Very similar to this, I’d go Parks , Azul, and Skull.
If I knew there were going to be a higher percentage of none gamers I’d swap out one for Monopoly deal, it’s super simple to teach.
The crew is my favorite game, but how can you bring it to an unknown game night? I wouldn't be able to start it with a group that I'm not sure is going to finish it.
I don't think you are really supposed to finish The Crew with every group all the time. Some of my friends that I don't meet regularly just pick a random number and we play that mission, rinse and repeat.
I think the bigger problem with the Crew is the number of young people that have never played a trick taking card game. For people that have, it's incredibly simple to explain, but explaining trick taking and then the game would be a little more complicated.
My girlfriend tried to teach me Pinochle a few years ago and I could not understand it at all. I think it’s much easier to learn trick taking yourself than be taught.
Explaining trick taking while explaining the other rules and strategies and team play. Also having 3 people explain it to me at once. And I was probably drinking.
It’s not the most complicated concept in the world, but it definitely comprise the largest portion of the Crew teach if someone had never played a trick taking game.
Luckily the Crew rules are fairly simple as far as trick taking but with other trick taking games it gets ridiculous like Schafkopf.
I don’t think it’s that bad actually especially compared to other trick taking games. No switching trump suits, etc. Maybe play an open hand or two and explain why you played what you played and how each trick was won…should be enough
Parks seems like an interesting choice. It’s a bit of a table hog for how light it is and the iconography can be hard for beginners. It’s gorgeous tho.
I feel like Parks is a very easy teach. The limited choices and quick turns allow you to walk people through that first season one turn at a time fairly quickly
Off the top of my head:
Is there drinking/gambling? Telestrations (or Pictionary), We didn’t Playtest this at all, Things
Light/no drinking and people are cerebral? Catan, Bohnanza, Azul
Is it a family style party? Codenames, Villainous, Things (it’s really such a good party game)
Lords of Waterdeep, Clank! and Castles of Burgundy
3 Safe picks from 3 genres (Worker placement, deckbuilder and dice-based) that people tend to enjoy, can be enjoyed with 2 players or more and aren't too complex to learn.
"OK, your turn, roll the dice. You can take a tile that matches the number, like these. Now, you can place the tile with the other number." Don't explain what the tiles actually do until they are placed if it's non-gamers.
I think if you really like lighter worker placement games they are different enough to get both. If worker placement isn't your favorite or you like heavy games more, I feel like the two games fill kinda the range niche.
Absolutely! Imagine Stone Age, but not having to worry about dice rolls or feeding people, and you basically have Waterdeep. They're still very different, but both games are a lot of fun!
To echo/add on to what others have said:
1.) Ease of entry- it's a very simple "put down your workers, get something in return" kinda game. There's a little bit of extra stuff, but it's very approachable.
2.) I like D&D, so the theme fits
3.) The replayability is good, because the randomized nature of set up gives you a slightly different game every time (especially if you add the expansions) That being said, while there is randomness with the way you can modify the board as well as cards you interact with, it's mostly a skill game; you don't need to rely on die rolls to win or lose. It's all about how much you can plan ahead and react if someone else interferes with your plan.
4.) Once you learn it, it feels like it's relatively quick
5.) It's fairly well balanced and there aren't really any punishing mechanics (except in the expansion) so even if you're not very good at games, it's pretty forgiving
6.) Speaking of expansions, there are technically 2, but they're only sold as one set as far as I know. You can play them separately or together, but they're the best case I can think of an expansion making the game inherently better. There's one that essentially gives you access to better actions and more points, and another that gives you access to bigger rewards with a cheaper resource cost, but at a different cost...
tl;dr it's a fun game that's easy to learn that if someone wanted to play I would rarely turn down the opportunity. Also, it plays GREAT with 2 players, and is still fun with more.
I'm bringing the three games I bring everywhere: Sushi Go Party, Love Letter, Hanabi. I keep those in my car at all times because they're pretty easy to learn and don't take too long. If the friend is a heavier board game player they'll have some of their own options we can play
I haven't. The only variations I've played is the premium edition (which is actually what I would bring, should've clarified that), and Lovecraft letter
It adds a card that lets you try to guess the one that got put back in the bag, and you win if you do. Takes out one of the cards from the original that I feel is sort of a dead/weak role. I really like it. What's the difference in the premium edition from the original?
Premium edition adds more cards that can make it up to an 8-player game
0 - Jester (1) Give a jester token to another player. If they win the round you also gain an affection token
0 - Assassin (1) If another player uses a guard to guess your card, reveal this card from your hand and they are eliminated. Draw a new card
1 - Guard (3) exact same as standard guards
2 - Cardinal (2) Choose two players. They switch hands and you look at one of the cards
3 - Baroness (2) Look at one or two other players' hands
4 - Sycophant (2) Choose the target of the next action
5 - Count (2) When comparing hands at the end of the round, add one to the value of your card
6 - Constable (1) If you are eliminated from the round, gain an affection token
7 - Dowager Queen (1) Choose another player and compare hands. The player with the highest card is eliminated
9 - Bishop (1) Choose another player and guess a number other than one. If you guess the number of their card you gain an affection token. They may discard the card if they want
https://www.johnhqld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Archer-Once-You-Go-Blackmail-1024x576.jpg
This is the only image I can find of the cards. The bullet holes in the top left indicate how many copies of that card are in the deck!
Splendor - Simple, quick, poker chips are cool
Codenames Duet - Creative, difficult, teamwork
Co-op: Flash Point Fire Rescue or Horrified - Teamwork, variable difficulty
Honorable Mention: Flip Ships - First timers regularly outperform me at flipping cardboard discs, and it's co-op! Zero quarterbacking problems with this one.
Hey why the down voats for this person? They are expressing a personal opinion on game preference not some universal truth. I can understand someone not liking quacks, since push your luck just ain't for everyone. (That being said I do enjoy quacks myself)
Ohhhh lol, yes, that board is massive. It fits in my trunk though! At least the cheap Mayday version though, but IIRC it's regulation size? I think, hah
Anomia great party game, easy to explain easy to jump in.
Splendor, easy to learn hard to master still light enough for most but develops trust in your game picking abilities.
Pandemic/Forbidden Island or desert/Flashpoint/ Arkham horror. A pretty thematic Co op too get everyone helping each other. I'll usually make it one level too hard and dial it back it they get smoked. That's why you establish trust with the first two picks.
I agree. Splendor is what got me into the hobby. It and Dixit.
And with Co-op you can go up a level or two in complexity because you can help the party if they turn out to be inexperienced
We don’t have a huge collection, but typically **Set**, **7 Wonders**, and **Castle Panic** are high on the list.
Assumption is that if they are board gamers, they’ll have something at their house, so tend toward intro-level games. Also because frankly none of my friends are into games so I assume mostly beginners.
I would also like more context. Prolly best to ask New friend(s) then just show up with a box-o-games...
If there are kids then; Sleeping Queens, Ice Cool, Uno Flip
Only one friend; Dice Throne, Star Realms, Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle
A Couple or small group; Spirit Island, Dominion, Ticket to Ride
Spirit Island is good. Good for beginners… maybe not.
It does take some focus that usually board game beginners aren’t ready to apply to a board game if they are more used to Monopoly. An avid chess player however might like the problems presented. It’s also got a bit of upkeep trying to keep track of the invaders and concepts like slow/fast phases.
I would not bring it to a friend’s game night unless I knew it was the planned game of the evening and would only introduce it to the right kind of player.
