. So instead of the usual satire that accompanies this meme format, I leaned into it: losing was fine!
Can’t wait to lose again soon.
3. The Best Board Game Is the One in the Mail
The only thing better than playing an amazing board game is the anticipation of the next one arriving in the mail. If there’s one thing Kickstarter campaigns are great at is getting you invested, and excited to play. Months of waiting somehow makes it feel even more special when it finally arrives.
Absence truly makes the heart grow fonder… until you realise you’ll have to punch out 300 tokens before playing.
4. The Problem with Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a double-edged sword. Sure, some gems emerge (Shout out to Dale of Merchants and Root). But for every success story, there are 20 overproduced, overhyped games that leave you wondering, Why did I back this?
And yet, I still find myself staring longingly at the proverbial carrot dangling under the cardboard box. Who’s holding the string? It’s me.
5. One More Game?
Some board games are synonymous with marathon sessions. Take Twilight Imperium 4, a sprawling space opera that can devour 8-13 hours of your weekend without breaking a sweat.
Thankfully, it’s not quite as long as Campaign for North Africa (which clocks in at 1,500+ hours). But even Twilight Imperium feels excessive to me. I’m lucky if I can make it through a single game of Terraforming Mars without life interrupting.
6. Publisher Relationships
Certain board game publishers have earned their stellar reputations. Level99 Games rarely misses, delivering hits like Argent: The Consortium and Empyreal: Spells & Steam. Leder Games has gifted us Root, Oath, and Fort. And then there’s Stonemaier Games, which churns out instant classics… well, most of the time (Pendulum and Red Rising, I’m looking at you).
And yet, whenever these publishers announce a new title, my excitement overrides my better judgement. Why? Because it usually means I’m preordering it without hesitation. Just like the capitalistic zombie I am.
7. Who Has the Time?
Adulthood is a thief of time. It robs you of carefree weekends and turns free hours into fleeting moments. Sure, some might call this a fulfilling life. But me? I just want to sit down and play Merchants of the Dark Road uninterrupted for an entire day.
The struggle worsens when you factor in your equally busy adult friends. Remember when time felt infinite? Back when you could grind dungeons in World of Warcraft without responsibilities looming over you? Ah, to be young, free, and perpetually over-caffeinated again.
8. Is It My Turn?
The only thing longer than the title Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile is the wait between turns. This wildly interactive game thrives on unpredictability where every action reshapes the board, forcing you to constantly reevaluate your strategy.
But this brilliance comes at a cost. Turns can crawl as players weigh 10 different options before moving a piece. It’s a slog, but one that’s entirely worth it for the pulse-pounding excitement of the endgame.
9. Scheduling Issues
It’s hard enough coordinating a game night with busy adults, but throw Dungeons & Dragons players into the mix, and it becomes nearly impossible.
On one hand, D&D fans are often open to playing board games. On the other hand, they’d rather spend every spare second rolling dice and roleplaying than trying out your favourite deck-builder.
Game night becomes a custody battle: You get this weekend, but I get next weekend. And let’s be honest, everyone leaves feeling a little shortchanged.
10. The Secret Rule
This one’s for everyone who’s had to teach game rules. No matter how thorough your explanation, someone will forget. Sometimes it’s an honest mistake. Other times, they were glued to their phone during the entire rundown.
Inevitably, halfway through the game, someone pipes up: “You didn’t tell us that!” Did I? Probably. Were you listening? Definitely not.
It leaves us to ponder the great philosophical question: If you explain the rules in a forest, does anyone actually hear you?
That’s all we got time for here at Roll to Review. Hopefully, at least one of these memes got a chuckle out of you, but I’ll settle for a groan. Either way, they’re a testament to how delightfully weird and niche the board game community can be. Got a favourite board game meme of your own? Share it in the comments below. I’m always looking for more to cringe at and secretly enjoy.
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