Gateway games are those considered to be perfect for introducing new players to the board game hobby.
It may be the easy-to-understand rules, the simple mechanics, or the fun they bring in a short period of time, but non-board gamers tend to be easily hooked with these games.
You may be an experienced gamer who wants to expand your board game collection to have some options for those groups not very keen on the hobby.
Or you could be a beginner board game enthusiast looking for games to start your journey beyond classics like UNO or Stratego.
We got your back with this Top 5 list, curated after 10+ years into the hobby, so you can make the best decision for your next -or first- board game purchase.
You’ll notice every game on our list is structured in 3 sections:
- Why is it good for beginners: These are the main reasons we think the board game deserves its presence on our ranking.
- Who is it best suited for: Not every game works for every audience. Take our advice here to make sure it suits your needs.
- What to play next: If you liked the feel and mechanics of the games listed here and want to take your journey to a more complex field, you should give these games a try.
Contents
Top 5 Gateway Board Games
5. The Resistance: Avalon (2012)
| Designer | Don Eskridge |
| Players | 5-10 Players (Best: 8) |
| Playtime | 30 Min |
| Category/Mechanics | Card Game, Bluffing, Deduction |
Is The Resistance: Avalon good for beginners?
For us, The Resistance: Avalon is a no-brainer in any “board games for starters” list.
It brings many mechanics to the table, many unknown to casual board game players, such as hidden roles, deduction, voting, or character skills.
TR: Avalon also teaches that, in terms of board games, you should trust no one -except for us, of course.
This game is particularly good with groups larger than your usual 3 to 4 players, and it allows for more newcomers to get involved in the board gaming hobby in a single match.
The rules are fairly simple -the first team to win three rounds wins- which makes it appealing for new players to adapt quickly to the gameplay.
Also, the storytelling component during the vote reveal adds compelling gameplay and will cause many laughs as the bad guys sabotage the missions.
However, no two games will be the same, which provides high replayability for the most experienced gamers.
Who is The Resistance: Avalon best suited for?
The Resistance: Avalon will be the perfect gateway game for those who like storytelling, interacting with other players, and bluffing.
Those too shy to improvise stories in front of others can surely like the game too as it is not required for the game to develop but may miss some of the fun.
Finally, we recommend at least the first game to be played along with some experienced player who already knows Avalon and leads every phase of the game, especially the first steps happening with everyone’s eyes closed.
What to play next if you liked The Resistance: Avalon?
Do you like the hidden role games and want to bring your bluffing skills to the next level? Get a copy of Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
4. Bonhanza (1997)
| Designer | Uwe Rosenberg |
| Players | 2-7 Players (Best: 5) |
| Playtime | 45 Min |
| Category/Mechanics | Card Game, Negotiation, Trading |
Is Bohnanza good for beginners?
It may not be common to see Uwe Rosenberg’s Bonhanza in the best board games for starter lists.
However, you would be shocked by how many friends have become more interested in the hobby after playing this game.
I think there are a few reasons for this:
Firstly, the game demands A LOT of player interaction. Bonhanza favors those who have developed soft skills, mainly negotiation.
For beginner players that know only of Risk, Monopoly, or UNO, this level of interaction will open new doors to what can be done in board games other than the rolling of dice or moving your pieces from one square to another.
Second, they get to know the concept of a euro game.
Yes, the drawing of the cards is random, but there is so much you can do during your and your opponent’s turns, that practically nothing is left to chance.
Who is Bohnanza best suited for?
As mentioned, Bonhanza will be enjoyed more by those who have developed soft skills, interact well with others, and are less subject to frustration (i.e. when you must sell a crop due to no one trading those coffee beans from the pile).
However, if you don’t consider this kind of person, don’t discard this choice so quickly and see it as a way to improve these skills.
Who said you cannot improve yourself through board games?
What to play next if you liked Bohnanza?
Do you enjoy negotiating and interacting with your opponents, but want to take it to the next level? Don’t overthink it and get yourself a copy of Sheriff of Nottingham.
I promise you will not regret it.
3. Codenames (2015)
| Designer | Vlaada Chvátil |
| Players | 2-8 Players (Best: 6, 8) |
| Playtime | 15 Min |
| Category/Mechanics | Card Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based |
Is Codenames good for beginners?
