Gateway Board Games for Non-Gamers I Intro Games

Here are some Gateway games to start the hobby with! Perfect for you and your friends!
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In this video:
00:30 20 min. or Less
1:43 The best Co-op Game
4:22 Most Conversions
7:36 Simplest Rules
10:55 Coolest Looking
12:30 Best in Large Groups
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#GatewayBoardGames #IntroBoardGames #BoardGameHangover

[@QuJee]

Regarding Mysterium, I played it with my parents who are both in their late 50s/early 60s. They loved it so much that the first time we played it they wanted to do it again right away. It has a board presence that's intimidating, but once you explain the simple rules, it just works. Also helps that all cards are big; good for bad eyes

[@migueloliveira8996]

Your channel has the feel of a Big channel. Appreciate a lot the focus on making the videos look and sound as good as possible. You seem to have great personalities as well, so I'm sure you'll see great success. Keep with the excitement! Cheers

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks! We really enjoy doing this so we want to do our best. We appreciate the kind words!

[@garyali1966]

i know Im asking the wrong place but does anybody know of a trick to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid forgot my login password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me.

[@elijahmohamed1886]

@Gary Ali Instablaster :)

[@garyali1966]

@Elijah Mohamed i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@garyali1966]

@Elijah Mohamed it worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out!

[@mikekthx1369]

Telestrations is a great alternative to Eat Poop You Cat if you're wanting an actual physical game instead of office supplies. 😂 Loving all the videos you guys are making. Keep up the good work!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Great suggestion! Thanks Michael!

[@rjkral]

Came here to say the same. Telestrations is fantastic! The real fun is everyone sharing their books at the end seeing how it all developed into mayhem. There's a 6 person and a 12 person party version. I've played a few times with 24 people (party version in pairs), every time was a riot!

[@OleksandrMilkovskyi]

I sold my Telestrations 😢 I regret it a bit

[@freeheeler00]

Connect Four, Telestrations, and the need for anything other than Monopoly got me into hobby gaming. Having a kid helped too.

[@TheNerdShelves]

No thanks is brilliant and needs more love 😊.... I think Love Letter is the most recognised filler game... Great list and thank you for sharing!

[@veljkodamljanovic6726]

For me it was exploding kittens and trapwords. Too much laughter man.

[@ngvot]

I'd already heard of / played most of these but I reaaally enjoyed this video! I liked how you'd divided them into categories and challenged each other to pick something for it. It made it really interesting! And the video is so well made too. :) I'm subscribing now!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks for the kind words Laura! Happy to have you join us!

[@Dusty-Zafu]

This is honestly the best board game channel I've seen on KZbin. You guys deserve 10x as many subs

[@romanderman9000]

Best conversion for new youtubers - Top/Best of videos, well done!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks! :)

[@vladimirshlapakov8033]

My additional picks from own experience will be: Ticket to Ride, Dixit and Sushi Go.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Totally agree with you here. We love all three of these :)

[@codym6376]

My coolest looking gateway game pick would have been Camel Up. The pop-up tree, pyramid, camels, and camel race track have a nice table presence. This also works well for larger groups because I think it plays up to eight but I could be wrong. Simple rules category would be Ticket to Ride. Also liked the Just One, The Mind, and No thanks picks.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Great picks!! Ticket to Ride seems a bit difficult for the simple rules one, but we can see it

[@oneysnyder2116]

Camel Up was my personal gateway game! Love it!

[@andrewnewey9354]

late to this video but must add a comment: Catan converted me many years ago... And now our little family all plays together! It was the perfect conversion game. Great channel by the way, keep up the great videos. Greetings from South Africa.

[@angeliquenewey4350]

❤️

[@maxwellsharpe4420]

I’m just getting into board games. And you’re picks for coolest looking are definitely on my list of buys now lol

[@estrada263]

Love your videos! Very fun to watch.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks Vernon! Happy to hear that!

