There is not a single person in the world who thinks rules are fun. No one, absolutely no one, has ever said “oh, following the rules is so fun!”. This reluctance towards rules is exactly why a lot of people decide not to play board games other than the ones they already know (most often only Monopoly and Catan). So, whether you are a person who wants to find some new games to play or you are an avid player who wants to introduce his friends to his favorite hobby, we decided to make a list of 10 games that you can learn (or explain) in just 10 minutes.

And if you’re still not sure if you want to spend your money on such simple games, you can try them at our physical store for free, with a tea or hot chocolate in hand. It won’t take you long to learn or play them, so why not spend a relaxing afternoon with us?

1. Escape: The Curse of the Temple

Our first selection can not only be explained very quickly, but can also be played with the same speed. Escape: The Curse of the Temple is a cooperative game played in real time, based on a soundtrack that dictates the length of the game. What does that mean? It means that each game of Escape: The Curse of the Temple will take exactly 10 minutes. Not a second longer. In those 10 minutes, your goal will be to roll the dice as many times as possible, to move between various rooms gathering resources, and then to escape from the huge cursed temple. If you fail, then you will be forgotten forever in the ruins of the temple. The game is dynamic, simple, extremely fast and, like icing on the cake, the “The Big Box” edition also includes 7 extensions that can diversify the gaming experience once you understand the basic mechanics.

2. Concept

We’ve all played guessing games at least once in our lives. Concept is similar to all those games, but approaches the concept (totally intentional pun) from another angle. Yes, you will have to help your teammates guess, but this time you will not be able to mime or use words, but rather only the concepts on the game board. These are general enough that they can be interpreted in various ways, but the intuitive (and extremely simple) clue system makes the game better than any version of charades you’ve ever played. And all this can be explained in less than 10 minutes, thanks to the extremely popular base genre.

3. Poetry for Neanderthals

Speaking of guessing games, Poetry for Neanderthals is in the same category. Unlike Concept, where you will use elevated concepts to guess, in Poetry for Neanderthals you will be allowed to use only 1-syllable words. From here, a game of explanations begins that requires total precision, because each mistake can lead to the loss of points. If you want a slightly more absurd and funny guessing game (which also comes with an inflatable stick called a No-Stick), then Poetry for Neanderthals is the perfect choice. Especially since it can be explained to a Neanderthal.

4. Ca$h ‘n’ Guns

If at the beginning of this article I said that rules are never funny, then how about talking about something that is always funny, namely the mafia. Scarface, The Godfather, Goodfellas, Reservoir Dogs, all these movies have created a universe of mafia clichés, and this is exactly the universe being explored by Ca$h ‘n’ Guns. In this satirical game about the mafia, each player will have a toy gun that he will use to intimidate the others. The goal? To earn as much money as possible from the robbery you did together, and for which you are now fighting to the death. Most of the time, however, the bullets are blanks and the threats unfounded, and this bluffing element is the basis of the game. The best liar (or the one who most easily deciphers lies) wins. The game is easy, chaotic, and cliché in the best possible way, making it perfect for any evening of light parties.

5. We’re Doomed

After the last two years, no one would accuse you if you wanted to build a rocket and leave Earth for good. If you play We’re Doomed, you will finally be able to bring those fantasies to life. In this game, each player will take on the role of a state (be it technocrat, theocrat, democrat or totalitarian) and will more or less contribute to building a life-saving rocket to escape a dying planet. The game is played in real time, i.e. in 15 minutes, and players will have to decide between contributing to the ship or stealing from each other, while taking into account the many unexpected events that can throw a wrench in their plans. If you want to take control of a country and fight for supremacy in an intense and fast game, We’re Doomed is the king of tension.

6. Fluxx

While all these games require you to explain the rules before you start the game, Fluxx does not impose this restriction. Instead, the games in the Fluxx series subscribe to the idea that you can fake it until you make it. Each card in the game changes the rules of the game. Because of this, each game will look different, be played different and will have different conditions for winning. If you want to discover the rules while playing and observe how they change almost indefinitely, Fluxx is the chaotic experience for you. Trying to give more details about the game would be useless, because it is constantly changing. With Fluxx, all you can do is get your hands on the pack of cards, shuffle it, and then start the game.

7. Fireball Island

Most of the games we’ve talked about so far have a pretty directly proportional explanation-game ratio. Not Fireball Island. The game can be explained in just 10 minutes, then Fireball Island will give you fun for an hour, during which you will try to take the most extravagant pictures and avoid the fireballs coming out of the island’s volcano. Yes, although the island of Fireball Island is far from the best holiday destination, it is the perfect location for a relaxed and incredibly aesthetically pleasing family game, which can be explained to parents or children alike with the same ease and speed as the most discerning players.

And those the 5 reasons why we think board games are the best gifts one could possibly give (and/or get). We hope we convince you! If we did, be sure to check out our online shop at shop.guildhall.ro and buy whatever suits your fancy, or maybe your friend’s. Have fun giving gifts!

8. Unlock!

Unlock! is the kind of game that’s easy to learn, but hard to master. After learning all the rules in a maximum of 5 minutes, this mystery game will require your full attention. For this reason, there is no better game to introduce someone to the world of mystery games. In Unlock! (as in most mystery games) you have to put together the pieces of a vast and complex mystery to escape from the problematic situation you are in, like an escape room. Although each scenario can only be played once, each set comes with three high-quality scenarios, whose simple rules but complex puzzles help make this game a positive experience even for players who are not very interested in mystery.

And those the 5 reasons why we think board games are the best gifts one could possibly give (and/or get). We hope we convince you! If we did, be sure to check out our online shop at shop.guildhall.ro and buy whatever suits your fancy, or maybe your friend’s. Have fun giving gifts!

9. Drop It

There aren’t many people who haven’t played Connect Four. In case you don’t remember, in Connect Four you have to release some pieces into a small vertical board, so that you can connect four pieces of the same color. Well, Drop It uses the same style of vertical game board, but adds an element of dexterity. Now, you will not have simple locations for each piece, for it to rest over another, rather you will have to throw pieces of various shapes so that they collect as many points. If you want a game that combines Connect Four with Jenga, forming a perfect connection of strategy and dexterity that can be easily explained, then Drop It is the game for you. On top of that, of all the games on this list, we can’t recommend any other more for developing strategy in young children.

And those the 5 reasons why we think board games are the best gifts one could possibly give (and/or get). We hope we convince you! If we did, be sure to check out our online shop at shop.guildhall.ro and buy whatever suits your fancy, or maybe your friend’s. Have fun giving gifts!

10. Ciao!, Panic Lab and Picmix

Although Drop It is the best game to develop children’s strategy, Ciao, Panic Lab and Pixmix are the best to better their attention span. Many times, our little monsters can’t stay concentrated for long periods of time. If you are dealing with such a situation, games that are easy to explain and to play like the three mentioned above can be your best friend. They will stimulate your kids better than video games, they will provide a tactile sense necessary for development and they are a communal experience, thus being a form of quality time spent in the family. Every child needs games and toys, so if you feel you need to catch their interest, we recommend Ciao, Panic Lab or Picmix, all three being card games focused on recognizing similar patterns.

And that marks the end of this article, which most likely took you longer to read than it would have taken you to learn most of the games presented. We hope we have piqued your curiosity with at least one of the games here. If we have, we encourage you to get your hands on any of them either from our online store or from our location.