Best Non-Gamer Board Games I Intro, Gateway Games

[@tberceau70]

Games that roped some of my friends in are, King of Tokyo, Quacks of Quedlinberg, Sushi Go, Ticket to Ride, and Wingspan

[@TheGilzam]

I dont really get how Wingspan is a gateway game tho...i havent used it as gateway cause its a little complicated and the food resources can be punishing

[@chiarasabia2066]

I introduced my boyfriend - who said he heated board games - to the hobby with Jaipur, Century (especially the 3rd one "New World"), Port Royal, Ticket to Ride and Hive. After that we started playing Istanbul and Yukon Airways..and now HE asked me to play Bass Birmingham! He has a board gamer soul, just does't know it..or doesn't want to admit it!! :D

[@BoardGameHangover]

You just need the right game and the right people and everyone's a gamer!

[@chiarasabia2066]

@@BoardGameHangover That's true!!

[@iansutton7416]

It's been interesting to see how Wingspan has brought new gamers into the hobby, given it's a game I'd call 'medium' weight and not what we'd think of as entry level. I guess that shows the appeal of a really charming theme - perhaps the Ark Nova suggestion isn't as crazy as it sounds. I agree with the oink games suggestions, and indeed there are others in their range. I'd also suggest Button Shy 18 card games as easy to learn, but with enough gaming interest that you might even stretch to calling them strategy games. Bohnanza could be problematic with some groups, especially us British, for whom negotiating can bring us out in a sweat ;¬) Other options we use? - Flamme Rouge has super easy to teach rules / movement, and there is usually a tight finish. The theme is easy to understand and known in the mainstream - Quest for El dorado can be an easy introduction to deck-building, as a supporting mechanism in games, but otherwise it's a simple and easy to learn race game, with an 'Indiana Jones' type theme. - Saboteur. Whilst the theme is a bit 'gamery', my work colleagues adored it, loving the accusatory / suspect everyone nature of it. - Coloretto. I'm not a fan of abstract games, but like this and like playing it with people new to gaming. One reason is that experienced players can surreptitiously target each other, meaning the new player gets an easier ride - the worst thing for a new player to experience is getting heavily defeated, and risks losing them to the hobby. I do not want to be the gamer that does that. - Cockroach Poker (or Skull). Bluffing games are an easy teach, but only if they are 'easy to teach'. The more rules, the greater disadvantage to the new gamer. Keep it simple and new players seem to love such bluffing games. - Dexterity games aren't always the first thought for gamers, but they often enjoy them when they give them a go. So games like Men at Work, Flipships, Crokinole, etc. can be games that get everyone laughing and engaged. - Wee whimsical creatures, a recent small KS game from Bez Shahriari (a UK designer). It's an incredibly short game where one player makes the sound they think one of the hand drawn 'whimsical creatures' might make, and the other players have to guess which creature it was. Super simple to learn, and any game that gets people trying to make the sound of a weird creature / monster is a wonderful way to break down barriers, including language barriers. Finally I'll return to an earlier comment, that it's as important 'how' we introduce new gamers to games and 'how' we game with them, that can be most important. Help them, ensure they are comfortable, supported and valued, and they'll start to play with confidence. Treat them like an easy opponent to defeat, and they'll likely be lost to gaming, or perhaps worse, come into the hobby with that same attitude.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Wow, all good suggestions and comments. Yes, you are totally correct, you can teach a light game badly and that won't get people into gaming. Will have to try Button Shy and Wee Whimsical Creatures.

[@frankdetank9126]

I've found some success with introducing the hobby using Everdell, Wingspan, Fantasy Realms, Point Salad, Draftosaurus, Star Realms, Codenames and Horrified. By the way, Longshot: The Dice Game is a ton of fun and is definitely a great introduction to the hobby.

