Have you heard about these board games they have now?

A novice takes her first steps in tabletop gaming…

This article comes fromDen of Geek UK.

I owe a lot to board games.

They were, after all, my main motivation in learning to read.

The result: an ongoing sense of unspecified mistrust in humanity and a lingering resentment at anything involving dice.

What can I say?

Im an athlete.)

A bit of Mousie Mousie here, a haunted edition of Coppit bought from a jumble sale there…

I could take games or leave them.

We were never going to be bosom buds, me and them.

I just wasnt feeling it.

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Fast forward to (mumble) years later.

In short: Ive fallen for table top games, hard.

Even for the least initiated player (me), one play-through was enough to grasp the ones below.

In this scenario though, I see Napoleon acting in more of a spectator/cheerleader capacity.

Simmering resentment aside, these games are a brilliant way to spend time together.

you’re able to play them in a power cut, after the apocalypse or at Center Parcs.

Theyre adaptable like that.

And for the more herbivorous and pacifist among you, many dont even require a killer instinct.

Jaipur is hands down the most fun Ive ever had with pictures of camels.

Its slightly onerous to set up each game, but quick to grasp, nicely compact and very pretty.

The object is to trade your stock (cards depicting diamonds, gold, spices, silks etc.)

It says its for ages 12+ but Id say its fine for younger kids, 8 upwards probably.

I mean, I understood it.

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Patchwork is just delightful.

Again, its a 2-player game that lasts 20-30 minutes and is very quick to pick up.

Kids will easily grasp it.

Requires a medium-sized coffee table.

Instead, its all about adapting.

Soon though, the utter joy of this games unpredictability won me over.

Its fast and chaotic, surprising, and perfect for pubs.

Good for learning capitals too, so, you know, education!

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Well, obviously Carcassonne.

I forget its name but think it was called Casual Gamer?

Something about castles and farmers, or bricks and monks, from the outside Carcassonne looked dull and hard.

From the inside, its neither.

You know, for tips.

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