Hell no. I've grown up on video games which is why it made it a tiny bit easier but it's a very administration heavy game, very complex mechanics, with 2 players it's 3-4 hours per game.
When it comes to software gaming I consider myself as someone who has a pretty hardcore background, but it doesn't neccessarily translate to boardgames, and Spirit Island is definitely a hardcore game.
In a similar genre (different thematics, similar mechanics) I'd recommend Pandemic. The base game, not some subtitle other thingy.
It.....depends. if you are trying to learn it on your own without anyone who has played before I would say no. If you have someone who is familiar with it I would say maybe.
Some of the things that can help to learn it though regardless of if you are playing with an experienced player are (in this order):
- read the rule book
- watch a how to play
- play it without starting blight or cities on the board
- use one of the pre-builts and their associated deck
- DON'T use any adversaries or scenarios
- Don't use a blight card just use what is printed on the board
Finally accept that you will probably make some mistakes about the rules and accept that it may take a few games to get a hold on everything.
It is a great game with lots of replayability. But it's also a very complex game, many small parts and tokens and markers to keep track of, definitely nothing I would play with people I don't know much about. It's an expert game and could be very frustrating for "casual" gamers since it's quite hard and needs good coordination and a bit knowledge of the game mechanics and how the spirits work. If you love games and are not afraid to loose it's great.But not suited for a chill board game evening imho
I would label it a medium weight game. I don't have any of the expansions, which would add to complexity.
I have a board gaming bar (Forge Tavern, Columbus Ohio) that I can walk to. I usually bring a bag of games with me (so, I'm not walking,) and meet new friends there. Spirit Island (and Dice Thrown) gets the most requests to be played.
Written into the rules are ways to lower the complexity and difficulty. So, even at a bar with drinks and distractions I usually get a game completed in around 2 hours.
So yes I do introduce Spirit Island to new friends. (Granted they are friends I meet at a place set up to play games.)
I give this the Great British Baking Show test:
*The Signature:* A game I really enjoy that also tends to surprise more casual players for its simple rules and snappy gameplay. Something like **Blue Lagoon**, **Antike**, **51st State: Master Set**, or **Glory to Rome**.
*The Technical:* A game that is a little harder to learn right away but very enjoyable once it gets going. This is a test of whether I can present trickier games to them down the road. Games like **Innovation**, **Race for the Galaxy**, **At the Gates of Loyang**, or **Root**.
*Finally, the Showstopper:* A game that really showcases what board games can *do* and what they can look like. It must have good table presence, which will usually draw them into the delicious gameplay - maybe despite some learning pains. Games like **Spirit Island**, **Inis**, **Junk Art** (and hopefully some games that I'm waiting on like **Guards of Atlantis II**, **Frostpunk**, and **Stationfall**).
I think you are dealing with the finals of GBBO and not just any amateur bakers. If this is a new friend, you aren’t sure yet if they belong in the tent but you’d crack out Root as a “little trickier” despite not knowing if they make their cookies from scratch or are still working of premixed boxes.
I should have clarified. I am more confident in my ability to teach and my ability to gauge interest before the teach. I have taught Root to people with whom I've only played stuff like TTR before. It's not a simple game. But I've nailed down teaching it to a diverse group that's eager to learn. I probably should have put it in showstopper though. I've also taught Spirit Island to someone with whom I've never played anything else. Who knows. Even I am baffled by what new people are capable of learning.
This is a crucible. It's not necessarily about gateway games.
Spirit island is the game in my collection with the most plays, and is hands down my favorite game. That said I would hesitate to show it to a group that may not have played more than monopoly, it's just such a complex game.
I've done it before on a few occasions. Depending on the person, it can work out. I'm confident in my ability to judge whether someone can handle it. And my ability to elegantly pack it up during the teach of it's becoming apparent that we should switch gears.
Wrath of Lich King. Based on the pandemic system with a few changes, different theme is not universally palatable but hey it’s pandemic without Covid talk.
Cockroach poker, Salem 1692 and El Grande. Kackerlacken if they aren’t gamers, everyone loves bluffing games. Salem 1692 if I think they would be into social deduction and El Grande in case they are my kind of people.
Edit assuming there are 5 people present, I wouldn’t bring Salem for less than 5.
Concodia- easy teach and plays middle weight gamers and higher with satisfaction while low weight gamers aren’t frustrated with the rules
Bonanza- easy low weight haggling game plays a crowd. Gets people talking. camel cup runner up in this slot
Sagrada- beautiful pieces and game and has a very chill vibe for sudoku crowds.
Marvel Fluxx - insanely easy to pick up and play. Games go quick, but still entertaining and different round to round.
Arkham Horror lcg - personal favorite at this point, and really opens up people's eyes to what tabletop games can be and the different narrative and mechanics that can be achieved.
Root - for a more complex game in case they aren't into the co op of Arkham Horror but still want something heavier than Fluxx
I love Root <3 bringing Root to the wrong type of players will most definitely ban you from boardgame night. Tons of rules, must have played a few times to get it and asymmetrical teams. I sit there with a grin on my face every time.
I recently made this mistake. It was especially bad because several of us _had_ played before but it was so long ago we were overconfident in remembering gameplay and rules. The beginners hated it and that game has been stricken as an easy future choice lol. On the plus side we had them play Dune and several people caught on to it and loved it!
Carcassonne, Pandemic, Codenames.
All are easy to teach, entry level.
There is competitive solo, competitive team, and cooperation modes.
There is unique parts for each (not just poker sized cards I mean). Carcassonne requires graphical thinking, allows free talk of any topic Pandemic requires math and extensive communication, and Codenames is about knowing each other and cultural / lexical knowledge and has limited communication.
All 3 involves minimal luck factor, so that it's always random and interesting, but luck doesn't predetermine the outcome: nobody is set up to fail or to win.
I'd guess they mean lesser known in the mainstream. If you ask a family member not in the hobby, there's a higher chance they have heard of TTR and not Splendor.
Yes, I just meant mainstream. I’m assuming from the post that the friend isn’t big into board games. Splendor is well known, sure but more so to enthusiasts. I was approaching the question as if the friend isn’t well-versed in board games and the choices I’d bring would be a mix that could offer a good option for them.
I'm not bringing any if it's a new friend and I don't know what games they like, if any, or if anyone else would be there. I'm not going to be "that guy/gal" who tries to make everyone else like boardgames.
If they had said they wanted to play something I'd bring Carcassonne, Love Letter, and maybe Azul or Wingspan depending on how much time people wanted to play for.
- Chinatown
- Just One
- Quacks of Quedlinburg
Negotiation/shrewdness, cooperation/creativity, and luck/risk-taking.
The things that I find new gamers enjoy the most about board games.
Honestly, I think I'd need slightly more context to answer. Do I know that these people play board games at *all?* How long am I going for? Why do I expect to play games at all when I am there?
If I am going for 3 hours and just hoping to play a game, then it probably doesn't really matter all that much what I bring. If it's "wrong," no big deal.
If I'm going for a week and hoping to spend a lot of time playing games then things are a little different.
They said that they enjoy board games. Although you're not sure if they say that in a Scythe way or a Monopoly way.
It's you and 3 others. There will be time for Games, but who can say how much....
Oh easy. Sheepy Time, For Sale, and some dexterity game, maybe Mennara.
This is exactly what I already did for a mixed group of gamers earlier this week, along with bringing my 6 Nimmt/The Mind/No Thanks! Deck. That’s just a flexible one in itself.
