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Let’s talk about real conflict. Not the kind you see on the news or in heated work meetings. I’m talking about the kind of conflict that ruins game night, fractures friendships for a few days, and makes for an awkward ride home.
I’m talking about board games.
That’s right, those colorful boxes sitting in your closet are not as harmless as they seem. Board games are where the masks drop. Where you find out who people really are when there’s something—anything—on the line.
The Day Monopoly Broke Me
I was about 10 years old the first time I truly lost it over a board game. My mom and I were playing Monopoly. She was winning, and I… was not. I remember crying. Screaming. And yes, dramatically swiping the entire board off the table and onto the brown carpet, shouting, “How could you beat your own daughter?!”
It’s been 35 years, and I still remember everything about that moment. That was my first true Monopoly meltdown, and I’ve never played the game the same way since.
Why? Because board games don’t just entertain us. They reveal us.
Life Lessons on the Game Table
That moment taught me something big, and not just about capitalism in board game form. It taught me how badly I handle loss. It showed me how tightly I cling to fairness (especially when I think it’s being violated), and how deep competition runs in me.
I’m not alone in this. We’ve all seen that person who turns a casual round of Uno into a high-stakes war. Or the one who “accidentally” forgets the rules when it’s convenient. Or maybe that person is you.
I’ll admit it: I’m uncomfortably competitive. I know this about myself. It’s the reason I now avoid board games altogether. Because I’m not trying to ruin friendships over a Draw Four.
Stop Letting Kids Win
Here’s where I might lose you, but stick with me. I don’t believe in letting kids win.
Why? Because board games are a safe space to learn hard truths. Life isn’t always fair. People will win just because they got lucky, not because they deserved it. You’ll lose even when you do everything right. And yes, someone you love might charge you rent on Boardwalk when you’re already broke.
That’s life. And I think kids deserve to learn that early, through real competition, not curated wins.
So no, I’m not going easy on your 7-year-old in Uno. That Draw Four? Pick it up.
The Smoke Is Real
Board games also bring out our character. I once (allegedly) peeked at a friend’s cards. The details are blurry, but what’s clear is that the game came to a screeching halt when she looked at me and said, “I thought you had integrity.”
We had to restart the game.
That moment still lives rent-free in my head, and it’s a reminder that board games aren’t just play. They’re about trust, fairness, and how far we’re willing to go to win. And sometimes, they reveal things we’d rather keep hidden.
So No, I Won’t Play With You
This is why I don’t play board games anymore. Because when we sit down at that table?
All bets are off.
No age, title, or Hall of Fame induction will protect you from what’s coming.
And if we do play? Be ready. Be very ready. Because the competitiveness you’ll see might not be the version of me you were expecting.
Want the full story?
Listen to the latest episode of Five with Fry wherever you get your podcasts. I get real about my Monopoly trauma, why I play kids like adults, and how a silly game night can turn into a life lesson you never forget.
Got a board game story of your own? Share it with me on social @JenFryTalks or connect on LinkedIn at Dr. Jen Fry.
Let’s talk about the smoke.
