How to Get People Interested in Board Games?

Shawn Davison
3 min readAug 17, 2017

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Board Games

It might be difficult for you to get players for your board game. Is no one is interested in playing board games, don’t worry. We have listed some tips you can use to convince them to play a game with you.

Playing a board game with friends and family is pure fun. But the million dollar question is that how to get them interested in board games. Your brother may not be a board game enthusiastic like you while your father is busy with his laptop all day long. Then, your grandma starts making excuses about her health. We have listed some tips you can use to convince your family and friends to give board games a try.

No distractions!

Make sure the place is free from background noise and cell phones to avoid distractions. The room should be well-lit and properly organized. It will help any new players to focus on the game rather than being interrupted by noises all the time.

Right Mix of People is Important:

Make sure you are familiar with the people you want to play with. If you can bring a game that matches their interests, you’ll both have a better time. For example, your business minded friends might like to play strategy board games while a kid might enjoy a castle building game. Your friends may not be interested in Arkham Horror if supernatural settings don’t appeal them.

Here are some few considerations you should make:

Are certain themes difficult for them? Are they competitive? What board games they have played before? It might be challenging for you to have a group of people with conflicting interests, try starting small and focus on few family members you want to play with.

Remember, you should not force them to play. It is okay if they refuse to play. Go with people who show an interest. Who knows? Over the time your “indifferent” loved ones might decide to give it a shot when they hear how much fun you are having.

Also, try to avoid hyper-competitive friends as they can lose their temper out of frustration or call out other players when they make mistakes, thereby spoiling the fun.

Start with Simple Games:

Don’t start with the complicated games like Twilight Imperium. Start with a game that ensures more fun than the basic one like Monopoly. “Gateway games” are perfect to start with. These games are easy to learn and are fun for first time players. Choose a game that goes well with their interests. Some of the popular gateway games you can start with are Apples to Apples, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Settlers of Catan, Love Letter and King of Tokyo.

Know How to Explain Games to Them:

This can make a big difference. Most people read the instructions like the rule book. It can sound mechanical and lack fun in the tone. Try to think of efficient ways to explain the game. For example, you can start by introducing the theme, how to win the game, and then work backwards from there. It lets you finish with describing what they’ll be doing on their first turn so they don’t forget. Keep the “training” session simple and engaging.

Use these tips for introducing new people to the board games successfully.

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Shawn Davison

Shawn Davison is co-owner of Level One Game Shop . Level One is a small game store devoted to board, tabletop, and card games located in Kansas City.