Close your eyes. Imagine a geek who loves playing board games. What do you see? Keep that mental image. Now, open your eyes and look into a mirror; you will find what you are looking for.
Everyone, including you, can get into the hobby of board games. We all distract ourselves from the busy world, and some people find their escape through the world of board games.
There is no single image for a geek who loves playing them. That geek can be you, me, your workmates, friends, or family. It is nothing to be ashamed of, too. If you want to start diving into the world of board games, I have a few engaging, simple, and fun suggestions.
My Top Picks at a Glance
I own most of these games in my collection because I love playing them, but I still have biases. I know which board games to pick when playing with beginners, and usually, these top picks come to mind.
My Top Pick for Gateway Resource Management Board Game
Settlers of Catan
I can hear the veterans out there cursing me for choosing Settlers of Catan, but it is a great match for beginners.
Rolling dice is a beginner-friendly mechanic, and strategy lovers can plan for their win. You need to take a mental note of the game’s economy. It would be best if you also had a sharp mind to properly utilize your resources.
My Top Pick for Strategy Gateway Board Games
Carcassonne
During your first run with Carcassonne, you might be randomly placing tiles and meeples.
However, once you get the gist of it, you can use your turn to cut off rivals from scoring huge points, steal a victory from other players, or maximize your meeples’ performance. You can also plan ahead on how to shape the map to your advantage.
My Top Pick for Social Deduction Gateway Board Games
Secret Hitler
Among all the bluffing games in this list, Secret Hitler hits a sweet spot. It is not too simple, but it is also not too complex. It rewards players who know when to lie and when to tell the truth.
When we play Secret Hitler, we are always on the edge of our seats, figuring out who to trust. It can become a chaotic mess, especially with close friends and family.
My Top Pick for Party Gateway Board Games
Codenames
Parties are usually fun, sociable, and loud, and Codenames can amplify those characteristics even more. When we play it, the teams often argue among themselves about which cards to pick.
The team leader has to be clever with their words and find links to as many cards as possible. It forces people to talk with each other, which is super helpful at a party.
Selection Criteria
Veterans know that not every board game is beginner-friendly. If you go head first on a game that is too confusing or complicated, you might become traumatized by them. You must start with the right ones; great beginner-friendly board games have the following traits:
- Simple: If someone wants to start learning how to code, they do not go straight into creating their own operating system. They must start with the basics first, like conditionals and classes. Similarly, people new to board games must first start with something simple and easy to understand.
- Engaging: Many games in this list will force you to cooperate or communicate with other players, making them more fun and exciting. You have to engage with the people you are playing with; by doing so, you get to know more about them (and vice versa).
- Straightforward: Beginners will learn quickly when the rules are direct and straightforward. For example, in Monopoly, you only need to do two things: roll the dice and decide to buy or auction a property. New players need to start with a game that only allows them to follow a few rules that are straight to the point.
Another good indicator of a beginner-friendly board game (although not necessarily true) is its popularity. The more people know about a board game, the higher its tendency to be easily understood. Still, some of the entries in this list might not be familiar to you.
I divided the entries with similar mechanics or themes. Thus, if you want a good party game and everyone is new to the culture, you can trust the list below. However, I encourage you to explore every game in this article because they are incredibly fun.
The Best Resource Management Gateway Board Games
Settlers of Catan
- Release date: 1995
- of players: 3 to 4 players
- Average play duration: 1 to 2 hours
- Age recommendation: 10 and above
- Difficulty rating: 2/5
Catan is iconic because it has served as a gateway board game for many veteran players. It was such a massive success; they made expansions for it a year after it was released.
Catan is a resource management game where you must expand your settlements throughout the map. The player who reaches ten points first wins, and different things provide points like villages, cities, victory cards, and more.
The game of Catan starts by having the players establish two villages. During your turn, you roll the dice, and the result will determine which tile produces its respective resource.
You need resources to construct buildings and roads or buy development cards. You can also trade resources with other players.
Many strategy fans hate Catan because, like Monopoly, it is a game of chance. The dice’s fate decides your fate. Still, like Monopoly, we have a ton of fun with it, and I hope you will too.
Splendor
- Release date: 2014
- of players: 2 to 4 players
- Average play duration: 15 to 30 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 2/5
If Thanos was a board game enthusiast instead of a genocidal tyrant, I bet he would love playing Splendor. It is a game where you collect different gems to acquire points and win.
To set up a game of Splendor, reveal four cards of each level on the table alongside three to five noble tiles (depending on the number of players).
