6 Best Types of Board Games to Play in 2024

Explore the best types of board games, including strategy and cooperative games for new players. Gloomhaven is a must-try!
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Catan coverTicket to Ride coverPandemic cover

Top 6 Types of Board Games for Newbies to Enjoy

On this list:

6 Catan

Catan cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 3-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 mins

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Catan is a classic in the types of board games category. We love it for its strategic depth and simple rules. The trading aspect gets everyone involved and keeps the game lively. You gather resources to build roads, settlements, and cities. It’s like Monopoly, but less friendship-ending. Catan also has great expansions to keep the game fresh.

5 Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 30-60 mins

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Ticket to Ride is another gem in the types of board games world. This one is great for new and seasoned players. You collect train cards to claim railway routes across a map. It’s simple but the strategy can get pretty deep. Plus, who doesn’t like pretending to be a train tycoon?

4 Pandemic

Pandemic cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 45 mins

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Pandemic is perfect if you like working together. This cooperative game has you and your friends trying to stop global outbreaks of disease. Everyone has a special role, and you’ve got to strategize together. The tension builds up, and the excitement makes it a staple in the types of board games genre.

3 Carcassonne

Carcassonne cover

  • Age Range: 7+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 35 mins

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Carcassonne is a delightful tile-laying game. You build a medieval landscape with cities, roads, and fields. It’s easy to learn and addictive. The best part is that each game feels different because the board is built anew every time. It fits perfectly in the types of board games list for its uniqueness and replay value.

2 7 Wonders

7 Wonders cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-7
  • Play Time: 30 mins

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7 Wonders hits that sweet spot of being complex but not overwhelming. You draft cards to build your civilization across three ages. The game moves quickly even with seven players, and the varied strategies keep it interesting. It’s a standout in the types of board games for its blend of strategy and speed.

1 Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 mins

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Gloomhaven is hands-down the best in the types of board games category. It’s a massive campaign game filled with tactical combat and storytelling. You and your buddies play as mercenaries in a dark fantasy world. Each choice you make shapes the story, and the game offers endless replay value. We picked this as the best because it combines so many elements seamlessly and delivers a unique experience every time.

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.