Hate at First Sight - the trap of first impressions (Topic Discussion)

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6 min read

I am sure many of us have been there. I know I certainly have. There are some games you simply overlook and don’t give a fair chance. Maybe it’s the box art that doesn’t speak to you, or the components that look dull or too childish. Whatever it is, you just don’t give it another thought. You have already formed an opinion of what the game is in your mind. Of course, that mental image is sometimes completely wrong. In this article, I want to talk about what first impressions are and how they can betray you.

Listen to the Audio Version

Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/)

Music: The Show Begins Vol. 10 by Sascha Ende
Link: https://ende.app/en/song/12954-the-show-begins-vol-10

Music by: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Artist: Yunior Arronte
License code: AWLWCSZXYGNMSF85

Mental Shortcuts

Let me start by saying that first impressions are often helpful. By definition, first impressions are quickly formed, usually within only a few seconds. They let us make sense of new situations. They allow us to formulate a rough characterisation of a person. In many ways, first impressions act as a mental shortcut. They allow us to filter information and make decisions faster.

When time is tight, we use first impressions to make decisions, which are generally good enough for the moment. It’s part of our survival instinct. Our brain is constantly scanning for patterns and risks, and having a quick read on a situation can help us stay safe, comfortable or in control.

For example, when you walk into a restaurant and see clean tables, warm lighting and lots of seemingly happy customers, you’re more likely to go in. The visual cues trigger a sense of welcome and reliability. On the other hand, if the windows are dirty, the staff look unhappy, or there’s a strange smell, you’ll probably keep walking.

Similarly, when you walk down the street and spot something unusual or potentially dangerous, you will probably turn around or, at the very least, cross the street to the opposite pavement.

These snap judgments serve a practical purpose. They save us time and reduce uncertainty.

Yet the trouble with first impressions is that they’re built on very little information. That information is enough to make a quick decision, but if you don’t update your opinion as you learn new information, you fail to realise that first impressions aren’t final. That’s when you fall foul of the first impression fallacy. You assume your initial read was accurate, even if all signs point to the contrary.

First Impression Fallacy

Now let me tell you about how I fell foul of the first impression fallacy. When I first saw Zuuli from Unfringed, a game by the wonderful Chris Priscott, I was immediately reminded of the game of Memory from my childhood. The bright artwork with blocks of colour and simple shapes made me think that this was a children’s game. Not even a family game, but specifically a children’s game. I immediately dismissed it and never gave it another thought. I never even looked at the rules or checked Board Game Geek to find out more about Zuuli. My first impression of the game was final. It had gone straight into the “not for me” category based on nothing more than how it looked.

My reaction might be understandable when you consider that I’m a very visual person. So when I saw Zuuli, I didn’t expect much depth. However, a lot of people saw past the game’s exterior and were smitten by it. Zuuli quickly became a hit, and it didn’t take long for that buzz to reach even further.

Oink Games decided to pick it up and release it in a different guise as Moving Wild. It was only then that the game returned to my attention. I love most of Oink’s games. The form factor and simple and clean design really draw me in. So it was no surprise that Moving Wild looked interesting to me.

When I found out that it was a remake of Zuuli, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. I realised that I had dismissed a really good game simply because I thought it was a children’s game. That moment really stuck with me. It was a perfect reminder that first impressions aren’t always the whole story.

cards from Zuuli on the left and cards from Moving Wild on the right — the bright illustrations from Zuuli versus the more muted tunes from Moving Wild

Other First Impression Fallacies

Like we often do in life, board games also always try to make the right first impression. That’s often visually, in the form of a photo of the components or the game set up on a table, as that’s how we consume board game media. Games also try to make a good impression through a brief description that explains what it is about and how it plays. It’s only when these first impressions at least roughly line up with our expectations that we might look for reviews or playthrough videos to help us make a final decision.

However, if a game’s first impression doesn’t fit, many of us will dismiss it. After all, there are so many other games released all the time that it’s easy to move on without more thought.

I think Sycthe from Stonemaier Games had a similar problem. People’s first impressions were that it was a war game. People also expected it to be a 4X game. However, it really is neither. Sure, there are battles in Scythe, but these are far and few between. The game is also about area control, but because there aren’t really many battles, there isn’t much extermination going on. So maybe it’s a 3X, but either way, a lot of people’s first impressions of Scythe were different to what the game actually is. That’s why many people bounced off it.

In a certain way, Arcs from Leder Games is also not what it’s billed as. It’s not a trick-taking game. You don’t score by winning tricks. Yes, you win initiative, but that’s about it. Sure, having initiative is important, but really Arcs is as much of a trick-taking game as Brian Boru from Osprey Games. There is a trick-taking element, but that drives the action selection and action strength more than anything else.

Happy Ending

So it’s completely understandable that many of us often fall foul of the first impression fallacy. Wading through a deluge of game releases requires a quick and relatively safe way of decision making. Yet, maybe it’s better if we step out of the torrent, and give ourselves more time to think.

I certainly think that’s where I’m getting to anyway. I think I have learned from my Zuuli experience. I have realised that it’s easy to dismiss a good game too quickly. It’s often better to take your time and a closer look. If you still don’t like a game after some more investigation, then that’s absolutely fine. Not every game is for everyone, of course.

As a reviewer, I certainly need to be even more thoughtful. Even on days when I get a lot of press releases or inquiries into my mailbox, I need to stop and ask for more information. I need to take time to read the rulebooks and ask additional questions, when necessary. Just because a game is still in prototype form and looks a bit rough around the edges doesn’t mean it’s bad. While I will never have time to get a demo of every game to help me decide if I can review it, I do have time to take things more slowly.

Of course, I have since apologised to Chris, the designer of Zuuli, in person and explained how I had fallen foul of the first impression fallacy. I had been too quick to dismiss his game, without giving it the relevant attention it deserved. He really appreciated my honesty and was gracious in offering me a review copy of his latest game, Fetching Feathers, which I’m honoured to cover on the blog in due course.

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