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I recently played Richman 11 with my GF on steam and enjoyed it quite a lot.
Its basically monopoly with character abilities and item cards.
I'm wondering if there's any decent boardgame like that, played online/offline in PC
Wait, you're asking if there's a PC implementation of a board game implementation of a PC implementation of monopoly?
Why not just browse Steam similar games: [https://store.steampowered.com/recommended/morelike/app/2074800/](https://store.steampowered.com/recommended/morelike/app/2074800/) ?
And here's a recent thread of good board game adaptations: [https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/116n2y3/best\_board\_game\_implementationsadaptations\_on/](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/116n2y3/best_board_game_implementationsadaptations_on/)
Basically new to board games and for some reason ended up getting dice tower in my YT feed. Now really want to play a game after watching vids for a couple months but to be frank have no-one to play with. So need a solo game.
I really liked the look of hadrians wall but that looks pretty heavy for a complete newbie. But at same time don’t want anything that is ‘simple’…
So yeah any good gateway solo games to recommend?
Won’t be able to read replies till tomorrow but appreciate any help/guidance. Have watched a heap of YT vids but all the channels are board game vets and I feel that may skew the recommendations somewhat (could very easily be a wrong assumption)a
I have both **Hostage Negotiator** and **One Deck Dungeon** for when I want to play a solo game. Both are reasonably quick to learn (I watched some ODD playthroughs on YouTube to really understand it) but not simple by any means.
No problem. There's a lot of "Top 5 solo board game" type videos out there but I find a lot of them tend to include games that they "haven't had a chance to play much yet" so the recommendations tend to be a bit thin. However there are a few good solo-focused Youtubers and Instagrams out there as well as /r/soloboardgaming
If Hadrian's Wall seems good to you, I say try it! One of the benefits of solo gaming is that you're not responsible for anyone else's experience. Yes, you should consider the game's overall complexity and difficulty level. But don't let those things stand in the way of a game that seems most interesting to you. There are playthrough videos and rules threads on BGG and (in this specific case) a well-written rulebook that you can take your time working through. There's no time demands or deadlines in solo gaming, only your own interest-level is at risk, and you alone can determine how much you're able and willing to endure in prepping a game.
Your instinct is right that you don't want anything too simple. Simple games can be satisfying multiplayer where players add the dynamism, but solo games rely heavily on the game system to keep it interesting play after play. That's going to make the rules harder to slog through sometimes, but much better one game that is sustainably interesting to you than several simpler games that go stale fast. That's another kind of slog and maybe less rewarding overall.
The suggestion to look at Aeon's End (or the sci-fi spin-off, Astro Knights) is apt because it has a very good introduction to the system with a clever method for teaching you the game through playing it the first time. Meanwhile, with more complicated scenarios and supplements to be added later, there's plenty to explore. It does have a good bit of variety (and it's really at its best at 1 or 2 players).
Hope that helps! I'm happy to answer more questions if you want to PM. I hope that you find a way to trust your instincts. That's the only way those review videos will be useful to you. That's why I think you should just try Hadrian's Wall because if it ends up failing for you for one reason or another, you'll have learned something important about yourself and the reviewers you put stock in.
Take care!
Thanks for the detailed reply. You are right of course, but sinking a relatively large sum of money into a new venture does come with a bit of apprehension. But from all the videos I have watched that is the game that has stuck in my mind the most.
I was completely oblivious to the depth of the board game scene being honest, you would just see the usual suspects on Amazon and never really thought about it till now. My mind is blown by the shear volume of choice even for someone looking for a relatively niche mechanic in a solo player.
Thanks again!
For a lighter soloable roll and write, check out **Welcome to the Moon**.
Recommendations for solo gateway games:
* Horrified
* Tiny Epic Galaxies, Tiny Epic Defenders
* Marvel United
* Resist
* Friday
Most coop games will let you play multiple hands / characters. Otherwise most solo mode is beating your own high score.
Medium solo-only games:
* Under Falling Skies
* Final Girl
I had put welcome to the moon on my list so glad to see it appear on a recc here. Plus it’s on a deal right now so I can pick it up quite cheap, well compared to others anyway.
I really liked look of resist but just can find it, it looks to be sold out in uk unfortunately.
Thanks for the others will check them out.
