5 Highest Ranked Games I Got Rid Of

I am more of a collector than a culler. Once a game is placed on a shelf it is difficult for me to part with it. That is not to say I haven't banished a board game or two during my time in the hobby, but it doesn't occur too often. Most that I've gotten rid of aren't well-loved or reviewed, such as Visitor in Blackwood Grove (BGG ranked 4,858*), but that doesn't mean highly ranked games are impervious to ejection from my collection.

Honorable(?) Mention- Arkham Horror: The Card Game (Ranked 23*)

This one still has a place on my shelf, but it's also for sale. I have only played it once and certainly understand the adoration this "living card game" receives. The one play I have under my belt was enjoyable, but as a solo experience, which is how I would continue playing it as, it has a little more going on than I'd prefer. I don't mind the complexities normally, but I very rarely have an opportunity to play games solo at this weight. It requires so much of a time commitment. Plus, I'm not looking forward to buying more scenarios after another two plays.

5- One Night Ultimate Werewolf (Ranked 443*)

Why I Bought It- I saw this small box social deduction game at Target and thought it sounded fun. It was actually one of two games that I first purchased along with Betrayal at House on the Hill, and I've gotten rid of both.

Why I Sold It- One Night Ultimate Werewolf is fun, but there are a couple of issues. The first is the talking. Many players struggle to start accusing others of being a werewolf. They're not sure what to say. I felt that I had to do a lot of leading, which sucked my personal enjoyment out of the game. The second issue is that if I'm playing a social deduction game of this ilk, it's going to be Deception: Murder in Hong Kong or even The Resistance. One Night Ultimate Werewolf just doesn't do it as well.

4- Imhotep (431*)

Why I Bought It- My family had really enjoyed Silver and Gold and Barenpark, both by Phil Walker-Harding. Many people I heard from sang the praises of Imhotep like some angelic choir honoring a deity. Previous success from the designer? Check. Highly recommended? Check. Seemed like a winner. Plus, I love the ancient Egyptian theme.

Why I Sold It- Simply put, no one liked this one. I mean, I thought it was great, but others didn't like the drab, muted colors or the moving of blocks to different ports to place them. With no one to play it with, I reluctantly sent it away like a pharaoh who has dealt with one too many plagues. Shame.

3- Tiny Epic Galaxies (279*)

Why I Bought It- In the past, I have enjoyed the space 4X genre having played Twilight Imperium 4 Ed. and Exodus: Proxima Centauri. One of my dearest gaming friends, with whom I played both of the previous games, is a gamer who prefers the theme of space. Tiny Epic Galaxies was a minuscule take on a much larger space game, and its price tag matched. 

Why I Sold It- I played it solo and thought it was alright. While solo play might not be the optimum way to experience Tiny Epic Galaxies, it did give me the necessary information to make a decision. My family was not going to play and enjoy this game. It also was not going to provide what I was looking for where my group of gamer friends was concerned. We would always choose a game with more grandeur. More appeal. Just more. 

Tiny Epic Galaxies was certainly tiny, but it just couldn't fit the epic in that petit box, so I jettisoned it to the dark recesses of space.

2- Imperial Settlers (231*)

Why I Bought It- Honestly, I decided to pick this one up because many reviewers were high on it, and at the time I didn't have a game that began with the letter "I." That last part is not the best criteria for purchasing a board game perhaps, but I did get a good deal on a used copy.

Why I Sold It- I played Imperial Settlers once with my wife. Neither of us was enamored with it. Although, it turns out we didn't even play it right, as we accidentally used the wrong faction decks. At first I thought I'd keep it to play with my gamer friends, but realized there were plenty of other games I'd rather get to the table when they visited (noticing a trend here?), so it was expendable. So many games, so little time.

1- Terraforming Mars (4*)

Why I Bought It- When I began in this hobby, this title stood like a paragon of gaming. It seemed universally adored (although it certainly has its detractors, like any game), and it almost felt like a right of passage-type board game. What I mean by that is if you played or owned Terraforming Mars you were an official gamer (which is a stupid thought). I didn't care for the Mars theme nor the components, but I did think the mechanisms at work were interesting and would be entertaining. I actively sought out a decently priced copy (spoiler: which would be a consideration for getting rid of it). This game is expensive!!

Why I Sold It- Technically, I didn't. I gave it away. Chalk this one up to preferring to play other games with my seldom-meeting group- a recurring theme here. I really enjoyed Terraforming Mars, but knew it would never really be played. Not with my family. Not with my gaming friends. Not solo. Plus, as it turns out, in my pursuit for a deal I accidentally purchased a fake copy. It had to go.

What are some of the best rated games on Board Game Geek that you got rid of? Why?

Thanks for reading! It means a great deal to me.

*Ratings were current as of writing, but are ever-changing and subject to fluctuation.