12 January 2022
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If you're not hugely into board games, or are trying to figure out the best games for those who aren't, the huge variety available can seem daunting. We're delving into the best games for those not already within the hobby, looking at those that are perhaps not quite a party game, not quite a gateway game, but which are safe to bring to the table for the uninitiated.
Written and updated by Charlie Pettit, originally appearing in issue 58 of Tabletop Gaming.
Shock horror, I know, but not everyone played board games past Cluedo and Monopoly in their childhood. For those ‘non gamers’ though 'non-hobby-gamers' is probably more apt, there’s a small opportunity for us to show off what our hobby can offer, but the question is, how best to get them hooked? In this list we consider familiarity with concepts, ease of play, and delve into that murky area between a party game and a gateway game...
Mycelia
Ravensburger makes fantastic family games, and Mycelia is no different. However, it's on this list in particular because of how easy it is to learn it is, how quickly it builds and plays, and the fact that audiences of all ages seem to enjoy it. It's probably the closest looking to a more traditional mass market game, with a "Shrine" in the centre that straddles the line of function and gimmick (though pleasingly, it's the good bits of both), which will help you entice the unsure, whilst slowly but surely teaching you a deckbuilding game. If non gamers enjoy Mycelia, they open up a huge range of other deck builders – Star Realms, Undaunted, and more.
Mansions of Madness
It might be an intimidatingly sized box, but Mansions of Madness is perfect for non gamers. It's a hybrid game, where you play both with physical components and with an app. The app deals with much of the administration, telling you the responses from your interviews, offering puzzles, and even telling you where to place your map pieces, which is both familiar for those who have played video games in the past, and much quicker to get started than standard counter parts. Each turn, you’ll refer back to the app to tell it what you’re doing, and in turn, it will give you the narrative response. You'll stalk the halls with your fellow players trying to figure out the mystery presented to you. Adding in the spooky Cthulhu undertones, this will draw in a new gamer, whilst giving them their first lesson – you don’t always win.
Buy Mansions of Madness on Amazon.
What Next?
What Next? is a card based choose your own path game – but with party game activities required. It has all the hallmarks of Big Potato’s humour, except now we have one of three campaigns to follow. For example, you might be a robot trying to escape the factory for a holiday – but watch out for the golden cat. The party games mean that you’ll be giggling at your fellow players, the readings of the cards will get steadily more dramatic, and the cooperative aspect means that losses are shared amongst the group to keep the peace. All in all, an easy way to get friends into a narrative, and almost a guarantee they’ll want to play something more.
Micro-Macro
A great way to get people into gaming is through something they’re familiar with, and whilst this means Ticket to Ride is oft quoted (because everyone knows trains), it’s worth thinking about MicroMacro, because basically everyone knows and has memories of Where’s Wally. In MicroMacro, it’s basically an extreme version of that stripey hide and seek champion, where not only does the scene sprawl over your table, but you’ll have to follow a character to find out what happened to them, from one area of the map to the next. You’ll be given your criminal case to solve, a magnifying glass (which may actually come in handy), and uncover a determination to uncover exactly what went down. Plus, there are additional cases to solve once you've completed the original.
Escape: The Curse of the Temple![]()
Though we may sometimes complain about it, Monopoly is the board game many will automatically refer back to, and so a new game will be judged against it. Given that aspects such as player elimination and slow turn taking are common complaints about Monopoly, how about we go in the opposite direction? With simultaneous play, a nod to Indiana Jones, a ton of dice to throw and a ten minute timer, you can’t really go wrong with Escape: The Curse of the Temple, not least because you’re too busy within those ten minutes to think negative thoughts of it. You've got a timer on while you fling dice, hoping it will let you quickly explore – and then escape! – the temple before the time runs out. Being so involved gets you communicating and laughing, and that’s a good thing for all.
For the Queen
RPGs can seem intimidating, but there's no need for them to be – and For the Queen proves that. With a gorgeous new version of it from Darrington Press, players will only need to answer questions to get roleplaying. The premise of the game is that you've been selected to join your Queen on a long perilous journey, because she knows that you love her. Players will take it in turns overturning cards, and their answers form a story. "The Queen ordered you to do something you would regret. Have you forgiven yourself for doing it?", or "What do you usually do for the Queen? Why does this make you an unlikely choice for this journey?" to "You arranged for the Queen to be ambushed on this journey. What did they offer you?". Answer these until you find the card – "The Queen is under attack. Do you defend her?", which gives you the conclusion of your tale. A no prep, no knowledge required RPG/story telling game.
Unlock!
Have you ever been to an escape room? The Unlock! series of games are designed around being able to have that puzzle like escape room experience at home, using a stack of cards and an app on your phone. A perfect in for non-gamers, if you've never played a hobby board game but loved the race against the clock, then the Unlock games are for you. Admittedly, its entry in this list is cheating a bit, because it actually covers the series of which there are now many – Secret Adventures, Mythic Adventures, and even Star Wars, to name but a few!
Disney Villainous
Here’s the thing, suggesting a Disney themed game to some poor unfortunate soul offers a level of comforting familiarity that means you won’t need a genie to convince them to play. However, deceptively beneath its cheerful animated Disney façade is a surprisingly tactical and engaging game. You play as villains, trying to change the narrative to be the winners, whilst fighting against both the hero, and each other. Learning this gives you an idea of the strategy required in other games, and sets up your new player for a whole new world. Plus, if the core box doesn't have the villains you're looking for, you might find it amongst it's many additional games – Perfectly Wretched, Wicked to the Core, and Marvel Villanous: Infinite Power and loads more!
Buy Disney Villainous on Amazon
A Game of Cat & Mouth
Leaning more into the party side, A Game of Cat and Mouth is a dexterity game from Exploding Kittens, where all you have to do is flick a magnetic cat paw. Sure, you’re doing so with a purpose, namely to either knock the white balls from the centre of the giant plastic cat head in the centre of the board that represent its teeth, or the black, which represents its nose, whilst your opponent is seeking to do exactly the same thing, but a mixture of luck and skill to win means it really just does boil down to flicking a cat paw. With basically zero set up time, a short demonstration to understand what to do, the uninitiated can leap in within just a few moments, ready to fight their way to victory in a surprisingly competitive game.
Overboss ![]()
Moving into a slightly more gateway than party game, Overboss sees you emerge from your dungeon to conquer the overworld. As a tile laying game, you pick from the middle your chosen terrain, and add it to your map, gaining points for specific locations or combinations, or by matching the monsters that you also have to balance. It’s quick to learn, whilst being puzzly and thinky. Plus, it invokes that bit of nostalgia for old games, with its low pixel style graphics.
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