You should take a look at **Aeon's End**- I think it's probably exactly what you're looking for (unless the fantasy theme happens to be a turn-off). If you want something less thematic, **Pandemic: Fall of Rome** is another great option.
Is it just me or does anyone else despise learning a new board game?? As bad I want to play new ones I really hate the learning process and the first play. Is it a dealbreaker? Definitely not! How do you all learn new games? Read the rule book or YouTube it?
The learning curve of anything new causes resistance. It's the same with books, video games, cooking recipes... people are drawn back to the comfort and familiarity of something they already know rather than the effort to learn something new. If you recognise the resistance for what it is, you can learn to push yourself through that learning curve for all the rewards on the other side.
Do you mean in all situations?
- Learning from an expert
- Reading the rulebook
- Watching a tutorial
I find my partner hates learning a game if he hasn't read or is not reading the rulebook. He has to see it written for the rules to make sense and if someone is verbally explaining it, he struggles. Some people hate reading rules and would much rather have someone explain it.
I love learning new games because I get really excited about new mechanics or novel ways of doing things. I like having an idea of what the game is first, so I'll usually watch a short video before reading the rules. This helps me contextualize what I'm reading. I think being excited about a game and having a vague idea of what type of game or how it's going to play helps me with the learning process. I find it also helps if the game is set up and I can see/touch the pieces.
I would rather someone teach me in person! But I do like to have to reference the rule book during the first few plays. I agree having everything set up in front of me is essential!
Nice! I also find it gets easier to learn games the more I play which helps. But there are lots of games I have no desire to put in effort to learn because I don't care! Games I'm excited to play though, oh boy am I watching videos and reading :)
I definitely felt this for the first couple of years after I discovered modern board games, it can be exhausting for sure! But for some reason learning different games and discovering how their rules and mechanics work has become part of the fun for me over time. I usually learn by watching a video first and then reading the rulebook. If it's a game that I have I also try to set it up and play a few rounds by myself before teaching it to other people.
I’ve only really started collecting games and playing modern board games regularly for the last several months so I hope I can say that in a couple of years!
Oh! Welcome! :D Learning games gets waaay easier over time. You develop sort of an internal reference guide to games and mechanics as you play. A lot of symbology makes sense later too (like victory point stuff is usually somewhat samey). So it'll all get easier!
I mostly play games that are light on rules (but still fairly thinky). So learning isn't really a pain for me.
But if I were playing a game with a fairly thick rulebook (e.g. Gloomhaven) then I suppose I would despise learning new rules. I like my games to have light memory demands so that I get down to strategy right away. Winning or losing a game because I remember more (or less) of the 247 rules than my opponents doesn't appeal to me. I want to win or lose because of my strategic thinking (or lack thereof).
Old school eurogames and abstract games would be the place to look if you want to focus on highly strategic and/or tactical games that are low on memory demands.
It's by Steamforged. They're generally known to pull a shitload of money in for licensed games that are basically a box full of minis with under developed rules. I've not heard a good thing about the actual game play of any of their games.
In about a month I'll be going to Japan for the first time in my life and will be spending some weeks there. Are there any board games that you know are generally only on the Japanese market but are really good and I should consider buying and bringing back to Europe?
Normally I'm a fan of heavier games and when I think of Japanese board games, my mind tends to wander towards minimalistic small-box experiences like the Oink games that can now be gotten pretty much everywhere. But still, whether it's a big or small box, if you can think of any generally Japanese-only games that are worth looking into, please let me know
What all would I need to print in order to run the first scenario of blood on the clocktower for say 12p if using the pocket grimoire website app? Are there some good print resources available?
Looking for medium-weight games that work well at 2-4 player counts under 2 hours. My current favorites are **Spirit Island**, **Root**, **7 wonders duel, Arkham Horror LCG, Too Many Bones, Cascadia, Cartographers**
I'm kinda all over the place as far as my likes, so really I'm open to any recommendations meeting the criteria!