[@GettinJiggly]

Biggest issue with 90% of games for hobby gamers is the rules overhead. While we think oh this game at Target is easy when introduced to a non-gamer the overhead is a lot larger. Hobby gamers already have an understanding of most mechanics and ways of scoring, etc. but new gamers don't. We tried teaching a few games we thought were pretty straight forward to family and it took multiple explanations of the rules which were only a few pages, and multiple recaps of rules and what can be done during the game. Think the idea that people don't play games because of past experiences with say Monopoly isn't as much as rules overhead.

[@ragingpiano9887]

Betrayal at house at the hill. My sister scoffed at the board game hobby. Refused to even entertain it, me and her husband were ridiculed often. But we sat her down with this one day and completely turned her around. Now she will play anything that has a cool theme she likes.

[@Panamaniac3D]

If she really liked that one and you often go and hang out with her and her husband consider getting Betrayal Legacy. It has all the feel of Betrayal but with so much more since you have a story and it does some really cool things to turn the rules on their heads. My wife doesn't like playing games very much be she was almost more excited than I was to play Betrayal Legacy with our friends because of how much she liked the story.

[@iansutton7416]

A good reminder that theme can be ever so influential in people getting into a game (and indeed gaming)

[@ragingpiano9887]

@@Panamaniac3D we finished betrayal legacy a couple of years ago. Some really nice haunts in there.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Now, for me. Theme is the main thing that get's me excited for a game.

[@Achey_Runner]

Coup is def the game we use to get people into gaming with us. By far, our top played game.

[@Wrycon-Inc]

I’m actually spending next weekend with people who are open to heavier games but not hobby gamers. May try Ark Nova. Will for sure try Long Shot. Dexterity games always seem to work in showing non-gamers that board games are fun. Men At Work, Menara, ICECOOL, etc…

[@BoardGameHangover]

Ooh ICECOOL!

[@JonMcCarthy-yq8sz]

I agree with Janis T. on his wild card. I think the disclaimer is getting non gamers into heavy games. I had played 7 Wonders, Catan, etc. many times. But it was Mombasa that got me INTO gaming.

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's been my experience multiple times. Just have to read the room and figure out what's the right theme and mechanisms and heavier games can totally work. /JT

[@Bieranti]

Totally agree with claim to bring some more fundamental games for non-gamers. As Janis said it will stayvin memories and will shape the idea for them that gaming is more than some small, fun card chucking. My riskiest picks has been Eclipse, Nemesis and Robinson Crusoe. In all cases people are still playing games, baught some and do enjoy parts of the hobby.

[@BoardGameHangover]

I guess your non gamer friends are way more different than my non gamer friends ;) /Jānis G.

[@GrandElemental]

I actually 100 % agree that a gateway game can sometimes, and SHOULD sometimes, be a bit heavier! The reasoning is, there are a ton of people (for example, regular video gamers) out there who are absolutely willing and able to play heavier stuff, as long as you explain it well. I actually had most success with Thunderstone Advance (epic variant, all cards mixed in), and it is definitely the most instantly bought game (or was... now it's way out of print unfortunately). I can absolutely see Ark Nova working well with people, even as the first board game. Also, I have found that some simple games just aren't nearly as "for everyone" as a lot of boardgamers suggest. I had a bit of a negative effect on some people I was introducing the hobby to with King of Tokyo, as it they felt that there wasn't much interest in random die rolling and doing what they make you do instead of taking actions and making your own decisions. The game that did get that group into gaming was the second game we played, Champions of Midgard. Not saying simple games are not good for introducing people into the hobby, but there are definitely a ton of exceptions to that "rule".

[@BoardGameHangover]

I agree that there are different games for different situations and that heavier games could work as well. It's just my experience that my friends that play 0 games are easier to get hooked on lighter games. But yes, they will create laughs but not stories. /Jānis G.

[@moncilu]

Catan and Ticket to Ride drew me in to board games. I also use these two to lure other friends in. Most people like Catan. But quick party games always warm them up better

[@BoardGameHangover]

Yes, that is also my most common experience. /Jānis G.

