boardgames

I'm regularly your friend that plays long as fuck games, but I always make sure that anyone I invite for these long games is acutely aware that they're in this for 4 hours and if that's not ok with them to tell me and we'll play something else. I kind of get the annoyance you host had when you abandoned the game midway, but it's really on them to manage expectations, especially when playing with adults with obligations. It is also up to them to figure out that when you explain a new game, it's going to take longer to play.

So really no fault of your own, and definitely don't apologize for having work in the morning, but it seems your friend is not that good at managing expectations and that means you'll have to do it yourself. Ask ik advance what game you'll be playing and watch a review or video of it (you can also watch a live game on Board Game Arena), and yeah you'll probably miss out on some great games that look bad from the outside but if not spending 4 hours playing a game you don't enjoy is more desirable to you then that's it.

You could also, of course, try communicating with your friend about your grievances. I don't know what good will come out of that discussion but I don't think it can be that bad.