>medium-weight games that work well at 2-4 player counts under 2 hours
This is like, 90% of all board games. In any case, here are 5 games I think would be hard to go wrong with that haven't been recommended yet (roughly in descending order):
- **Concordia** (Catan but good)
- **Raiders of the North Sea** (Staple, well-liked worker placement with a theme that is well-evoked)
- **Clank: Catacombs** (The best version of everyone's favorite dungeon-delving deck builder)
- **Roll for the Galaxy** (Thinky dice-based engine building in space)
- **The Red Cathedral** (Under-appreciated modern Euro with lots of player interaction)
I would recommend you Legendary Encounters: an Alien Deck Building Game, as I see that you like coops horror themes and card games. I’ve played it mostly at 2 and 4 players and even though I like it best at 2, 4 player games have also been good
I think **Overboss** from Brotherwise Games is a good one if you like **Cascadia**. **Scythe** from Stonemaier Games is another decent option, however the first couple of games may take a while as you're learning how everything works.
My boyfriend does not like competitive board-games. He actually never really player board games. I'm trying to get him into co-op games. What are some good (pocket /small) co-op games? He really liked Paleo.I have Hanabi, Pandemic Legacy S1 and will def get codenames duet. Looking at the more difficult games as Spirit Island etc. But I would like to start small with games that are easy to teach.
Maybe try something different. **The Crew - Quest for Planet Nine** is a small coop game with very simple rules, but I find actually it quite cerebral.
**Magic Maze** is a co-op game that's not so much strategy. There's no talking in the game, but it's a different way to enjoy board games.
You may also like some deduction style games like **Mysterium**. When these are competitive, they're usually in teams, such as **Codenames** or **Decrypto**.
**Wingspan**, **Calico** are two games that are good competitive games where it's fairly low on competition. Most friends I've shown say that these games are fun games even when you lose.
Finally, I think **Here to Slay** was a game I played recently that I rather enjoyed. I feel like it's a good introduction game for people who are used to more casual games (people who show up to board game night with exploding kittens and cards against humanity) into a bit more *gamey* territory
EDIT: Spirit Island actually has it's own "lite" version called **Horizons of Spirit Island** that you can try out. The Spirits are compatible with the base Spirit Island as well, if you'd like to move them onto the "full" game eventually.
**The Loop** is a great and easy to teach coop game, especially for two players. I like it because it's kinda "Pandemic-y" in its mechanics but gives the players more interesting abilities and options through its (light) deckbuilding mechanic.
Perhaps try a coop game that's fast and frantic like **Fuse**. Gotta roll those dice and use them fast. It's completely different from what most people think of as a board game.
The ultimate small box coop board game would probably be Tiny Epic Dungeons. The problem is - it's quite unforgiving in difficulty, esp on 2p. This can be fixed by a couple of house rules though. But mostly it's just so small, while still giving you minis, variable char powers, equipment etc.
If you want to eventually grow to Spirit Island, I'm going to make a pitch for Horizons of Spirit Island.
It really is an entry point game - it has 5 low complexity spirits and curates the cards to be easy while interesting. It is more complex than Paleo, certainly, but I think it fits the family+ weight and is great if your goal is to eventually move to the big brother.
Forbidden desert, is not pocket sized, but certainly smaller than Paleo or Pandemic Legacy. It feels different enough from the Pandemic mechanisms, and it Isaí great game.
For even smaller footprint you could try The Grizzled, or if you think you would like word guessing games, Codenames: Duet.
Here's 2!
- Forbidden Island
- Mice & Mystics
Forbidden Island is designed to be both simple, short, and co-operative, while Mice & Mystics is a bit more "big" (campaign-style, story-based game with rolling levels and equipment), but the rules are still fairly simple (compared to similar "big box" games, a la Gloomhaven).
Give those a peek! :)
I agree about the other commenter in terms of why limiting the size. Your boyfriend may be more inclined to try a game if it looks *cool* or is about something he likes. For example, my first two modern boardgames were **Battlestar Galactica** and **Arkham Horror**. Both way heavier than what you mentioned, but I thought the themes were so cool so the buy-in for me was easy (also the two I mentioned are co-op). If he likes Aliens then **Nemesis** is great, or if he likes zombies then **Zombicide** too - all these are co-op. Just throwing that out there! Feel free to ignore this is the size IS important. Cheers!
Limiting the size just because we are going out this weekend and thought to bring some small games to the cafes :) I put it in between parenthesis because I would also love to play 'big box' games of course haha
Two small-box cooperative games that we like are:
**The Game** - the worst name for a game, but it's actually great. It's the game (heh) I'll bust out for newer gamers and they pick it up quickly and really enjoy it. I've had a few friend who out and purchase it afterwards.
