A Simple Starter Labyrinth One of the first board games we played together as a family, Labyrinth is simple enough for anyone to grasp. The board is a maze, and you must collect a set of treasures based on the cards you’re dealt. The fun part of this game designed by a German psychologist, is how you can change the maze by pushing one tile onto the board and another off every turn.
Carve out a route for yourself, but also consider how to block your opponents. For 2 to 4 players aged 7 and up. Playing time is around 30 minutes.
Best for Two People Onitama Martial arts styling, accessible gameplay, deep strategy, and randomization for replay value—Onitama has it all! We were instantly hooked on this clever strategy game for two, where each side faces off with a master and four pawns and tries to defeat the other master or occupy their temple. It is deceptively simple at first, but as you learn to watch your opponent’s cards displaying their available martial arts styles, you start to see the bigger picture. This game is also good training for budding chess players, because it encourages you to think ahead.
For 2 players aged 10 and up. Playing time is 15 to 20 minutes. Trade and Build Catan Formerly known as Settlers of Catan, this addictive strategy game challenges you to gather and trade resources to build and settle a randomly generated board of hexagonal tiles.
Dominating the map and gaining enough points for a victory requires the right strategy and a bit of luck wit.