[@Grimscribe732]

Under 20min: Coup Co-op: The Crew Most Conversions: Small World (Underground) Simple Rules: 6 nimmt! / Skull King / Zombie Dice Coolest Looking: Dixit Best in large groups: Secret Hitler

[@cainx.b.6082]

Thanks to you I finally learned that the name of that game is Eat Poop You Cat😂

[@hollydenman2929]

Thank you thank you thank you! Finally a board game channel not over my head and talking about games that aren't all violence and monsters

[@MarkSchamel]

First time watching your channel. Great chemistry and wonderful suggestions. Thanks.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks for watching!

[@dominykasbudrys1011]

So cool that you are from Latvia!!

[@romanderman9000]

My pick for a best gateway Co-op: Forbidden Island/Desert...also since many have asked me to bring 'that sand game' that would my best conversion game after Catan - got me in to hobby, and many others, good pick Janis..not You, but that Janis...right Janis..at least for us :D

[@BoardGameHangover]

"That sand game" is a great one for sure. :D Can't go wrong with Catan.

[@Zaloomination]

I agree that Forbidden Desert is my favorite game to teach because the rules are so intuitive and immersive and therefore accessible for new players. Being a cooperative game erases the learning curve because you can interject as much as you feel is needed for each team member. Also the game has insane escalating tensions and very real stakes. By the end of it the victory feels very well earned

[@northlakeghost]

Terrific video. Love the way you divided up the categories! (Also, love that "Together" sweatshirt. What's it from?)

[@gruntsudens]

It is from the local TED talk. TEDxRIGA.

[@ballzz2thewall]

I recommend Everdell for its simplicity but also having some cool strategy. One of my more "casual board gamer" friends actually recommended it to me which was interesting.

[@Cheddarific]

For anyone else curious: the localized language was Latvian.

[@BlueTorchWeddings]

You guys are funny. Love this channel

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks Stephen! Glad you enjoy it!

[@BGcam]

I need a video of them just saying “eat poop you cat” over and over for an hour 😂

[@tabletalk4729]

I’ll have to check out Wazabi!

[@tylervideos8081]

Interestingly, Catan was the opposite of a gateway game for me. My family loved it and I would always play with them, but I didn’t enjoy it and assumed I just didn’t like board games. Scythe and Pandemic Legacy were my gateway games.

[@djoj20]

My gateway game was Clank!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Ahh, Clank is such a good game.

[@DaFlavourFace]

That last game can is also known as Telestrations (physical board game) or Gartic Phone (free web app). I have played the web version many times during the pandemic, and it was a blast every time

[@Dwigii]

Some of my go to games for non-gamers are also from your list. So a few comments.. *Just One works so well in any crowd, it's just ridiculous how amazing that game has been. I simply cannot recommend highly enough. *I also like bringing the "card line" games like Timeline, Illusion and another more controversial game for not really your grandparent's evening - Shit Happens. *If you have a party I would also recommend Strike A Pose.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Great suggestion! Yeah, Just One works with anyone. We've played it with our parents and kids and enjoyed it with everyone. You can't say that about too many games.

[@bibleboardgames5199]

Thank you, guys! I just played Settlers of Canaan (very similar to Catan) with some friends, and they liked it!

[@youvelookedbetter]

I'm more into the womanfolk in terms of attraction but you two are just oozing chemistry. There's just something about you two. Love the banter and game choices ;)

[@AoiSyuuto]

Best Channel ever.

[@Kojimalosophy]

Funny TRUE story: I bought the game Love Letter used on Facebook marketplace, and the previous owner had covered all the cleavage with sharpie, cuz she thought it was too much, lol

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's very funny 🤣

[@barbaramazzocca4605]

No Ticket to Ride??? Easy to learn, fun, and addictive.

[@BoardGameHangover]

A good pick for sure

[@curtisrobinson7962]

Catan house rule: When the 2 is rolled the 12 gets paid as well and when the 12 is rolled the 2 gets paid too.

