Start Your Board Game Journey with These 3 Beginner-Friendly Must-Haves!

Alright, newbie gamer. So you’ve finally decided to ditch the old “Monopoly” marathons and join the cool kids' club of board and card games. Welcome aboard! 🎉 But hold up — before you start stacking up games that look good on the shelf (but you’ll never actually play), let’s talk about the ones you need to get started. These are the games that are easy to learn, fun to play, and won’t make you want to throw them out the window after 10 minutes (we’re looking at you, Risk). So grab your snacks, gather your friends, and let’s dive into these beginner board game must-haves. 👇

The world of board games seems overwhelming at first! Too many games to choose from, you don't really know what game types you prefer (seriously, who knows what a deck building game is and who can even think that it can be fun, right?). Unless you have friends who own more than just Monopoly, you are in a pickle, my friend! But don't worry! I was in the same position, too! Until one day (well, one evening, technically) I met my husband and he appeared to looooove board games! I knew Monopoly and Uno before him but anything more than that was just for nerds. In this blog post you will see 3 grrrrrrreat board games that are easy enough for beginners minds but fun enough to become your favourite board games ever! Let's goooooo!

1. Catan – AKA, the Game that Will Ruin Your Social Life (in a Good Way) 🌍

If you haven’t played Catan yet, are you even really living? This game is the perfect balance of simplicity and strategy — and it will have you hooked after one round. In Catan, you and your friends (3-4 people, max) are settlers on a beautiful island, fighting to build the biggest and most glorious civilization. You’ll be collecting resources like wood, brick, and ore to build roads and cities (I mean, who doesn’t love a good road-building competition, right?). But the best part? You get to trade resources with your friends. Want that brick? Gotta make a deal! Get ready for some seriously shady deals, some strategic backstabbing, and a few "Did you just steal my last piece of ore?" moments. 🙄

P.S. This game is an absolute MUST for the beginners. And to be fare, it is still one of our favourite games to play. Tip: Trade wisely!

Why It’s Perfect for Beginners:

• Easy-to-understand rules (but still a game of wits).
• Builds friendships and ruins them with trade negotiations.
• Expansion packs galore (so when you're ready, you can play with more people or get a bit fancy with new rules).

2. Splendor – Because Who Doesn’t Want to Be a Gem-Crushing, Merchant Extraordinaire? 💎

Feeling fancy? Splendor is like the perfect dinner party — elegant, but still fun. In this game, you’re a merchant collecting gems to buy cards and earn points. The twist? Some cards give you special powers, making it even easier to collect more gems. As you collect more cards, you unlock new ways to earn points and... become the most powerful merchant in the game. 💰💎 It’s quick, easy to pick up, and can turn your casual game night into an all-out gem war. The goal is to become the first to earn 15 points, but trust us, you won’t stop at just one round. You’ll be obsessed.

P.S We played this game a looooot when I was just a beginner. Very simple, but being my the competitive self I wanted moooore gems!

Why It’s Perfect for Beginners:

• Simple, streamlined rules.
• Not a ton of setup—just grab your gems and cards and go!
• Tons of replay value, so you’ll be playing over and over (and over again).

3. Carcassonne – The Beautiful Tile-Laying, City-Building Game You Didn’t Know You Needed 🎨

If you’ve ever had the urge to build a medieval kingdom, Carcassonne is your new best friend. In this tile-laying game, you build cities, roads, and fields by placing tiles, and the more you complete, the more points you score. It’s like playing Tetris, but with medieval vibes (we’re talking knights, farmers, and castles). 🏰 You’ll be strategizing your tile placements and trying to complete cities while blocking your friends from doing the same. But don’t be fooled by the cute little pieces and pretty artwork — there’s some serious strategy here, and things can get INTENSE when you’re racing to complete your city before your friend does. You’ll also find yourself having deep conversations about whether or not the tile you just placed was “strategically perfect.” Trust us.

P.S. And it did go INTENSE at some point! We need to stop playing it for a while because the rage within me was not within me anymore! 

Why It’s Perfect for Beginners:

• Simple rules, easy to start, and plays fast.
• Really satisfying when you complete a massive city (you’ll feel like a construction wizard).
• Perfect for 2-5 players, and there’s a ton of expansions for when you’re ready to level up.

Why These Games Are a Total Win for Beginners (And All Your Friends, Probably)

Let’s be real — the best board games for beginners are the ones that don’t make your brain explode within the first 5 minutes, but also give you room to get competitive and strategic. These three games (Catan, Splendor, and Carcassonne) all offer just the right amount of challenge without being overwhelming. They’re easy to learn, fun to play, and will definitely get your friends (and possibly family) asking, “Wait, when can we play again?”

So, there you have it! The three games you NEED in your collection if you're just starting your board game journey. Grab Catan, Splendor, and Carcassonne, invite your squad, and get ready for some seriously fun game nights. And trust us, once you get a taste of the board gaming world, you’ll be hooked. 🎲

Game on, friends. Game on.