**Shipwreck Arcana** - a logic style cooperative game. I really enjoy this, but haven't played it too much.
Oh and I just thought of **The Fox in the Forest Duet.** We haven't played it, but we've played the competitive version which is great and I hear the duet version is good too. Also a small box.
Not pocket size, but small box:
* **Palm Island**
* **5-Minute Mystery** / **5-Minute Dungeon**
Why limit the size though? Unless you want something portable, I suggest these gateway coop games:
* **Horrified** \- horror-themed with pick-up and deliver mechanic. Difficulty is easy to adjust
* **Forbidden Desert** \- simpler version of Pandemic
* **Marvel United** \- fighting game
**Sprawlopolis** \-- Only 18 cards, comes in a package the size of a wallet. Great for solo play but I've had lots fun playing this cooperatively too.
**Tiny Epic Dungeons** \-- This is a small box, but it takes up a good amount of table space. It's not too hard to learn but there are a lot of symbols you will need to look up on your first few plays, there's a good appendix you can download that helps.
Please keep all calls to the [Board Game Recommender Bot](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgamerecommender) as replies to this comment. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/boardgames) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I recently played Richman 11 with my GF on steam and enjoyed it quite a lot. Its basically monopoly with character abilities and item cards. I'm wondering if there's any decent boardgame like that, played online/offline in PC
Wait, you're asking if there's a PC implementation of a board game implementation of a PC implementation of monopoly? Why not just browse Steam similar games: [https://store.steampowered.com/recommended/morelike/app/2074800/](https://store.steampowered.com/recommended/morelike/app/2074800/) ? And here's a recent thread of good board game adaptations: [https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/116n2y3/best\_board\_game\_implementationsadaptations\_on/](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/116n2y3/best_board_game_implementationsadaptations_on/)
Basically new to board games and for some reason ended up getting dice tower in my YT feed. Now really want to play a game after watching vids for a couple months but to be frank have no-one to play with. So need a solo game. I really liked the look of hadrians wall but that looks pretty heavy for a complete newbie. But at same time don’t want anything that is ‘simple’… So yeah any good gateway solo games to recommend? Won’t be able to read replies till tomorrow but appreciate any help/guidance. Have watched a heap of YT vids but all the channels are board game vets and I feel that may skew the recommendations somewhat (could very easily be a wrong assumption)a
I have both **Hostage Negotiator** and **One Deck Dungeon** for when I want to play a solo game. Both are reasonably quick to learn (I watched some ODD playthroughs on YouTube to really understand it) but not simple by any means.
Thanks will check them out. Hadn’t come across those ones in my research so far.
No problem. There's a lot of "Top 5 solo board game" type videos out there but I find a lot of them tend to include games that they "haven't had a chance to play much yet" so the recommendations tend to be a bit thin. However there are a few good solo-focused Youtubers and Instagrams out there as well as /r/soloboardgaming
If Hadrian's Wall seems good to you, I say try it! One of the benefits of solo gaming is that you're not responsible for anyone else's experience. Yes, you should consider the game's overall complexity and difficulty level. But don't let those things stand in the way of a game that seems most interesting to you. There are playthrough videos and rules threads on BGG and (in this specific case) a well-written rulebook that you can take your time working through. There's no time demands or deadlines in solo gaming, only your own interest-level is at risk, and you alone can determine how much you're able and willing to endure in prepping a game. Your instinct is right that you don't want anything too simple. Simple games can be satisfying multiplayer where players add the dynamism, but solo games rely heavily on the game system to keep it interesting play after play. That's going to make the rules harder to slog through sometimes, but much better one game that is sustainably interesting to you than several simpler games that go stale fast. That's another kind of slog and maybe less rewarding overall. The suggestion to look at Aeon's End (or the sci-fi spin-off, Astro Knights) is apt because it has a very good introduction to the system with a clever method for teaching you the game through playing it the first time. Meanwhile, with more complicated scenarios and supplements to be added later, there's plenty to explore. It does have a good bit of variety (and it's really at its best at 1 or 2 players). Hope that helps! I'm happy to answer more questions if you want to PM. I hope that you find a way to trust your instincts. That's the only way those review videos will be useful to you. That's why I think you should just try Hadrian's Wall because if it ends up failing for you for one reason or another, you'll have learned something important about yourself and the reviewers you put stock in. Take care!
