Top 10 Introductory Games
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- Tom, Zee, and Sam share their favorite ten games that have worked well for introducing new people to the board gaming hobby.
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Everyone's 10 Top Picks summarized:
Sam (his picks introduce different common game elements such as card drafting, worker mgmt, etc)
:
10. Onitama (Hand Mgmt)
9. For Sale (Auction & Bidding)
8. Rising 5 (Spend action points)
7. Jamaica - (simultaneous action selection)
6. Smallworld (area control)
5. Bang! Dice (dice rolling)
4. Stone Age (worker placement)
3. 7 Wonders (card drafting)
(Zee's alt: Sheep and Thief)
2. Run Fight or Die (variable player powers)
1. Obscurio (cooperative play) - (Shadows over Camelot killer, also kills Mysterium, also kills Deception: Murder in Hong Kong)
Zee:
10. Just One
9. Junk Art
8. Las Vegas - dice game
7. Karuba (not Karuba the card game)
6. Archaeology
5. Ticket to Ride
(alt: Century: New World)
4. Planet
3. Downforce
2. Pandemic
1. Camel Up
Tom:
10. Wildlands (Funkoverse, Unmatched)
9. Villanous
8. Onitama
7. Planet
6. Clank!
5. King of Tokyo
4. Century: Spice Road (alt: Golem Edition)
3. Space Base (Valeria: Card Kingdoms)
2. Horrified
1. Ticket to Ride
Special mentions (could have made the list)
:
Settlers of Catan, Carcassone
Tom's favorite he wish he could teach:
A Feast For Odin
Mentions in the chat:
Space Hulk
Can't Stop
Space Base
Machi Koro
Tsuro
Kingdomino
Azul
Tiny Epic Empires
Welcome back to the Dungeon
Small Star Empires
Jaipur
Spyfall
Nexus Ops
Cahoots
Dominion
Food Chain Magnate
Arkham Horror
Elder Sign
Kill Doctor Lucky
Lords of Waterdeep
Splendor
Gizmos
Sushi Go
Rise of Tribes
Carcassone
Takenoko
Forbidden Desert
Hive
Sagrada
Tiny Towns
Tapestry
Chronicles of Crime
Age of War
Ty
Great.
*slow clap rising into thunderous applause*
Thanks, man (applauses)
I wish youtube allowed us to give actual currency as tips to commenters, like some platforms do, because if they did I'd be paying you right now lol Thanks a lot!!
Zee is 100% right. If a game has variable player powers, it's much harder to learn. And, the more people paying the harder it is to learn because each player has to learn what they and the other players can do/will be trying to do.
True, but people Love Disney, so I think that makes it a good entry level game
I can imagine Villainous being bought because it LOOKS great but newcomers may find it a little too much. For me its TOO asymmetric and will easily be called unfair
Lanterns: the harvest festival is my intro tile-layer. Matching the colors is not required but yields more cards
Glad to see Horrified mentioned! Such a fun and thematic coop game. It's me new go-to introductory board game.
Absolutely love this game it’s one of my favorites. Works on multiple levels. Great re play. And you can download new monsters from boardgame geek
Takenoko we had some difficulty teaching this to my mother-in-law, because she kept thinking the panda cards (which show 2 or 3 bamboo pieces) were gardener pieces, so when she saw 3 bamboo stalks of 1 height each color, she thought she completed it. This happened 3 or 4 times in the same game! Last time we played it with her.
Flamme Rouge - this is a cool hand management racing game (easy to learn and if you're into cycling, then the races are quite realistic)
I love using "My Little Scythe" as an intro to gaming. I know it is technically a kids game, but adults (especially those sympathetic to cute animals) love it because it still requires some strategy to win. The fact it's a kids game has also helped as I've found it's an easy game to get "reluctant gamers" (like my mom, who usually will only play Catan and party games, or others afraid to try to learn rules to a new game) into playing since it is advertised as easy enough for an 8 yr old to play. I feel it has enough of the engine-builder complexity that it makes an excellent intro game for that field. My go to for deck-builders is DC Deck building because that hooks many people with how popular Super heroes are (it's wayy easier than the marvel one). I also love many from the lists/mentions: Onitama, 7 wonders, Pandemic (or Forbidden Island for reluctant gamers), Bang!, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, Splendor, Smash Up, Codenames, Santorini, and (of course) Catan.
