Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
For thirty-six years, I didn’t have a hobby that truly felt like mine.
Then I discovered board games — and a handful of them completely rewired how I think, learn, and connect with people.
In this video I look back at nine games that didn’t just fill my shelves — they woke up my brain.
We dive into the psychology of play and why people willingly spend thousands of hours learning complicated rules. Using Self-Determination Theory, I explore how great games provide three things modern life often lacks:
• Autonomy – the feeling of real agency
• Competence – the satisfaction of mastering something difficult
• Relatedness – the connection we build with others
Sometimes a hobby isn't just entertainment.
Sometimes it's the thing that keeps you grounded.
Games discussed in this video
Ticket to Ride — discovering agency
Century: Golem Edition — the identity shift
Twilight Struggle — mastering the struggle
Zombicide — the guilt of the “hotness”
Sleeping Gods — discovering flow
Zombie Teenz Evolution — connection with my daughter
Dwellings of Eldervale — the analytical pivot
Catan Dawn of Humankind - start of the board game review journey
Disney Lorcana — staying curious about TCG
What is your Anchor Game?
I want to know the one game that reminds you of a time you were struggling, a time you were happy, or someone you miss.
Tell me your story in the comments.
Timestamps
00:00 — The "Before" Times
01:16 — Ticket to Ride: Finding Agency
02:54 — Century Golem Edition - Board Game Collecting
04:12 — Twilight Struggle - Discernment for the Board Game Collection
06:27 — Zombicide Undead or Alive - Kickstarter Hotness
08:20 — Sleeping Gods - Board Game World Building
09:42 — Zombie Teenz Evolution - Childrens Board Game Journey
11:28 — Dwellings of Eldervale - Board Game Designer
12:54 — Catan Dawn of Humankind - Board Game Reviewer
14:46 — Disney Lorcana - TCG addiction
#BoardGames #TabletopGaming #PsychologyOfPlay #TheBangersProject
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCqr3JhmEHals03yHiyl3pjw/join
Support my Instagram
instagram.com/boardgamebangers
For thirty-six years, I didn’t have a hobby that truly felt like mine.
Then I discovered board games — and a handful of them completely rewired how I think, learn, and connect with people.
In this video I look back at nine games that didn’t just fill my shelves — they woke up my brain.
We dive into the psychology of play and why people willingly spend thousands of hours learning complicated rules. Using Self-Determination Theory, I explore how great games provide three things modern life often lacks:
• Autonomy – the feeling of real agency
• Competence – the satisfaction of mastering something difficult
• Relatedness – the connection we build with others
Sometimes a hobby isn't just entertainment.
Sometimes it's the thing that keeps you grounded.
Games discussed in this video
Ticket to Ride — discovering agency
Century: Golem Edition — the identity shift
Twilight Struggle — mastering the struggle
Zombicide — the guilt of the “hotness”
Sleeping Gods — discovering flow
Zombie Teenz Evolution — connection with my daughter
Dwellings of Eldervale — the analytical pivot
Catan Dawn of Humankind - start of the board game review journey
Disney Lorcana — staying curious about TCG
What is your Anchor Game?
I want to know the one game that reminds you of a time you were struggling, a time you were happy, or someone you miss.
Tell me your story in the comments.
Timestamps
00:00 — The "Before" Times
01:16 — Ticket to Ride: Finding Agency
02:54 — Century Golem Edition - Board Game Collecting
04:12 — Twilight Struggle - Discernment for the Board Game Collection
06:27 — Zombicide Undead or Alive - Kickstarter Hotness
08:20 — Sleeping Gods - Board Game World Building
09:42 — Zombie Teenz Evolution - Childrens Board Game Journey
11:28 — Dwellings of Eldervale - Board Game Designer
12:54 — Catan Dawn of Humankind - Board Game Reviewer
14:46 — Disney Lorcana - TCG addiction
#BoardGames #TabletopGaming #PsychologyOfPlay #TheBangersProject
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCqr3JhmEHals03yHiyl3pjw/join
Support my Instagram
instagram.com/boardgamebangers
