Board games - where to begin?

[Bookridden]

We're taking 11yo DD to a boardgames cafe tomorrow. It's the first time for all of us, and I wondered if anyone could recommend some good games to get us started. They'll be 3 off us playing. I want to avoid D&D if possible (as I don't fancy it!). We're all new to the world of games, nothing more than Ludo and Monopoly before. So, where to begin? Thank you.

[desperatelyseekingcaffeine]

Ticket to ride, forbidden island, dobble, splendor are all quite easy to pick up and play well with 3. Whoever's running it should be able to give you some pointers as well.

[NellieBee]

Pandemic is great too. Ask the staff to teach you a game!

[SeraphinaDombegh]

Tsuro and Fluxx are both quick to pick up,
and fun for all ages too.

[Embracethechaos]

Settlers of catan, easy to learn. Risk was a favorite when I was about 11 though played it recently and found it dull and long.

[CaeciliusIstInAtrium]

Definitely Ticket To Ride, simple to learn and as it's a European style game it means you don't know who's winning until the end. Fantastic game!

[TheWorldAsh]

A decent Board Game Cafe should have helpful and knowledgeable staff. So ask away.

There's a myriad of good, family/gateway board games. Some have already been mentioned.

Ticket to Ride:Europe
Stone Age
Pandemic/Forbidden Island/Forbidden Desert
Colouretto
Zoolereto
Azul
7 Wonders
La Granja:No Siesta


I could keep going, but I'd suggest asking the staff as I said above.

If it goes well you may end up with a large collection of game. I seem to have a thing about farming or economic games. Go figure.

[Bookridden]

Thank you. Will note down these suggestions and take them with us.

[redexpat]

Ticket to ride
Splendor. I really really like splendor.

[PorkFlute]

The best fun we had in our local boardgame cafe was a game called Olympigs. It’s a game from the 90s -basically a pick up put down card game where when you have matching cards you have to attempt to do one of the events with your little pig character and tiny apparatus. When you’ve done all the events the other players hide all your cards around the room and you have to find them all before the other players complete the events they have left. We were all crying with laughter it was so funny.
We go to our boardgame cafe quite a bit and I always think it’s a good opportunity to try a rare or unusual game as a try before you buy sort of thing so we don’t often play the classics. Telestrations was another good one we found.

[QueenOfCatan]

Splendor and carcassonne are brilliant beginners games (just don't play with farmers on carcassonne! We rarely do despite playing it often as they make things complicated!)

catan is a classic, pandemic is a great team game and easy to pick up.