My favorite gateway game is Cascadia. Every new person I have introduced it to can understand the concepts pretty easily. It also shows them that while it is competitive it isn't mean and is super chill. Then I get them into Pandemic or the Forbidden series. I feel like cooperative games take a lot of pressure off new people.
Trekking the National Parks is a wonderful gateway game! I brought it to my parents house. They are both in their 80's and they picked it up really fast and had a wonderful time. Very fun and we liked talking about the national parks that they have visited in real life.
Cat Lady is still a great gateway game! And the twist that you are punished for not balancing your food with the number of cats you have never fails to get a chuckle.
For me I'd probably (in no particular order) go with: Ticket to Ride Ohanami Cascadia Project L Onitama (my pick over Santorini) Summer Camp (Praise Be!) Super Mega Lucky Box Queen Domino (or Dorf Romantik) Tokaido King of Tokyo A few Runner Ups being Carcassonne, Jaipur, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Floriferous, Sunset Over Water, Crew, So Clover, & 7 Wonders Architects.
Hey Brother Murph!! We’ve been fan of your RUclips page and we are a Deaf couple who makes our RUclips channel too. The start of this video made us want to challenge you to something!! On your next video, try signing or finger spelling your names before the start of video! Would love to see you acknowledge the deaf community too!
My friends and I love Project L. There is just something satisfying about it. It was nice seeing new favorites for gateway games. Azul, TTR, and Carcassonne will always be top ones, but we know that already.
Dang ya got me at the end! With your earlier mentions of Tetris and polyomino games I kept saying "Project L is better than this." Was not expecting it to show up at the end. Nice list and I'm going to check out Dimensions, seems like a fun game.
Kanban EV is my go-to gateway game. Because it's so thematic everyone I introduce the game to gets what they have to do. And Ian O'Toole's graphic design really aids nebbies as it clearly lays out on the board the flow of actions from turn to turn.
My favorite gateway game is Cascadia. Every new person I have introduced it to can understand the concepts pretty easily. It also shows them that while it is competitive it isn't mean and is super chill. Then I get them into Pandemic or the Forbidden series. I feel like cooperative games take a lot of pressure off new people.
This one definitely could have made the list!
Trekking the National Parks is a wonderful gateway game! I brought it to my parents house. They are both in their 80's and they picked it up really fast and had a wonderful time. Very fun and we liked talking about the national parks that they have visited in real life.
Cat Lady is still a great gateway game!
And the twist that you are punished for not balancing your food with the number of cats you have never fails to get a chuckle.
For me I'd probably (in no particular order) go with:
Ticket to Ride
Ohanami
Cascadia
Project L
Onitama (my pick over Santorini)
Summer Camp (Praise Be!)
Super Mega Lucky Box
Queen Domino (or Dorf Romantik)
Tokaido
King of Tokyo
A few Runner Ups being Carcassonne, Jaipur, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Floriferous, Sunset Over Water, Crew, So Clover, & 7 Wonders Architects.
Summer Camp is great for introducing deck builders.
I always watch gateway games videos, makes me so happy thinking of getting more folks into our hobby. @Mike bring that shirt to DTW 2025 we can match.
The gateway games that have worked for me the best are Tsuro, Arboretum, and The Quest for El Dorado.
Hey Brother Murph!! We’ve been fan of your RUclips page and we are a Deaf couple who makes our RUclips channel too. The start of this video made us want to challenge you to something!!
On your next video, try signing or finger spelling your names before the start of video! Would love to see you acknowledge the deaf community too!
Congrats on the new studio build brothers murph! It looks amazing 🙏
I love Dimension, will have to look into pocket Dimension thanks for heads up. Great list all the was around.
Cascadia & Trekking through history
Look at Nick sportin a Board Room Café shirt.
Can't Stop is a great choice for this list.
My friends and I love Project L. There is just something satisfying about it.
It was nice seeing new favorites for gateway games. Azul, TTR, and Carcassonne will always be top ones, but we know that already.
where is mottainai?
Watching 🤓
Dang ya got me at the end!
With your earlier mentions of Tetris and polyomino games I kept saying "Project L is better than this." Was not expecting it to show up at the end. Nice list and I'm going to check out Dimensions, seems like a fun game.
Love the game #9. Didn't know anything about it and came across it on the second hand market (cheap) and took a chance and it's great.
One of my favorite gateway games is Burgle Bros. Fun theme, great art, variable player powers…it’s always a blast.
😊 I really want Can’t Stop and project L!! Thanks for the list! It really helps to get the family involved in all the game fun!
My favorite gateway game is Picture Perfect, Medium and Farmers Market.
Really liked to explained Trekking through history and Coffee rush to muggles during gaming nights
Kingdomino and Azul have worked really well for me with non-gamers.
Having a playmat for Can’t Stop is the most gamer thing ever haha
Kanban EV is my go-to gateway game. Because it's so thematic everyone I introduce the game to gets what they have to do. And Ian O'Toole's graphic design really aids nebbies as it clearly lays out on the board the flow of actions from turn to turn.