As a kid, I played as many board games as possible.
None of these were overly complex, as you’d expect. Most of the strategy in these games was all about either rolling a die well (which is blind luck) or drawing the right cards to move across the game board safely.
The older I got, the more I was introduced to games with more mechanics and features. Naturally, these weren’t the most accessible, which meant it was hard to introduce friends to the world of tabletop.
That said, I searched for the best beginner board games. Here’s what I found.
Ticket to Ride
I taught my mother and sister this game when they wanted to play a more modern board game.
The rules and guidelines are both simple and intuitive: draw cards, collect trains, and build routes across the map. This is the best bet if you’re looking for a surefire beginner tabletop experience.
Codenames
It’s a simple concept: one person gives hints to the rest of their teammates to correctly guess related word titles. There’s a catch, though. You can only give a one-word hint and then a number, indicating how many tiles are related to that hint.
The simplicity of Codenames is why it succeeds as a beginner board game. Yes, some strategy is involved, but at the end of the day, you’re trying to get your teammates to answer your clues based on limited information.
Dominion
As a deckbuilder, Dominion may seem confusing and difficult for some. After all, you have to build your deck of cards as you play the game.
Having said that, it thrives on accessibility. There’s nothing overly complex here, making it a great entry point for those interested in exploring more of the genre.
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Coup
For those looking for a simple social deduction game, look no further. Your actions are determined based on the hidden cards in your hand, but you can bluff and perform actions you don’t have available.
Coup thrives on players trying to bluff their way to victory, but it doesn’t require lying to succeed. Sometimes, if you play your cards right, you can lay low and win, regardless of your skill level.
Love Letter
Like Coup, Love Letter is a role-based card game, but this time, there isn’t any social deduction or bluffing involved. It’s about playing your cards correctly.
Sometimes, luck is involved: you can only play the cards you draw, but that’s one of the things that makes it a great option for beginners.
Settlers of Catan
The ultimate “gateway” game, Settlers of Catan does an excellent job bridging the gap between a beginner’s tabletop experience and a more advanced one.
Since the gameplay revolves around trading your resource cards, there’s no need to take 15 to 20-minute turns. It’s all about getting lucky with the dice and properly maintaining your resources.
Carcassonne
If you’re not quite ready for Catan yet, I suggest you try Carcassonne.
Don’t let its appearance fool you; the major gameplay mechanics are incredibly simple and easy to understand. Also, remaining engaged with everyone despite being a competitive game helps take the edge off things.
Dixit
I’m sure you’ve heard of Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity.
Dixit is similar, but instead of matching phrases, you’re telling a story as interpreted by the game’s art cards. The designated storytelling has to describe where players must match the best they can with their drawn art cards.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
As much as I love playing hidden identity games like Werewolf at parties, they can sometimes be quite long.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf looks to change that, offering a short and sweet social game that doesn’t take too long to play or set up.
Gloomhaven
On the surface, Gloomhaven is an incredibly complex, dense game. The beauty, though, is the surprisingly simple and streamlined experience.
For Baldur’s Gate 3 fans looking to scratch that itch in tabletop form, this is your best bet. It may lack in terms of the story and relationship building, but it’s an excellent tabletop Dungeons & Dragons experience.
King of Tokyo
If you’re looking for a game that’s all about spectacle, look no further.
Despite its somewhat intimidating nature, King of Tokyo is all about style and theming. The gameplay is fairly simple (you’re rolling dice), but there’s something about fighting as larger-than-life monsters that can’t be beaten.
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