Best Board Games for Beginners: How to Pick Your First Game
The best first board game depends on who you're playing with. For a mixed group, Kollide ($29.00 AUD, ages 8+) is easy to teach. For a family that wants to play together, MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park ($49.99 AUD, ages 6+) is cooperative. For two players, Everdell Duo ($54.95 AUD) is built for a pair.
By the team at Hobby Collectors Australia, Fairfield NSW. Last updated 14 October 2026.
Our advice when customers ask for a first game: start with the group, not the theme. A game that suits your table gets played again and again, while one that doesn't tends to sit on the shelf. Below we sort the board games we stock by group size and play style, with current AUD prices.
What are the best board games for beginners?
The best beginner board games are the ones that fit your group's size, ages and time. This table compares the games covered in this guide.
| Game | Best for | Players / age | Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kollide | Parties and family nights | 2+ players, ages 8+ | $29.00 |
| Jenga Classic | Quick, familiar fun for any group | Ages 6+ | $24.95 (was $29.99) |
| MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park | Families with younger players | Cooperative, ages 6+ | $49.99 (was $54.99) |
| The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship | Adults who want a co-op campaign | 1–5 players | $89.95 (was $109.95) |
| Hunt A Killer: Lakeside Slaughter | True crime fans, date night | 1+ players, ages 14+ | $28.99 |
| Everdell Duo | Two players | 1–2 players | $54.95 (was $69.99) |
| Innovation (4th Edition) | Strategy fans who like card games | 2–5 players | $39.99 (was $44.95) |
| 6: Siege | Tactical, miniatures-based play | 2–4 players | $179.95 (was $220.00) |
| Fury of Dracula (Fifth Edition) | Long hidden-movement game nights | 2–5 players, ages 14+ | $69.95 |
Prices were checked on 14 October 2026 and can change. Each link goes to the live product page.
What are the best party and family board games?
Party and family games are quick to teach, work with mixed ages and are built for laughs more than winning. These are the two we recommend most for a first purchase.
Kollide
Kollide is a head-to-head magnet game from Relatable. Players take turns placing magnets inside a shared, rope-marked area, and if a magnet snaps to another, that player collects the whole linked cluster and starts again. It's $29.00 AUD for 2+ players, ages 8+. Our full breakdown is in the Kollide guide.
Jenga Classic
Jenga Classic from Hasbro comes with 54 hardwood blocks and a stacking sleeve, for ages 6+. You pull a block from the tower and place it on top without toppling it. It needs no explanation, which is why it works for almost any group. It's $24.95 AUD (was $29.99).
What are the best cooperative board games?
In a cooperative game the whole table plays together against the game, so nobody gets left behind. That makes them a good fit for groups where some players are more competitive than others.
MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park
MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park is a cooperative detective game for ages 6+ with 22 cases and a 75 x 55 cm illustrated map. Everyone searches the same map for clues as a team. It's $49.99 AUD (was $54.99).
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship is a Pandemic System game for 1–5 players, with 13 heroes and Nazgûl miniatures. Players work together to hold back a growing threat across Middle-earth. It's $89.95 AUD (was $109.95).
Hunt A Killer: Lakeside Slaughter
If you prefer a mystery to a map, Hunt A Killer: Lakeside Slaughter – The Last Vacation has you examine physical evidence and solve a code to open a locked evidence box. It's for 1+ players, ages 14+, and takes 90–120 minutes. It's $28.99 AUD. Read more in our Hunt A Killer guide.
What is the best two-player board game?
Everdell Duo from Starling Games is a standalone game for 1–2 players with competitive and cooperative modes and a campaign. A game designed for two from the start avoids the thin feeling some games get when they're scaled down to a pair. It's $54.95 AUD (was $69.99).
Which board games suit strategy fans?
Strategy games reward repeat plays and usually need a group that's happy to learn rules. If your table has already worked through the games above, these are the natural next step.
Innovation (4th Edition)
Innovation (4th Edition) is a civilization card game from Asmadi Games for 2–5 players. It's $39.99 AUD (was $44.95), which makes it the lowest-priced strategy pick here.
6: Siege
6: Siege – The Board Game Core Box from Mythic Games is a tabletop take on Rainbow Six Siege. It's an asymmetrical tactical game for 2–4 players with 20 miniatures. It's $179.95 AUD (was $220.00).
Fury of Dracula (Fifth Edition)
Fury of Dracula (Fifth Edition) from Avalon Hill is a hidden-movement game for 2–5 players, ages 14+, where one player is Dracula and the rest hunt him across Europe. A full game runs about 2 to 3 hours. It's $69.95 AUD. We compare all five editions in our Fury of Dracula guide.
Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game
Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game Core Box and Minis Box from Mythic Games is a cooperative campaign for 1–4 players with 120+ miniatures. It's listed at $345.00 AUD and was sold out when we last checked, so see the product page for current availability.
Where can you buy board games in Fairfield and Western Sydney?
Hobby Collectors Australia is a physical hobby store at Shop 2, 20–26 Ware St, Fairfield NSW, and every game in this guide is also available online with Australia-wide shipping. Products are brand new and factory sealed.
Coming in means you can see the box sizes for yourself and ask us which game suits your group. Our weekly card game events (One Piece and Gundam locals on Wednesday 6:30pm and Saturday 11am, Riftbound Nexus Nights on Tuesday 6:30pm and Saturday 11am) are listed on our events page, and you can ask questions any time on our Discord.
Browse the full board games collection, or jump to a category:
When can you come in and try a board game?
Want to try a game before you buy? We're open Monday to Friday 2pm–9pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm. Our card game events run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and Saturday at 11am, so these are the times we suggest for a board game session, when no card game events are scheduled:
- Thursday from 6:30pm: a weeknight session, good for shorter games like Kollide, Jenga or Innovation.
- Sunday from 11am: a longer weekend session, good for bigger games like Hunt A Killer, Everdell Duo or Fury of Dracula.
Message us on Discord beforehand so we can have the game ready to go.
Board game FAQ
What is the best board game for beginners?
It depends on your group. Kollide ($29.00 AUD, 2+ players, ages 8+) suits mixed groups, and MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park ($49.99 AUD, ages 6+) suits families who want a cooperative game.
What is a good two-player board game?
Everdell Duo ($54.95 AUD) is a standalone game for 1–2 players with competitive and cooperative modes and a campaign.
What is a cooperative board game?
In a cooperative board game, players work as a team against the game instead of against each other. We stock cooperative games including MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (1–5 players) and Hunt A Killer: Lakeside Slaughter (1+ players).
What board games are good for families with kids?
Jenga Classic (ages 6+), MicroMacro Kids: Crazy City Park (ages 6+) and Kollide (ages 8+) all suit families with younger players.
Can I try a board game in store before buying?
Yes. Come in during opening hours (Monday to Friday 2pm–9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm). We suggest Thursday from 6:30pm or Sunday from 11am, when no card game events are scheduled. Message us on Discord first so we can have the game ready.
Where can I buy board games in Fairfield NSW?
Hobby Collectors Australia stocks board games at Shop 2, 20–26 Ware St, Fairfield NSW 2165, and ships Australia-wide from hobbycollectorsaustralia.com.au.
Visit us in Fairfield or order online
Hobby Collectors Australia
Shop 2, 20–26 Ware St, Fairfield NSW 2165
Monday to Friday 2pm–9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm, closed public holidays
Email: info@hobbycollectorsaustralia.com.au
Discord: discord.gg/cBu6CN8R9a