Pick the mood. Then pick the box.

Start with the people, not the prettiest box. Are they in the mood to make quick choices, trade a clever plan or test a steady hand? Let everyone vote for a kind of fun before choosing the game.

Hook & Splash suits a group that likes to react to changing colours and weather. Coin Carnival gives the planners somewhere to spend their imaginary money. Snack Stack puts the next move right in your fingertips. None needs to be everybody’s favourite to be the right game tonight.

Make sure the person learning can see the board and reach the shared pieces. A short practice turn is a better welcome than being expected to understand a whole rulebook at once. You can always care about winning in round two.