[@Dzhuu]

MMm.. Disappointed with the Large crowd category. Would not consider those 'board games', thus I think a missed chance to show something a bit 'more substantial' (dont know, maybe Deception: murder.... or Cash'n'guns or similar). Also, very clear that Janis T failed at the 'Most conversions' category :) At leas to me the argument, that the ppl played it and bought it is not 'converting' them to BG hobby. And it is true (in my opinion) to small card games in general, as they mostly draw ppl to that game and do not show help them to get into the 'big box' experience. While Catan certainly does that (and Vladimir' s mentioned Ticket to ride). Anyway, great vid. I could add Terra as a good gateway game, while it is a 'trivia' style, I think the idea is easy to pick up for everyone (i mean it's not a game, it's display of intelect), but it still has some 'gamey' mechanics, thus easy to get someone involved, while also having actual game to play there (not just 'knowing or guessing). Another mention would be 'escape' type of games. Preferably Unlock!, which is also easy 'to sell' (it's like escape room), but still has some mechanics and thematics and can draw interest towards playing more. ok.. the comment is too long already ;)

[@BoardGameHangover]

Can't get them all right. :D Thanks for the feedback tho! That's a great suggestion. Escape games are a great way to start out the hobby for sure!

[@alphabet2238]

I probably wouldn't choose Catan as a good gateway game. To avoid a long rant I'll say right now that I don't like it personally and if I had played this first rather than later I would have not gotten into the hobby. With that out of the way the main reasons I think it would be a poor choice is mainly down to two factors. First being the main element of skill is mostly concentrated at the start of the game with placements rather than throughout. Secondly the entire flow of the game for each player is dictated by dice rolling with no way to control or manipulate it. It's a game where one or more players may have effectively lost the game before the first turn even starts and with a dozen or so bad dice rolls, one or more players know they have no hope of winning but have to play out the rest of the game (basically monopoly but without any hope of getting eliminated). But I think the ultimate kicker for me personally when I played it was that because dice get resources and resources are needed for anything, if the dice went wrong then I wouldn't have a turn. I think Catan is the only board game I have played so far where the luck factor determines if I have a turn or not for the entire game and I hated that. Personally each time I am in an introduction situation I will always choose Ticket to ride (probably the original). It's simple in rules, players can have the feeling of earning points throughout the game and the hidden ticket cards gives an unknown element so that each player will still think they have a chance to win, even later into the game, assuming they are not blocked.

[@mike9139]

YOU ARE BOTH AWESOME! ❤❤❤

[@BoardGameHangover]

Mike, YOU ARE AWESOME!

[@mike9139]

@@BoardGameHangover ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@deedd4401]

new fella here.. just wanted to say my gateway was mindbug.. went for Star Realms then

[@BoardGameHangover]

I haven't tried Mindbug. Will have to check it out! /JT

[@blaarghwee]

Gloomhaven!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Would love to see how that goes with non-gamers :D

[@Zephairein]

surprised CAH isn't one of the "converted the most" or "Simplest rules" picks

[@romanderman9000]

Thumbs up for video montage ;)

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks! Good to know it's worth putting in the work!

[@Zaloomination]

How do you feel about 7 Wonders? I have a feeling it would go over well because there is no reading, games are relatively short, and the players are always busy

[@BoardGameHangover]

Yes! That's also an amazing choice. :)

[@dvunkannon]

At about 6:07, one of you mentions a game they are playing a lot of right now. It sounds like "Elder Shore" but I can't a game with that name in English. Do you remember what it was? Thanks!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Hey! It's Eldritch Horror - a heavy cooperative adventure game where you as a group fight monsters and try to save the world.

[@derekbarber7841]

Really late to this video, but I would say for a converter game Tsuro, I played this with my parents who are not gamers, 9pm turned to 12am then I ended up having to leave it for them.

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's a great choice! Games that fit for all generations are the best picks

[@Min3vidz]

What about Welcome to, Qwixx, Wingspan and Ticket to Ride?

[@BoardGameHangover]

All great choices! Keep it up with the suggestions, we always love to see what others enjoy playing.