I love Smash-Up, but I wouldn't use it as an introduction simply because almost every card us different and you need to understand/learn how each deck works
Deleted Breakfast Club scene and Zee messing up his pick for the number three slot where a few minutes of comedy gold!!!!
I love the term "gateway" for board games. Find the right game and you'll get addicted...
The Breakfast Club part had me in stitches! 🤣
Zee's fired up!! Sam's point about not every game has to be light as you don't want to bore new players is spot on.
Agreed. If someone tried to introduce me to the hobby with a game like Tsuro, I think that would actually have an adverse effect on my interest level in games.
Trust me I think the opposite is more damaging...just get lumped with overly complex euro about trading and you will know
I love the banter between these three. Survive Escape from Atlantis is a fantastic introductory game. Small world did not work as an introductory game for us because of all the text involved I agree with Z, reference sheet the game was how we experienced it..
Splendor.
You guys mentioned it several times, but Splendor is one I'd sure put on this list. When Century: Spice Road came out (and I think that's a good choice for this list too), a lot of reviewers called it a "Splendor Killer." And when I got Century, we didn't play Splendor for awhile, initially thinking the same. But we later had the occasion to play Splendor again, and we really don't feel that Century killed it at all, it's still a great game. Splendor is about the simplest "engine building" game ever, and I've never had a problem with anyone getting it.
And I think Takenoko does what Ticket to Ride does but with a theme I much prefer-- the common mechanism being "hidden goals". And I don't really see Takenoko as being enough more complex than Ticket to Ride, plus the cute factor is more engaging than trains on a map, so that helps smooth over any unfamiliar complexities that need to be explained.
Syncopator I agree. Slender is easier to grasp and was not killed or replaced by century although I do like it.
Takenoko is definitely more complicated than Ticket to Ride.
When I first played the game I was surprised by how much hidden complexity is there, since there’s all the details about tile placement rules, irrigation, tile abilities, weather abilities, moving two different (shared) characters... etc.
It’s fun, and it’s probably manageable with the right group, but I don’t see how it is a better introduction than Ticket to Ride. Ticket to Ride is an evolution of rummy. What common game is Takenoko a variation of?
Takenoko is slightly less streamlined than Ticket to Ride de USA. How bout that?
Splendor is one of the few games that I’ve seen get over with EVERYONE. My non-gamer family members all love it and to this day it’s one of my favorite short games to play with dedicated gamers.
@@JeanDubuc Takenoko may be a little less streamlined than TtoR, but I like the theme and the look a lot better-- games on anything but imaginary maps I find tend towards boring. Too much like Geography class for me, I guess. Which raises a question, train games are so popular, are there any that are set in some kind of fantasy universe? Seems like that ought to be a thing, if train game fans don't tend to take it all too seriously...
Camel Up is a great pick! I guess one of the best racing games around. Swingy and fun.
*cup
Camel Up is a betting game, not a racing game.
I just went and bought Camel Up because of this video.
Kingdomino. I don't even like it that much but it really works well with new players.
Carcassonne totally replaced Kingdomino for me. Sagrada did the same to Azul.
I miss Sam as part of the group. Hope he is doing well.
Where is he?
Thanks I see I see !!!
Glad he's gone actually.
I don't he never tired to grow.
Now that I'm re-watching some of these older Top 10s, I think the dynamic is better now bit it would still be cool to see come back from time to time.
