SXSW 2024 Review: The Hobby

Niche pop culture pursuits are always fertile ground for SXSW documentaries, and The Hobby is no exception. Directed by Simon Ennis, The Hobby is a highly entertaining and surprisingly moving look at the creators and fans behind the world of board games.

For those who haven’t kept up with the explosive rise of board games in recent years, the market has swelled way beyond standbys like Monopoly and Clue to encompass highly sophisticated and artistic games for every taste.

Ennis follows a diverse group of creators and fans from the high stakes World Series of Board Games in Vegas down to the homes of board game makers trying to get their projects off the ground.

A revealing look at the board game subculture that will make you want to start adding new games to your cart immediately, The Hobby is a feel-good tribute to the act of sitting down with friends (or strangers) over a shared game.