How to Minimize Conflict During the Game
Sometimes playing a game doesn’t turn out quite like we want. Someone might make a move another player thinks is against the rules. Or maybe one player keeps getting cut off at every turn and they’re having a hard time continuing a game they feel is over. You could be playing with kids or even adults who aren’t handling the situation well. It happens.
But you want playing board games to be an enjoyable experience for everyone. So how can you shake things up and keep the conflict from being the main event? When players are already arguing and things aren’t friendly anymore, how do you change the vibes back to playful and fun?
6 Tips for Minimizing Conflict in Board Games
1. Model good sportsmanship and a positive attitude.
People are always watching how you behave, especially when you’re playing a game in a group. The easiest way to minimize conflict is to prevent it through your own actions. If you’re calmly responding when other players are upset, those around you will take notice or even emulate your actions to keep the game fun.
2. Search for alternate positive outcomes for yourself and other players.
Even in a tough game where you’re not making any headway, there are still ways to have an enjoyable experience. Maybe you can influence the outcome through interaction with other players, even if you can’t win. Maybe your group conversations become your main focus. Maybe you can give tips to another struggling player. Help other players see these positive outcomes by pointing them out aloud.
3. Offer calming comments or gentle redirection when things get heated.
Sometimes a quick comment can diffuse the whole situation, whether it calms someone, redirects everyone to a new subject, or gets everyone laughing. Use your particular strengths to shift the situation and do so in a way that works for your players. Make sure you have a good read on the situation and other players’ reactions because riling up the other players would only make it worse.
4. Give every player a chance to voice their opinion.
If the argument is over something like the rules, make sure everyone has a chance to voice their opinions. You don’t want two players making the decisions for the entire group if there are three other players participating. Let everyone speak up and you might find you have a majority in agreement and there’s no need for the others to keep arguing.
5. Create standard expectations for your group.
When you run into a situation that causes conflict, pay attention to the methods that resolve it. Make sure each player knows how to handle a similar situation moving forward. You’ll want to know that you can make it through the rest of the game without hitting the same snags and you’ll be able to set expectations for future games as well. Whether this looks like a set of house rules or having a neutral party intervene, find what works for your group.
6. Pick games that won’t spark conflict in your players.
If all else fails, remember that you can’t control other players’ choices, but you can adjust the environment to suit them better. If certain games cause conflict among your players often, choose other games. With so many awesome games in existence, your group can certainly find something they can play through without sparking those conflicts that might suck all the fun out of playing.
Helpful Resources
- If you’re dealing with conflict because one of your players struggles with losing, check out How to Help Your Sore Loser Enjoy the Game.
- If you’ve got a bunch of competitive players struggling to compete nicely with each other, try Best Cooperative Board Games to practice teamwork while you play against the game. These games scratch that itch for competition without pitting players against each other.