How to play
Each guide follows the order you'll need things at the table: what's in the box, setup, one turn, then scoring. The table below ranks the games by how much there is to learn, so you can pick where to start.
Which game to learn first
| Game | Complexity | Players | Play time | Age | Start here if… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hues and Cues | 1 / 5 | 3–10 | 30 min | 8+ | you have a big group and nobody wants to read a rulebook |
| Azul | 2 / 5 | 2–4 | 30–45 min | 8+ | you want a short game whose rules fit on one page |
| Catan | 2 / 5 | 3–4 | 60–90 min | 10+ | your group likes to talk, trade and bargain |
| Sky Team | 2 / 5 | 2 (co-op) | 15 min | 12+ | two of you want to win or lose together |
| Ticket to Ride | 2 / 5 | 2–5 | 30–60 min | 8+ | you're teaching a family or first-time players |
| 7 Wonders Duel | 3 / 5 | 2 | 30 min | 10+ | two of you want a head-to-head strategy game |
| Wingspan | 3 / 5 | 1–5 | 40–70 min | 10+ | you like building something that gets stronger each turn |
Complexity is our 1–5 rating of how much rules overhead a game carries: 1 means you can explain it in a few minutes, 3 means a full teach before the first turn.
All how-to-play guides
How to play Hues and Cues
Giving one-word cues, placing guesses and scoring the frame.
How to play Azul
Drafting tiles, filling the wall and dodging floor penalties.
How to play Catan
Building costs, the robber and which numbers actually roll.
How to play Sky Team
Dice placement, the axis and your first landing at Montreal.
How to play Ticket to Ride
Drawing cards, claiming routes and how the final score adds up.
How to play 7 Wonders Duel
The card pyramid, the three victory conditions and the wonders.
How to play Wingspan
Setup, the four actions, egg costs by column and scoring.