For many newcomers to board games, their experiences are limited to an odd game of Monopoly at Christmas - which more often than not results in everyone involved swearing they will never play the game again. Others may have played Scrabble and argued about what actually counts as a "proper" word. However, tabletop gaming is much more expansive than the same handful of battered titles youꦰ often find stashed in a cupboard in a vacation home.

Tabletop games cover many different genres and play styles, from card games to tile or miniature based games, alongside those that use a board. Whatever your interests, you can probably find an easy to play game that fits with them. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the very best games for newcomers to tabletop, and why you should give them a try.

Updated March 28, 2024, By Matt Arnold: We've added two more games to this list! Fluxx is as easy to learn as they come, and has dozens of expansions to keep you coming back. Sheriff Of Nottingham lets you bluff your way to victory without having to worry about dice rolls or positioning. Check them out below!

27 Tsuro - The Game Of The Path

Tsuro is a tile-placing game that requires you to build a path for your token to move down. You simply need to keep that path going so your token remains on the board. The rules are simple and easy to learn, yet there are 🍃strategies to master.

It worﷺks well with any number of players and is very quick to play. Tsuro is a great choice for a simplꦕe yet flexible board game with great replay value.

26 🧸 🔥 King of Tokyo

King of Tokyo sees you take on the role of monsters, robots, or aliens, all fighting to become the King of Tokyo, destroying everything in their path in the proce꧂ss. Easy to learn mechanics involve die rolling to dete🧜rmine your attacks, health, and special abilities. Be the last one standing to claim a victory.

The rules aꦑre simple to understand and easy to remember. The game is designed to be easy to follow and yet sets up some epic battles between these iconic monsters. Ideal for a family group who love a game with some chaos and destruction.

25 💮 Zombie Dice 𝐆

Zombie Dice is a game that is simple and quick to play, yet surprisingly fun. Using simple dice rolling mechanics you need to push your luck to collect brains, without racking up shotgun blasts. Eat 13 zombies and you win the gꩵame.

This game can be played with any number of people and is a quick-paced game that you'll pick up almost immediately. If you want some frantic dice-rolling fun then this is for you.

24 ཧ Taco Vs Burrito 𒅌

Taco Vs Burrito sees you drawing cards aꦯnd trying to build the best meal possible. You can add ingredients, remove value with tummy aches, or add value with hot sauce. There are also other cards to help and🐼 hinder your menu creation.

Easy to learn and play, Taco Vs Burrito is simple to pick up but difficult to put back down. It's easy to learn and plays best in a group of four, but you can play with just two.

23 Fluxx

Fluxx is a very simple game. On your turn, you draw a card, then play a card. That's it; there aren't any other rules, not even a way to win. Once you start putting cards into play, though, win conditions pop up and opportunities to get ahead of your opponents appear. You might need to gather a specific set of cards one game, but find them completely worthless the next!

Fluxx has countless standalone expansions, based around themes ranging from and to and . You can play them on their own or shuffle them together for a ﷽un📖ique, chaotic experience.

While most Fluxx expansions are all-ages, there are a few aimed at adults, like . Be sure to double-check what's in your deck before playing with kids.

22 Jenga

It's a classic for a good reason. Jenga is a quick and easy game that's as fun to watch as it is to play. All you do is build a tower then take turns to remove blocks one by one. If you make the tower topple then you lose.

Anything that you can describe in a sentence is easy to uꦕnderstand and while learning how to remove blocks carefully takes some patience, this game is great for all ages.

21 UNO

Uno is a simple card game based on the classic Crazy Eights. There are many different themed decks that all use the s𒀰ame basic 🧜rules, and just mix up the artwork. These novelty decks can help bring in reluctant players, especially younger ones.

The rules are simple and thꦜe game fast-paced and fun, combining skill and luck. However, if you want to step things up there are also twists on the format including All Wild, Flip, and Dare.

20 Qwirkle

Qwirkle is essentially a domino-style game where players match tiles by either colour or shape, to play them. There are 108 tiles in total with six shape and colour options. It's simple to learn and feels easy to play, yet you'll need to employ some strategy to come out top.

This is a play anywhere game and rounds will often become quicker as you g🙈et better at it. Simple fun for all ages, this is already a tabletop staple for maꦐny families.

19 Dixit

Dixit is a simple ౠstorytelling game that will let you use your imagination. Each round one player is the storyteller. They must make up a sentence based on one of the six cܫards in their hand. Once this is done all the other players must give the storyteller the card of their which best matches the tale. Players must then guess which of the cards belongs to the storyteller.

There is an art to this game as you score most highly as the storyteller by fooling only some of your audience. Once you've worked out the scoring, the game is simple and fun yet unique enough to be highly replayable.

18 Codenames

In Codenames, you'll have to think fast to help your teammate identify which cards conceal your secret agents. As spymaster, you can only give one-word clues to help your partner locate them amongst the array of options. If they uncover enemies, bystanders or an assassin instead, you're both in trouble.

You tend to need at least four players to really enjoy Codenames, and it scales very well for larger groups in particular. However, you may find the game lasts longer when more people have to agree which cards hold the secrets. You'll also find that the suggested age is related to reading and understanding the code words, so this may be lower, depending on the child.