Your gateway game of choice

[scitadel]

Just out of curiosity, when you introduce board games to non-gamers or new gamers, which game do you pull out?

So far, mine has fallen back (admitedly 'cause I don't own Settlers anymore) to Kingsburg and Citadels as the first choices. I might do Stone Age, but it's a tad too complicated I think while Kingsburg has less pieces to worry about. Also, the catch-up mechanics in it help beginner players not get left too far behind.

If I'm looking lighter than those two, San Juan and Citadels.

 

[Asmor]

Depends what I have on me at the time.

Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne are alll great gateway games, though I'm not such a fan of the former two so Carcassonne is my preference.

 

[Badwe]

I like to use carcassonne, settlers, guillotine and labyrinth. Once i've roped them in we usually move on to card games like dominion, race for the galaxy, or gloom. still trying to find more folks hardy enough to handle imperial

 

[scitadel]

Hmmm... interesting. Which Labyrinth are you talking about?

 

[Badwe]

the old 70s esque one with sliding tiles and a very obvious david bowie owl

 

[Crothian]

We have been using Carcassonne and Pandemic.

 

[Holy Bovine]

It would have to be Ticket to Ride as I was actually able to get my mother to play a game with me and the grandkids. She really seemed to enjoy it and I plan to bring it and a few other introductory games with me when i visit next week. Carcassonne, Citadels and Kung Fu Fighting will probably be the ones I take.

 

[scitadel]

We have been using Carcassonne and Pandemic.

Is Carcassonne that easy to teach? I haven't had a chance to try it yet myself. Red November's not something I'd try but if Pandemic works, it might be good...

 

[Asmor]

Is Carcassonne that easy to teach? I haven't had a chance to try it yet myself. Red November's not something I'd try but if Pandemic works, it might be good...

Carcassonne's a snap. The only thing that's moderately complicated are the farms, and even those have been simplified a lot in the most recent rules. For that matter, the game plays well enough if you just leave out farmers altogether.

 

[Crothian]

Red November's not something I'd try but if Pandemic works, it might be good...

Like Red November, Pandemic is a completely co operative game. So, helping out the new people also helps everyone win. I haven't played Red November, but with Pandemic's ability to have fewer epidemic cards in the deck also helps the game be easier.