During your turn, you can do four possible actions. Firstly, you can draw three gem tokens that have different colors. Secondly, you can draw two same-colored gem tokens. Thirdly, you can reserve a development card and draw a gold token.
Finally, you can spend your gem tokens to purchase a development card. The price is indicated on the card. If you have a development card in your arsenal, you can use it as a substitute for its corresponding gem token. However, you do not discard it!
It might look simple, but after playing once, you will notice that it takes a lot of strategic planning. You need to know when to reserve a card, which cards to purchase, and much more.
Jaipur
- Release date: 2009
- of players: 2 players
- Average play duration: 15 to 30 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
In ancient times, some of the wealthiest people in society were merchants. They traded goods and luxuries like silk, precious metals, spices, and more. In Jaipur, you are one of these merchants! However, you have a rival, and you need to get the sultan’s approval over them.
Set up the game by putting three camel cards and two other cards at the center; it is your marketplace. Then, each player gets five cards, and the remaining deck is the draw pile. If you have a camel card, you must place all of them in front of you.
During your turn, you can sell your cards or take new ones. To do the latter, you can either take all the camels in the marketplace, take one from the draw pile, or trade cards from your hand to the marketplace. The marketplace must always have five cards.
If you want to sell a card, you must have at least two of them. Then, you take the corresponding tokens by the number of goods you sell. You can also earn more points if you sell three or more.
If a goods token pile is exhausted, the game ends. Flip the tokens you have acquired to add your scores easier. Jaipur relies on your memory and critical thinking since you have to remember what your opponent has.
The Best Strategy Gateway Board Games
Ticket to Ride
- Release date: 2004
- of players: 2 to 5 players
- Average play duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 2/5
If you have played Mini Metro before, you would know how difficult it is to plan train routes. In Ticket to Ride, you can feel the same frustration and excitement but in a different way.
Your goal is to have the highest score. To do so, you must connect one station to another. During the game, you have ticket cards that indicate the two locations you need to connect with your trains alongside a score.
If you succeed in connecting them, you gain the score. However, if you fail by the end of the game, you subtract your overall score from it.
The map shows possible connections between stations, and you need to use the correct train cards to make it a connected route. You can get more train or ticket cards during your turn, too. Ticket to Ride relies on critical thinking, strategic planning, and risk calculation.
Carcassonne
- Release date: 2000
- of players: 2 to 5 players
- Average play duration: 30 to 45 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 2/5
I love filling up map details in video games. Whenever I explore a new region in Breath of the Wild and mark it on my map, my heart sings with glee. If you enjoy doing the same, I suggest you play Carcassonne.
Players take turns during the game; during your turn, you must place a tile to expand the map. The new tile must visually connect to its adjacent tiles. For example, you cannot put a “monastery on a grassland” tile if it abruptly stops the road beside it.
After placing a tile, you can place your meeple on it. Where you place your meeple will determine the score you will get. The game ends when all the tiles from the draw pile are exhausted. The player with the highest score wins.
You can place tiles to gain scores or hinder another player from gaining theirs. It is a board game that relies on critical thinking and decision-making.
Tokaido
- Release date: 2012
- of players: 2 to 5 players
- Average play duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 2/5
Board games can be a chill experience. Trekking across the beautiful landscape of Japan can also be a chill experience. Combine the two, and you get Tokaido. It may look chill at first glance, but if you look deeper, you will see that it is a game of intense decision-making.
You and your friends are travelers on Japan’s east sea road, and your goal is to have the most points by the journey’s end.
Tokaido has four rounds, with each ending by stopping in an inn. You move the same path as the rest of the players. However, you do not need to roll dice to move. Instead, you can choose how far you can go so long as you move forward.
You earn points through various activities like painting landscapes, donating money to temples, and more. Be careful in choosing which activity to perform, as you might compete with others for points.
Patchwork
- Release date: 2014
- of players: 2 players
- Average play duration: 15 to 30 minutes
- Age recommendation: 6 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
Who would have thought that a game about quilting could become a fierce competition between two players? What seems like a peaceful hobby is demonstrated as a battle for scores in Patchwork.
To start, the players take five buttons, a quilt board, and a token. Each player places their token on the time board’s starting space. Then, place the non-1×1 patches around the time board; they will be the patches you will place on your quilt board.
When you place a patch on your quilt board, you need to pay the number of buttons labeled on it. Then, you move your token by the number of spaces indicated by the patch’s hourglass.
