Like any self-respecting person(s), we only do anything if it gets us Credit on the Internet. Or if our boss tells us to. Either way, if the play wasn’t logged, if the run wasn’t recorded, if the calories weren’t counted, then obviously it never happened. Hang on, I think I just found a cookie loophole…

Which is why, naturally, we all have to shout our 2026 Board Gaming Goals/Resolutions/Challenges into the ether. Because we have a Platform! And it’s our Job! Here is what we here at BGQ hope to accomplish in 2026.

Naturally, we will check back in at the end of the year and tell you how we did.

The Deep Dive

Andrea: This is inspired by the December Deep Dive challenge on BGG. The idea was to take a game with lots of play options and make a concerted effort to explore all of those. I love this idea. I set myself challenges like this all the time. Usually, I bribe myself with no new content until I have completed the challenge. I fail at that. A lot. I would have done the Deep Dive Challenge, but there’s no way I could have completed that in a month. So instead, I will make it a resolution. I have several games with a multitude of play options (Spirit Island, Marvel Champions, and Obsession come immediately to mind. I will refresh my personal challenges for these, and by December 31, 2026, at least one of those challenges will be complete. Or no New Year’s Eve dessert for me.

Clean Up and Clean Out

Andy: I have promised my wife that I will get my game area (which is half of a converted two-car garage) into a more organized space, as I have been pulling things from the shelf to play, but then letting them just pile up, unshelved, when done. I keep procrastinating because I want to use the opportunity to also reorganize my games, cull a chunk of the collection out for resale, etc. By letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, I’ve ended up with a gerbil’s nest of games that really need sorting. I may even try to accomplish this before 2026 starts, but if not, then this task is tops on my January To Dos.

A Big Culling

April: My resolution is pretty cliche. I need to get rid of games I don’t play. While I do trades and give away games now and then, I’ve yet to do an all-out culling of my collection. At this point, games are stored on just about every shelf, cupboard, and closet we can spare, and it’s just too much. Too much, I say! So, unless somebody invents a magic Mary Poppins shelf that can store everything without taking up more space, some games gotta go!

2x a Month Challenge

Dylan: My biggest thing that I want to do is play a board game with my wife twice a month. Over the years, I have taught my wife so many new games. She is tired of learning new games and wants to play things that she already knows. Or she wants to explore those games more than just a single play. That is not only a building for our relationship, but also seeing games as more than just a first impression. We started it this month by playing At the Gates of Loyang for the first time since 2020. Hoping to continue it in 2026.

Gen Con or Bust!

James: Most years’ resolutions are trash within weeks of the new year, so I really want to pick something I can stick to for at least a few months. One of the highlights of 2024 for me was going to Gen Con. I couldn’t go last year, so I’m looking forward to going this year. If I don’t, it’s another in a long line of broken New Year’s resolutions (and getting grief from the folks here). And if I don’t break it, it’ll be good times, probably including playing games way too late into the morning. And long ass lines for the much-needed coffee in the morning.

Another resolution would be to buy/back less games so I can focus on what I already have, which is plenty.

Marie Kondo Time

Jason: Gaming was pretty quiet for me last year, and I imagine a bit of the same will be true in 2026. With a big move comes finding new folks to vibe and game with (if you’re in the Twin Cities area, HMU). Alas, I’m tired of holding out for that mythical time of “eventually” to arrive. I used that justification with purchases of years past, and it’s time to be honest. I have too many that will never get played. And just like that t-shirt that’s hanging in your closet that will “eventually” fit, sometimes it’s just better to move on and Marie Kondo things.

Build a Gaming Space

Kerry: In the spirit of most New Year’s resolutions that don’t make it past January, I’m committed to setting up a dedicated gaming space in the house in January. I can work within the limits. I’ll make a place where we can leave a campaign game set up for easy return to play in the evening. Somewhere, the cats can’t scatter the pieces. My husband has asked for a corner where he can paint minis. He’ll need good lighting. I can see us now, enjoying the space, using it often. A refuge from the daily grind. We can finally get Pandemic Legacy to the table with our friends. Done and done: or, so it shall be. Give me two weeks. Four? Oh, wait, I need to write the review that I owe Tony…

Get rid of AP and Take Backs

Victoria: I don’t think I’m the biggest culprit of this, per se, but my gaming group has been discussing, of late, that players should try to be more cognizant of how much time they take on their turns, especially during 4-player games. Granted, it’s understandable that there can be a lot to think about in a heavy Eurogame. Nonetheless, I think all players should resolve to do our best to stay present in the game and use time during other players’ turns to think through our next moves, rather than, say, scroll through our phones. And even though these games can be competitive, maybe outside of actual competition, it’s okay to pick one of your options that is clearly pretty darn good, rather than taking the extra five minutes to calculate which option will grant you an extra half point at end-game.

Related to this is take-backs, which can also add a lot of time to a game, so I resolve to ask for fewer, at least in certain situations. I think it’s fine to take back a simple turn, especially if the fix is relatively quick, you don’t do it too often, and especially if it’s a learning game. The trouble is when someone tries to take back one of those 4-step combotastic turns that likely involve multiple resource exchanges, track-bumps, and other game-state changes. As a general resolution, I will try not to ask for any take-backs of turns involving 3 or more steps.

6 Months Purchase Free

Zach: I have one single 5×5 Kallax, and it’s full to bursting. That’s stressing me out! Which is the opposite of why I have this hobby. So I have had enough of purchasing for the year. My goal is not to purchase any games (store, crowdfunding, garage sale, etc) until GenCon. Trades are OK, as long as I have an equal (or greater) number of games going out as coming in.

I also have a goal of finishing 2026, having played through all 4 Perseverance games, with the Chronicle mode that makes it a bit of a Legacy experience. See you on the other side of 8 rulebooks!

A Special Message from your Friendly Local Game Store

Are you a DINK with disposable income to spare? Have you just purchased a home and find yourself with extra space that feels empty? Has seasonal affective disorder hit especially hard this year? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, we suggest resolving to buy more board games!

There is no more efficient way to make your new home feel cozy while simultaneously stimulating the local economy, all while improving dopamine production and thus elevating your overall mood. Definitely do not delay by trying games before you buy them. Shelf of Shame? Never heard of it! Treat Yo Self now, because your happiness is too important for dillydallying.

Furthermore, if you feel any uncertainty at all regarding the impact of the global supply chain and/or international tariffs on the likelihood of your next potential board game purchase being available to retail, you should also resolve to back more crowdfunded board games this year. It’s just too big a risk not to.