Boardgames: The Gateway Game

You like board games and have the feeling that you don’t game enough. Well you are not alone, and like others you probably spend some time on BoardGameGeek clicking on all the “how to introduce my wife/friends/girlfriend/dog to board games”. So what is the perfect “gateway” game that will lead you to more gaming time and more fun?

Let me start with the jerk answer: there is no such perfect game. Why would you like a simple gateway game if you like deep strategy? Why would you like a trick tacking game if you are shy? So the best answer would be: know your friends better than your games!

That said, my answer is Carcassonne. Why?

1.The rules are simple.  Never underestimate the burden of heavy rules for non gamers. Maybe you don’t realize the rule synergies between all the miniature, video and boardgame that you have played. Your friends start from nothing and there are no such thing as simple “deck management” “worker placement” “card driven” rules. 

2.Luck is an important factor. Casual, or social players will see that it is predominantly luck based. Therefore they will be able to play without anxiety. 

3.Still Competitive: Good players still win. With very little experience you see that there are strategies to improve your odds and harm your opponents. He has luck and built a huge castle ? Let’s put a road connection adjacent to his last missing tiles. You just divided his odds to finish by two. Surely that is worth a few points…

4.It is short. If it is not a big hit, losses are limited and you might get another shot later. Nothing is worst than a bored player that cools down the party.  

 

My thought on other “gateway games”

1.Settler of Catan: A big No for me. It can be frustrating with limited chances to catch-up by clever play. Worst, trading can take ages.

“One sheep for one wood ? one clay for one wood ? no ? one sheep and one clay for one wood ? still nobody ? on I don’t want stone, I want… zzzzz”

Why is it a best seller then (I have it at home myself) ? The game is simple. That’s about it. If your friends enjoyed it, chances are they don’t care that much for strategy, diplomacy, interactions, games. They just like being with you. And that’s good too, no ?

2.The Resistance : An hyped Werewolf. Maybe an awesome game for some groups but definitively more a social experience than a door towards eurogames.

3.7 Wonders: If your group is a bit geeky and might hold 15 minutes of explanations you might have a winner. Quick (20 minutes), luck (card drawing), limited but meaningful decisions.
For enthusiastic newbies that’s a safe bet… for other the explanation of the 20 little symbols might be too much. Plan for at least two games in a row and they will explore a new world.

Learn more about boardgames:

BoardGameGeek: the uncontested reference. Everything is simply there. Might be too much on your first visit though!
Tric Trac: for my fellow French speakers, a solid reference with nice videos.

The best way remains to game more remains to go out and find a new group. If you are Swiss you might face me in your next game.

Please tell us, what do you use to bait your friends into gaming?
EuroExark