I finally gave up on my 'no expansions' rule after a game night in Tacoma

For years, I thought buying expansions was just a cash grab, especially for games like Catan. Last month, a friend in Tacoma insisted we try 'Cities & Knights' with his group. The new mechanics completely changed the game's pace and strategy, making it feel fresh again. I bought my own copy the next week. Anyone else have a game that a single expansion totally saved?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_moore126d ago

Ugh, I'm the opposite. I feel like expansions often just add bloat. Take Catan's Cities & Knights, you mentioned. For me, all those extra cards and rules just slow the game down. It feels like homework. I'd rather play the base game a bunch and really get good at it, or just switch to a totally different board game. Some of my favorite game nights were just the simple original version.

emery_hall6d ago

Know exactly what you mean, Nathan. Cities & Knights is a beast to learn and it does feel like a chore. My group had the same fight. We found a middle ground by picking just one smaller expansion to try, like Seafarers, which basically just adds boats. It gave us a little new stuff without the homework feeling. Sometimes you just need that simple base game magic, and there's nothing wrong with sticking to it. Forcing a complicated expansion on game night can ruin the whole vibe.