[@Dwigii]

I would not bring Wingspan to any non-gamers.. every card has it's own unique rule.. this will be too much for them imo.

[@Zaloomination]

@@Dwigii I was considering bringing Everdell to play with my new gaming group because it has such great components and a lovely immersive theme but it has the same issue for new gamers. Too complicated

[@NS-mm6jq]

Guys you should have a million subscribers. With love from Ukraine❤

[@cable1567]

Is Risk still a thing I think it's the goat.

[@indigootaku]

Why can't I find anything on elder shore? 😢

[@jasonc2784]

Telestrations

[@Dwigii]

Did you left out Kids games as a genre on purpose? I guess that might be very subjective as that would likely depend on the specific kid's interests - but what would you suggest to bring to a random young kids class event or something of sorts? I know that some very young kids don't even know how to ''throw a dice''.. so what would be your safest bet in this category?

[@gruntsudens]

It was not on purpose, just, forgot. But from our list, Wazabi would work great. Not from this list I would suggest: Micons, Who Did It, Schotten Totten (not sure it is the right name) and Speed Colors.

[@dougsundseth6904]

I think Settlers of Catan is a poor choice. The base game has the problem that with four players it's very likely that one of the players will be functionally eliminated by about turn three or four. But that person, who has no realistic chance of winning, can't even walk away and do something fun without being rude to the other players. I'd rather play a real player elimination game. This can be mitigated to some extent with the right expansion (Seafarers is a decent choice.) Furthermore, every dice roll result in the game is a low-probability event, which means that you have very high random variance with no player control. This exacerbates the first problem. Not a good game, even though it's very popular.

[@Zaloomination]

Good point! I was thinking of bringing Catan to my coworkers game night but maybe ill pass. Also the games always tend to drag on for so long and get exhausting

[@kristiankongen7117]

I miss Small World on this

[@christianmorson3945]

So 8 out of 12 of your 'Top Board Games' didn't have a board?

[@lordoftheflings]

if your friends wont play a board game with you...find some new friends that share your interests.

[@BoardGameHangover]

If getting friends would be that easy... :D

[@MarkusLegner]

CATAN is not for casual gamers, it is the most annoying, where nothing really happens, nothing really entertains and at one point you get stuck. It only looks nice. King of Tokyo is not good if you are dead and must wait untill the others finish battling. Chronicles of Crime can be frustrating if you don't love the idea of using your smartphone and scan QR codes...

[@BoardGameHangover]

Fair criticisms. What are your favorite games for casual gamers?

[@truerockfan]

I can say as Catan was my first hobbyist board game, I hated it. I found it incredibly boring and every time I have played it, I end up as last player because I was doomed from my first choice, which I think is kind of a terrible state when the game can have you lose before its begun. I feel for intro games, you want something where every one can be on a level playing field. Sadly, its why I don't play euro games because if I HAVE to play one, I already feel too overwhelmed and it just makes me feel stupid when I just wanna do something cool and not just be some dude with a load of sheep lol

[@BoardGameHangover]

Catan can be super swingy based on your starting positions, other players, and random dice rolls. Sad to hear that it's like that with other Euro games, there are tons of good ones out there. Anyways... What are your go-to games?

[@truerockfan]

@Board Game Hangover some of my favorite games are King of Tokyo, Power Rangers: Heroes of the Grid, anything from the Villainous franchises, the DC Comics Deck Building Game, anything from Epic Spell Wars Annihilageddon, Marvel Champions, Chops, and Smash Up to name mine and my group's usual go tos

[@aaronscherbing]

We play "Eat Poop You Cat", but we call it "Telephone Pictionary". A little more politically correct name, I think. ;)

[@BoardGameHangover]

True. Maybe I should switch to that names as well ;)

[@dndgroup9320]

Catan - as gateway game? NO. I would not recommend this game as if i had played it before i got into hobby, i would never be interested in it... its popular but not good game. There are so many better games to get people into hobby.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Not everyone likes the same games. That's ok ;)