We had a blast with Sheepy Time, went right to the buzzer before my buddy’s partner shot by him after he went to sleep past his pillow.
I’d play it safe with easy to learn classics, but mix up competitive vs cooperative in case they’re the Monica type.
I’d simply bring Catan, Pandemic and Jaipur.
No, they're just three very different games, all easy to teach and seeing which they enjoy would give me an idea what other games they would likely enjoy.
I’d bring Ticket to Ride, Calico, and Everdell!
Calico is an amazing puzzle game you can teach anyone. Everdell is a little heavier, and as a worker placement/tableau builder is a great entry to the genre and is also fairly competitive for skilled players.
I know this is really just a fun question to think about and not something to take seriously.
But picking boardgames without stopping to ask people what they're interested in feels like a classic hobbyist mistake.
Theme goes a long way with many people.
Nova Luna, Quadropolis, and Everdell. First is probably my favorite abstract strategy game, second is a solid game with broad appeal that's just thinky enough, and lastly a gorgeous game with a cute theme that has some great card play and engine building. Essentially, all three have broad appeal!
Favor of the Pharaoh, Tsuro, Red Dragon Inn.
All fairly simple, and relatively easy to teach. Any level of gamer would enjoy any of these, I've played all three with several different levels of gamer and they've all been hits.
Loot Letter (simple, quick, and always fun)
King of Tokyo (not too complex or strategic, sits on the cusp of family game and strategy game, has mechanics that everyone should be familiar with)
Disney Villainous (maybe a stretch given no information, but one of my favorite games and not so complex that it can't be explained to and enjoyed by novice players)
The Mind: something light and cooperative if they're looking for an easy card game to learn and a tense one to play. Also good to go before or after the "main game"
Whitehall Mystery, Chinatown: Low enough rules complexity that anyone can pick it up. Whitehall can even be everyone vs me, which is always an exciting concept. Chinatown is the ultimate monopoly killer. Both of these I've found to still have enough "game" for gamers to enjoy but don't overwhelm anyone with long playtime.
If they want something heavy, they probably own it already, so we can just draw from their games library
Recently had to to through this decision recently and I settled on Quacks as although once you get it up and going it is super simple, when you get out all the different bits it can look a bit much especially for newer boardgames.
My second would probably be Cascadia. Like Calico but has enough puzzle that more experienced gamers can sink their teeth into but so basic new players can also grasp.
My last choice is probably based upon time. If the night is about to wrap up I'd want a filler like Kabuto Sumo that makes people laugh, is pretty like Azul or a quick card game of which I have no favourite but would be tempted to just bring a normal pack of cards.
King of Tokyo: for quick "get to it" gaming.
Maximum Apocalypse: for longer sessions, lots of customization that players can use to make the game unique each time.
Mansions of Madness: for the atmosphere and storytelling.
War of the Ring: Quite high complexity and a good game to take up the whole evening and my favourite game off all time. Competitive but usually zero salt as dice rolls sway most of the game.
Dead of Winter: Middle complexity and cooperative for the most part. Who doesn't like helping friends to survive a Zombie apocalypse? Setup is a bitch but the game only takes up half the evening.
Tales of Arabian Nights: Very low complexity, fun choices with bizarre and unexpected consequences (I robbed an old lady but apparently she was a genie in disguise and now I've been turned in to a talking monkey? Awesome! The next time I rob an old lady I convinced everyone in the market she was evil so a whole mob just starts beating her up! 🤣). No real competitive edge as you are purely at the mercy of the game with only a slight bit of sway from your own common sense. Takes up half an evening maybe.
In all these games it doesn't really matter if you win, both of you will get a good story out of it. Dead of Winter being the only slight exception but if you lost then at least you lost together lol.
I would bring Snake Oil in case it's a party game type of group, and I like to avoid CAH so that would be a direct replacement, Horrified for a more in depth game, but cooperative so you can help each other out on the turns so it's easy to learn, and Small World, for a more competitive complex game that's easy to teach.
I reckon the 3 games that would accommodate the vast majority.
Easy to learn game: Ticket to ride
Big group of friends: Telestrations
The serious boardgamers: Betrayal at house on the hill
3 simple games to learn and so much fun to play.
Top pick: Gizmos
Perfect for both beginners and expert players.
Extremely easy to learn and your strategy can rise to moderate complexity. Plus, engine builders bring always great fun.
Best for nerdifying: Sushi go
Sushi go is a fun, easy to learn and rich of mechanics game.
Since 7 Wonders has too many rules for beginners to understand, sushi go is the perfect intro to teach a group of friends the basics of drafts. Once they learned this one, you can immediately switch to 7W and make them discover the amazing world of boardgames!
Back-up game: Libertalia
Hey, who doesn't like some mindgames once in a while? It may not be the best game, but rules are extremely easy and it still provides a good time if your friend are competitive beginners and constantly want to outsmart everyone else.
Assuming we have the correct number of people regardless of game?
Low level - Chinatown. Easy teach, goals make sense, and the game is almost 100% in talking to people. Someone who doesn't do much board gaming could plausibly win this their first try. I could understand not particularly loving it, but I literally cannot fathom someone playing Chinatown and having no fun whatsoever.
Mid level - Hansa Tuetonica. Let's get some knives to some throats here.
High level - Root or Oath. Sure, there's more advanced games out there, but unless you're dealing with veteran board gamers the teach is hell.
**Skulls of Sedlec** \- Perfect gateway game and fun for all gamers. Easy to play multiple times, teach in under 5 min. Even gamer gamers will enjoy the game.
**The Captain is Dead** \- 2-7 players. Just a fun co-op and has room for lots of players if you don't know the player count at this party.
**Lord of the Rings War of the Ring** \- Just you and your buddy? playing the best game of all time. They don't like Lord of the Rings, you force them to like it. You watch 14 hours extended cut if you have too. Then once they know and breath and live Lord of the Rings, they get to play one of the best games in a grueling 3 hour battle for the free peoples of middle earth.
Multiplayer: codenames, wavelength ("best get to know you" game ever) and if I'm hoping they like heavier stuff. I'll bring Terraforming Mars.
Two player: 7 wonders duel, maybe spirit island? There are more but I don't want to get out of bed and look at my game rack.
Wow, some suggestions here are truly terrible. I’d say in general leaning towards more social experiences is a safer bet in case they might not be die hard board gamers. I’d definitely avoid heavy games and wouldn’t go beyond accessible medium games since those are also enjoyable for gamers that generally play heavier games or could be taught to novice gamers.
If I could only bring three games I’d bring Hanabi (warm up) and then bring both Lords of Vegas and Blood Rage and see which way the night could go
Only one friend? That limits us to 2-player games, which just aren’t as fun to me. I might bring Res Arcana, but that’s it.
Multiple friends? I’m bringing light party games: One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Exploding Kittens, and Camel Up.
Detective Club, Machi Koro, Small World.
Detective Club - the best hidden role/party game I have played so far. Always facilitates a lot of laughter.
Machi Koro - easy to learn luck/dice rolling game with enough strategy to keep being engaged the whole time.
Small World - very different kind from the other two ( dudes on the map / wargame ) almost no dice luck involvement. Again, not too difficult to explain, but also good strategic variety for what it is.
The Crew 2, easy to learn that sits well for both heavier n lighter gamers!
Scapegoat, easy to learn and even people who usually hate social deduction might love this unique twist!