In Patchwork, players do not strictly abide by a back-and-forth turning system. Instead, the player with the furthest token will have the turn.
The game ends when both players reach the time board’s end. Add up the buttons you have left to determine your score. Then, subtract it from the number of empty tiles on your quilt board.
At first glance, it might be a peaceful game due to its theme. However, you need to carefully think about when to spend your buttons.
The Best Social Deduction Gateway Board Games
Coup
- Release date: 1999
- of players: 2 to 6 players
- Average play duration: 10 to 15 minutes
- Age recommendation: 10 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
If you want a game that rewards lying and makes you doubt the intentions of other people, Coup is the way to go. You and your friends are powerful authorities, and your goal is to be the last man standing.
To start, deal two cards and coins to each player. The cards represent the player’s life in the game. They also allow you to legitimately perform specific roles, i.e., the Duke, Contessa, Assassin, Ambassador, and Captain.
During your turn, you must perform an action, whether it be earning or stealing money, eliminating others’ cards, or changing your hand. Some actions are linked to the roles I mentioned; you can do them even if you do not have the cards by lying.
If you suspect that another player is bluffing about their hand, you can call them out. If you are right, they pick a card from their hand to eliminate. If you are wrong, it happens to you.
Secret Hitler
- Release date: 2016
- of players: 5 to 10 players
- Average play duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Age recommendation: 14 and above
- Difficulty rating: 2/5
I had never expected to see people be excited to play as fascists and dictators, but Secret Hitler subverted my expectations.
To start, the players take a Secret Role Card and Party Membership Card; the latter will determine whether you are a liberal or fascist. Meanwhile, the former will determine if you are the Hitler in the fascist team.
The liberal party members will not know who is on their side, but the fascists will. The liberal party’s goal is to either assassinate Hitler or enact five liberal policies.
Meanwhile, the fascists’ goal is to either elect Hitler as the chancellor after enacting the third fascist policy or enact five fascist policies.
During the game, you will hold elections to approve the president’s chosen chancellor. These two authority figures will ultimately decide which policy cards are enacted. It is a clever game of deception; you might do well if you are a great liar!
One Night Werewolf
- Release date: 2014
- of players: 3 to 10 players
- Average play duration: 10 to 15 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
Several years ago, my friend and I were addicted to the Town of Salem game. It was our introduction to in-depth social deduction games. However, that game requires too many players. If you want something for a small and intimate group, I recommend One Night Werewolf.
It is a condensed and faster version of the popular Werewolf game made om 1986. In One Night Werewolf, each player has a card that represents their role in the village. Some players will be on the werewolves’ team, while some will be on the village’s team.
The goal for each team is to eliminate the others. However, the villagers will have a much harder time because they do not know who is on who’s side.
Other roles manipulate the cards, gather information, or have different winning conditions. After only a day and a night, everyone reveals their cards to see who won. I highly recommend it if you love chaotic games.
Love Letter
- Release date: 2012
- of players: 2 to 4 players
- Average play duration: 5 to 10 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
Love Letter is a game so simple; you can play it by only using playing cards. Still, I would recommend having the official set because of the cards’ beautiful artwork.
Your goal in Love Letter is to either be the last player standing or have the card with the highest value. The cards are numbered from one to eight; each number represents a character in the game’s story, and each character has a special ability.
To start, each player has one card. During your turn, you take a card from the draw pile and discard one from your hand. When you throw away a card, you use its ability. These abilities can help you eliminate or manipulate others and gather info.
The round ends when either all the cards from the draw pile (except for one) are exhausted or only one player is left. Love Letter relies on social deduction and risk calculation. If you want to get into social deduction games, I recommend starting with this simple game.
The Best Gateway Board Games for Parties
Codenames
- Release date: 2015
- of players: 2 to 8 players
- Average play duration: 15 to 30 minutes
- Age recommendation: 10 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
If the party you are in loves puzzles, I will highly recommend Codenames. It is a great game, especially with overthinkers, because they can generate a lot of funny moments as they rationalize their answers.
In Codenames, the players are split evenly into two teams of red and blue. Then, each team picks who their leader is. To start, take 25 cards and arrange them in a 5×5 grid. Then, the leaders pick a random key card that shows the corresponding colors for each card.
Each team’s goal is to uncover all the cards of their colors. During a team’s turn, the leader announces a word and number. The word represents their team cards, while the number represents the number of cards related to the word.
It is up to the team to guess which of the cards in the grid belongs to the word their leader described. Be careful not to pick the black card, or you will immediately lose!