[@MrGoandrush]

I would recommend for non gamers as entry level games: CARCASSONNE base game + abbots TACO CAT GOAT CHEESE PIZZA DIXIT (or IMAGINARIUM the russian, darker version of Dixit) THE MIND FLUXX DOBBLE LABYRINTH COBRA PAW HIVE WORM UP NMBR9 UNO FLIP PATCHWORK SUSHI GO QUARTO CAMEL UP SABOTEUR SCRAWL EXPLODING KITTENS what do you think?

[@hamzad5061]

For me it worked with isle of cats, king of tokyo and quaks of quedlinberg 👍

[@BoardGameHangover]

All good picks.

[@michaldurovic]

Quacks is an awesome pick, love the game! I teach Ticket to Ride Europe, Catan, Machi Koro or Pandemic when I want to show a modern board game. Especially Pandemic is a great pick, because some people don't like board games because of the competition, Pandemic is a real surprise for them.

[@BoardGameHangover]

YES! We did not mention that, but a lot of players do don't like the competitive nature of games.

[@MrStylorTV]

our getaway games were Stone Age, 7 Wonder and Betrayal

[@BoardGameHangover]

I keep hearing about Betrayal being a gateway game, but just don't see it. Well, when the newest edition is available, I will have to give it a go. /Jānis G.

[@raxiyan]

There is no better game than CATAN to hook people into hobby. It is a classic for a reason.

[@Madgaar]

I got my friends into games by playing Nemesis and Eclipse 2nd Dawn with them ;)

[@BoardGameHangover]

Do you and Jānis T. have the same friends? /Jānis G.

[@Madgaar]

@@BoardGameHangover I think by now they would e good with ark nova, but what helped them get into it was the interactivity of those 2 titles.

[@mike9139]

YOU ARE BOTH AWESOME! ❤❤❤

[@mike0005]

we introduced non gamers to burgle bros - they bought the game later, they showed it to their parents... their parents bought it. its a fantastic game for non gamers. (and gamers too)

[@BoardGameHangover]

Have to check that one out!

[@ghazkullthraka1698]

Spicyyyyy! Good choice

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks!

[@Maria_kiefer]

For me it was Terraforming Mars. Enough complexity to make it interesting without complicating it too much. When you get the hang of it the first time it is easier the second time :D

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's a great pick!

[@tiagofeitoza227]

My into to the board game hobby was Terraforming mars, never had a experience with board games before (apart from monopoly and game of life) and I'm completely hooked, huge amount of excellent games out there, makes me happy and my wallet sad. So far have played Ticket to Ride, Azul, Gloomhaven, Sagrada, Carcassonne and Turing Machine which is a masterpiece in my opinion.

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's a great line-up! And yes, Terraforming Mars never disappoints :)

[@ammi7985]

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, Schotten Totten (polish edition Spór o bór), Jaipur, Dixit, The Quest for El Dorado, Draftosaurus, Ticket to Ride Europe, Cacao, Chronicles of Crime, King of Tokio, Tokaido, The Crew, Codenames, Telestrations, The Chameleon, Patchwork, Kaskadia, Naga Raja, Star Realms, Talisman 😅 and Ribbit PL (Pędzące żółwie)

[@BRPerfections]

I would def not have played ark nova when i was getting into games lol

[@luccaharaway3973]

Love these videos, and I bought a couple of games. Why not post Amazon links so you get a comission?

[@BoardGameHangover]

Good suggestion, we will look into it.

[@hollydenman2929]

So where is the list of games you can play with your grandmother please?

[@TheNathanlockhart]

I can just never get behind Bohnanza on these lists. For non-gamers, the game needs to accommodate the 5 minutes they aren't paying attention, or while they are off socializing, or up getting a drink, or whatever. For Bohnanza to work, everyone needs to be at the table and paying attention for trades...ALL the time. People getting distracted or wandering off for a minute just wrecks the whole thing. The game pretty much has to stop every time anyone gets up if it's going to work. It requires constant engagement you won't get from many casual players.

[@edmundschubert4963]

New rule: no drafting games you have not played.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Hey, it was supposed to be wild, and it is. But I see your point. /Jānis G.

