5 Best Board Games for Beginners

1. Just One – An association game that can be played by people of all ages. Each round, one person has a word that needs to be guessed and the others have the task of writing an association to help guess that word, but identical associations will be deleted before they are shown.

A table is not necessary, as small whiteboards and markers will be used. The biggest downside to the game is the markers, which run out quickly, but you can buy better quality ones in the store.

Difficulty level of the rules – Very easy.

2. Codenames: Pictures – A team association game. The team captain gives clues to select as many cards as possible that match their team. The team guesses the cards one by one. If the guess is correct, they continue. However, if they choose an opponent's card or a random passerby, the turn ends. But if they choose a murderer? Game over!

There is also the original version of Codenames with text cards instead of images, which perhaps allows for less creativity.

Difficulty level of the rules – Easy.

3. Karakum - This is a card-picking and resource management game where players buy camels and add them to their caravan. On their turn, a player takes one action: either choose resources or buy a camel. The mechanics of this game are similar to games like Splendor, Ticket to Ride.

Difficulty level of the rules – Easy.

4. What Do You Meme? – This is a party game similar to the popular game Cards Against Humanity, except that instead of a black text card, there is a meme image. Players compete with each other to choose the funniest text for the corresponding image.

Difficulty level of the rules – Very easy.

5. King of Tokyo – A strategy game with risk management, based on dice rolling and luck. The goal is to be the first to score 20 points or eliminate the other players from the game. A good start is the “Beginning” version, which can be played by up to 4 people, while the classic and monster box versions can be played by up to 6 people. Monster Box will be an expansion that gives each player’s character special abilities and accordingly expands the dynamics of the game.

Difficulty level of the rules – Easy (without expansion). Medium (with expansion).