Carcassonne was the first time I was ever playing a game that wasn't either some Monopoly/Clue board game everyone keeps at the cabin and kind of hates or a party game based on speed or naming things. It was simpler than I had anticipated and got me interested in what other kinds of games were out there. I still suggest it to anyone who are interested in games along with King Domino and Magic Maze since you build up the difficulty level.
I definitely think Pandemic was a great game to start off with. I introduced it to my wife and she is obsessed with the game
I have it and after 2020 my wife won’t touch it.
@@nateborck4577 Incredibly shallow of her. I'm sorry for you
Best Top Ten ever- you guys really cracked me up! Zee was on a roll here. I'm truly going to miss this trio.
I often use Pandemic, but really hitting a style of game or theme helps the most.
Zee meant asymmetry, not asyncrony (i didn't type it properly but you'll get the meaning).
Almost every game is asynchronous: players play one after the other, not all at the same time.
Just just finishing up. Haven't laughed out loud this much on a top ten in a while. Thanks for spending the hour and half with me.
Hands down, one of the most entertaining top tens yet!
I think Tokaido is a great gateway game for new gamers. It's one of the first games that really got me into gaming. There is still some strategy, but it's a relaxing and beautiful game and really attracts new players!
My introduction to board games as a hobby was Tom teaching me Smallworld.
That was 2010 in Korea.
It's definitely a great game to get someone excited about the hobby
Z's right.... the original Las Vegas didn't need anything added, and looked better. The perfect intro/gateway/beer & pretzels game.
I'm glad Sam mentioned, in the beginning, about introductory games not needing to be the games you start out playing. Both sides of the spectrum are possible. Excited to see his picks.
I appreciate Zee's perception of what makes a game 'introductory'. I have had many friends new to the hobby struggle with games that most consider basic like Azul, Sushi Go Party, The Resistance etc. If you've only ever played Monopoly, a lot of these concepts that regular board gamers take for granted aren't so easy to pick up.
My introduction to this hobby was Arkham Horror so I completely agree with Sam's opening comments. The theme and excitement that game gave me hooked me right away, and even though the first fifteen games were marred with rules mistakes, I loved it.
Yeah, I have to agree as well. There are certainly non-gamers with whom I wouldn't play a light game and rather something with an exciting theme and a more epic scale just to show them what boardgames can do because even non-gamers are aware of easy card games etc.
Dixit. I’ve never had it fail with any demographic, ever. Even the most reluctant types enjoy it in spite of themselves.
I double this. My grandma and aunts absolutely hate board games, but when I showed them Dixit, they fell in love immediatly and since then they always want to play it
Forbidden Island, very good coop
Luk3y 93 Forbidden Desert and Forbidden Sky too.
@@anthonyswindall5752 Sky is my favourite
Sky aint for beginners
@@danteshydratshirt2360 that's very true, it's my favourite of the series though👍
Forbidden Island is too simple for me, i would much prefer forbidden desert
Games I highly recommend for introduction games
Azul
Carcassone
Just One
Ice Cool
For Sale
I would love a top10 list with games that takes about 30min or less. Please consider this.
That is a ridiculous request. 30 games in 30 minutes? You'd never get a reason what the game is about or why it's on this list. Sure you might be able to tell me about 1 or 2 in a minute, but I seriously doubt you could do 30. Might as well just make a list people could read. The back and forth interaction between the three of them is largely what makes watching the Dice Tower videos so enjoyable, to me at least.
Normally I found your videos educational but today Never have I laughed as much as I did watching this video. Thank you
Absolutely hilarious top 10. That breakfast club comment had me in stitches.
When Zee looked Tom up and down at the beginning I lost it🤣🤣
I agree with Sam's opening thought. War of the Ring was my gateway game about a year ago and I have about 30 different games in my collection now. Doesn't need to be simple to get you hooked.
My gateway game as an adult getting into a deeper level of the hobby was pixel tactics which is really complicated which I loved
Haha, I laugh more watching these Top 10 videos than I do watching stand up! Good work fellows; thank you very much!
