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Several items from my list are repeated on others, but here goes:
10: Apples to Apples
9: Memoir 44
8. Lost Cities [Just for you, Sam]
7. No Thanks
6. Blokus
5. Settlers
4. Carcassonne
3. Alhambre [See below]
2. Citadels
1. TTR
Most of these games (particularly TTR) have been commented on in the podcast or elsewhere here. But I thought I'd offer a few comments:
--Ben: I noticed your list has a criteria that gateway games introduce players to mechanics or game systems that they can build on later (so Apples to Apples doesn't make your list). I think this is nice, but not nearly as important as showing people that playing games is a fun, social, and interactive activity, and that there are more games out there than the ones we knew growing up (Monopoly, Sorry, Risk...) So, A2A made my list, even though I'm not a big fan of the game. I think that the flexibility to accommodate varying numbers of players, player ages, and time constraints is far more important in an entry-level game than the possibility of building for future games. Let's face it, there are lots of people that probably won't play more "advanced" games than the ones on our lists--and that's OK.
--I'm surprised fewer people have listed the Kosmos two player series, but will list other 2 player games (like Battlelore or M44). I think these games have several features that introduce new players to gaming (relatively short playing time, limited downtime, etc...) and have rules that are reasonably quick to learn and easy to explain. I like Lost Cities but one could easily substitute other games in the small box series (Odin's Ravens, etc...)
--I was also surprised that Alhambre isn't featured more in these lists. I've taught it to about a dozen new gamers, who pick it up pretty fast. I think the game has some problems, but as an introduction it tends to be pretty fun. The components are nice and it's intuitive, I think. I'd suggest it if you're bringing new players into boardgaming.
Just a few of my thoughts.
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10 - Citadels
9 - Wyatt Earp
8 - The Settlers of Catan
7 - Loot
6 - Winner's Circle
5 - Diamant
4 - Carcassonne
3 - Coloretto
2 - Bohnanza
1 - Ticket to Ride
These are not listed in order of my preference. I tried to list them in order of which games seem to have gateway game power. This is only from my experience of these games. Things that are important to me in this list:
- Is the game light enough for most players to understand after one play?
- Is it the kind of game that appeals to a broad range of personalities?
- Does it have the draw that makes new players ask to play again, or even buy their own copy?
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Here are my top 10, but in reality it is heavily skewed toward the first three.
1. Carcassonne - It's the game that got me hooked. I played games before it, even Settlers, and I always enjoyed them, but this brought it to another level. I like tile-laying in general, I have to admit. Everyone I have introduced it to has loved it, except for one person (although her husband loved it).
2. For Sale - It's so simple to play once you show someone a sample round from the first and second phases just so they can see how it goes. This one everyone has loved, without exception.
3. Citadels - I will introduce this with groups of 4 or 5. I didn't expect to like it myself, actually, but my whole family loves it. Those we have introduced it to have loved it as well. It's simple to get into and hard not to enjoy the character powers and bluffing.
The rest of these are good as well, but I rely on those three most heavily.
4. Fjords - A great two player tile-laying game, but it's only two player.
5. PitchCar - Good for up to 8 players and is best on the high end of that, I think. Not deep, but lots of fun. And it's definitely different.
6. Through the Desert - Simple rules: Pick two camels and place them in your caravans; easy to track scoring; very stylish bits. It's simple to get into and fun to play - as long as you tell the new players to spread out their leaders in the initial placement.
7. Coloretto - Next to For Sale, this is my introductory card game of choice for 3 or more players.
8. Settlers of Catan - My whole family loves it, so it's hard for new people to not enjoy it when playing with us. I think it's much better to learn this one from someone else than to read the rules for it. It's such a simple game, but the Mayfair rules are overly complex, in my edition at least.
9. Blokus - Fast, looks nice, and very approachable. I know several people who were hooked by Blokus and then were interesting in more games. I like it a lot, but prefer some theme to my games even if it's just pasted on, so it's just a personal quirk that it's this low on the list.
10. Liar's Dice - I think it's good to show the depth of thought and enjoyment possible from such a simple mechanic. Roll dice, push your luck, and be sneaky.
There are some other games I really like depending on the person and the situation. I think it heavily depends on the person and the mood that I am in myself. It's hard to make someone else enjoy the game if you're not enjoying it. That's why Ticket to Ride isn't on my list - I like it, but it feels too long to me for the enjoyment I get out of it.
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Quote: What is this gang up on Blott day? Come on Ben, feel the love. 