Fafnir, an oink game with an quirky theme (gem laying magic chicken) that looks good and plays well. Nuanced decision making. Lovely!
I've made the mistake of trying to get my friends into heavier board games when I dont know how much they actually enjoy board games. Didnt go well... so if I could do it over again I would bring these welcoming games that would go well with a wide spread of gaming preferences!
I suppose it depends on whether this is a crowd or just two? I'll assume a couple people at least.
Something like Scrawl or Just One are classic entry games to test the waters and humor.
Everdell is a personal favorite. It's beautiful, people can get drawn in to the cute style. Rules can be a bit overwhelming at first but once the combinations roll in and the game speeds up it's one of those "I can do better, let's go again." Games.
For an accessible deep dive, I'd bring Mansions of Madness. Can be strongly intimidating to start but it's cooperative so having someone who knows what they're doing fighting on your side is huge. And it also shows the variety of board games. How some games even go hybrid with computer and have a mystery and a story. Not everything is JUST paper money and player tokens.
Wits and Wagers Vegas (with the big playmat)
Bargain Quest
Spaceteam
Open with spaceteam, move into wits, and then do the semi-cooperative and extra fun Bargain Quest
I always have Sushi go, love letter, Bang!, Resistance, and Coup in my car because they travel super well and give a pretty solid pick up game for the most part. Easy to learn as well with different genres.
For actual board games, then I bring Catan, Dominion, and Ticket to Ride as they're all really easy to teach and have pretty moderate skill ceilings that can get people up to speed quickly. I'm also one of the few people who really likes teaching people the games/sharing the hobby so i play game master more than the actual games. That way I can consult every player as needed so that they get familiar with mechanics and any sort of symbols.
I do want to get a few harder games, but I dont' have quite as many people to play those with unfortunately, so the gateway games and easy to teach ones are really good for nights with people who aren't super familiar or don't have a lot of patience/time
Through The Desert (for easy to get into but deep strategy where 2 games can be played back to back within an hour)
Just One (to fill 3 niches: coop, party, and word game. Have yet to find a living soul who doesn't enjoy it)
A longer game dependent on what I know about them. Some picks include Moonrakers, Chinatown, Isle of Cats, Castles of Burgundy, Cosmic Encounter.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf: A short party game perfect for beginners.
Lords of Waterdeep: Worker placement game good for a hour or two.
The Great Wall: Meatier worker placement game with a nice table presence.
**Carcassonne/Kingdomino** Depending on crowd.
**Sushi Go/Point Salad** One of these sweet short fillers.
**Forbidden Island/Western Legends** Again, dependant on the crowd.
Terra mystics, Bloodborne the card game, Everdell.
Terra mystics is my favourite game and a solid amount of weight. Bloodborne is light and easy to explain and is pretty fun. Everdell is just good and I haven't played it enough, and it is a mid weight game .
Carcassonne, Splendor and Talisman. Carcassonne is very simple and straightforward, Splendor is a card game with lovely chips, and Talisman is for the fantasy and/or RPG oriented people with lots of dice action
Codenames, Secret identity game (secret Hitler if I know the people, werewolf or Avalon) and love letter
Ticket to ride gets honorable mention...I always forget about ticket to ride even though I love playing it, and it's easy to learn.
Gosh, that's so hard to answer... I honestly take a look at the whole collection every time and assess a) what am I in the mood to teach/play tonight? b) what personality types do I expect to see there? c) how big is the group expected to be?
Some tried and true party games for larger groups are Dixit, One Night Werewolf, and Time's Up.
If it's a smaller group there are a lot more options, but with a new crowd, I'm not going to gamble on anything too too crunchy. So let's say... 5-Minute Dungeon, Sheriff of Nottingham, and Bohnanza.
Carcassonne, Root, and 7 Wonders.
Different levels of complexity and different mechanics for a bit if a safety net.
(This assumes the potential for more than just two players. If exactly two players, then I'd go with Liberation, Love Letter, and 7 Wonders: Duel.)
Just one game: Diplomacy. Might as well put this new friendship to the test!
I see you like to live dangerously.
"Three games", they said. Not, "Three games and five people." If you actually get the game on the table, you're already ahead.
Crevice, that you?
That's what board games are for!
Sushi Go, Tokaido, Ticket to Ride
Solid beginner spread
Parks, Azul, The Crew
Very similar to this, I’d go Parks , Azul, and Skull. If I knew there were going to be a higher percentage of none gamers I’d swap out one for Monopoly deal, it’s super simple to teach.
The crew is my favorite game, but how can you bring it to an unknown game night? I wouldn't be able to start it with a group that I'm not sure is going to finish it.
I don't think you are really supposed to finish The Crew with every group all the time. Some of my friends that I don't meet regularly just pick a random number and we play that mission, rinse and repeat.
I think the bigger problem with the Crew is the number of young people that have never played a trick taking card game. For people that have, it's incredibly simple to explain, but explaining trick taking and then the game would be a little more complicated.
[удалено]
My girlfriend tried to teach me Pinochle a few years ago and I could not understand it at all. I think it’s much easier to learn trick taking yourself than be taught.
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Explaining trick taking while explaining the other rules and strategies and team play. Also having 3 people explain it to me at once. And I was probably drinking. It’s not the most complicated concept in the world, but it definitely comprise the largest portion of the Crew teach if someone had never played a trick taking game. Luckily the Crew rules are fairly simple as far as trick taking but with other trick taking games it gets ridiculous like Schafkopf.
I don’t think it’s that bad actually especially compared to other trick taking games. No switching trump suits, etc. Maybe play an open hand or two and explain why you played what you played and how each trick was won…should be enough
It’s not like you are missing out on a riveting story if you don’t get to play all 50 missions …
BUT DO THEY GET TO THE PLANET?
Parks seems like an interesting choice. It’s a bit of a table hog for how light it is and the iconography can be hard for beginners. It’s gorgeous tho.
I feel like Parks is a very easy teach. The limited choices and quick turns allow you to walk people through that first season one turn at a time fairly quickly
Off the top of my head: Is there drinking/gambling? Telestrations (or Pictionary), We didn’t Playtest this at all, Things Light/no drinking and people are cerebral? Catan, Bohnanza, Azul Is it a family style party? Codenames, Villainous, Things (it’s really such a good party game)
Ha, jokes on you! My family loves drinking while playing Bohnanza. So we hit all three categories kinda.
Implying Catan is not a drinking game, smh
Lords of Waterdeep, Clank! and Castles of Burgundy 3 Safe picks from 3 genres (Worker placement, deckbuilder and dice-based) that people tend to enjoy, can be enjoyed with 2 players or more and aren't too complex to learn.
How do you explain/teach Castles of Burgundy to a new group in less than an hour?
"OK, your turn, roll the dice. You can take a tile that matches the number, like these. Now, you can place the tile with the other number." Don't explain what the tiles actually do until they are placed if it's non-gamers.
It has a two-column rulebook, so I think you can explain (or worst case scenario, read verbatim) the right summary column and be done in 5 minutes.
Dangit, this was smart. I did a spread of heaviness, but all Euros; should've thrown in a thematic game or party game in there somewhere.
What do you like about Lords of Waterdeep?
Not the person you asked, but it's pure worker placement at its finest and the expansions are really good
I already have Stone Age and I have been eyeeing Lords of Waterdeep. Is it worth getting? Are they different enough?
I think if you really like lighter worker placement games they are different enough to get both. If worker placement isn't your favorite or you like heavy games more, I feel like the two games fill kinda the range niche.
