Does anyone actually play this game for fun?

[richyfourtytwo]

Up to a point I can see both sides. Winning strategies involve blocking a lot as far as I can see. So I could learn to efficiently block myself. But like some others this takes the fun out of the game for me. So this is not a game I should play competetively. (Interestingly I have no trouble in other games, like ticket to ride. I'm fine with blocking there. Totally subjective of course.) My easy solution: I play other games. (And of course I don't complain about the blockers at all. That I don't like this game when played well is my problem alone (and not even that because of the aforementioned easy solution).

[DirtyVegas]

I learned how to play the game on bga by getting destroyed when first starting out, block after block after block, playing 2/3 of the game with no meeples because all mine were blocked in. I had to learn and adapt and eventually got where I can anticipate blocks, and make strategic blocks myself - all while having a blast - even in the beginning

I learned by playing like this and can now use it to my advantage (hopefully)
It was really amazing at the beginning to see these players better than me and how they anticipated getting a field with an unorthodox meeple placement. so many times it was used against me, and each time I was like "wow, that is a great move" and now use those moves in my games

have fun and try to learn from it if you can

I am over 400 elo now and still have a great time getting destroyed by better players, all while learning and again, having fun

[MiBol-1986]

It's a strategic way to play, also has its consequences... so, learn to play to put baits in your moves... it's kind of annoying, but the rules are for all players...

I love to play, but I love more play and win... and I love even more play and win with other players that want to win... it's part of the fun.

[CraftyRaf]

I once played soccer, but when the other team tried to score, I reported them for 'unsporting behavior.' Like, have some class!
Last time I played chess, my opponent captured my bishop. I asked them if they came here to make friends or to ruin lives.
I was in a game of Risk, and someone actually invaded my continent. Real 'friend' move there.
Once played Connect 4, and they just kept blocking my columns. Clearly someone forgot the true meaning of 'friendly game.'
In my last game of Catan, someone actually built a road to cut me off. I’m pretty sure that’s against the Geneva Convention.
Tried a bike race, but then someone passed me for first place. I immediately checked the rulebook for courtesy violations.
I was playing Starcraft and my opponent Zerg rushed me. I guess they missed the tutorial on mutual respect.
In Hearthstone, someone used a card combo to wipe my board. Very toxic. We were supposed to be building trust, not decks.

If you're looking to avoid competitive drama, you might enjoy some games that focus more on cooperation, creativity, or gentle competition, like:
- Pandemic – Instead of fighting each other, you’ll work together to save the world from multiple pandemics. No blocking, just teamwork!
- Dixit – This storytelling game is all about interpreting beautiful, surreal artwork, with no winners or losers, just creative thinking and laughs. No blocking, just a fun way to enjoy each other's creativity!
- Patchwork – In this peaceful two-player game, you’re making a quilt! You collect pieces and try to make the prettiest quilt; it’s competitive but without cutthroat strategy.
- Wingspan – Here you’ll build an aviary and attract birds. It’s mildly competitive, but mostly it’s a peaceful experience of appreciating nature.

[Silene]

- Patchwork – In this peaceful two-player game, you’re making a quilt! You collect pieces and try to make the prettiest quilt; it’s competitive but without cutthroat strategy.

I recently played this and guess what happened? I had a T-shaped hole in my quilt. Then my opponent took the ONLY T-shaped piece from right under my nose. They didn't even need it and the color didn't match at all! The W--shaped piece would've fit much better on their board. What an ugly move. So don’t you tell me this is a peaceful game!!!

[CraftyRaf]

All jokes aside, competitive Patchwork is a lot more competitive and requires a lot more calculation than one might think. But 'blocking' in patchwork is way less obvious than it is in Carcassonne. Therefor, when you lose from a strong player in Patchwork, ppl consider it "bad luck" instead of "he blocked me".

[Jellby]

- Wingspan – Here you’ll build an aviary and attract birds. It’s mildly competitive, but mostly it’s a peaceful experience of appreciating nature.

I drew a bird that needed three mice as food, and my opponent systematically took all mice from the feeder, blocking me from playing my nice bird!

If you want a game without blocking, I suggest Yahtzee or Knister, or any other multi-solitaire game with no interaction.

[Todd Bannon]

Most of the people I'm playing with seem to be playing just to block others. I get it, it's a game, and blocking is part of strategy and we all do it, but some folks it's like that is the ONLY strategy. It's such a shame because I think this is probably a fun game IRL but it's so cutthroat here it's hard to enjoy, and I am sure I'm not the only one frustrated...

This is why two-person Carcassonne is a little dull. If all people do is block, then there is little room to develop game play as intended. I prefer three or four person, because if you just block, you will lose. You have to employ a more sophisticated strategy than block, block, block.

This is the same with a lot of games that you can technically play with two people but are much more fun with three or more.

[Todd Bannon]

I once played soccer, but when the other team tried to score, I reported them for 'unsporting behavior.' Like, have some class!
Last time I played chess, my opponent captured my bishop. I asked them if they came here to make friends or to ruin lives.
I was in a game of Risk, and someone actually invaded my continent. Real 'friend' move there.
Once played Connect 4, and they just kept blocking my columns. Clearly someone forgot the true meaning of 'friendly game.'
In my last game of Catan, someone actually built a road to cut me off. I’m pretty sure that’s against the Geneva Convention.
Tried a bike race, but then someone passed me for first place. I immediately checked the rulebook for courtesy violations.
I was playing Starcraft and my opponent Zerg rushed me. I guess they missed the tutorial on mutual respect.
In Hearthstone, someone used a card combo to wipe my board. Very toxic. We were supposed to be building trust, not decks.

If you're looking to avoid competitive drama, you might enjoy some games that focus more on cooperation, creativity, or gentle competition, like:
- Pandemic – Instead of fighting each other, you’ll work together to save the world from multiple pandemics. No blocking, just teamwork!
- Dixit – This storytelling game is all about interpreting beautiful, surreal artwork, with no winners or losers, just creative thinking and laughs. No blocking, just a fun way to enjoy each other's creativity!
- Patchwork – In this peaceful two-player game, you’re making a quilt! You collect pieces and try to make the prettiest quilt; it’s competitive but without cutthroat strategy.
- Wingspan – Here you’ll build an aviary and attract birds. It’s mildly competitive, but mostly it’s a peaceful experience of appreciating nature.

This reply borders on bullying and you are completely missing the point of the post.

No game is fun if you can only win by employing the exact same meta as everyone else. And you're analogies are actually not very good.
1. Soccer has 11 players on the field for each side, and each player has a different role, which shifts constantly depending on the situation.
2. Chess is a much more complex game than Carcassonne and by your very example involves capturing pieces. Each piece has a different role. Strategies have been developed over hundreds of years. There is not just one meta to win.
3. Connect 4? Really? I suppose that relates because the whole point is blocking, but come on.
4. And Starcraft is an RTS game. No comparison.

[Ceaseless]

If everyone was doing the same thing we wouldn't have high rated players because the highest rated player's opponents would just do what they do back to them and keep them down. Peak ratings would be much lower than the 700s because no one would be able to reliably outplay their opponent enough to get that high.