Only to number 9, and I love the energy in this video! Laughed so much already
Wow, you guys were having fun putting this video together :-)
I always bring Tsuro to game nights when I know there are going to be more casual gamers attending. More often than not, people wind up buying their own copy the very next day.
“Villianous” is NOT an introductory game. The options on your turn are very broad. Plus, taking a “fate” action against another person requires that you understand their board and their goals. So to play the game with any kind of strategy, you have to learn how every character works. Not just the basics, but how certain cards will affect them.
It's a weird game. On one side it has a "wide-audience family" theme, and on the other hand, it has mechanics that are best suited for gamers. It is a game that has hugely disappointed me...
Couldn't agree more. I tried playing this game with a few other experienced players and it just fell flat.
Century Golem edition
Preordered this like 7 months ago in the uk and still no sign of a release date!
Azul
I think any game which won the Spiel des Jahres would be a good pick for this category. I know you guys already mentioned a few (Just One, Camel Up, Ticket to Ride etc) but others like Qwirkle or Kingdomino would also be good ones. In fact, Colt Express was my proper introduction to the hobby!
For card drafting "Medieval Academy" totally replaced "7 wonders" for me. Really simple and really fun. Looks great too.
Mystery of the Abbey
I know it's out of print by now but it has always been one of my favourite introductory games. Most people have played, or are familiar with clue. And this game is a clue killer for me.
Yes Zee! Totally agree! I honestly can’t handle games that are longer than an hour. Give me something quick and light every time! Other picks (especially for families)- Forbidden Island, 5 Minute Marvel, Fire in the Library, Kingdomino, Rhino Hero Super Battle, Sushi Go Party, Bob Ross:Art of Chill, Barenpark, Arraial.
Their interaction makes such a fun discussion! It will be cool to have a fun group and most of the games can be fun!
Some of my introductory games besides Ticket to Ride: Istanbul, Welcome to Your Perfect Home, Kauchuck ( Rule the Realm), Karuna, Marrakech.
This is the first list in the years and years I've watched where I almost wholeheartedly agreed with Sam--including his problems with Villainous! It actually feels really good. I specifically agree with Zee about tracking lighter and I've had those same experiences. Truthfully I do think Tom is off on this one, but I also think that his definition is different than mine for the category.
So many of Tom’s picks were my gateway games lol
I think I've done a pretty good job of collecting "introductory" games. I just went with what was popular and had a lot of high ratings. My gamer friends up till recent were casual gamers who got frustrated with any game that was too complicated so that influenced my choices (e.g Betrayal at House on the Hill).
I got Clank!, Takenoko, Camel Up, Incan Gold, For Sale, Love Letter, King of Tokyo, Azul, Century: Spice Road, and 7 Wonders, among others. Incan Gold is the far winner here. Pretty much everyone I've introduced this to has ended up buying their own copy. Camel Up, also a favorite. My non-gamer wife loves Century: Spice Road now. Oh, and Clank! is a popular one (my current favorite).
Getting your non-gamer friends into gaming is fun!
Thanks for calling Tom out on Villainous. It is definitely not introductory. Also, Wildlands? what? Tom you are loosing me, I'm gravitating more towards Sam and while still strongly aligned to Zee. (in gaming you are a Tom, Zee, or Sam if you didn't know yet). I was a Zee/Tom but for this list I am a Zee/Sam.
5 minute dungeon or 5 minute marvel I have used as an introductory game a lot
Love these
New ticket to ride London. Is a good, quick intro game.
Our most successful gaming group (82 games played to date together) was introduced by us to board games by way of four player Caverna, and they were a bit tipsy at the time as well, so read the room when picking a game and don't just go by complexity or ease of play.
Barenpark
First, I 💙 Zee - this opening was awesome.