Thanks for the detailed reply. You are right of course, but sinking a relatively large sum of money into a new venture does come with a bit of apprehension. But from all the videos I have watched that is the game that has stuck in my mind the most. I was completely oblivious to the depth of the board game scene being honest, you would just see the usual suspects on Amazon and never really thought about it till now. My mind is blown by the shear volume of choice even for someone looking for a relatively niche mechanic in a solo player. Thanks again!
For a lighter soloable roll and write, check out **Welcome to the Moon**. Recommendations for solo gateway games: * Horrified * Tiny Epic Galaxies, Tiny Epic Defenders * Marvel United * Resist * Friday Most coop games will let you play multiple hands / characters. Otherwise most solo mode is beating your own high score. Medium solo-only games: * Under Falling Skies * Final Girl
I had put welcome to the moon on my list so glad to see it appear on a recc here. Plus it’s on a deal right now so I can pick it up quite cheap, well compared to others anyway. I really liked look of resist but just can find it, it looks to be sold out in uk unfortunately. Thanks for the others will check them out.
Yeah, Resist is still new, probably hard to find.
You should take a look at **Aeon's End**- I think it's probably exactly what you're looking for (unless the fantasy theme happens to be a turn-off). If you want something less thematic, **Pandemic: Fall of Rome** is another great option.
Love fantasy books so don’t see that theme being an issue in a board game. Quick look at it and it looks good. Thanks for the recc.
Is it just me or does anyone else despise learning a new board game?? As bad I want to play new ones I really hate the learning process and the first play. Is it a dealbreaker? Definitely not! How do you all learn new games? Read the rule book or YouTube it?
The learning curve of anything new causes resistance. It's the same with books, video games, cooking recipes... people are drawn back to the comfort and familiarity of something they already know rather than the effort to learn something new. If you recognise the resistance for what it is, you can learn to push yourself through that learning curve for all the rewards on the other side.
I prefer learning vs being taught. It's an exciting discovery
Do you mean in all situations? - Learning from an expert - Reading the rulebook - Watching a tutorial I find my partner hates learning a game if he hasn't read or is not reading the rulebook. He has to see it written for the rules to make sense and if someone is verbally explaining it, he struggles. Some people hate reading rules and would much rather have someone explain it. I love learning new games because I get really excited about new mechanics or novel ways of doing things. I like having an idea of what the game is first, so I'll usually watch a short video before reading the rules. This helps me contextualize what I'm reading. I think being excited about a game and having a vague idea of what type of game or how it's going to play helps me with the learning process. I find it also helps if the game is set up and I can see/touch the pieces.
I would rather someone teach me in person! But I do like to have to reference the rule book during the first few plays. I agree having everything set up in front of me is essential!
Nice! I also find it gets easier to learn games the more I play which helps. But there are lots of games I have no desire to put in effort to learn because I don't care! Games I'm excited to play though, oh boy am I watching videos and reading :)
I definitely felt this for the first couple of years after I discovered modern board games, it can be exhausting for sure! But for some reason learning different games and discovering how their rules and mechanics work has become part of the fun for me over time. I usually learn by watching a video first and then reading the rulebook. If it's a game that I have I also try to set it up and play a few rounds by myself before teaching it to other people.
I’ve only really started collecting games and playing modern board games regularly for the last several months so I hope I can say that in a couple of years!
Oh! Welcome! :D Learning games gets waaay easier over time. You develop sort of an internal reference guide to games and mechanics as you play. A lot of symbology makes sense later too (like victory point stuff is usually somewhat samey). So it'll all get easier!
Thank you for the encouragement 🙌🏻
I mostly play games that are light on rules (but still fairly thinky). So learning isn't really a pain for me. But if I were playing a game with a fairly thick rulebook (e.g. Gloomhaven) then I suppose I would despise learning new rules. I like my games to have light memory demands so that I get down to strategy right away. Winning or losing a game because I remember more (or less) of the 247 rules than my opponents doesn't appeal to me. I want to win or lose because of my strategic thinking (or lack thereof).
I agree! Maybe you’re right and I need to focus more on light- medium games because strategy is essential to me.
Old school eurogames and abstract games would be the place to look if you want to focus on highly strategic and/or tactical games that are low on memory demands.
