A Guide to Gateway Board Games for New Players
Finding the right board game for people new to the community can be tricky - for many their first experience is a negative memory of Monopoly with the family! Here we have three great board games for newbies.
3 Game Recommendations for Non-Board Gamers
1
Finspan
A brilliant, simple game that's interesting, quick and fun
30-40 minutes
9/10
Easy
The objective of Finspan is to find as many high-scoring fish as you can, help them lay eggs and then schools of baby fish. A relative of the game Wingspan, this is slimmed down and faster while retaining the fun.
Why we love Finspan:
This game is uncomplicated without being simple, it requires strategy and skill but because the game is easy to learn, new players can quickly get into the tactics without worrying about the gameplay.
Along with it's older sister, Wingspan, Finspan manages to educate and create interest in the subject matter - we LOVE the factoid snippets at the bottom of each card.
The fish cards are really well chosen, fish are weird and we're here for it!
The quality of the finish on all of the items in the game is really high for the price of game
This is a pretty rapid game, enough time for a good chat and snacks, without feeling like there are still 4,000 rotations of the board left before one of us gives up.
Where to buy:
2
Paper Dungeons
An easy to learn game that's quick, fun and a different take on the fantasy genre
30-40 minutes
9/10
Easy
In Paper Dungeons, you take control of 4 adventurers per player, rolling dice to increase their levels, defeat monsters and kill the big bad bosses. A classic roll and write, Paper Dungeons is a different take on dungeon crawling, and makes a great solo game or travel game.
Why we love Paper Dungeons:
The gameplay is simple and easy to learn, play is quick which means practice games don't take very long
New players who like fantasy settings can enjoy their first roll and write without complicated rules
There is a delightful ASMR feeling in rolling dice and then scribbling away on the pad
The game is low cost, and comes with a huge game pad of sheets, perfect for larger groups or game longevity
Where to buy:
3
Bananagrams
Fast and frenetic, but familiar and easy to pick up quickly. Bananagrams is an excellent introductory game for new gamers.
15-30 minutes
9/10
Easy
Bananagrams is a fast-paced word game which is exciting and works the brain too. New gamers will love it because it feels like quick Scrabble but involves more competition between players, its familiarity helps with teaching the game, plus its simple mechanics mean it isn't too overwhelming for a casual game night.
Why we love Bananagrams:
Really easy to teach to new players
A fast game that is mentally challenging, too
New gamers will appreciate the familiarity with Scrabble
It doesn't require a huge amount of space
There is a lot of banana-shaped humour that will land well with all ages
Where to buy:
3 great games for newbies - summary
When choosing a board game to play with people who don't normally game, it's important to find a blend of easy-to-understand rules, relatively accessible gameplay and something that feels fun. Many new board gamers are scarred by Monopoly and Cluedo, which frames their approach to all other games. These three games show that you don't need a traditional board or a familiar narrative to be able to make a great game.
Our Recommendation
We recommend Finspan or Bananagrams. Both have easy rules and an accessible gaming style. Paper Dungeons is great for the fantasy lovers in your friendship group.
Where to Buy:
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