Last modified October 31, 2025 by Krushpin

There are games I really enjoy and that my group and I love to play. Most of the games in my collection fall into this category. However, there are also games that I seem to be the only one who enjoys. Here is a list of some of these less-loved games, in no particular order:

Santorini

I consider it the most Eurocentric of the abstract games I own, and like the vast majority of them, it's not very popular with my group. It's a shame because I'm a big fan of abstract games. Even the cute artwork and the theme of the gods in ancient Greece weren't enough to convince my friends to take an interest in it.

Eldritch horror

I'm surprised to find myself enjoying this game. I'm not usually a fan of narrative/semi-Ameritrash/co-op/Lovecraftian games, but I quite like this one solo. It's fairly short for a game in this category, and the mechanics are similar to several well-known European games. I think the fact that it's the younger sibling of Arkham Horror puts my friends off, as they all tried it back in the day without much success (myself included). Yet, this one ticks several of my boxes.

Lorcan

A Magic game for Disney nostalgics, those on a budget, and those just starting out in the world of TCGs. That was me two years ago, and with my daughter playing with us, it was a huge hit! For one summer… Then, my new pre-teen's interests shifted elsewhere than princesses and Winnie the Pooh. But not mine. I remained hooked, but with so few opportunities to play, my collection is gathering dust, waiting…

Res arcana

This ultra-compact and fast-paced resource management game had all the ingredients to appeal to my group. However, it doesn't seem to be a hit with my friends. Perhaps the player attacks have something to do with it. Or maybe the often predictable halfway through some games isn't very exciting. These aspects don't bother me much since the games are short and quick, but I understand that they might be irritating for some.

Combat Commander

My all-time favorite game! It's a shame it's on this list. Since my group is mostly made up of fans of "peaceful" Eurogames, I'm not surprised they don't like it. It's a war game, after all! And full of dirty tricks and unpredictable events, too! The graphics and components are also, to say the least, very minimalist! Nothing to make it appealing, despite its unparalleled ability to generate incredible stories and Hollywood-style plot twists every time you play!

Isle of Cats

A simple game, perhaps too simple for my group. Yet I appreciate its drafting system and its high replayability stemming from the sheer number of cards it contains. I haven't given up hope that it might find an audience despite its "advanced" age and somewhat childish look. Don't tell my group members, but I'm going to try to get them to play a game eventually, perhaps disguised between two more established games. Or as a special request for my birthday.

Lord of the Rings (Knizia, 2000)

The first co-op game I ever played, it has always held a special place in my memories. Partly because of the theme, yes, but also for the narrative it generates and the heart-wrenching discussions that take place between the players. Who will sacrifice themselves for the group? Who can help whom? Do we take the short, dangerous path or the long, calmer one? Unfortunately, its age and its overused theme mean that this game holds little appeal for my group.

Last word

While I'd love to see these games released more often, I can't force anyone to play. Relatively speaking, this list represents only a small percentage compared to all the games we collectively enjoy. Every player has their own list of guilty pleasures, and that's perfectly fine. Fortunately, since the pandemic, solo versions of many games are now available and open up some interesting possibilities. Nevertheless, it's in a group, around a good game that everyone enjoys, that the fun is best cultivated.

And you, who are your forgotten ones?