When you’ve got a limited amount of time to play a game or two, such as a lunch break at work, or if you’re introducing friends to the tabletop gaming hobby, it can be useful to have some games on hand that are quick to teach and easy to learn. I’ve sorted this list into three sections, but the sections are not mutually exclusive, just a way to offer quick lists for specific situations – several of the games on this list fit into multiple sections.
Teach/Learn and Play in 30 Minutes or Less Introduction to Tabletop Games Gaming with Kids Teach/Learn and Play in 30 Minutes or Less Game Details Name Between Two Cities (2015)Complexity Medium Light [1.81] BGG Rank 586 [7.03]Player Count (Recommended) 1-7 (3-7) Mechanism(s) Card Drafting, Highest-Lowest Scoring, Set Collection, Simultaneous Action Selection, Solo / Solitaire Game and Tile Placement
Game Details Name Cat Lady (2017)Complexity Light [1.47] BGG Rank 947 [7.09]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Card Drafting and Set Collection
Game Details Name Hanabi (2010)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Medium Light [1.70] BGG Rank 387 [7.09]Player Count 2-5 Mechanism(s) Communication Limits, Cooperative Game, Hand Management, Memory, Roles with Asymmetric Information and Set Collection
Game Details Name Pixel Glory (2014)Complexity Medium Light [1.89] BGG Rank 5975 [6.65]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Auction/Bidding, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building and Rock-Paper-Scissors
Game Details Name Santorini (2016)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Medium Light [1.74] BGG Rank 162 [7.49]Player Count (Recommended) 2-4 (2-3) Mechanism(s) Race, Square Grid, Team-Based Game, Three Dimensional Movement and Variable Player Powers
Introduction to Tabletop Games Game Details Name Azul (2017)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Medium Light [1.77] BGG Rank 48 [7.83]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Card Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Pattern Building, Set Collection, Tile Placement and Turn Order: Claim Action Notes from Rebecca A great intoduction to puzzle board games.
Game Details Name Lanterns: The Harvest Festival (2015)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Medium Light [1.57] BGG Rank 735 [6.92]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Hand Management, Pattern Building, Set Collection and Tile Placement Notes from Rebecca A great introduction to pattern building and set collection.
Game Details Name Megaland (2018)Complexity Medium Light [1.90] BGG Rank 2062 [6.76]Player Count 2-5 Mechanism(s) Push Your Luck Notes from Rebecca A great introduction to modern press-your-luck tabletop games.
Game Details Name Paperback (2014)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Medium Light [1.99] BGG Rank 452 [7.19]Player Count (Recommended) 2-5 (2-4) Mechanism(s) Card Drafting, Cooperative Game, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building and Delayed Purchase Notes from Rebecca A great introduction to deck building.
Game Details Name Ticket to Ride (2004)Complexity Medium Light [1.85] BGG Rank 171 [7.43]Player Count 2-5 Mechanism(s) Card Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Network and Route Building, Push Your Luck and Set Collection Notes from Rebecca A great introduction to route building. There are several variations of Ticket to Ride, featuring many different maps. The original has a US map.
Gaming with Kids 3+ years old: Game Details Name Dragon Rapid Fire (2016)Complexity Light [1.00] BGG Rank 17584 [5.50]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Dice Rolling and Roll / Spin and Move Notes from Rebecca This game of racing dragons is adorable and fun. It does contain some small pieces, so keep an eye on little ones who have a habit of sticking things in their mouths.
Game Details Name Flashlights & Fireflies (2015)Complexity Light [1.00] BGG Rank 12336 [5.95]Player Count 2-5 Mechanism(s) Uncredited Notes from Rebecca A fun game of hide and seek in the woods with firefly-powered flashlights! My 10-year-old niece still loves to play this one.
Game Details Name Rhino Hero (2011)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Light [1.03] BGG Rank 717 [6.95]Player Count 2-5 Mechanism(s) Hand Management and Stacking and Balancing Notes from Rebecca A great (and quieter) alternative to Jenga, you'll build a tower with sturdy cards as Super Rhino attempts to climb and jump his way to the top. Just don't be the one to knock the tower over!
7+ years old: Game Details Name ICECOOL (2016)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Light [1.02] BGG Rank 854 [6.83]Player Count (Recommended) 2-4 (3-4) Mechanism(s) Area Movement, Flicking and Take That Notes from Rebecca Players are penguins racing around their school trying to catch fish and avoid the hall monitor. This game is fast and fun. Players flick penguins across the board and through doorways to maneuver around the school.
Game Details Name King of Tokyo (2011)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Light [1.49] BGG Rank 312 [7.19]Player Count (Recommended) 2-6 (3-6) Mechanism(s) Card Drafting, Dice Rolling, King of the Hill, Player Elimination, Push Your Luck and Re-rolling and Locking Notes from Rebecca It's a battle of gigantic proportions as monsters, robots, and aliens try to take over Tokyo City! This is a fun, dice rolling, push-your-luck game.
Game Details Name Roll For It! (2011)Complexity Light [1.04] BGG Rank 3205 [6.12]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Dice Rolling Notes from Rebecca A family-friendly dice and card game.
10+ years old: Game Details Name Love Letter (2012)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Light [1.19] BGG Rank 281 [7.23]Player Count (Recommended) 2-4 (3-4) Mechanism(s) Hand Management, Player Elimination and Score-and-Reset Game Notes from Rebecca A game of intrigue and deduction as players compete to get their declaration of love delivered to the Princess. There's also a Batman version!
Game Details Name Munchkin (2001)Complexity Medium Light [1.80] BGG Rank 4397 [5.90]Player Count 3-6 Mechanism(s) Hand Management, Take That and Variable Player Powers Notes from Rebecca Find a dungeon. Kick down the door. Defeat the monsters. Grab the loot. Thwart your opponents.
Game Details Name Splendor (2014)Accessibility Report Meeple Like Us Complexity Medium Light [1.80] BGG Rank 165 [7.45]Player Count 2-4 Mechanism(s) Card Drafting, Contracts, Drafting, Race and Set Collection Notes from Rebecca Splendor is loved by gamers of all ages. Players are gem merchants competing for wealth and visits from the nobles. Develop strategic thinking and planning skills with this beautiful game.
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