Board games are one of the best ways to gather with friends and family and have some good old-fashioned fun. But if you’re new to the world of tabletop gaming, the prospect of picking out your first game can be a little daunting. With so many options available, how do you know where to start?
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this blog post, we’ll give you a crash course in all things tabletop gaming. From choosing your first game to learning the ropes of gameplay, by the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll be ready to pull up a chair and roll the dice with the best of them. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
What is Tabletop Gaming?
Tabletop gaming is a term used to describe any game that is played on a physical board or table, with pieces that are moved by hand. This includes games like chess, checkers, Monopoly, Scrabble, and more. It also includes newer games like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, and Stardew Valley: The Board Game. Basically, if it’s not a video game and it’s played on a table, it’s probably a tabletop game.
Why You Should Play Tabletop Games
Tabletop games are a great way to socialize and have fun with friends and family. They’re also a great way to exercise your brain. Studies have shown that playing board games can improve memory, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking ability. And unlike video games, tabletop games don’t require expensive hardware or subscriptions; you only need a table, some friends, and whatever game you want to play. That’s it!
Finding People to Play With
The first step is finding people to play with. If you don’t have any friends who are into tabletop gaming, don’t worry because there are plenty of ways to find players in your area. Check out places like:
- Roll for Group
- Reddit (r/boardgames)
- BoardGameGeek Local Gamers Search (you can literally find neighbors here!)
- Meetup.com
- Your local comic book shop or board game store (many have weekly meetups)
You can also search Google for “YOUR CITY + boardgame meetup” (ie “denver board game meetup”) and you’ll often find local gaming groups close to home. Once you’ve found some potential players, reach out and introduce yourself! Most people in the tabletop community are more than happy to help newbies get started.
What to Consider Before Choosing Your First Game
When it comes to choosing your first game, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, think about who you’ll be playing with. Are you looking for a game that can be played solo, with two players, just a few friends, or do you want something that can accommodate a larger group?
Second, consider how much time you want to spend playing. Some games can be wrapped up in an hour or less, while others may take several hours (or even days, weeks, or months!) to complete.
You also need to consider the age of the players. If you’re playing with kids, think about the age-appropriateness of the games. Some tabletop games might have themes, such as violence or scary situations that aren’t appropriate for kids. Some games can also be too complicated for younger minds to understand. Nobody will have fun playing a game when a player is too young to comprehend the concepts.
Finally, take a look at the gameplay itself. Do you want something fast-paced and action-packed, like 5-Minute Dungeon, or something a little more strategic and thoughtful, like Wingspan (or Taco vs. Burrito for younger players)? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options and choose a game that’s just right for you.
A great place to start when looking at all of these things is BoardGameGeek.com. It’s one of the most expansive board game databases you’ll find. They have information about any game you can think of, including info such as how many players are required to play, suggested age ranges, playing time, complexity, a game synopsis, and user-submitted reviews.
Some Great Games to Start With
Traditional Games
The games you start with depend on where you’re at in your journey into tabletop gaming. If you’ve never really played games before or if you’re trying to get a young child into board games, a good place to start is with something simple like The Game of Life, Trouble, Sorry, or Monopoly — these games are easy to learn but can still be lots of fun. Chess is another great game and one that rarely gets old or tiring. Chess can be a challenge to learn though, so I recommend looking at training games such as No Stress Chess or Story Time Chess. These are great ways to teach kids Chess too.
Modern Games
If you’re looking for something more modern, Azul, King of Tokyo, Pandemic, and Ticket To Ride are all great options. These games take 30 minutes to an hour to play and are perfect for two to four players. If you’re looking for something cooperative (meaning players work together instead of against each other), give Pandemic, Horrified, Gloomhaven, or Forbidden Desert a try – just be warned that some of these games can be pretty challenging!
Learning the Ropes of Gameplay
Once you’ve chosen your game, it’s time to learn the ropes of gameplay! The best way to do this is simply by reading through the instructions that come with the game, although anyone who has tried to learn Dungeons & Dragons by reading the manual will probably disagree, but hey, D&D is a totally different beast!
We all learn and comprehend differently, so if reading the manual isn’t your thing, or if you’re confused about some of the rules, watch some gameplay videos on YouTube. Watching other people play the game can make it super-easy to learn the rules of the game so that you can just jump right in when you’re ready to start.
Don’t worry if everything doesn’t make perfect sense at first – with a little practice, everything will start falling into place. And if you get really stuck, there’s no shame in reaching out to an experienced friend or family member for help. They’ll be more than happy to walk you through the basics and get you up to speed on all the ins and outs of gameplay.
Choose wisely when selecting which game(s) to pick up at first. Tabletop gaming covers various difficulty levels, player counts, time lengths, and even rules complexity. Figuring out what suits you best can seem daunting at times, but once again, there will always be others ready to assist in providing opinions (or even letting you try it before you buy it).
Let’s Play!
We hope you feel inspired to give tabletop gaming a try! It truly is one of the most enjoyable pastimes around – and with so many different games available, there’s sure to be something perfect for everyone in your group. So head down to your local comic book store, toy shop, or department store and pick up something new and interesting (or try an online boardgame)… it’s time to have some fun!