While the world of video games has expanded immensely in the past generation, on a similar note tabletop gaming has also experienced a bit of a renaissance in the past decade (and more) that has made the hobby even more popular than ever before.
With the common ground that video games and tabletop often have, there’s never been a better time to jump into the world of tabletop gaming with the rich variety of games available out there. If you’re a gamer that’s been thinking of jumping into tabletop games but don’t know where to start, don’t worry: there are plenty of great entryway tabletop games out there to enjoy, and below you’ll find some of the very best of them.
If you’re looking to make the jump from video games to tabletop gaming, the 15 games below are what I would consider excellent entry-points for anyone looking to get together with friends, some dice, and some great times, based on how accessible they are to new players and to give a variety of different genres and game types to check out for yourself.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
While this game might be a bit more complex compared to some of the other games on this list, there’s no denying that no matter who is playing,Betrayal at House on the Hillis guaranteed to give players a fast-paced and competitive time, especially if you are into horror movies.
Betrayal at House on the Hillputs players inside of a horrifying mansion as they explore and collect items, avoid traps, and find their way through the mansion, which gets gradually revealed tile-by-tile as players enter new rooms and locations. The twist, however, is that one of the players is secretly a traitor among the rest of the group, giving an uneasy tension to players as they try to survive.
If the game’s B-movie horror vibe isn’t your thing, your alternative is theD&D-themedBetrayal at Baldur’s Gatethat has a bit more of a medieval flare. If you likeHouse on the Hillthough, you can then progress toBetrayal: Legacy, which spreads the action ofHouse on the Hillover an ongoing storyline.
At first glance,Codenamesin a lot of ways plays like a more advanced version ofGuess Who?, but with a very fast pace and some challenging gameplay (and the fact that a variant version can be played with two people),Codenamesis an incredibly accessible and fun party game, even if it might drive some of your friends crazy.
InCodenames, players get split up into team teams (red and blue), with one player taking the role of the spymaster, and the other as a spy. In the front of the board are a variety of cards that each contain a certain word, and it becomes the spymaster’s task to try and give one word clues to the other team member to try and correctly guess which of these codenames correspond to their team’s agents. However, choosing wrong may accidentally give the competing team a point, or worse.
WhileCodenamesis perfect for a group of around four (or more) players, other versions of the game, such asCodenames: Duets, is tailored more towards small groups, whileCodenames: Deep Undercovergives players a more “adult” version of the game to enjoy.
Set in the same universe asThe Resistance(a game that I’ll mention later on),Coupis a competitive card game where each player has a pair of secret identities, which then forces players to either eliminate the rest of their competition or to outlast the rest and be the last one standing.
The challenge ofCoupcomes into play through the fact that you can challenge other players that may be lying and are not who you think they say they are. This givesCoupan intriguing push and pull between players as they try to figure out the identities of other players, but having to be cautious and not too aggressive with challenges that may cost them the match.
Aside from the original version ofCoup, other expansions and versions of the game have been released such asCoup: ReformationandCoup: Rebellion.
If you’re a lover of zombies or the post-apocalyptic genre,Dead of Winteris going to be an easy recommendation, though it is among the more complex games on this list.
Dead of Winteris a cooperative tabletop game where players are trying to not only survive the throws of a brutal winter, but also helping each other to ward off incoming waves of the undead. Aside from the survival element of the game though that keeps players (generally) on the same page, each player also has their own secret win condition to ensure that there is some level of tension and uneasiness among the group, and that it might just be “survival of the fittest” after all.
Aside from the original game, there are several expansions and variant versions ofDead of Winterout there such as “The Long Night” and “Warring Colonies,” which each add a variety of new survivors and other mechanics to the base game.
Forbidden Island
One of the best cooperative tabletop games around,Forbidden Islandtakes teamwork to a new level as players have to band together to try and escape a sinking island before they meet their end.
