DAE struggle when bringing new folks into a tight-knit game group?

My main crew loves heavy stuff, think Terraforming Mars or Spirit Island. My partner's friends want to play lighter party games. Trying to find a middle ground that doesn't bore my friends or overwhelm the new people. Any solid game picks that bridge that gap for you?

4 comments

4 Comments

amy_craig281mo ago

Ever try those lighter strategy games that still have some real choices? I saw a blog post calling them "gateway-plus" games, stuff like Cascadia or Quacks of Quedlinburg. They're way easier to teach than Spirit Island but don't feel totally random, so your main group might still find something to dig into. I get what @diana_carr66 is saying about split groups, but I've had luck with those when my brother brings his casual friends over lol. It's not a perfect fix, but it can work for a chill night.

hayden_craig9515d ago

Watch my game group try to pick a middle ground game and it's like a committee designing a horse that ends up as a weird camel. Someone always sighs and says "fine, I'll play Azul again" while the new person still needs the scoring explained three times. Maybe we should just flip a coin between Candy Land and Twilight Imperium.

jennifer_dixon1mo ago

Read a board game blog that called this the 'middle ground trap'. It said forcing a mix of players often ruins the night for everyone. But I've seen games like Azul or Splendor work okay because they're simple but have some depth. Your heavy game friends might not love them, but they can tolerate a round or two. Really, you need to accept that some nights are for teaching and some are for hardcore play.

diana_carr661mo ago

Actually, trying to bridge that gap is a recipe for a bad time. Compromise games just leave your hardcore friends bored and the new people still lost. You're better off keeping the groups separate for game night. Trying to please everyone means no one has real fun.