USD ($)
EUR (€)
Gateway games for novices! Bush's Board Game Thing sees Andy Bush celebrating board games and the experience of gaming with friends Brian Murphy and new co-host, Eloise Carr. Find out more about Elouise check out her interview with us here. Each week, expect passion, enthusiasm, and multiple trips through gaming wormholes. This podcast is powered by Zatu - we're making sure the board game cogs keep on turning. Each week, I'll be bringing you the best bits here on the blog and letting you shop the podcast! In honour of our newbie, Elouise, Episode 27 is all about the best gateway games to usher your friends and family into the world of gaming.
Do you have something that you'd like to share with the team? Maybe a great board game idea? Even when and where you like to listen to the podcast, set the scene. Email [email protected] if you want to get involved with the podcast. For example, if you have any board game disputes, let Andy and co get to the bottom of it!
Today the gang is talking about the best games to introduce your friends and family to the wonderful world of board games. If you're looking for new players in your circle, listen now, and find out how to lure them to the dark side.
Love Letter
We begin with the ideal choice for novices, Love Letter. No board comes with this game, just 16 cards, dice, and a red velvet drawstring bag. Brilliantly simple for beginners. Using risk, deduction, and luck you (and all the other eligible bachelors) must seek to woo the princess of Tempest. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, and you must rely on others to take your romantic letters to her.
The wooing takes place by drawing one card and playing one card on each round. Strong gains give you early gains, however, these can also make you vulnerable.
Excellent game for newbies as its simplicity is not daunting and its plot is interesting while not too complex. Will you be the one to tempt the Princess to open her palace doors with your loving lyric? Or will it be your mate who's never played before in their life?
Skull
Like poker, only prettier, quicker, and more fun. You're not after a royal flush here but a Rose token. Everything is played in players' skulls and they must keep their cards close to their ribcage. A game of lying, cheating, and bluffing, your face must be dead of expression for this game as your opponent tries to outbid you and you do the same to them. Only roses are wanted here, so you better hope you don't turn over your cards to reveal a skull.
The anticipation of this game makes for a winner among new players and while it's an interesting twist on an iconic game, its premise is not too far out there to be understood.
Dixit
In Dixit, players will take turns picking up one card with vivid and sometimes surreal artwork on them. The player that drew the card will then have to describe it using one sentence. The opponents will then secretly pick a card they think matches the description as closely as possible. The closest guess wins that round. To win the entire game, be the first to 30 points, or the person with the most points when the deck runs out.
Dixit's appeal to newbies is its incredibly easy to teach rules and quick beginning time. It is not intimidating, and oldies and newbies alike will be guessing and laughing in a matter of moments
In with the New
That's Bush's Board Game Thing Episode 27, the art special all wrapped up.
You can catch up on all previous episodes of Bush’s Board Game Thing on any streaming service. In the meantime, you can check out our podcast-approved collection right here on the Zatu website. There you can find all the games we’ve discussed on every episode of the podcast, all in one convenient place.
You can shop everything from episode 27 in our handy podcast collection.
Until next week, gamers!