Gateway games for a first game night
Which box would you put down for people who are new to modern games?
A gateway game is one you can teach to people who did not ask to join a hobby. The boxes below are widely used for that job. The list is not “easiest games in existence,” and it is not a kids’ list.
Player counts are for the base games as the publishers list them. A later edition, such as some printings of Love Letter, seats a different number of people. Read the box you own.
Rank two options at a time. Leave out anything you cannot judge. You can share the result or, on a public list, add your order to the visitor tally.
4–8 options keeps it quick. Leave at least two checked. You can adjust the order at the end.
What is on this list
The order here is a starting shortlist, not a ranking. Notes are context so a group can tell similar options apart.
- Kingdomino
- Kingdomino, designed by Bruno Cathala (2016). 2–4 players, about 15–20 minutes. Domino-style tiles and a small kingdom. Won the 2017 Spiel des Jahres.
- Sushi Go!
- Sushi Go!, designed by Phil Walker-Harding (2013). 2–5 players, about 15 minutes. Draft a hand of sushi cards and pass the rest.
- Love Letter
- Love Letter, designed by Seiji Kanai (2012). The classic game is a short deduction card game for a small table. Later printings seat more people, so check your edition.
- The Mind
- The Mind, designed by Wolfgang Warsch (2018). Cooperative, 2–4 players, about 20 minutes. Play cards in ascending order, with almost no talking.
- Cascadia
- Cascadia, designed by Randy Flynn and published in 2021 by Flatout Games. 1–4 players. The publisher describes a game of about 45 minutes. Habitat tiles and wildlife. Won the 2022 Spiel des Jahres.
- Splendor
- Splendor, designed by Marc André (2014). 2–4 players, about 30 minutes. Collect chips, buy cards, and build an engine. Won the 2014 Spiel des Jahres.
- Azul
- Azul, designed by Michael Kiesling (2017). 2–4 players, often 30–45 minutes. Draft coloured tiles. Won the 2018 Spiel des Jahres.
- Ticket to Ride
- Ticket to Ride, designed by Alan R. Moon (2004). 2–5 players, often 30–60 minutes. Claim train routes. Won the 2004 Spiel des Jahres.
Visitor rankings
Finish the pairs, then add your order from the results screen. Pickaside stores a random id in this browser and the order you submit. It does not ask for your name on a public list.
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Questions about this list
Why include Azul and Ticket to Ride if they are already on another list?
Because the question is different. There they are “what should we play at game night?” Here they are “what would you teach first?” You can rank Azul high on one list and low on the other.
Did Cascadia really win Spiel des Jahres?
Yes. Cascadia, designed by Randy Flynn and published in 2021, won the 2022 Spiel des Jahres. The award is a jury prize for that year, not a permanent ranking.