There are two kinds of people in the world. People who play board games, and people who don’t.
And by board games, I am not talking about the old copies of Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit that only get dusted off at Christmas. I am of course talking about the varied and wonderful world of tabletop games that ranges from complex strategy games to wacky party games, from social deduction to resource management, and so much more.
Of course, I think we all have someone in our lives, whether it be a reluctant friend or a confused relative, who looks a little like a deer in the headlights every time they hear you mention a board game that isn’t Risk.
Or maybe it is you who has heard so much about strange and unusual board games from your friends and family but don’t know where to start with joining in on games night.
The world of board games can be intimidating, and certainly some games can seem inaccessible to newer players.
So, in order to help you introduce your friends/relatives/partner/work colleagues to, or to help you yourself discover, the wonderful world of tabletop gaming, I have compiled this list of five easy to teach, beginner friendly games!
Starting out with a game so simple that literally anyone can play it! In Tsuro each player leads their piece along a winding path, aiming to be the last one standing on the board. It really is as simple as that.
The beauty of Tsuro really does lie in its simplicity and whilst it is possible to make tactical moves in the game, there is also a fair bit of luck that comes into play, helping to even the playing field with less experienced gamers. You can also play with up to eight players, making it great fun for larger gatherings.
A little more complex than Tsuro, Secret Identity sees each player using a hand of picture cards to give their fellow players clues in the hopes that these clues will guide them to the correct famous person. This will take a little bit more time to teach but I think it’s absolutely worth it for how much fun it is. And if we can teach my Nana to play it, then anyone can pick it up!
Whilst Secret Identity is a competitive game, you score points for both guessing other people’s identity correctly and for other people guessing your identity correctly. Meaning there’s not much opportunity to get overly competitive or to start sabotaging each other’s play!
But don’t be fooled. It is still absolutely a great game for starting arguments with your family that will continue for years to come; “How am I supposed to get Joan of Arc from a Croissant?” “Because SHE’S FRENCH!”
Similar to Secret Identity, So Clover is another game in which players are giving clues to their fellow players to help them place the correct words in the correct configuration. The key difference being that, So Clover is a cooperative game rather than a competitive one.
I love a cooperative game for introducing people to tabletop gaming because it’s a lot easier to talk new players through the game as you play. You’re all working together so you can offer more of a guiding hand on the first play through. So Clover is also a pretty quick game, so you can usually play a couple of rounds at a time.
So far, every game that I have mentioned lends itself well to larger groups. Both Tsuro and Secret Identity can be played by up to eight players, and So Clover by up to six.
Patchwork, on the other hand, is a two-player game. So, if you’re looking for something to introduce your other half, or a close friend to board games, this is a great option for beginners. Each player has a square that they are trying to fill with patches, which can be purchased with buttons, however
with every patch that you buy you advance along a time tracker. It’s a neat blend of geometric puzzle meets strategic economy, and it’s pretty quick and easy to learn.
It’s can be a super satisfying game when you build a really good patchwork, but it can also be incredibly frustrating which – if we’re honest – is half of the fun of board games!
5. One Night Ultimate Werewolf
This one is a personal favourite of mine, especially for parties. Accommodating up to ten players, One Night Ultimate Werewolf takes the classic Werewolf, social deduction game, and does it in a format that is super accessible and easy to play (although it does require someone to download the app).
The premise is simple. Each player is assigned a character that only they know. The villager characters must identify the werewolves, and the werewolves must avoid detection. Of course, including characters like the Seer, the Troublemaker, and the Robber just serves to increase the chaos.
What’s so great about One Night Ultimate Werewolf is that the app really does all of the work for you. Just input which characters you are using and hit start! The app will then provide all of the instructions that you need, guiding you through the game with ease.
What game do you think is great for beginners? Let us know on our Instagram!