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justnord wrote: --Ben: I noticed your list has a criteria that gateway games introduce players to mechanics or game systems that they can build on later (so Apples to Apples doesn't make your list). I think this is nice, but not nearly as important as showing people that playing games is a fun, social, and interactive activity, and that there are more games out there than the ones we knew growing up (Monopoly, Sorry, Risk...) So, A2A made my list, even though I'm not a big fan of the game. I think that the flexibility to accommodate varying numbers of players, player ages, and time constraints is far more important in an entry-level game than the possibility of building for future games. Let's face it, there are lots of people that probably won't play more "advanced" games than the ones on our lists--and that's OK. Well, to me that is what gateway means. It is a term I take to mean "games that will bring others into the deeper world of modern board games." It does not, in my opinion, mean "games that show people how to have fun playing games." Believe me, every person I have ever sat down to play games with gets fun games the first time. I'm one of the biggest party game fans around. I just don't think they help make that transition, or introduction into anything deeper. So what I'm saying is, I think it's merely a matter of vocabulary. I take gateway to mean one thing, and others take it to mean something else. I guess that's why we each post our own lists so that everyone can see that there is a plethora of good game selections for new gamers.
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aslskfan wrote: Quote: What is this gang up on Blott day? Come on Ben, feel the love. With friends like this... 
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Using Tom and Sam's list as a starting place:
Settlers and Bohnanza both make my list as well. I continue to have good luck with these.
Hollywood Blockbuster I got for the family for Christmas this year. Haven't played it yet.
Apples to Apples I don't play anymore even though the rest of the extended family loves it. Seems more like a random activity to me than a game.
Memoir '44 - yes.
Bang! - Never played. Maybe I'd sub Werewolf here.
Carcassonne - Yes, but make it Hunters and Gatherers - prettier and no farmer rule
10 Days - My wife loves Africa, only one we played.
Ticket to Ride is also a good choice. I got a bit played out on it, but it's been awhile, and I think I could enjoy it again.
Everything else on your list - never played it. But I like Coloretto a lot and would like to give Zooleretto a go sometime.
So, numbered, but in no particular order, let's go with:
1) Settlers
2) Bohnanza
3) Memoir '44
4) Werewolf
5) Hunters and Gatherers
6) 10 Days in Africa (although I'm not that crazy about this one)
7) Ticket to Ride
8) Santiago - I love this game, it's all about interaction, and it's really pretty simple
9) Daytona 500 - I've had a lot of good luck with this one too.
10) Modern Art would probably replace Hollywood Blockbuster on your list
11) Liar's Dice - always fun
12) Aquadukt - This one's new to me, but seems simple and quick and pretty enough to be a good contender
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This was a tough list for me because most of the games in my collection are of this weight. I would like to try some of the heavier games out there, like Puerto Rico or Age of Steam, but I get the most mileage out of light - middleweight games. They just suit the types of folks I game with better than the heavier stuff. The games on my list, however, are those that we have pulled out time and time again with new gamers with great success.
Bohnanza - Sam nailed this one. Everybody who plays it loves it, plus you can play it with up to 7 people. Even though the theme is pasted on, it totally works.
For Sale - This is a fabulous intro to the wonderful world of auction games. It's simple and quick, yet has a lot of depth.
Diamant/Incan Gold - Classic 'push-your-luck' gameplay, perfect for larger groups, full of tension and laughter - a great recipe for fun. The new edition of Can't Stop is gaining in this category, but Diamant is still the champ.
Coyote- Never heard of this one? It's like Indian Poker meets Liars Dice. How can you not like a game where you wear a headband with a card tucked into it?
No Thanks - This is the ultimate quickie-filler card game. It takes only a few seconds to explain, but it never gets old.
Blokus - A simple abstract strategy game that is easy to teach, easy to play and difficult to master. Always a hit with new players.
Winners Circle - I had a tough time deciding between this and Ave Caesar. They are both great racing games, but the horse racing theme and the betting give Winners Circle the edge by a nose.
Shadows Over Camelot - One of my personal faves, this one sucks players into the theme almost instantly. An absolutely fantastic game.
Zooloretto - What a terrific game. I know it is essentially a dressed up version of Coloretto, but sometimes that is all it takes to make a good game into a great game.
Ticket To Ride - Yeah, I know. It's on everyone's list. There's a reason for that, which has already been covered to death. Wonderful game.
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Here is my list of gateway games - we play these with non gamers and gamers. It is important to have a decent selection of games because people are different and you have to take them into consideration. Eg: it will be easier to get your Gran to play Mensa Connections than it would Kingdoms (my Gran that is anyway)
Ticket to Ride - such simple choices, it just looks like a big board game too
Downfall of Pompeii - this is soooo exciting - which piece do you save first
Mensa Connections - so quick and easy and no themes whcih may get in the way
Carcassonne - base game is nice and cheap and there are expansions
Dolce Vita - a really nice game to play with nongamers but it is difficult to get hold of a copy. Leads nicely into Hollywood Card Game and Titan the Arena though.
Lost Cities
6 Nimmt - ideal if there are quite a few new to gaming
Cartagena - Nice and simple - good one for younger folk
Hey That My Fish - more to this game than first impressions but appealling theme makes it easy to introduce
Kingdoms - counting can be fun!