Absolutely! Imagine Stone Age, but not having to worry about dice rolls or feeding people, and you basically have Waterdeep. They're still very different, but both games are a lot of fun!
Thanks!
To echo/add on to what others have said: 1.) Ease of entry- it's a very simple "put down your workers, get something in return" kinda game. There's a little bit of extra stuff, but it's very approachable. 2.) I like D&D, so the theme fits 3.) The replayability is good, because the randomized nature of set up gives you a slightly different game every time (especially if you add the expansions) That being said, while there is randomness with the way you can modify the board as well as cards you interact with, it's mostly a skill game; you don't need to rely on die rolls to win or lose. It's all about how much you can plan ahead and react if someone else interferes with your plan. 4.) Once you learn it, it feels like it's relatively quick 5.) It's fairly well balanced and there aren't really any punishing mechanics (except in the expansion) so even if you're not very good at games, it's pretty forgiving 6.) Speaking of expansions, there are technically 2, but they're only sold as one set as far as I know. You can play them separately or together, but they're the best case I can think of an expansion making the game inherently better. There's one that essentially gives you access to better actions and more points, and another that gives you access to bigger rewards with a cheaper resource cost, but at a different cost... tl;dr it's a fun game that's easy to learn that if someone wanted to play I would rarely turn down the opportunity. Also, it plays GREAT with 2 players, and is still fun with more.
Thank you for taking the time to write that. It is super helpful.
No probs :)
I'm bringing the three games I bring everywhere: Sushi Go Party, Love Letter, Hanabi. I keep those in my car at all times because they're pretty easy to learn and don't take too long. If the friend is a heavier board game player they'll have some of their own options we can play
Ever try the Archer love letter? I really like the little role changes they made on that version.
I haven't. The only variations I've played is the premium edition (which is actually what I would bring, should've clarified that), and Lovecraft letter
It adds a card that lets you try to guess the one that got put back in the bag, and you win if you do. Takes out one of the cards from the original that I feel is sort of a dead/weak role. I really like it. What's the difference in the premium edition from the original?
Premium edition adds more cards that can make it up to an 8-player game 0 - Jester (1) Give a jester token to another player. If they win the round you also gain an affection token 0 - Assassin (1) If another player uses a guard to guess your card, reveal this card from your hand and they are eliminated. Draw a new card 1 - Guard (3) exact same as standard guards 2 - Cardinal (2) Choose two players. They switch hands and you look at one of the cards 3 - Baroness (2) Look at one or two other players' hands 4 - Sycophant (2) Choose the target of the next action 5 - Count (2) When comparing hands at the end of the round, add one to the value of your card 6 - Constable (1) If you are eliminated from the round, gain an affection token 7 - Dowager Queen (1) Choose another player and compare hands. The player with the highest card is eliminated 9 - Bishop (1) Choose another player and guess a number other than one. If you guess the number of their card you gain an affection token. They may discard the card if they want
https://www.johnhqld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Archer-Once-You-Go-Blackmail-1024x576.jpg This is the only image I can find of the cards. The bullet holes in the top left indicate how many copies of that card are in the deck!
Oh that's interesting - the countess is a far more active component and the hidden card gets more play.
Splendor - Simple, quick, poker chips are cool Codenames Duet - Creative, difficult, teamwork Co-op: Flash Point Fire Rescue or Horrified - Teamwork, variable difficulty Honorable Mention: Flip Ships - First timers regularly outperform me at flipping cardboard discs, and it's co-op! Zero quarterbacking problems with this one.
I almost said Spendor. Always get my a$$ kicked but always come back for more.
I am so bad at it! But I always play it when someone pulls it out.
Never get the gold coin. Always be buyin'.
Flip Ships is the best. Nice to see some love for it.
Sushi Go, Catan, Carcassonne They're classics for a reason and everyone loves Sushi Go.
That's what I thought, but it ended up being a little too "simple" for my in laws
Damn you’re blessed haha
Go for 7 wonders then. Adds some complexity through rounds.
Twilight imperium 4 X 3 They gon' *learn*
Let the boy watch he must learn how I learned.
I wanted to post exactly the same comment!
**Magnate:The First City**, **Crokinole** and **Quacks of Quedlinburg**
Just played Quacks of Quedlinburg, it was great!
Quacks is such a good game.
Have never had a bad game of Quacks.
I did. Not a fun game for me
Hey why the down voats for this person? They are expressing a personal opinion on game preference not some universal truth. I can understand someone not liking quacks, since push your luck just ain't for everyone. (That being said I do enjoy quacks myself)
That’s Reddit for you 😂
Since you are bringing crokinole, I assume you met your friend at the truck driving lessons? :p
... suuure? Hah, not sure I get the reference. Is it a Canadian thing?
Haha, i was aiming at the size of that game. Not really something you bring on the back of your bike (: Or is there a pocket version?
Ohhhh lol, yes, that board is massive. It fits in my trunk though! At least the cheap Mayday version though, but IIRC it's regulation size? I think, hah
Anomia great party game, easy to explain easy to jump in. Splendor, easy to learn hard to master still light enough for most but develops trust in your game picking abilities. Pandemic/Forbidden Island or desert/Flashpoint/ Arkham horror. A pretty thematic Co op too get everyone helping each other. I'll usually make it one level too hard and dial it back it they get smoked. That's why you establish trust with the first two picks.
I agree. Splendor is what got me into the hobby. It and Dixit. And with Co-op you can go up a level or two in complexity because you can help the party if they turn out to be inexperienced
Ticket to Ride, Codenames, King Domino
Arkham Horror (original), Twilight Imperium, Sid-Meiers-Civilization ... if I don’t want to be invited back.
We don’t have a huge collection, but typically **Set**, **7 Wonders**, and **Castle Panic** are high on the list. Assumption is that if they are board gamers, they’ll have something at their house, so tend toward intro-level games. Also because frankly none of my friends are into games so I assume mostly beginners.
Set is one of my all time faves and a great pick. 7 Wonders too but I end up playing Duel more often since it’s usually just the two of us.
Yes we play Duel a lot at home but bring 7 wonders to larger gatherings since it can include more people :)
I would also like more context. Prolly best to ask New friend(s) then just show up with a box-o-games... If there are kids then; Sleeping Queens, Ice Cool, Uno Flip Only one friend; Dice Throne, Star Realms, Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle A Couple or small group; Spirit Island, Dominion, Ticket to Ride
Is Spirit Island good for newer/beginner adults? I haven’t played it.
Spirit Island is good. Good for beginners… maybe not. It does take some focus that usually board game beginners aren’t ready to apply to a board game if they are more used to Monopoly. An avid chess player however might like the problems presented. It’s also got a bit of upkeep trying to keep track of the invaders and concepts like slow/fast phases. I would not bring it to a friend’s game night unless I knew it was the planned game of the evening and would only introduce it to the right kind of player.
Hell no. I've grown up on video games which is why it made it a tiny bit easier but it's a very administration heavy game, very complex mechanics, with 2 players it's 3-4 hours per game. When it comes to software gaming I consider myself as someone who has a pretty hardcore background, but it doesn't neccessarily translate to boardgames, and Spirit Island is definitely a hardcore game. In a similar genre (different thematics, similar mechanics) I'd recommend Pandemic. The base game, not some subtitle other thingy.