Second, I do agree with Sam, however, my "gateway" game back into gaming was Axis & Allies because I was a Poli Sci major. And Twilight Struggle would have done it if A&A didn't. It didn't matter I had to study the rule book for days in advance, what mattered was I was super into the subject matter and liked the gaming mechanism.
You guys are simply awesome, wonderful and SO funny 👍
really like this games because they are mostly games that you can pick up and play with little explaining or need to remember some minimalist rules, and if you want to play something more complex there's games that derive from those themes
To introduce my friends to co-operative games I used Forbidden Island. One of my favourites is Pandemic but I used Forbidden Island first
I was so lucky to be introduced to modern board games with Race for the Galaxy, it was awesome and it got me hooked, had I been introduced to what is considered an "introductory" game maybe that wouldn't have happened as I tend to like more complex games, so I agree with Sam, you don't have to start with this, it depends on the person, the age and what hobbies they already have.
I'm on team Zee. Simple is good. I love kingdomino but find queendomino to be to much. Take a great simple game and make it too fiddly. Lots of expansions do this
Tom: "I'm not going that introductory..."
While putting together a top 10 introductory games list. Haha I love these discussions but that made me chuckle.
Your banter is hilarious 😆. It's half of the experience 😉
never thought id watch a 1h30 video abt board games when all i play is uno and rummikub lolol and occasionally ticket to ride but here i am at the end of this video :D
huge thank you this was very helpful i have a long list of games i want to check out now!!
Just started delving into gaming hobby and pandemic was definitely my gateway. Beauty of it is now my younger nieces play it with me and we’re now playing Pandemic S1 (they really like the legacy aspect and so do I!). We’ve also played journeys in middle earth which we had fun but the setup and take down was a bit overwhelming.
I also have Star Wars rebellion now which was more of a learning curve but highly enjoyable. I’ll probably get something like Mansions of Madness next so the family can play.
Asking for Trobils is the answer Tom was looking for when trying to think of a better "gateway" game for worker-placement :)
My introductory game was Twilight Imperium 3rd. When I learned that this epic experience was possible is when I started looking at other stuff.
I only started playing board games about 4 months ago, as some new friends turned out to be heavy board gamers. I started with terraforming mars. Which is a really fun game, and since then i have bought games for myself based on what my friends dont have which i think i whould enjoy: underwater cities, tapestry, schyte and most recently Beyond the sun and On mars. I like the more complex games, not that all of the mentioned necessarily are complex. But at the very least fun for me :)
I play takenoko with my 11 and 10 year olds. It’s a gateway and we love it, I agree with that pick.
"Splendor was the Splendor killer for me" :DDD
Sheriff of Nottingham
My games in order of introduction in function of the group :
Party
-Black Stories
-Bang! Dice game
-Complot
Family
-Kingdomino
-Sushi Go Party
-Professor Evil
-Takenoko
-Catan
Duo
-Jaipur
-The Fox in the Forest
-7 Wonder Duel
Medium/Heavy
-Pandemic Iberia
-Aeon's End
-Robinson Crusoe
For Sam's list - push your luck mechanism: CELESTIA
This one never gets the love it should! Ive taught it to loads of peeps and e
very one loves it. Several folk went out and bought it the next day.
Tom about Onitama: “I have yet to have someone say ‘I don’t get it”
Me: “you haven’t met my mom”
Hahaha.
I have tried Onitama. Not for me.
Have friends who returned Villainous because it was “too hard” to figure out. They already play TTR & Catan. So I’m not sure of Villainous as a “gateway” game.
Horrified was my gateway game four months ago and now I have 30 games and am obsessed.
Disney Villainous is a great game! I played it with my gf and her sister and they both caught on quick. Neither are gamers and her sister even said at the end that she was surprised she was able to learn it.
DIxit is the King of introductory games! everyone with no exceptions, love it straight away. people take pictures of the cover, to remember it and then buy it for themselves or to gift it to loved ones. it works. great games mentioned here. cheers
I think the art also plays a HUGE part into how good of a gateway game it is. If it looks drab, people’s hearts aren’t as likely to be in it, but if there is lots of pretty art or plastic Dinos or good graphic design, people are more likely to put effort into actually trying to enjoy the game.