Any of the top 3 on this list could be considered the best gateway game, perfect for new players to start their board game journey. However, our pick for number 3 is Codenames.
Codenames is the perfect party game for relatively large game groups -like 8, 10, or even 12 players- a feat few games can achieve flawlessly.
In this game everyone is involved, there’s a lot of interaction inside each team and every player has the chance to be the leader at least once, which lets all players take part in the victory of their team.
It takes less than 5 minutes to explain the rules, the game speed is fast, requires players to be clever and bold on the word choices, and demands teamwork to decipher the current leader’s clues.
That’s a perfect storm for new gamers to hook on the board gaming hobby.
Who is Codenames best suited for?
Codenames is suited for everyone, although it might be enjoyed more by those with an out-of-the-box thinking mentality and more imagination to assign more meanings to the same words to give the perfect clue.
Whether it is you or someone you know who is interested in getting into the hobby, and you usually hang out with large groups of friends, you should definitely give Codenames a try.
What to play next if you liked Codenames?
If you want to experience a similar Codenames feel, with teamwork and incomplete information, but in a more advanced game, you should also give a try to The Grizzled.
2. Ticket to Ride (2004)
| Designer | Alan R. Moon |
| Players | 2-5 Players (Best: 4) |
| Playtime | 30-60 Min |
| Category/Mechanics | Trains, Route Building |
Is Ticket to Ride good for beginners?
This was a tough choice, but it had to be made: Ticket to Ride is our runner-up on the top gateway games.
Ticket to Ride is an excellent game for both starter and advanced players. The first will be compelled by its simple mechanics, the easy rules, and the fun of the game, while the latter will always enjoy going back to its origins.
Having a very short learning curve, Ticket to Ride can become a highly competitive game even playing against beginners, which will make the game feel always fresh and evergreen.
I couldn’t even list how many friends now on our board gaming community have become regular gamers thanks to Ticket to Ride, and that is why the game will always have a dedicated place in our board gaming heart.
Who is Ticket to Ride best suited for?
Ticket to Ride is great for everyone. Every single family member -either mine or my friends- who we have introduced the game, has loved it.
As it requires no special skills and it has just the right amount of strategy to not overcomplicate with elaborated decisions, anyone can be a pro since game 1.
Experienced players may know this already, but if you are starting your board game journey, Ticket to Ride is surely a must-have in your collection.
What to play next if you liked Ticket to Ride?
Do you want a more complex route-building game? Give Brass: Birmingham a try.
1. Dixit (2008)
| Designer | Jean-Louis Roubira |
| Players | 3-6 Players, (Best: 5-6) |
| Playtime | 30 Min |
| Category/Mechanics | Card Game, Storytelling |
Is Dixit good for beginners?
Dixit combines simple mechanics and beautiful artwork with great storytelling, which can make anyone fall in love with the game from the first game.
The rules can be explained in less than 5 minutes and the game shouldn’t last more than 30, guaranteeing your guests won’t get much room for distractions as it requires its full attention during these brief times, making them feel totally involved in the activity.
We love Dixit. This is a game that has always been in our collections, and without a doubt is the one that has had the greatest impact when we introduce new gamers to the hobby.
After a couple of rounds, your guests will be asking you to bring some more games to the table, as they probably didn’t know the existence of such a wide universe of fun the board games can unlock.
Who is Dixit best suited for?
In our experience, Dixit works best for people who either tend to be open/extroverted and for those who enjoy pop culture, as these attributes give them more topics to be creative about in the game.
However, consider this to be an opportunity to join those quiet, introverted friends of yours and let them be the lead characters in the game.
This is why Dixit is the best gateway game for us.
What to play next if oyu liked Dixit?
If you are ready to take on more complex deduction games, maybe Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is the game for you
Where to go from here?
We hope this list has given you insights into your board game purchase decision-making process.
These are all games we have enjoyed over the years and we hope you do as well.
You can check even more options in this guide we’ve prepared for you with the best easy 3-player board games.
Have fun!
Last Updated on 08/10/2022 by ARU
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