Best Intro Board Games

One of the toughest things about board gaming is finding someone to play with. For many the hobby can seem too nerdy or daunting. Well fear not friends because I have a list of games that anyone can learn and that will suck your friends and loved ones right into your new favorite hobby. In no particular order here we go. My list of the best intro games.

1. Ticket to Ride – Far and away the most popular intro game. It's good for experienced and new players alike. I often hear people refer to it as “the train game”. In my opinion there is no better starter game than Ticket to Ride. Easy to learn but fun many, many games later. It's also on Steam and iOS for those that prefer the digital versions.

2. Carcassonne – Another simple game, Carcassonne is a unique tile placement game. My only reservation in recommending this one is the Farm scoring that happens at the end of the game which can be a bit confusing for new players but if you have one experienced player then this shouldn’t be a problem. It's also available on the iOS and Xbox 360 (and probably other places) where the scoring is done automatically, which is nice.

3. Settlers of Catan – If Ticket to ride is the best intro game out there then Settlers is the best intro to Euro games. It introduces trading and area control in a simple and easy to understand way that even your parents can enjoy. It's light, it's fun and it's got some excellent strategy. More hardcore gamers may find it too random but don't listen to them, just enjoy it because it's fun. Like many of the best games it is also available via iOS and Xbox 360 (among others).

4. Munchkin – Munchkin is a divisive game. It's one of the best selling games of all time and it has about a billion expansions and re-themes to back that up. However it is often reviled by more experienced gamers for it's randomness and Take That mechanics. However I think Munchkin is one of the best intro games if you think you might like something with a fantasy theme. It's simple, it's funny and it's cheap. Will you love it always? Maybe not but you'll get a lot of time out of it before you tire of it and playing with a group of friends that aren't into super complicated games can be a lot of fun.
   
   
   
   
   
   Thanks for reading. I hope some of these games can help you and your friends find something fun to play and maybe even start a new hobby.