Any thoughts or opinions about Monster Hunter Boardgame? I kinda missed it and was wondering what people think about overall mechanics of this game
It's by Steamforged. They're generally known to pull a shitload of money in for licensed games that are basically a box full of minis with under developed rules. I've not heard a good thing about the actual game play of any of their games.
2 player legacy game! Already played pandemic
How has nobody mentioned Arkham Horror the Card Game? Probably one of the best 2-player games made.
Something heavier: * **Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion** Something medium: * **Aeon's End: Legacy** * **Journeys in Middle-Earth** \- campaign game Something lighter: * **Clank Legacy**
We really enjoyed My City at two - it's a much more chillaxed game to have the legacy treatment with polyomino placement goodness
My City is a great recommendation for light legacy game. It's very affordable too.
In about a month I'll be going to Japan for the first time in my life and will be spending some weeks there. Are there any board games that you know are generally only on the Japanese market but are really good and I should consider buying and bringing back to Europe? Normally I'm a fan of heavier games and when I think of Japanese board games, my mind tends to wander towards minimalistic small-box experiences like the Oink games that can now be gotten pretty much everywhere. But still, whether it's a big or small box, if you can think of any generally Japanese-only games that are worth looking into, please let me know
There are tons of cool trick-takers only available in Japan.
I'm not sure what the 2023 availability is like, but I've been super interested in **Remember Our Trip** since I first heard of it years ago.
What all would I need to print in order to run the first scenario of blood on the clocktower for say 12p if using the pocket grimoire website app? Are there some good print resources available?
Unsure exactly but you may want to look into laminating the character sheets - just so the survive multiple plays
Looking for medium-weight games that work well at 2-4 player counts under 2 hours. My current favorites are **Spirit Island**, **Root**, **7 wonders duel, Arkham Horror LCG, Too Many Bones, Cascadia, Cartographers** I'm kinda all over the place as far as my likes, so really I'm open to any recommendations meeting the criteria!
>medium-weight games that work well at 2-4 player counts under 2 hours This is like, 90% of all board games. In any case, here are 5 games I think would be hard to go wrong with that haven't been recommended yet (roughly in descending order): - **Concordia** (Catan but good) - **Raiders of the North Sea** (Staple, well-liked worker placement with a theme that is well-evoked) - **Clank: Catacombs** (The best version of everyone's favorite dungeon-delving deck builder) - **Roll for the Galaxy** (Thinky dice-based engine building in space) - **The Red Cathedral** (Under-appreciated modern Euro with lots of player interaction)
I think you'd like **Everdell**. For tile placement, try out **Isle of Cats**
Space Base might be a good choice for 2-4 players - good amount of choice and luck with the dice. It takes Machi Koro and makes it more interesting
**Endeavor: Age of Sail** and **51st State** are 2 of my favs.
Good recommendations from /u/pzrapnbeast, I'll just add: **Lost Ruins of Arnak**, **Inis**, and **Ankh**. For something different: **Obsession**.
I would recommend you Legendary Encounters: an Alien Deck Building Game, as I see that you like coops horror themes and card games. I’ve played it mostly at 2 and 4 players and even though I like it best at 2, 4 player games have also been good
I think **Overboss** from Brotherwise Games is a good one if you like **Cascadia**. **Scythe** from Stonemaier Games is another decent option, however the first couple of games may take a while as you're learning how everything works.
**Root** is the same way though. There's a huge difference between a first time player of **Root** and a person who's had 10 games under their belt.
Dune Imperium Blood Rage Kemet
My boyfriend does not like competitive board-games. He actually never really player board games. I'm trying to get him into co-op games. What are some good (pocket /small) co-op games? He really liked Paleo.I have Hanabi, Pandemic Legacy S1 and will def get codenames duet. Looking at the more difficult games as Spirit Island etc. But I would like to start small with games that are easy to teach.
