I’ve introduced my family who are not aware of the depths of this hobby to a number of games recently and they have really started enjoying the hobby with me. The games that I have tried as an introduction to modern games are Cubitos, Canvas, and Space Base. We also played between two Castles of Mad King Ludwig and they really enjoyed that. Codenames Pictures is another game that we’ve played a number of times. I really love this hobby as I can connect to my parents, in-laws, as well as find games for my children and my gamer friends. The spectrum of games in this hobby are truly amazing.

Quacks works well. No downtime. Easy to teach and everyone has fun with it.

Just One - no time to teach, co-op, and always fun, great ice-breaker game too. This has become my parents favorite game. The Quacks of Quedlinburg - I've had the most success with this one, its exciting, no downtime, and experienced players like it too. Cockroach Poker - if someone wants something with more social interaction, this one is great, super simple, but there's a lot of depth to the bluffing you can do. Sagrada - Deceptively simple, but the strategy is there, can be thinky and the variability with the scoring conditions and tools keep it fresh.

I've enjoyed teaching nimmt 6 and silver and gold to non gamers. Both well received.

Great video. Helped me understand why newcomers to my table felt overwhelmed when i tried them to play scythe

Splendor has been one for me to introduce for years. The art and the theme seem to appeal to many folks and the ability to only take one action per turn is great. I also love Century: Golem as well.

Great list! Thanks!

Some others I like: Azul Summer Pavillion, Forbidden Island, Cartographers, Kingdomino, and Harry Potter Hogwarts Batyle

You are 100% right about the absence of reference cards keeping some games from being gateway games. Just the other day I was teaching my wife Twilight Struggle and I had to write down a list of the five actions you can take on your turn, because the player aid didn't list them. She looked at me and said, "I just wish there was a player board to help me". I am a huge proponent of designing boards which are beautiful, legible, and are constantly reminding you how to play the game. Stonemaier Games does just that and I hope it becomes more and more commonplace in the industry.

5:52 literally said aloud, "ooh I do." ⛏️

A few of mine ion no particular order. Dixit, Mysterium or mysterium park, Parks/Trails, Lanterns, Railroad ink (just the base game, no challenge edition), herbaceous, the what not cabinet and Bargain Quest.

We've used Codenames Duet online, but are looking forward to using physical games again. I hadn't seen the Deep Undercover version (will have to check it out). For people who want a game similar to Ticket to Ride but without having to make that initial ticket selection, Trekking the National Parks is an option we like. We've used Cartographers too but apply the solo mode when an Ambush occurs in case people don't like confrontation. Silver & Gold is an even simpler polyomino game. I hadn't though of using Mysterium Park, but agree that it would work well. Nice list!

A game I recently learned and have enjoyed as a gateway game with friends is Iwari

If I had to include a party / deduction game on my list, I’d say Dixit. But the problem with these kinds of games is that people will usually enjoy them in the moment, but they don’t feel compelled to do their own research or ask you questions about modern board gaming. I think the best gateway games involve “fun math.” King of Tokyo (or New York) and Camel Up seem to ALWAYS leave new gamers begging for more, in my experience.

I like your choices of Gateway games, but instead Sagrada as honourable choice. I would take Azul as gateway game. Easy to teach and still some thinking is needed. My parents love it now.

Of the three “classic gateways” you mentioned, Catan and TTR also have the issue where you have to make some initial decisions that are tough for players who have never seen it before. Carcassonne, if you play without farmers, just develops as you go, so you don’t need to explain much.

Who wouldn’t wanna be a dice mining dwarf? (Scoffs).

Interested to know of some games that would be gateway that do not have the reference sheet or card you mentioned.

The Mind has started so many arguments with everyone I've played with 😂😂

Between Two Cities is the first Stonemaier Game I bought.

Great list! I just can't get behind The Mind. I consider that more of an activity and not a game.

Jamey, I didn't see a deck builder on this list. Is there a good gateway game that introduces this mechanic?

Wingspan! (*cough*)

What are your thoughts on Tom Vasel's push to rebrand "gateway games" as "welcoming games"? Also, I would still consider Ticket to Ride a gateway game. I've introduced it to many people and I think the familiar geography removes a lot of the stress around that initial decision, so I haven't seen it be an issue for new gamers.

This may be a boring answer, but I think you have to say: Catan, Carcassonne, Dominion, Pandemic, and Ticket To Ride have to be on the list. To those obvious choices, I'd add: Forbidden Island, San Juan, Luxor, Guillotine, The Grizzled, Ganz Schonn Clever. I thought of Just One, which is a very fun game, but I think a "gateway game" should also be a "gateway", and I'm just not sure that what you do in Just One translates to other games - I'm not sure it makes someone say "Okay, now teach me Scythe!" Other examples like this would be Skull or The Mind (though you make a decent case for that one). They can be a fun time and they are very easy to teach, but I wouldn't necessarily think that if someone enjoyed that that they'd be into trying something else. Another consideration I had for my list is that the game shouldn't do anything counterintuitive. For example, 7 Wonders almost works, but the way to spend but don't spend resources is (innovative but) counterintuitive. I feel the same about Space Base. It's almost a perfect gateway game, but the mechanism where a dice roll can charge up an ability but then you can use that ability on any number is (innovative but) counterintuitive.

For me I think cosmic encounter is a great gateway game. The core concept is simple and if you use the easy alien powers and remove the flare cards it’s extremely easy to learn. It’s more a fun, social game and the bluffing and betrayal you can naturally pull off is so fun!

Instead of "Ticket to Ride", I'd include "Trekking the National Parks". The games are very similar, but I think it is somewhat easier to learn Trekking and doesn't require the players to make "limiting" decisions at the very start of the game.

Oh, also The Crew and Abandon All Artichokes. Just got those recently and forgot about them. A lot of the choices come down to the players. AAA is better for kids. The Crew was great for my Spades friends. You have to know your audience as part of the equation.

My gateway game was Carcassone.

Would the original Mysterium cards work with Mysterium Park? :D

Camel Up!

I noticed how many of them involve "not talking" or "limited talking" ... which will always lower a game on my list, especially when starting people out.

If you can't explain it in 2 minutes my wife won't play it. Three that worked: No Thanks, Battle Sheep, and Hey, That's My Fish. Honorable Mention, a little harder to get a handle on, Skull.

Did you know that Codenames: Deep Undercover is the “adult” version? 🤣