Gateway combat/confrontation game would be: Memoir 44
Nongamers are usually afraid of new games and the thought of all those rules to learn, gateway games show them that good strategy games do not have to have pages of rules and take 3 hours to play.
Best
H
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First of all, hello to everyone. I'm not an avid BGG user, but hearing about this guild a few episodes back made me join the guild, and now I'm following the very interesting forums here (through the RSS feed). I'm a fairly casual gamer (I usually play only one game a week), but I enjoy board games a lot. I guess a recent kid, a move from France to Italy, and not having found a game group yet are the reason for this lack of gaming  Here are my top 10 gateway games, or maybe I should say my 10 gateway games (as I could not come up with that many). I'm going to only talk about games I've played as gateway games, and not so much about games that I think would make good gateway games but have not tried with new players. For people who don't know anything about gaming and are afraid a game might take too long, my favorite is That's Life. It's a very simple game to explain, it plays fast, does not demand too much thinking, and is a nice introduction. And there is a lot of interaction! Another game I found works well is Alhambra. It's longer, but as it's one of my wife's favorite, it's one that we've use with some friends new to gaming. The initial learning curve is a bit steeper than That's Life, but after a couple rounds our victims quickly got the hang of it. A bit longer still, there is the classical Ticket to Ride, which has been much commented upon. The great thing about this game is that there is some confrontation, but it does not start right at the beginning. So players have the time to learn how to play before going one against the other. I've had some successes with Munchkin. I used to like this game a lot, as a previous D&D gamer, but its novelty has worn off. Yet I introduced it to some younger family members (ages 12 to 17) and they just loved it. (Then we moved on to Ticket to Ride, and they have bought both games for themselves since!) For younger kids, Pitchcar Mini is great. I consider it a gateway game for my 6 years old son, who has since taught it to some of his friends. He also played Carcassonne (without the farmers) and loved the puzzles aspect. We played it in a hotel lobby during vacations and it attracted a few people who were around, really interested about what was going on. I know it's a party game, but Santy Anno was used recently during a "go to your neighbor" day, and it went really well. The game was quick, fun, and started a conversation about "modern games". I work as a researcher in computer science, and I've introduced games to people there as well. They're a quite different kind, a bit more complex. The first one is Boursicocotte (You're Bluffing in English). A lot of player interaction, and a lot of thinking as well. The main issue I have with it (as with Modern Art), it's that it's very difficult for new player to give a value to things. Another game is of course RoboRally. No need to explain why these programmers loved it! Finally, and surprisingly, I've had a great gateway experience with Caylus. We had a friend who wanted to try a game, so we described different ones we had, and he picked this. He loved it so much he wanted to go buy it immediately! I would not try this with anyone, but I was amazed how well it worked. To conclude, I'd like to mention some gateway failures, probably because the game was not adapted with the audience. Tigris and Euphrates is one: complex rules and complex scoring made for several (yes, I tried it several times...) less than stellar experiences. I've seen Werewolf fail as well, because some people were just bother by the absence of rules. I guess this is it. Thanks for reading all this 
Last edited on 2007-11-22 14:49:41 CST (Total Number of Edits: 1)
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Maybe I'm playing with the wrong crowds but I don't think I've hit on any "gateway" games. I have found games that satisfy the group (friends and family), but they haven't led the players into a desire to play more complex games, although they are generally willing to play games they've never heard of. So, here are my "fun games for non-gamers".
For Sale - can play several times at a sitting and most people are on equal footing by the second game.
Ra - you can only do three things on your turn and it is a set collection game (albeit they are atypical sets) so with player mats it is relatively easy to explain and play.
Transamerica - after placing your station you can only place track. I've found that I generally do very well against those I introduce this to so I guess there may be more skill in here than I thought.
Alhambra - again, you can only do two things (three if you redesign) on your turn, it's set collection, and the scoring is right there on the player board
Ticket to Ride - not many people I've introduced Euros to have actually bought any on their own, but this is an exception. It can be played nice with new players which is a bonus.
Downfall of Pompeii - Although thematically weak, it's just plain fun to run from the lava and throw others into the volcano and at the end it's a simple count to determine the winner.
Cloud 9 - a fun risk management, memory, card counting game. I am dreadful at it which probably helps sell the game a bit to new players.
Fearsome Floors - all you do is move your characters towards the exit, and if you play quickly without too much analysis, it's fun and surprising to see what the monster will do.
Metro - tile-laying connection game that can be played nice or mean where the players options become more constrained over time.
Niagara - it looks great, has easy rules and winning conditions, and is relatively short. And if played quickly like Fearsome Floors, it's fun to see what will happen.
Honorable mentions would be Carcassonne, China, Through the Desert, and Tower of Babel.
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Posted Wed Nov 21,2007 04:47 pm