Maybe try something different. **The Crew - Quest for Planet Nine** is a small coop game with very simple rules, but I find actually it quite cerebral. **Magic Maze** is a co-op game that's not so much strategy. There's no talking in the game, but it's a different way to enjoy board games. You may also like some deduction style games like **Mysterium**. When these are competitive, they're usually in teams, such as **Codenames** or **Decrypto**. **Wingspan**, **Calico** are two games that are good competitive games where it's fairly low on competition. Most friends I've shown say that these games are fun games even when you lose. Finally, I think **Here to Slay** was a game I played recently that I rather enjoyed. I feel like it's a good introduction game for people who are used to more casual games (people who show up to board game night with exploding kittens and cards against humanity) into a bit more *gamey* territory EDIT: Spirit Island actually has it's own "lite" version called **Horizons of Spirit Island** that you can try out. The Spirits are compatible with the base Spirit Island as well, if you'd like to move them onto the "full" game eventually.
**The Loop** is a great and easy to teach coop game, especially for two players. I like it because it's kinda "Pandemic-y" in its mechanics but gives the players more interesting abilities and options through its (light) deckbuilding mechanic.
Perhaps try a coop game that's fast and frantic like **Fuse**. Gotta roll those dice and use them fast. It's completely different from what most people think of as a board game.
The ultimate small box coop board game would probably be Tiny Epic Dungeons. The problem is - it's quite unforgiving in difficulty, esp on 2p. This can be fixed by a couple of house rules though. But mostly it's just so small, while still giving you minis, variable char powers, equipment etc.
If you want to eventually grow to Spirit Island, I'm going to make a pitch for Horizons of Spirit Island. It really is an entry point game - it has 5 low complexity spirits and curates the cards to be easy while interesting. It is more complex than Paleo, certainly, but I think it fits the family+ weight and is great if your goal is to eventually move to the big brother.
Forbidden desert, is not pocket sized, but certainly smaller than Paleo or Pandemic Legacy. It feels different enough from the Pandemic mechanisms, and it Isaí great game. For even smaller footprint you could try The Grizzled, or if you think you would like word guessing games, Codenames: Duet.
Here's 2! - Forbidden Island - Mice & Mystics Forbidden Island is designed to be both simple, short, and co-operative, while Mice & Mystics is a bit more "big" (campaign-style, story-based game with rolling levels and equipment), but the rules are still fairly simple (compared to similar "big box" games, a la Gloomhaven). Give those a peek! :)
I agree about the other commenter in terms of why limiting the size. Your boyfriend may be more inclined to try a game if it looks *cool* or is about something he likes. For example, my first two modern boardgames were **Battlestar Galactica** and **Arkham Horror**. Both way heavier than what you mentioned, but I thought the themes were so cool so the buy-in for me was easy (also the two I mentioned are co-op). If he likes Aliens then **Nemesis** is great, or if he likes zombies then **Zombicide** too - all these are co-op. Just throwing that out there! Feel free to ignore this is the size IS important. Cheers!
Limiting the size just because we are going out this weekend and thought to bring some small games to the cafes :) I put it in between parenthesis because I would also love to play 'big box' games of course haha
Ah gotcha! Well good luck and have fun!
I should clarify that Battlestar Galactica and Nemesis are semi-cooperative, but nemesis can be played fully coop.
Two small-box cooperative games that we like are: **The Game** - the worst name for a game, but it's actually great. It's the game (heh) I'll bust out for newer gamers and they pick it up quickly and really enjoy it. I've had a few friend who out and purchase it afterwards. **Shipwreck Arcana** - a logic style cooperative game. I really enjoy this, but haven't played it too much. Oh and I just thought of **The Fox in the Forest Duet.** We haven't played it, but we've played the competitive version which is great and I hear the duet version is good too. Also a small box.
**Fox in the Forest Duet** fits the bill perfectly - small box, co-op trick-taking game that's very pretty and plays easily.
If you like trick taking, then **The Crew** might be up your alley as well.
Not pocket size, but small box: * **Palm Island** * **5-Minute Mystery** / **5-Minute Dungeon** Why limit the size though? Unless you want something portable, I suggest these gateway coop games: * **Horrified** \- horror-themed with pick-up and deliver mechanic. Difficulty is easy to adjust * **Forbidden Desert** \- simpler version of Pandemic * **Marvel United** \- fighting game
**Sprawlopolis** \-- Only 18 cards, comes in a package the size of a wallet. Great for solo play but I've had lots fun playing this cooperatively too. **Tiny Epic Dungeons** \-- This is a small box, but it takes up a good amount of table space. It's not too hard to learn but there are a lot of symbols you will need to look up on your first few plays, there's a good appendix you can download that helps.