The purpose is mood

When the purpose of the night is to play Monopoly then I’d rather be anywhere else.

Too much of the conversation is around strategy, tactics, winning, and losing.

It makes for a very quiet, tense night that ends when someone is crowned champion.

But when the purpose of the night is to have a good time then a board game (definitely pick a more exciting game then Monopoly for this) can be a great way to change the mood.

I say this because there is a certain awkwardness at the start of the night when people arrive and attempt the obligatory small talk.

But having an exciting game where you don’t keep score to focus on while people have a few drinks and relax in each other’s company.

Then after the game is over you’ve struck gold as the collective good mood is reached and organic conversation is flowing.