Top 10 Gateway Board Games in 2023

New board gamer in 2023? I got you covered with this list of some of the best games available now!

Games for 8+ Players:

Timestamps:
0:00 - intro
0:43 - small box card games
3:05 - big box family game
4:42 - new hotness
7:09 - welcoming games
10:00 - party games
11:58 - relaxing tile games
15:05 - outro

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Intro Song: Stuff by Otis McDonald

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#boardgames #top10 #beginners

[VictorEnriqueEspinozaLanyi]

I like that you included the associated mechanics used in the games! Great job! Thanks for the video!

[WatchItPlayed]

Great list Reggie! Carcassonne was one of my early gateway games, and I still recommend it for that. For a party style gateway, I've been enjoying sharing So Clever with folks. I'm keen to try Starry Night Sky from your list Hey, any chance you're going to Origins this year?

[hamburglar]

We started with the typical Catan, but there were three that really opened our eyes on this hobby and got us started down the collection path. Those three game changer games for us were No Escape, Everdell, and Ticket to Ride.

[vlastikplastik]

Hey. Hey. Greetings from the Czech Republic, the country that gave the world Codenames. My wife and I are born in 1970 and 74. Our initial game was Tikal and Settlers of Catan, Carcassone and the original Citadel. And of course Bang. Your videos are enjoyable even if we only play the subtitles. Go on. You're cool. (I'm grateful to the translator for the opportunity to write in English).

[EmmaLarkins]

Great setup for a video! A lot of casual gamers have one or two games they love and play all the time and have had forever, helpful for people to connect those play styles with other things they might enjoy. I'd say No Thanks has been my most successful gateway game with the broadest appeal and ease of learning. The most surprising gateway game was Formula D - as long as someone is there to teach, casual gamers pick it up quickly and are excited to play.

[Rhino]

Great job on the video. I really appreciated the listed retail price and BGG weight. My go to gateway game now is Cascadia if we have 4 people and maybe Downforce if we have 6. Colt express has worked well also. Jaipur was one of my first games to play with my non-gamer wife and we still enjoy it years later as a quick weeknight game.

[jonathanantscherl]

Yessss Reggie. Jaipur not only on your list but kicking it off too. Absolutely one of the games I will always put when responding to favourite/most played/introductory games etc. looks great, plays great and shouldn’t be forgotten amongst the cult of the new. Classic.

[ahmedbadr]

Ticket to ride was hands down my gateway in & my favorite series so far

[alisonwentland]

Ha ha! “Coax like a squirrel in your backyard”. Love that analogy. I want to coax everyone to get into this hobby! Great picks. I love Cascadia. It is a simple game but can be very crunchy. Also like Century Golem (or Century Spice Road), Parks, and Long Shot the Dice Game. Love games with simultaneous gameplay like Quacks and Bad Company to minimize downtime between turns. Thanks for the list. There are a few on the list we have purchased but not played yet. Really like your style. Thanks for making these videos. It can’t be as easy breezy as you make it look.

[tracieperez]

Aww, one of my brothers is named Reggie 🥰. So, this was a really great list, I love how you show an "older" version and a more updated board game with similar mechanics or feel.
I think some other great plays are:
Pandemic- for a cooperative game
Morels/Fungi- for a set collection/push-your-luck game (2-player only)
Noctilluca- for a dice drafting game (point scoring and the table presence I think would be very appealing to new players)

[garrettgreen]

Spot on about Jaipur and being spouse friendly! Love that game. Also definitely want to try out starry night.

[teaNgames]

For a gateway co-op game I'd highly recommend Forbidden Island! It's mechanics are simplier than a lot of co-ops, yet it's tricky to win--depending on the level. Scaleable difficulty means you won't outgrow it once you've gotten good at the easy level. I think co-op games in general are good gateway games because group discussion of options & strategy can keep a newbie from feeling overwhelmed. Still, there's a lot going on in most co-op games; Forbidden Island feels a bit more manageable...even when it's not😉 Good list! I like that you looked beyond the usual & obvious!

[MK]

Thank you for introducing me to Starry Night Sky. Wasn’t on my radar and just picked it up for $20. Well worth it!

[boazdror]

Great video, looking forward to more!

[JM-zzrc]

7 Wonders is still one of my favorites to play when I join for BGA!

[theriotm]

Darn it Mr. Reggie! This is a great list I just left the Seattle area on my vacation. I visit mox when I’m there would have loved to play a game with you. Just found and subscribed to the channel keep up the great work!

[doeyjo]

Great list! I think that's a great point about Starry Night Sky showing your progress throughout rather than just adding up points at the end; I think 7 Wonders Architects is appealing for a similar reason

[Viragomp]

New subscriber; really loved your presentation and style on OFPG Voices and followed you here. I enjoyed this video and your segues from modern-classic to newer titles for each category, great choices!

[longtimeninerfan]

Thank you! Well done. 👍 If you had not mentioned a certain “ one”, then I would have mentioned it. As I’m sure you are aware, playing it can easily lead to laughs ( a few groans) and fun discussions. Silver & Gold, Ohanami, and Karuba are some added games that are simple enough to teach and make for welcoming games.

[benhoff]

I think co-ops can make for great welcoming games and I used to always use Pandemic when showing new players what modern board gaming had to offer, but now I almost exclusively use Horrified. I haven't met anyone who doesn't want to take on those universal monsters and because it is co-op it helps with people who don't like competing.