By: Blaze Aldrich | April 11, 2024
11 Simple Board Games for Beginners in 2024
I'm guessing you just got into board games and trying to slowly immerse yourself in this amazing hobby. Or you could be a casual gamer looking for a new simple board game to play without burning a hole in your pocket. The games on this list will put childhood board games to shame such as Monopoly and it's not even close. These games will open your eyes to all kinds of new possibilities and unthinkable experiences when playing board games. That's why these games are known as "Gateway" board games because they do just that. They get you hooked, trying to spend your last dollar on another board game on this list. Well if this happens you may have a board game addiction, in that case, reach out to us, we have plenty of games... This list is ordered from the least complicated to the most complicated gameplay, but to be honest all these games are super easy to pick up and learn.
11. Camel Up (2018)
Camel Up board game is a quick pace betting game where 5 camels are racing around a track in the desert. This game is amazing for families and large groups because it plays up to 8 people. Throughout the game, players roll matching colored dice with the colored camels and they move from 1 to 3 spaces. Thats it, then during the round, everyone bets on which camel will win the short and long race. I remember playing this game for the first time and everyone at the table was screaming for their camel to win. Camel Up creates an interactive experience with everyone around you having a blast, so much fun but yet so simple.
10. Machi Koro (2012)
Machi Koro board game is similar to Monopoly in that you buy properties and those properties provide benefits/income. The difference between the two is in Machi Koro there lacks a board, and players can choose which property cards to buy. Dice rolling still exists, depending on the number that is rolled and the property cards you have, you could earn huge rewards. Having players autonomously pick their properties provides a better gaming experience and allows you to strategize a bit more. Of course, if you are unlucky, the dice may never roll in your favor but at least with these game mechanics, players can minimize this. Machi Koro is fantastic to play with a spouse, family, kids, dogs, etc.
9. Bohnanza (1997)
Bohnanza is actually a card game, but if you like chaos and yelling across the table, this may be a game for you. This is the main reason I enjoy it so much because you're forced to engage with everyone. The objective of the game is to acquire the same type of beans for points, yup beans, and if someone has a bean you need, you try to out-bid other people who may also need it. Wow a game about beans, boring.... haha No! This game is hilarious, especially observing people trying to get a certain type of bean or when negotiations fail. The game ends when all the cards are played. I was shocked at how exhilarating and entertaining this little card game was. The good news, it's one of the cheapest games on this list.
8. Azul (2017)
Azul board game is such a fascinating puzzle tiling game that looks stunning. When players have placed several tiles on the board it creates a mosaic style type art. This game is straightforward, you grab tiles in the middle of the table and place them on your board to make the most amount of points possible. Easy as that! When all the tiles are gone, everyone counts how many points they have created. Azul is such a chill and relaxing game, so if you didn't like the idea of people screaming and yelling in those other games, you'll definitely enjoy this one. And if you like the idea of the engagement, I still think you would like this one as well.
7. Decrypto (2018)
Decrypto board game has 2 teams competing against each other trying to crack the other team's codes. One team member takes a code card showing 3 digits either 1-2-3-4. Each number corresponds to four words. A teammate gives hints to the words so their other teammate can guess the correct numbers. The twist of the game is the other team gets to guess your number/code too. So you have to make the hint good enough for your partner to guess right, but hard enough for the other team to guess wrong. What's hilarious and so enjoyable about this game is the fact that you may think the hint you gave to your partner was obviously pointing to one word but your partner guesses an entire other word listed. It's good to have someone who knows your thought process and even your humor. Either way, you'll have a grand ol' time. I recommended teams of 2 vs 2.
6. Ticket To Ride (2004)
Ticket To Ride board game is so simple players can learn the rules in under 15 minutes. Players collect cards of various train routes. Then you use your trains to attempt to create the train routes that are pictured on the card to make points. In addition, players get bonus points for making the longest continuous train route. If you are competitive like me, you would purposely block others from completing their routes and do a lot of sabotage throughout the game. The game board art includes excellent illustrations of the United States and all the possible train routes. This board game works very well with children and families which will provide an entertaining game night.
