‘The Hobby’ Review – The Secret Fame Of Board Games [SXSW 2024]

When you think of board games, where does your mind go? Common answers likely include roundtable Monopoly with the family, or something like Cards Against Humanity with a group of rowdy friends over the weekend. Those answers are valid, as are many variations of them, but The Hobby challenges that easygoing positive conception of, well, the hobby. The documentary favors a deeper approach, one driven by unique personalities and bonds in a setting much unlike your living room rug or kitchen table: the World Series of Board Games.

The event is held annually, boasting a tournament setting and a friendly yet competitive environment, as well as a vast open space for visitors to shop around and explore. It’s a sport of an entirely different sort, played in the minds and channeled through cards and figurines. The setting is surprisingly intimate; it’s a no-questions-asked kind of thing. Everyone in attendance knows the deal and is more than happy to be there. You won’t find anything quite like it anywhere else, and The Hobby does a magnificent job of putting a spotlight on that.

The documentary opens with a historical analysis of board games in their origin, tracing their synthetic lineage back to ancient Mesopotamia via encased displays at the British Museum. The point is clear: board games have been around for a long time, and they’re much more than the short-lived tabletop gatherings that you’re used to.

There’s a compelling artistic angle present in the DNA of this documentary, both in its refined filmmaking and in relation to the topic. This treatment is both refreshing and surprising, and once we cut from the opening title cards to hordes of people waiting to get into the event in the present time, cheering raucously as the doors finally swing in, the stage is officially set for one of the most interesting documentaries to hit the scene in a long while.

There are quick-cut interviews of attendees spliced together with footage of dozens of games. Moderators with microphones guide fans through game sessions, and others look on from a stage over droves of eagerly raised hands in attentive crowds. There’s live music, varied cosplay, and vendors at every corner. Within five minutes, you’ll be sold on the mind-boggling scope of the convention, which truly can’t be understated. Everyone has their thing, and board games just so happen to be a lot of people’s thing, as evidenced by the diverse display of event-goers and competitors alike.

If you’re already into board games, this should easily go down as an all-time favorite for you. The sheer reverence given to the topic and tournament is that which fans of the biggest movie franchises in the space often wish their creators would give to said properties. If you aren’t, the craft required to piece this whole thing together should at least make this an entertaining watch.

The film certainly targets a relatively niche audience from the get-go, but then again, there are clearly millions of folks whose alley this is directly up. It may be a tad overlong, but on the whole, The Hobby is a very well made documentary about a topic that rarely sees the light of day in this way. There’s a lot to grab onto concerning the content at hand and the artistry exhibited herein. Director Simon Ennis clearly has a passion for the topic, too, and the project absolutely exudes that positive energy. There may not be a particular pull for everyone here, but given the chance, The Hobby is virtually impossible to turn down. It’s a well-researched, well-made documentary that shines light on a deeply passionate community of people who love to play board games; a fun watch for all involved, and a precise achievement in hyper-specific storytelling.

The Hobby had its World Premiere at SXSW 2024 in the Documentary Spotlight section. 

Director: Simon Ennis

Rated: NR

Runtime: 92m