This is the third (and final) part of my series on how to get back into board gaming after a long hiatus. In Part One I looked at how to rebuild your gaming skill set. In Part Two, I discussed how to rebuild your gaming tribe if you find yourself alone. Now, I want to offer you my personal top six games that helped me accomplish those two goals.
Your top six (or ten, or fifty), should you ever need to think about such a list, will likely be different from mine. But hopefully seeing why I chose these six will help you if the day ever comes when you’ve been away from games for a while and need an easy way back in.
1. Dragon Castle
There have been times when I’ve wondered if I have too many games. I’ve purged a few over the years, and Dragon Castle was once on that list. I kept it, though, and good thing I did because Dragon Castle proved to me that there’s nothing wrong with having a game available for every possible niche and contingency. I was able to offer this game to a group of mahjong players who ended up liking it. No, it’s not “real” mahjong, but the similarity was enough to get them to give it a try. Since then, they have become my most reliable gaming buddies, and I’ve introduced them to other tile-laying and card games. It may not have ever been my favorite game, but it turned out to be the one that saved me. Who knew?
Rationale: Any game can lure people to the hobby and possibly make them part of your gaming group. If you can offer something that ties in with interests they already have, you may make new friends. The game that surprises you may not be your first choice, but meeting people where they are can yield positive results.
2. A Place For All My Books
I’m a big reader, so when the Kickstarter for this came across my feed a couple of years ago, I knew I would have to have it. Never mind that I was in the Dark Ages of my gaming life and nothing was getting played. A Place For All My Books was a bright thing to look forward to. It took a while to get it to the table after it was delivered, but rather than feeling like a piece of the “Shelf of Shame,” it felt like a beacon of hope.
Rationale: In dark times, it’s helpful to have something to look forward to. Games that get you excited can provide a reminder of why you love the hobby and help to remind you that things will probably be good again. And when they are, the games will be waiting for you.
3. Barenpark
Hands down, this is my favorite tile-placement game. This is what I call a “desert island game,” as in, if I’m stuck on a desert island, this is the game I want with me. It’s not difficult to learn, yet it offers some good decisions during play. Even without adding the expansion, it offers an “expert” mode to keep things fresh. These are all things I love in a game. Add in cute bears and I’m happy.
Rationale: An old favorite is a sure way to get you back into gaming because you already know you love it. You know the rules inside and out, and it’s easy to get to the table.
4. The Pursuit of Happiness
My two favorite themes in gaming are city-building and life simulation. There aren’t that many of the latter, so The Pursuit of Happiness has always held a soft spot in my heart. It’s a good medium-weight game that lets me play god and try to make someone else’s life turn out okay. When everything looked bleak for me, the chance to give a bunch of cards an easier time of it held a strange appeal. The fact that it is neither heavy nor light is a bonus, as it helped rebuild some skills and reminded me why I enjoy worker placement games, too.
Rationale: Sometimes a good theme is just a relief. It’s nice to escape to somewhere else or be somebody else for a while. For some, that may mean space or historical games are a favorite. Others may find relief in cozy games like Creature Comforts. For me, it comes in the form of watching someone other than myself flail around in life. (It’s why I also love The Sims. There’s nothing like burning down someone else’s house or laughing as the Grim Reaper hauls them away to make you forget your troubles.)
5. Dungeon Petz
I don’t play a lot of heavy games. Mostly because I lack the time (and sometimes the patience). But when I do, I need a great theme to draw me in, and Dungeon Petz has always offered that. While it’s probably not considered heavy by the standards of some games today, it still has plenty of things to work through. And the poop! The jokes write themselves, and I badly needed to laugh. When it came time to re-learn how to play (and focus on) heavier games, Dungeon Petz was there for me.
Rationale: Something that forces you to think a little harder isn’t a bad thing. It opens the door to more heavy games, should you wish to enter/resume that part of the hobby, and it boosts your gaming skill overall so simpler games seem easier again. If it has a theme that’s easy for you to get into, it feels less like a “should play” and more like a “want to play” game.
6. The Downfall of Pompeii/Trollhalla
Okay, so I’m cheating a little here, but this last one is truly a tie for me. The Downfall of Pompeii and Trollhalla were among my first purchases in the hobby and they’ve generated many good memories over the years. Even though many of the people I initially played them with have moved on, I still remember the fun we had and that nostalgia brings me joy. To play them now with new people who enjoy them, too, reminds me of what I love about this hobby and makes me want to stay with it.
Rationale: Nostalgia is a strong force that pulls you back into the hobby. Old favorite games bring back memories of joy, happiness, and better times, and fuel the hope that better times will return. There’s always a risk that new people won’t take to your favorite thing, but when they do, it can bring a tear to your eye to see life coming full circle.
My Best Advice
When it comes time to make your own “get back into gaming list” (that I hope you’ll never need), it can help to think about what you need from the process. Do you need to rebuild your group? Feel better about life in general? Rekindle the love of the hobby? Do you need to boost your skills and attention span? Figure out what you want and need from gaming, and then find the games that will get you there.