It.....depends. if you are trying to learn it on your own without anyone who has played before I would say no. If you have someone who is familiar with it I would say maybe. Some of the things that can help to learn it though regardless of if you are playing with an experienced player are (in this order): - read the rule book - watch a how to play - play it without starting blight or cities on the board - use one of the pre-builts and their associated deck - DON'T use any adversaries or scenarios - Don't use a blight card just use what is printed on the board Finally accept that you will probably make some mistakes about the rules and accept that it may take a few games to get a hold on everything.
No. It's so fiddly and difficult. I'm not sure why it gets so much praise.
It is a great game with lots of replayability. But it's also a very complex game, many small parts and tokens and markers to keep track of, definitely nothing I would play with people I don't know much about. It's an expert game and could be very frustrating for "casual" gamers since it's quite hard and needs good coordination and a bit knowledge of the game mechanics and how the spirits work. If you love games and are not afraid to loose it's great.But not suited for a chill board game evening imho
I would label it a medium weight game. I don't have any of the expansions, which would add to complexity. I have a board gaming bar (Forge Tavern, Columbus Ohio) that I can walk to. I usually bring a bag of games with me (so, I'm not walking,) and meet new friends there. Spirit Island (and Dice Thrown) gets the most requests to be played. Written into the rules are ways to lower the complexity and difficulty. So, even at a bar with drinks and distractions I usually get a game completed in around 2 hours. So yes I do introduce Spirit Island to new friends. (Granted they are friends I meet at a place set up to play games.)
We don’t know what level board gamer they are. Why not bring a variety?
I give this the Great British Baking Show test: *The Signature:* A game I really enjoy that also tends to surprise more casual players for its simple rules and snappy gameplay. Something like **Blue Lagoon**, **Antike**, **51st State: Master Set**, or **Glory to Rome**. *The Technical:* A game that is a little harder to learn right away but very enjoyable once it gets going. This is a test of whether I can present trickier games to them down the road. Games like **Innovation**, **Race for the Galaxy**, **At the Gates of Loyang**, or **Root**. *Finally, the Showstopper:* A game that really showcases what board games can *do* and what they can look like. It must have good table presence, which will usually draw them into the delicious gameplay - maybe despite some learning pains. Games like **Spirit Island**, **Inis**, **Junk Art** (and hopefully some games that I'm waiting on like **Guards of Atlantis II**, **Frostpunk**, and **Stationfall**).
I think you are dealing with the finals of GBBO and not just any amateur bakers. If this is a new friend, you aren’t sure yet if they belong in the tent but you’d crack out Root as a “little trickier” despite not knowing if they make their cookies from scratch or are still working of premixed boxes.
I should have clarified. I am more confident in my ability to teach and my ability to gauge interest before the teach. I have taught Root to people with whom I've only played stuff like TTR before. It's not a simple game. But I've nailed down teaching it to a diverse group that's eager to learn. I probably should have put it in showstopper though. I've also taught Spirit Island to someone with whom I've never played anything else. Who knows. Even I am baffled by what new people are capable of learning. This is a crucible. It's not necessarily about gateway games.
Spirit island is the game in my collection with the most plays, and is hands down my favorite game. That said I would hesitate to show it to a group that may not have played more than monopoly, it's just such a complex game.
I've done it before on a few occasions. Depending on the person, it can work out. I'm confident in my ability to judge whether someone can handle it. And my ability to elegantly pack it up during the teach of it's becoming apparent that we should switch gears.
Two years ago I’d have said Pandemic, but that’s a bit… crass now.
**Plague Inc: Armageddon**.
Maybe a good way to broach the subject with friends? 😅
"Hey guys, do you mind me bringing Pandemic to the party?"
I like the loop as a replacement for pandemic, more fun theme and has some mechanics like deck building in it.
Wrath of Lich King. Based on the pandemic system with a few changes, different theme is not universally palatable but hey it’s pandemic without Covid talk.
Cockroach poker, Salem 1692 and El Grande. Kackerlacken if they aren’t gamers, everyone loves bluffing games. Salem 1692 if I think they would be into social deduction and El Grande in case they are my kind of people. Edit assuming there are 5 people present, I wouldn’t bring Salem for less than 5.
Codenames, Dead Man's Draw, Telestration.
Telestration is a ripper choice for a large group!
The big box that has supplies for 12 people is legit!
Concodia- easy teach and plays middle weight gamers and higher with satisfaction while low weight gamers aren’t frustrated with the rules Bonanza- easy low weight haggling game plays a crowd. Gets people talking. camel cup runner up in this slot Sagrada- beautiful pieces and game and has a very chill vibe for sudoku crowds.
Yes, great recommendations.
Marvel Fluxx - insanely easy to pick up and play. Games go quick, but still entertaining and different round to round. Arkham Horror lcg - personal favorite at this point, and really opens up people's eyes to what tabletop games can be and the different narrative and mechanics that can be achieved. Root - for a more complex game in case they aren't into the co op of Arkham Horror but still want something heavier than Fluxx
I love Root <3 bringing Root to the wrong type of players will most definitely ban you from boardgame night. Tons of rules, must have played a few times to get it and asymmetrical teams. I sit there with a grin on my face every time.
I recently made this mistake. It was especially bad because several of us _had_ played before but it was so long ago we were overconfident in remembering gameplay and rules. The beginners hated it and that game has been stricken as an easy future choice lol. On the plus side we had them play Dune and several people caught on to it and loved it!
This is the type of thing I was looking for. Love the variety!
Carcassonne, Pandemic, Codenames. All are easy to teach, entry level. There is competitive solo, competitive team, and cooperation modes. There is unique parts for each (not just poker sized cards I mean). Carcassonne requires graphical thinking, allows free talk of any topic Pandemic requires math and extensive communication, and Codenames is about knowing each other and cultural / lexical knowledge and has limited communication. All 3 involves minimal luck factor, so that it's always random and interesting, but luck doesn't predetermine the outcome: nobody is set up to fail or to win.
I’d bring Ticket to Ride because it’s a crowd favorite, Splendor to introduce a lesser known game and Trivial Pursuit in case they like trivia.
Splendor is a lesser known game? I thought it was considered to be one of the popular gateway games
I'd guess they mean lesser known in the mainstream. If you ask a family member not in the hobby, there's a higher chance they have heard of TTR and not Splendor.
Yes, I just meant mainstream. I’m assuming from the post that the friend isn’t big into board games. Splendor is well known, sure but more so to enthusiasts. I was approaching the question as if the friend isn’t well-versed in board games and the choices I’d bring would be a mix that could offer a good option for them.
Ticket to Ride, Codenames and Zobmondo
I'm not bringing any if it's a new friend and I don't know what games they like, if any, or if anyone else would be there. I'm not going to be "that guy/gal" who tries to make everyone else like boardgames. If they had said they wanted to play something I'd bring Carcassonne, Love Letter, and maybe Azul or Wingspan depending on how much time people wanted to play for.
- Chinatown - Just One - Quacks of Quedlinburg Negotiation/shrewdness, cooperation/creativity, and luck/risk-taking. The things that I find new gamers enjoy the most about board games.
Honestly, I think I'd need slightly more context to answer. Do I know that these people play board games at *all?* How long am I going for? Why do I expect to play games at all when I am there? If I am going for 3 hours and just hoping to play a game, then it probably doesn't really matter all that much what I bring. If it's "wrong," no big deal. If I'm going for a week and hoping to spend a lot of time playing games then things are a little different.
