Board Game Arena

Should rematches always be offered? Obviously, no hard feelings if a person doesn't want to play it, but it's courteous, right?

No. Why?

If I play a game, it doesn't mean I want to play another one, or I have time for it. If I want to play another match with the same opponent(s), I'll offer a rematch. I expect they'll do the same (i.e., if they want). If I'm offered a rematch, I might accept. I don't read any courtesy or disrespect in whether or not I'm offered a rematch.

Lucan 2 wrote: ↑06 September 2025, 20:33 Should rematches always be offered? Obviously, no hard feelings if a person doesn't want to play it, but it's courteous, right?

There's no obligation, but, I do think it's courteous to offer a rematch in a game in which player 1 has a significant advantage. I like to play games in sets of 2, with each player getting an opportunity to be player 1.

I agree with "no hard feelings", though I would not likely play with someone again if that player was not willing to rematch with player 1 rotating to the other player.

And, as Jellby noted, if the game was real-time, the opponent might not have time for another game. I mostly play turn-based, so that's a non-issue for me.

I personally don't like playing rematches, as sometimes it can feel like playing the same game again, whereas I would rather play a whole new game. I know that's not necessarily literally true, as people make different decisions in different games, and I definitely do play rematches with my RL friends (even on BGA), but it's just how I feel about it. If I come across the same opponent later naturally, that's fine, but I will almost always turn down a rematch (I'm not bothered by people offering them, just explaining what my own feelings are about it).