[@popgas3821]

I introduced to my coworkers light to medium games such as Sushi Go, Operation, Point Salad, Cabo, Love Letter, Patchwork, Kingdomino Origins, The Grizzled, Ticket to Ride (which they loved the most), Tokaido, Everdell, Point Salad, Just One, The Crew, The Quacks of Quedlinburg (which they also loved so much) and Everdell. Afterwards, I let them played On Mars. You might say "they where traumatized eh? Lol!" Nah, I only hope they survived but on the contrary they destroyed the game. I think my coworkers are just a weird bunch. Only few of them knows board games, but when I introduced to them these myriads of games from simple to ultra complex they seem unfazed and more than willing to powerthrough the challenge. I think as long as its rewarding and addictively replayable, they'd pursue it, otherwise they just forget it immediately. But yeah, not all audience are the same, and exposition wise you have to start from light then gradually introduce them to fun and challenging ones. The theme and mechanics also plays an important role. When they knew that Kanban was about us playing the role of rookie employees in a car manufacturing company, the mofos signed up for a playtest instantly 😂.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Very good list indeed! And hurray for Quacks!

[@Nutth]

Can anyone​ success​ play Ark Nova with Grandmom ? 😂 Celestia is a game I use for Introduction​ non gamer. Love your​ channel.​

[@BoardGameHangover]

Celestia is good pick. And I don't think there are many grandmoms that would play Ark Nova, but there are some.

[@viesturskokarevics2427]

Catan or Stone age

[@ylein6508]

Not true.. non gamer friends become very overwhelmed when you intro heavy games to them.. they don’t know what they are doing even though you are guiding them along..I can see them looking stressed lol

[@BoardGameHangover]

Yes, you perfectly describe by non-gamer friends. /Jānis G.

[@digitalsublime]

This is all wrong, it's not what game, it's what person. You need the right game for the person, theme is a big part, to get them to feel curiosity with just the box, then are they scattered? Intellectual? Goofy? there you know the tone and heaviness, length. Another point is how you present it, you need the sale pitch. There is a trick though, let's say we are playing El Dorado, just place a 5 dollar bill or a nice beer in that temple whoever wins gets it. This breaks the biggest barrier with non gamers, they feel it's a waste of time, no purpose, but now there is a nice Pale Ale in the table 🤣5 dollars you get a new game partner. 🤙

[@BoardGameHangover]

Wow, that is a very neat trick, I will try to use this with some of my non gamer friends ;)

[@Dwigii]

Is the complete list somewhere online or are you hiding it on purpose so you can continue cheating? :D I am really surprised that Quacks would only now come up among some other titles I know I've seen in your videos, but I am not going to recheck all videos and maybe those were for some other format video.

[@BoardGameHangover]

We thought there is but clearly someone might have forgotten to update it. But I guess not on purpose. But you are right, no one is going to recheck everything, so we always have a "way out" ;)

[@silvercoinageofmonsterhunt6200]

Hi guys, I have sent you messages on FB but you haven't read them since april 28th and since we are in a hurry I am contacting you here. Please check as this is a bit urgent.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Responded. Apologies for the delay.

[@IndianaGeologist]

Ark Nova is a terrible choice. Love your videos, but absolutely not lol

[@grog3514]

Monopoly or risk.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Classics. You should try Catan.

[@kevinpan9008]

Simple... Always Uno 😑

[@BoardGameHangover]

Can't go wrong with Uno...

[@peliite]

Uno is worst game ever. I prefer to stare at wall than play Uno, explosive kittens or anything Uno. Its boring and i feel brain cells leaving its premises.

[@sofiyarachkevych8761]

Catan. Azul will be also a nice pick. And I hate Quacksalber. Played once and wouldn't play anymore.

[@fablan5260]

A game that myself, my girlfriend and some friends got to play more boardgames is pandemic. It was the first "modern" boardgame we were playing and it really really hooked us in. We've been on a holiday together and played every day!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Yes, Pandemic has helped get people into this hobby a lot.

[@luisareds]

I got into gaming with the original Pandemic, I loved it

[@BoardGameHangover]

Cool, that games has brought many people to this hobby!