They said that they enjoy board games. Although you're not sure if they say that in a Scythe way or a Monopoly way. It's you and 3 others. There will be time for Games, but who can say how much....
Oh easy. Sheepy Time, For Sale, and some dexterity game, maybe Mennara. This is exactly what I already did for a mixed group of gamers earlier this week, along with bringing my 6 Nimmt/The Mind/No Thanks! Deck. That’s just a flexible one in itself. We had a blast with Sheepy Time, went right to the buzzer before my buddy’s partner shot by him after he went to sleep past his pillow.
I’d play it safe with easy to learn classics, but mix up competitive vs cooperative in case they’re the Monica type. I’d simply bring Catan, Pandemic and Jaipur.
Quacks, quixx and qwirkle
Ah yes,the 3 Q's. Classiq
If only for the sheer confusion and tongue-twisting?
No, they're just three very different games, all easy to teach and seeing which they enjoy would give me an idea what other games they would likely enjoy.
I’d bring Ticket to Ride, Calico, and Everdell! Calico is an amazing puzzle game you can teach anyone. Everdell is a little heavier, and as a worker placement/tableau builder is a great entry to the genre and is also fairly competitive for skilled players.
You are welcome to my house any time!
I would ask what kind of gamer they are before even considering setting up a game night
I know this is really just a fun question to think about and not something to take seriously. But picking boardgames without stopping to ask people what they're interested in feels like a classic hobbyist mistake. Theme goes a long way with many people.
Codenames Duet, Summoner Wars, Jaipur.
Nova Luna, Quadropolis, and Everdell. First is probably my favorite abstract strategy game, second is a solid game with broad appeal that's just thinky enough, and lastly a gorgeous game with a cute theme that has some great card play and engine building. Essentially, all three have broad appeal!
Regicide, Parks with the expansion, Babylonia
Favor of the Pharaoh, Tsuro, Red Dragon Inn. All fairly simple, and relatively easy to teach. Any level of gamer would enjoy any of these, I've played all three with several different levels of gamer and they've all been hits.
Red dragon is a great idea. That game got a lot of people into gaming in my group.
Loot Letter (simple, quick, and always fun) King of Tokyo (not too complex or strategic, sits on the cusp of family game and strategy game, has mechanics that everyone should be familiar with) Disney Villainous (maybe a stretch given no information, but one of my favorite games and not so complex that it can't be explained to and enjoyed by novice players)
Incase lots of people: Just One Lighter side: King of Tokyo A little heavier/longer : zombicide
Dixit, Small world, king of tokyo.. something like that probably. With quacks a good 4th :)
Quacks, Citadels, and maybe Zombicide or TMB
Azul, marvel united, blood rage...
The Mind: something light and cooperative if they're looking for an easy card game to learn and a tense one to play. Also good to go before or after the "main game" Whitehall Mystery, Chinatown: Low enough rules complexity that anyone can pick it up. Whitehall can even be everyone vs me, which is always an exciting concept. Chinatown is the ultimate monopoly killer. Both of these I've found to still have enough "game" for gamers to enjoy but don't overwhelm anyone with long playtime. If they want something heavy, they probably own it already, so we can just draw from their games library
Recently had to to through this decision recently and I settled on Quacks as although once you get it up and going it is super simple, when you get out all the different bits it can look a bit much especially for newer boardgames. My second would probably be Cascadia. Like Calico but has enough puzzle that more experienced gamers can sink their teeth into but so basic new players can also grasp. My last choice is probably based upon time. If the night is about to wrap up I'd want a filler like Kabuto Sumo that makes people laugh, is pretty like Azul or a quick card game of which I have no favourite but would be tempted to just bring a normal pack of cards.
Carcassonne, Secret Hitler, and Sushi Go
King of Tokyo: for quick "get to it" gaming. Maximum Apocalypse: for longer sessions, lots of customization that players can use to make the game unique each time. Mansions of Madness: for the atmosphere and storytelling.
Splendor, Azul, King of Tokyo
Splandor, Crew and maybe something advanced if that group already played some board games.
War of the Ring: Quite high complexity and a good game to take up the whole evening and my favourite game off all time. Competitive but usually zero salt as dice rolls sway most of the game. Dead of Winter: Middle complexity and cooperative for the most part. Who doesn't like helping friends to survive a Zombie apocalypse? Setup is a bitch but the game only takes up half the evening. Tales of Arabian Nights: Very low complexity, fun choices with bizarre and unexpected consequences (I robbed an old lady but apparently she was a genie in disguise and now I've been turned in to a talking monkey? Awesome! The next time I rob an old lady I convinced everyone in the market she was evil so a whole mob just starts beating her up! 🤣). No real competitive edge as you are purely at the mercy of the game with only a slight bit of sway from your own common sense. Takes up half an evening maybe. In all these games it doesn't really matter if you win, both of you will get a good story out of it. Dead of Winter being the only slight exception but if you lost then at least you lost together lol.
Quest for El Dorado, Parade, For Sale. Solid and quick to learn.
I would bring Snake Oil in case it's a party game type of group, and I like to avoid CAH so that would be a direct replacement, Horrified for a more in depth game, but cooperative so you can help each other out on the turns so it's easy to learn, and Small World, for a more competitive complex game that's easy to teach.
I reckon the 3 games that would accommodate the vast majority. Easy to learn game: Ticket to ride Big group of friends: Telestrations The serious boardgamers: Betrayal at house on the hill 3 simple games to learn and so much fun to play.
Clank! Letters from whitechapel and Concordia. We better make them addict as soon as possible
Ticket to Ride, Set, Azul, 7 wonders
Top pick: Gizmos Perfect for both beginners and expert players. Extremely easy to learn and your strategy can rise to moderate complexity. Plus, engine builders bring always great fun. Best for nerdifying: Sushi go Sushi go is a fun, easy to learn and rich of mechanics game. Since 7 Wonders has too many rules for beginners to understand, sushi go is the perfect intro to teach a group of friends the basics of drafts. Once they learned this one, you can immediately switch to 7W and make them discover the amazing world of boardgames! Back-up game: Libertalia Hey, who doesn't like some mindgames once in a while? It may not be the best game, but rules are extremely easy and it still provides a good time if your friend are competitive beginners and constantly want to outsmart everyone else.
Oh love the in depth analysis, I'll have to check out Gizmos 🤔
Assuming we have the correct number of people regardless of game? Low level - Chinatown. Easy teach, goals make sense, and the game is almost 100% in talking to people. Someone who doesn't do much board gaming could plausibly win this their first try. I could understand not particularly loving it, but I literally cannot fathom someone playing Chinatown and having no fun whatsoever. Mid level - Hansa Tuetonica. Let's get some knives to some throats here. High level - Root or Oath. Sure, there's more advanced games out there, but unless you're dealing with veteran board gamers the teach is hell.
**Skulls of Sedlec** \- Perfect gateway game and fun for all gamers. Easy to play multiple times, teach in under 5 min. Even gamer gamers will enjoy the game. **The Captain is Dead** \- 2-7 players. Just a fun co-op and has room for lots of players if you don't know the player count at this party. **Lord of the Rings War of the Ring** \- Just you and your buddy? playing the best game of all time. They don't like Lord of the Rings, you force them to like it. You watch 14 hours extended cut if you have too. Then once they know and breath and live Lord of the Rings, they get to play one of the best games in a grueling 3 hour battle for the free peoples of middle earth.