Dixit Odyssey
- Release date: 2011
- of players: 3 to 12 players
- Average play duration: 30 to 45 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
Dixit Odyssey is a board game for everyone. Are you a verbose poet? Or are you someone who hates describing stuff? Either way, this game will be fun for the crew.
To start a game of Dixit, each player receives six cards (or seven cards if there are only three players), a rabbit token, a voting board of the same color, and one voting token (or two if there are seven or more players).
Players take turns being the active player. When you are the active player, pick one card from your hand and describe the card’s art however you like.
The other players will then choose a card from their hand that closely resembles that description. When everyone is done, all cards are revealed. All the non-active players will then vote on which card is the active player’s card.
If everyone or no one votes on the correct card, everyone but the active player earns points. So, do not be too detailed or vague!
Exploding Kittens
- Release date: 2015
- of players: 2 to 5 players
- Average play duration: 15 to 30 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
Exploding Kittens may sound like the title of a video you would find on the dark web, but it is actually a hilarious and strategic card game perfect for small and intimate parties.
To start, each player starts with four random cards and one defuse card. Then, add enough exploding kitten cards (no. of players minus one) to the draw pile. Shuffle it and set it on the table.
During your turn, you can discard your cards to enact their ability. These cards (except for other cat cards) have different abilities that can help you stay in the game. To end your turn, you draw from the pile unless the card you discarded says otherwise.
If you draw an exploding kitten, you must defuse it with a defuse card. If you do not have any, you are out of the game! The last man standing wins.
Sushi Go Party!
- Release date: 2016
- of players: 2 to 8 players
- Average play duration: 15 to 30 minutes
- Age recommendation: 8 and above
- Difficulty rating: 1/5
Everyone loves eating food; they color the world with different flavors. Hence, it is not a surprise to see board games themed around food. Among all of them, my favorite is Sushi Go Party.
Your goal is to have the highest score by carefully selecting the food cards you have on your dish. To start, select a card pack (since you are a beginner, I highly recommend either “My First Meal” or “Sushi Go”).
Distribute the cards to the players; the number of cards varies by the number of players present. During a round, everyone chooses a card from their hand to put on their dish. Then, everyone reveals their choice at the same time.
Next, you pass your hand to the player to your left. Continue until all hands are exhausted. The scoring differs based on the card pack you chose. It may sound confusing, but it gets easier to understand once you start playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What are Gateway Board Games?
Answer: Gateway board games are board games that introduce new people to their world and culture. Once you play them, you want to learn and explore other games. They are beginner-friendly, which means their rules are simple and straightforward.
Question: What are Good Solo Gateway Board Games?
Answer: I think Wingspan can be a good introduction to the genre. The rules are not as complex as most solo board games, making it a beginner-friendly entry. While you can play it with friends, it has a solo mode called Automa.
Question: What is the Best Gateway Board Game in 2022?
Answer: Released in 2022, Ticket to Ride: San Francisco is a good contender for the title. While the gameplay is still the same as its 2004 original, it has fresh artwork and designs. Plus, the mechanics being familiar gives it an edge over other board games released in 2022.
Conclusion
Gateway board games are essential elements of the board game culture because they invite new people in. My interest in board games started back when my parents bought me Snakes and Ladders. Its mechanics are incredibly simple, yet I remember spending a lot of time playing it with my friends.
I consider Monopoly and Exploding Kittens as my true gateway board games. The first time I played Monopoly correctly was during high school when someone brought it to our classroom. Then, Exploding Kittens made me more curious about other fun and exciting board games.
Despite being classified as gateway board games, they are still incredibly fun for long-time players. I have had my pack of Exploding Kittens with me since college, but I still play it from time to time, especially with new acquaintances.
There are more gateway board games out there that are not on this list. A good example would be Bohnanza, a card game I mentioned in my “Best 90s Board Games” article. Other honorable mentions include Wits and Wagers, Splendor, and 7 Wonders.
I hope that, by playing the entries in this list, you will seek out more board games to play. You have dipped your toes in the water by playing these games; you will be ready to take a deeper dive.
Recommended reads:
- Best Board Games for Teens: The Ultimate Guide
- Best Video Game Inspired Board Games
- The Best Board Games of All Time
- How to Find the Best 6 Player Board Games
- Top Games Like Clue to Play Next - July 2, 2023
- Best Reto 1980s Board Games - April 8, 2023
- Best Party Board Games - April 2, 2023