I've always been drawn to the big, heavy board game boxes at my local game shop, and I love watching people play on the tables in the back. I’m a fan of miniatures, maps, rules, stats, and all the role-playing and strategy that come with it—but I’ve never really considered myself a board gamer. That changed during the lockdown.
Before everything shut down, I visited two local shops—Dragons’ Lair and Game Kastle Austin—and bought a huge pile of games for the kids and adults in my house to enjoy during the evenings. It wasn’t a panic buy; I had already created an account on BoardGameGeek.com and spent time reading reviews and building a wish list as the situation worsened. So I wasn’t starting from zero.
Now that I’ve played some of the games and gotten more into the hobby, I know a lot more than I did last month—but I still have a long way to go. Still, I find myself giving advice to other parents and nerds who are suddenly looking for something fun to do while stuck at home. I decided to put together this short guide to help others get started, so I don’t have to keep typing the same tips in emails. Plus, I hope more experienced players will chime in with their own suggestions.
**Get a BoardGameGeek.com account and learn to use it**
BoardGameGeek is an incredible resource for board gaming. If you take the time to understand a few key features, you’ll be ahead of the game. The site can be a bit tricky to navigate, but it’s worth the effort.
- **Wishlist**: I started curating a list early on and moved my Amazon picks over. Using statuses like “must have,†“like to have,†and “thinking about it†helps me organize what I want.
- **Geek Rating**: While average ratings are visible, the Geek Rating gives a better sense of a game’s popularity and quality. It accounts for the number of reviews, making it more reliable.
- **Awards & Reviews**: Look for awards and read user reviews, especially the negative ones. They often reveal if a game is overhyped or actually worth your time.
**Watch YouTube playthroughs before buying**
This was a game-changer for me. I used to rely only on text reviews and ratings, but I realized I was missing out on how the games actually feel to play. Watching playthroughs on YouTube helps you understand the mechanics and whether the game is right for you.
For example, I watched several videos on *Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)* before buying it, and it helped me decide if it was worth the investment.
**Beware of fakes and counterfeits**
Amazon has a problem with counterfeit games, especially when it comes to printed materials and miniatures. Signs of fakes include poor-quality cards, spelling errors, and cheaply made miniatures.
Many gamers prefer to buy from local stores or trusted online retailers like CoolStuffInc or Miniatures Marketplace. Big chains like Target and Barnes & Noble also carry authentic titles like *Settlers of Catan* and *Ticket to Ride*.
**What we’re playing**
I don’t know what others like, so I’ll just share the games we’ve picked up. Some are new, others we already had. We’re playing five nights a week, so we’ll go through them quickly. I’m keeping the new ones in the box until we try them, just in case.
**Next steps and further investigations**
One thing we're exploring is playing games online via video chat. If you have experience with that, let us know what works and what doesn’t. I’ll be testing it soon. Also, if you’d like more thoughts on specific games, I can write more detailed impressions later.
Finally, if you’re ordering games, consider isolating packages for a few days as a precaution. At my house, we wait three days before opening anything.
If you have favorite games or recommendations, feel free to share them below!
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