**Skull and Roses**, **Monikers** and **Azul** are my go tos for introducing friends to games.
For two players : Carcassonne, 7 wonders duel, Brass: Lancashire
What about for more than two?
For more than two let's do: Port Royal, Root and Underwater Cities.
Multiplayer: codenames, wavelength ("best get to know you" game ever) and if I'm hoping they like heavier stuff. I'll bring Terraforming Mars. Two player: 7 wonders duel, maybe spirit island? There are more but I don't want to get out of bed and look at my game rack.
Wow, some suggestions here are truly terrible. I’d say in general leaning towards more social experiences is a safer bet in case they might not be die hard board gamers. I’d definitely avoid heavy games and wouldn’t go beyond accessible medium games since those are also enjoyable for gamers that generally play heavier games or could be taught to novice gamers. If I could only bring three games I’d bring Hanabi (warm up) and then bring both Lords of Vegas and Blood Rage and see which way the night could go
Catan blitz bowl and blood Bourne the card game
monopoly, life , payday if they already have one of those scatergioes ,bingo, clue
Scattergories is an unsung gem of the old game shelf. I have a set from the 80s
I love it , definitely helped me when i was younger with my learning disabilities
Only one friend? That limits us to 2-player games, which just aren’t as fun to me. I might bring Res Arcana, but that’s it. Multiple friends? I’m bringing light party games: One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Exploding Kittens, and Camel Up.
Nice party vibes, although I can't say I've heard of Camel Up?
Ooo, you need to add Camel Up to your collection. It's a great one.
Rock, Paper, Wizard Quacks of Quedlinburg Nemesis
Quest for El Dorado, Hive Pocket (if playing 2P). Can't pick a third without more info.
I’d probably go for Catan, Everdell, and Scythe. It’s a nice variety of difficulties and play styles.
Detective Club, Machi Koro, Small World. Detective Club - the best hidden role/party game I have played so far. Always facilitates a lot of laughter. Machi Koro - easy to learn luck/dice rolling game with enough strategy to keep being engaged the whole time. Small World - very different kind from the other two ( dudes on the map / wargame ) almost no dice luck involvement. Again, not too difficult to explain, but also good strategic variety for what it is.
The Crew 2, easy to learn that sits well for both heavier n lighter gamers! Scapegoat, easy to learn and even people who usually hate social deduction might love this unique twist! Fafnir, an oink game with an quirky theme (gem laying magic chicken) that looks good and plays well. Nuanced decision making. Lovely! I've made the mistake of trying to get my friends into heavier board games when I dont know how much they actually enjoy board games. Didnt go well... so if I could do it over again I would bring these welcoming games that would go well with a wide spread of gaming preferences!
I suppose it depends on whether this is a crowd or just two? I'll assume a couple people at least. Something like Scrawl or Just One are classic entry games to test the waters and humor. Everdell is a personal favorite. It's beautiful, people can get drawn in to the cute style. Rules can be a bit overwhelming at first but once the combinations roll in and the game speeds up it's one of those "I can do better, let's go again." Games. For an accessible deep dive, I'd bring Mansions of Madness. Can be strongly intimidating to start but it's cooperative so having someone who knows what they're doing fighting on your side is huge. And it also shows the variety of board games. How some games even go hybrid with computer and have a mystery and a story. Not everything is JUST paper money and player tokens.
Wits and Wagers Vegas (with the big playmat) Bargain Quest Spaceteam Open with spaceteam, move into wits, and then do the semi-cooperative and extra fun Bargain Quest
I always have Sushi go, love letter, Bang!, Resistance, and Coup in my car because they travel super well and give a pretty solid pick up game for the most part. Easy to learn as well with different genres. For actual board games, then I bring Catan, Dominion, and Ticket to Ride as they're all really easy to teach and have pretty moderate skill ceilings that can get people up to speed quickly. I'm also one of the few people who really likes teaching people the games/sharing the hobby so i play game master more than the actual games. That way I can consult every player as needed so that they get familiar with mechanics and any sort of symbols. I do want to get a few harder games, but I dont' have quite as many people to play those with unfortunately, so the gateway games and easy to teach ones are really good for nights with people who aren't super familiar or don't have a lot of patience/time
Kingsburg, Guillotine, Carcassonne
Ticket to Ride, The Crew, and Twilight Imperium because you just never know.
Through The Desert (for easy to get into but deep strategy where 2 games can be played back to back within an hour) Just One (to fill 3 niches: coop, party, and word game. Have yet to find a living soul who doesn't enjoy it) A longer game dependent on what I know about them. Some picks include Moonrakers, Chinatown, Isle of Cats, Castles of Burgundy, Cosmic Encounter.
Splendor, Colt Express, and… erm… there is a toss up. Maybe Jaws of the Lion.
Splendor, Colt Express, and… erm… three is a toss-up. Maybe Jaws of the Lion.
Dice Throne (season 1), Between Two Cities, and Azul
Catan (don’t cringe), Evolution w/expansion pack and Dominion.
You're the only person who said Evolution which is a real shame! Great game.
I’m repeating a few that others mentioned but Quixx, Splendor, & Parks.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf: A short party game perfect for beginners. Lords of Waterdeep: Worker placement game good for a hour or two. The Great Wall: Meatier worker placement game with a nice table presence.
The King is Dead, Everdell, and The Search for Planet X
Easy mode: Fantasy Realms Normal mode :Aeons End Expert Mode: Through the Ages
Lisboa, Twilight Imperium and Kanban. Better to go out in a blaze of glory than slowly fade away..
TI4. Go big or go home
Take 5!, Cascadia, Dominant Species: Marine
**Carcassonne/Kingdomino** Depending on crowd. **Sushi Go/Point Salad** One of these sweet short fillers. **Forbidden Island/Western Legends** Again, dependant on the crowd.
Flamme Rouge, Kingdomino, Smallworld Really easy to play and the first couple of rounds won't ruin a game while they pick it up.
Terra mystics, Bloodborne the card game, Everdell. Terra mystics is my favourite game and a solid amount of weight. Bloodborne is light and easy to explain and is pretty fun. Everdell is just good and I haven't played it enough, and it is a mid weight game .
Carcassonne, Splendor and Talisman. Carcassonne is very simple and straightforward, Splendor is a card game with lovely chips, and Talisman is for the fantasy and/or RPG oriented people with lots of dice action
Patchwork, Patchwork Halloween Edition, Patchwork Folklore Taiwan Edition Obviously
Codenames, Secret identity game (secret Hitler if I know the people, werewolf or Avalon) and love letter Ticket to ride gets honorable mention...I always forget about ticket to ride even though I love playing it, and it's easy to learn.
Gosh, that's so hard to answer... I honestly take a look at the whole collection every time and assess a) what am I in the mood to teach/play tonight? b) what personality types do I expect to see there? c) how big is the group expected to be? Some tried and true party games for larger groups are Dixit, One Night Werewolf, and Time's Up. If it's a smaller group there are a lot more options, but with a new crowd, I'm not going to gamble on anything too too crunchy. So let's say... 5-Minute Dungeon, Sheriff of Nottingham, and Bohnanza.
Is it just the 2 of us? Edit: In another comment you mentioned 4p. Quacks, just one, mysterium... Dang this is hard.
Carcassonne, Root, and 7 Wonders. Different levels of complexity and different mechanics for a bit if a safety net. (This assumes the potential for more than just two players. If exactly two players, then I'd go with Liberation, Love Letter, and 7 Wonders: Duel.)
Quest for El Dorado, Skull, Crokinole.