5 Sanity Breaking Board Games with the Longest Playtime

If you like your space opera board games long enough to rival an actual NASA mission, Twilight Imperium’s got you covered. This game is notorious for its insane playtime. Clocking in at… well, anywhere between 6 to 10 hours (or more), depending on how “decisive” your friends are, it’s like Risk on steroids. 

Here, you’re competing not just with dice rolls but with galaxy-spanning politics, warfare, and trade deals shadier than a used starship salesman. Plan for bathroom breaks and pizza deliveries because, trust me, this one’s a full shift.

Why bother? 

• Massive, customizable galaxy maps. 
• Pure strategy; the luck factor isn’t a dealbreaker here. 
• The perfect mix of negotiation and combat. Jedi-level patience required. 

2. Gloomhaven – The Campaign That Never Sleeps 

A board game? Nah, this is more of a life choice. Gloomhaven isn’t something you casually unwrap for a Friday night. It’s a legacy-style RPG dungeon crawler that could take literally hundreds of hours to see through. Imagine D&D, but trapped in a box and with zero arguments over whether or not you can seduce the NPC. 

The kicker? It’s cooperative, so every decision impacts the group’s goals. Perfect for when you want to save the world as a team, but also an easy way to murder a friendship if someone derails the mission for loot.

Why bother? 

• An evolving storyline with insane replay value. 
• Tactical combat for those who like their games crunchy. 
• Bragging rights if you actually finish it. 

3. Civilization: The Board Game – Build, Expand, Regret 

Sid Meier’s Civilization is legendary in the PC gaming world, but flipping it into a board game? That’s a whole other beast. Just like its digital sibling, this game lets you expand your empire, grow your culture, crush enemies, and waste an entire day. A 4-6 hour playtime (minimum) means you’ll watch entire real-life civilizations rise and fall in the time it takes to finish one match.

Why bother? 

• Perfect for history buffs who also enjoy causing wars. 
• Tons of paths to victory (military, tech, or just being cool). 
• You’ll finally understand what Gandhi’s nukes meme is all about. 

4. Axis & Allies – World War II on Your Dining Table 

This one’s a classic, but the “classic” comes with a warning label. If you’ve got 6+ hours and an enthusiasm for recreating World War II strategy, Axis & Allies is your calling card. Choose your faction, plan your moves meticulously, and prepare to argue over who has control of Eastern Europe for the next three hours. 

Why bother? 

• It’s a war simulator, but streamlined enough to actually follow. 
• Deep strategy, historical context, and global domination vibes. 
• You feel ridiculously smart when your gambits pay off. 

5. Diplomacy – Friendships Will Be Broken 

This game should come with a disclaimer that reads “likely to cause trust issues”. Diplomacy isn’t as much about the lengthy turns (though they can drag); it’s about backstabbing everyone at the table. The playtime varies wildly, but good luck finishing it under 5 hours, thanks to intense negotiations (or heated arguments).

Basically, if playing Diplomacy doesn’t turn you into Littlefinger from Game of Thrones, you’re doing it wrong.

Why bother? 

• Pure negotiation and persuasion. No dice, no cards, just you. 
• Great for aspiring tacticians or amateur sociopaths. 
• Intense in all the best (and worst) ways. 

Should You Brave These Monsters? 

Here’s the thing. Long board games are not for the faint-hearted (or faint-butted… seriously, invest in a good chair). But, for those who love the grind, these games offer experiences you just can’t get with quicker options. They’re not something you tear through for sheer speed; they’re a commitment, a saga, a test of gaming endurance. 

Fancy stepping up? Just remember to set aside your entire weekend and warn your friends they’re not leaving the house anytime soon. Oh, and maybe keep some snacks around. Hangry gamers aren’t good company.