If you happen to loveUncharted,Forbidden Islandwill make for an excellent tabletop gaming entryway with its colorful artwork and adventuring-themed gameplay. As the water level of the island is constantly rising over the course of the game, it comes to the players – who each can take on specific roles – to come together and figure out the best plan of getting out of there alive.
Aside from escaping an island, other variations of the game includeForbidden DesertandForbidden Sky, which largely follow the formula ofForbidden Islandbut with a few new twists and turns.
For those that want to get into tabletop gaming more in the vein of pen and paper roleplaying a laDungeons & Dragons, Steve Jackson Games' classicMunchkinis hard to beat when it comes to introducing players to wacky and charming warriors while defeating monsters and getting the chance to screw over your friends.
Essentially a more streamlined version ofDungeons & Dungeons,Munchkintakes the traditional elements of roleplaying – creating a character, defeating monsters, gathering loot, etc. – and adds a ton of charm, humor, and competition to the mix as you draw monster cards, defeat them, and equip gear to make yourself more powerful and reach Level 10 (the completion objective for the game).
While the original game is an excellent place to start for the series, dozens of spinoffs, iterations, and expansions forMunchkinhave been released by Steve Jackson Games, featuring spinoffs likeSuper MunchkinandMunchkin Cthulu, to versions featuring major franchises likeMunchkin Rick & MortytoMunchkin Marvel.
Love Letter
While the name suggests something light and romantic,Love Letteris instead a fast-paced, cutthroat experience that has players doing whatever it takes to win a princess’s hand in marriage.
As a card game that consists solely of a handful of playing cards,Love Letteris deceptively simple but a ton of fun for a group of two to four players with rounds that typically only go for a few minutes. Each player during their turn has to play a card that, when activated, provides them with an ability to either try and eliminate the other players or help themselves outlast the other players to win the princess’s affection.
While the original version ofLove Letteris plenty of fun in its own right, if you’re looking for a bit more of a quirky twist, other versions of the game have been released includingLove Letter: BatmanandLove Letter: The Hobbit.
King of Tokyo
A competitive game set in the middle of a battle between giant kaiju monsters,King of Tokyois a game that doesn’t take a ton of time (typically) to play, but is sure to be the highlight of a lot of parties thanks to its fun artwork and enticing theme, for thoseGodzillaorKing Kongfans out there.
Outside of the base game, you can also pick up the spinoff version of the gameKing of New York, which plays similarly to the original game, but adds in buildings to smash and a few other mechanics to deepen the experience slightly. There are also a few expansions forKing of Tokyothat add some new monsters and gameplay to the battle of kaiju at hand, such as the “Power Up!” and “Halloween” add-ons.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Based on the ever-popularWerewolf,One Night Ultimate Werewolftakes the engaging secret identity gameplay of the classic original and streamlines all of the in-game events to happen in one night, where players then have to figure out the aftermath in a limited amount of time.
Each player is given a secret identity that, during the night phase where the werewolf runs rampant, gives them a specific action or objective to complete as players then have to determine who is on the side of the villagers, or who might either be the Werewolf or aiding them secretly. If you want to kick the game up a notch, there is also a companion app for smartphones that can help guide you through the game, complete with narration and background music.
Aside from the base game, there is also the “Daybreak” expansion forOne Night Ultimate Werewolfthat adds numerous new roles and characters into the game, along with spinoff versions likeOne Night Ultimate VampireandOne Night Ultimate Alien.
Setting players up for a globe-trotting journey to find cures for rapidly-spreading diseases,Pandemicis an excellent introduction to tabletop gaming, especially for the fact that the game is entirely cooperative. With the threat of a looming viral outbreak always on the mind of players,Pandemicis a fast-paced game that requires teamwork and coordination to succeed.
Since the original game’s debut back in 2008, several other spin-off versions ofPandemichave arrived over the years, including most recentlyPandemic: Legacy, which incorporates an ongoing storyline throughout multiple “seasons” of the game.