Novelty or gimmick factor actually helps
Las Vegas is a great introductory to area control games.
Sushi go for drafting.
Wizard for trick taking.
That's pretty clever for roll n write.
Just one for a party game.
And still Ticket to ride for a family game.
Villainous definitely has a fairly steep learning curve. You heard correctly Sam.
I agree with Tom on Clank. I taught 3 new gamers this game in less than 10 minutes and other than a few clarifications during the game, everything went smoothly and we all had a great time....Enough to play it 3 times.
7 Wonders is great but it’s a gamers’ game. beginners often feel baffled choosing cards and the idea of mentally tallying up resources available each turn confuses lots of people
Sushi Go! is a better introduction in my opinion. Play a few games of that, get some strategy happening, then go to 7 wonders.
I think this is a brilliant list and can confirm, first hand, some of these games are great for new gamers, especially my kids, LOL. Jamaica is a great game and gets even better with the Crew expansion. I don't know a single person, gamer or non-gamer, that did not enjoy King of Tokyo. Camel (C)Up is a great twist on a racing game, and For Sale is a perfect "Filler/gateway" game.
Thanks, as always, for the review.
Zee thank you for being the voice of reason...I'm a light gamer and I'm trying to get my wife playing...I need light and fun..that's why I love your reviews.
I'm curious if anyone else has the same experience. I actually got rid of 7 Wonders because it didn't teach well at all for new people. I have Sushi Go Party and that has consistently gone over well with people for drafting. Ultimately 7 Wonders never got played and I eventually let it go.
Sam's list was wild and unpredictable!
Indigo (when playing with 3 or 4)
Interesting we played Space Base with 9 year old and she pulled off the you win card.
I love the term : foundation game as considered med by Three minute board games
Oh Man I really miss the synergy between this trio combi! Truly one of the best evahhhh!
To fit this category, I always ask myself if I could play with my parents. I tried Wildlands with them and it didn’t work to well because of the iconography. That being said, it really depends on people capacity to pick up. I easily introduce new people to Godfather, Marvel Legendary, Summoners Was, etc.
For sale! Super easy to teach and great fun!
Battle-Sheep. Forbidden Island. Taluva. Lost Cities (Boardgame version if more than two players). Gravwell. Welcome to the Dungeon. Resistance: Avalon.
+1 for Battle Sheep.
1. Ticket to ride Europa
2. Survive
3. Smallworld
4. Azul
5. Kingdomino
6. Patchwork
7. Hive
8. Codenames
9. Pandemic
10. Star Realms
One of the co-op game that I enjoyed the most that i believe falls under this 'Introductory Games' theme is The Grizzled. I enjoy the war theme and the getting rid of cards together but there is an element of making decision (which sometimes, some co-op games will mean that certain players dominate decision making... I am looking at you Pandemic...) when choosing support which starts players off on that.. especially when many different players have different hard knocks..
Barenpark, Alhambra, and Istanbul:The Dice Game would probably be my go -to's for introducing people to gaming that weren't mentioned. I have also use Vegas Showdown as an intro game but that's a little more variable with who you'd be playing with.
Sleuth
An unusual pick, I know. But it’s remarkably similar to Clue, which is a game that many people already know and like. So, even though it is a pretty heavy deduction game, I’ve had great success teaching it to new gamers.
Of course, don’t play it with 7 players! But 4 or 5 is good.
Keys to the castle was great for my 6&7 year old children as well as my parents who are in their 70s.
The Unlock! Games
They show an incredible side to modern board games that help introduce new people to the hobby.
Zee is right about Las Vegas. I have both, but have not played the new one yet. The crowd who want to play this light of a game don’t want to beef it up. There is also some expansion bloat intimidation factoring in.