5. Carcassonne (2000)
Carcassonne board game is a tile-placement game picturing cities, roads, & grasslands. Players also have a limited supply of meeples to conquer these cities, roads, and grasslands. You have to be strategic not to use all of your meeples because then that will limit the points that you can gain. This board game is not very complicated, players pick a tile, place it down in a desired spot, and either choose a spot to place your meeple. Whoever controls the most cities, roads, and monasteries wins the game. This is another great family game because there are not a ton of rules to learn and not too much combativeness between players.
4. Quacks of Quedlinburg (2018)
Quack of Quedlinburg board game is in my top 5 favorite board games of all time! After you've played a few games at the beginning of this list, I would definitely play this game next. Quacks, as I call it, increases the quirkiness, laughter, anxiety, and fun factor by x10. During the game, you are building a potion with different ingredients by pulling them out of a bag. Different ingredients give players different abilities. Unfortunately, if you pull too many white ingredient chips, your pot explodes and you lose all your points/ purchasing power for the next round. What's so captivating about this game is each player pushes their luck by pulling ingredients just enough to where their pot doesn't explode but makes a ton of points. I smile inside just thinking about this game because when peoples' pots explode it's an entire event that includes tons of laughter.
3. Catan (1999)
Catan board game is the OG gateway board game that got me interested in this hobby in the first place. I remember Catan was the first game where it didn't include moving on a board with random dice rolling. Now dice are rolled, but not for movement purposes. During Catan people settle on parts of the board that may include ore, wool, etc. Each space has a number on it to correspond with a dice roll. 6s & 8s have a higher probability of being rolled so players try to occupy those spots first. When those numbers are rolled they receive resources. With those resources, you can buy and build, expanding your Catan empire. Catan is a superb 3-4 player game to play with friends.
2. Dominion (2008)
Dominion board game utilizes a game mechanic called deck building which when I first played it, was unique to me at the time. At the beginning of the game, players start with the same 10 cards which will be their draw pile. Then each player grabs 5 cards on the top of their draw pile deck. With those 5 cards players will then buy more powerful and useful cards to improve their overall draw pile. Knights and medieval times are the themes of Dominion which makes the game even more phenomenal. Cards can be either victory points, have abilities, or have purchasing power aka money. The objective of the game is of course having the most victory points at the end. Since Dominion, there have been a lot of deck-building games released, but Dominion will always be the OG of deck builders.
1. Pandemic (2008)
Pandemic board game is one of the most notable cooperative games when I played it. Players are working together to stop the spread of a deadly virus, hence Pandemic. Every player has to be in sync and on the same page because if they are not, the game can go haywire. Now I will admit, if you have a friend who likes to control everything, this may not be a game for them. Its annoying when you play a cooperative game but in realty that strong willed friend is dictating everything. The mechanics of how the virus spreads and how you travel the world is top notch, making the gaming experience smooth. This game may not be suitable for little children, but your spouse or friends will have a great time.
Bonus. Legacy Board Games
You thought I'd leave you hanging with just 11! Some of these board games have a legacy version. What does that mean? Well, Legacy games usually are a campaign of 10 games or more. Meaning you can play 1 game, and the next day play the 2nd game. The cool thing about Legacy games is that every new game is different. Some Legacy games add new cards, modify the board, modify cards, and have random events based on past actions. Legacy games are my favorite to play because its a whole adventure that you last for months, I guess weeks if you play it every day. Here are a list of Legacy games: Pandemic Legacy, Machi Koro Legacy, Clank Legacy, Ticket To Ride Legacy.
Final Thoughts
Of course, I believe some of the games on this list are better than others on the same list. But you'll have to figure out on your own which ones you enjoy the best. If you have played some of these games, please let us know which are your favorites. Also what board game got you into this hobby? Once I figured out that board games are more than rolling dice and moving, I was hooked. Last thing, we do sell these games on Elevated Board Games so if you want to support our Blog and want to try out these games GO FOR IT! Happy Gaming!
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