LogFAQs > #900392820

Some games that I've found to work quite well as a gateway game:

Splendor (engine building)
Sushi Go (drafting)
Stone Age (worker placement) alternatively Lords of Waterdeep could work as well if they're into dnd (it's a bit more complicated though)
Saboteur (hidden role)
Flamme Rouge (racing)

A lot of games are fine though as a introduction, just avoid playing something that takes more than an hour to an hour and a half. That way, if they are getting crushed or just don't like it, it won't take too long and you can try something else. Obviously avoid something super heavy as well, or a game that you are very good in and have played a bunch of times.

Explaining the game well and trying to excite them for the theme is a big factor as well. You can't make every game sound exciting (looking at you, Splendor), but most games have a big enough hook.

Also, know your audience. I know that I don't even have to try to bring something a bit more complicated to family gatherings at my fathers place, so I only bring games that have very little rules, little to no interpretation and virtually no exceptions. Otherwise they'll get too focused on all the little rules, and they won't enjoy it. So something with too many moving pieces/ideas/resources would be too much (like Lords of Waterdeep or Terra Mystica).

So try to find out what kind of players your friends are like and go from there. One of my friends is all about efficiency, so a game like Galaxy Trucker isn't his cup of tea, but he really enjoys 18xx games. While most of my friends would probably fall asleep, or start drinking heavily, after half an hour while playing the latter.

The games I listed had success with pretty much anyone, save for Flamme Rouge, as its theme was a bit off-putting for some of my friends. You can't go wrong with Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne or Catan either. Unless, in Catan's case, your friends really don't like dice.
---

Currently contemplating cinnamon