If you’re new to the world of board games and started searching for board games for beginners, I hope this blog helps. There are so many benefits to playing board games; its exciting your about to start on this journey. Just know you don’t have to dive into complicated rulebooks or hours of setup to have fun. There are plenty of games for beginners that are easy to learn, quick to play, and most importantly—super fun.
And with an enormous selection to choose from and the different types, it can be hard to know where to start. Have a think about what type of board game you might like, eg strategic board games, maybe card games for beginners, or word games. I’m aiming to cover a few of the main types of board games for beginners.
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Strategic Board Games for Beginners
Ticket to Ride
Objective of the Game
Is to complete train routes and destination tickets to earn the most points by the end of the game.
How to Play
In Ticket to Ride, you collect train cards and use them to claim railway routes across a map of North America or maybe a country of your choice, as there are so many versions produced now. Each player is dealt 3 destination cards that they try to complete by connecting cities with their trains, which is done on your turn, by either drawing cards, claiming a route, or completing your destination tickets.
Why It’s a Great Board Game for Beginners
Ticket to Ride is extremely popular board game for beginners and board game enthusiasts and is one game that people love to play over and over. The rules are simple, and you can start playing right away. The strategic gameplay is engaging enough to keep you thinking without overwhelming you with complex mechanics. Plus, it’s a social game that’s perfect for beginner board gamers looking for a fun, relaxing challenge.
Splendor
This is one of my family favourites. Its an easy board game for beginners to play with different strategy options. I am a very strategic player, so I love that you can try different strategies each time you play. Its also relatively quick, and for us as a family, it’s easy to play after dinner before bedtime. My husband and I also enjoy playing this together. Well, maybe my husband not so much as myself, as I do tend to win a lot.
The purpose is for the first person to get to 15 points, which is achieved by collecting tokens and purchasing different valued gem cards. Read more about it here.
Easy Tile Placement Games for Beginners
Qwirkle
- 30-45 minutes
- 6+
- 2 -4 Players
- Tile Placement, Matching
Objective of the Game
Create the longest matching lines of tiles for the highest score.
How to Play
Qwirkle is a simple tile-placement game where you try to match tiles based on either color or shape. You create lines of tiles that share either the same color or the same shape. The longer the line, the more points you score! It’s easy to get into and doesn’t require much more than the ability to match shapes and colors.
Why It’s a Great Game for Beginners
Qwirkle is a no-brainer as a game for beginners because there’s nothing complicated to figure out. You’ll be matching colors and shapes, and the scoring system is clear. It’s perfect for you if you want something quick and fun without diving deep into strategy-heavy games.
Quick and Exciting Card Games—To Keep You on Your Toes.
Sushi Go!
Number of Players: 2–5. Play Time: 15–20 minutes. Age Rating: 8+. Game Type: Card Game, Set Collection
Objective of the Game
Collect the best set of sushi cards to score the most points after three rounds.
How to Play
Sushi Go! is a quick, card-passing game where you collect sushi cards to make the best meal. At the start of each round, you’ll pick a card from your hand and then pass the remaining cards to the next player. Each sushi dish has different scoring rules, so you’ll want to make strategic choices while trying to collect sets of dishes. The goal is to have the best combo of sushi cards when the round ends.
Why It’s an easy Board Game for Beginners
Super quick and super exciting. It’s a light card game that’s easy to understand and doesn’t take long to play. The set collection mechanics are simple enough for beginners but still require some strategy to win. Plus, it’s a great option if you’re looking for a fast-paced game to jump into when you’re in the mood for something casual.
Other easy card games for beginners to mention include UNO; if you haven’t heard of this, there are so many different versions which are shown on this Amazon link here. UNO – show em no mercy, released in 2023—has become hugely popular since its release, and it is up for Toy of the Year awards 2025.
Word Games to Boost your Vocabulary
Codenames
Number of Players: 2–8 Play Time: 30 minutes. Age Rating: 14+. Game Type: Word Game, Deduction
Objective of the Game
Guess all the correct words related to your team’s clues before the other team does.
How to Play
In Codenames, you divide into two teams, and the objective is to guess the correct words from a grid of 25 cards based on one-word clues given by your team’s spymaster. The spymaster gives a clue and a number, and the team must guess which words match the clue. But be careful—guessing the wrong word might lead to a loss of points, or worse, activate the assassin card, ending the game.
Why It’s a Tabletop Game for Beginners
Codenames is great because its easy to pick up, engaging and doesn’t have complicated mechanics. It’s also a social game that promotes teamwork and word association. You don’t need to be a wordsmith to play, and the guessing aspect keeps things light and fun no matter if your a beginner or a pro gamer.
Bananagrams
Number of Players: 1–8. Play Time: 15–30 minutes. Age Rating: 7+. Game Type: Word Game, Speed
Objective of the Game
Create a complete crossword grid with your letter tiles before anyone else.
How to Play
Each player takes 21 tiles from the pouch, and you’ll race to complete a grid of words using all your tiles. Once you have used all your tiles in a corssword grid, be sure to yell “Bananas” when you finish. You can rearrange your tiles as you go, making this a fast-paced and fun word game.
Why its a Great Beginner Friendly Word Game
This quick and energetic word game is perfect for anyone who wants a simple, beginner friendly word game with fast gameplay. You’ll be forming words quickly and thinking on your feet. It’s easy to start playing and works well with just one player or a larger group. It’s perfect if you want something low-pressure but still engaging while continuing to challenge you each time you play.
Dice Game - Great for Family Game Night
King of Tokyo
Number of Players: 2–6. Play Time: 30 minutes. Age Rating: 8+. Game Type: Dice Game, Strategy
Objective of the Game:
Be the first to score 20 victory points or be the last monster standing.
How to Play
In King of Tokyo, players take on the role of giant monsters battling for control of Tokyo. You’ll roll dice to attack your opponents, heal, or earn energy to buy special powers. The twist? You can enter Tokyo and attack other players or stay on the sidelines to heal and gain power. The last player standing wins.
Why It’s Great for Beginners
This game is a blast for tabletop beginners. The dice-rolling mechanics are simple, and the competitive aspect is full of excitement. It’s a light game that offers quick rounds and can be played multiple times in one sitting. Plus, who doesn’t want to play a giant monster?
