What board games are good for introducing kids to strategy games?

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I recently played Star Realms with a couple of friends. One of them is really into board games, especially more strategy heavy ones. He picked Star Realms because it was relatively beginner friendly for us.

I had a lot of fun with it, but what made the experience good was how he taught us the game. Instead of just explaining all the rules at the beginning, he would stop during each round, suggest different moves, and explain why one decision might be better than another. As we played, he gradually introduced more of the strategy behind the game.

I actually won one of the games, but I can’t say I completely knew what I was doing. More than anything, though, I enjoyed sitting around a table with friends for a few hours and playing something together.

It got me thinking about doing something similar with my family.

I would love to introduce my kids to more board games while they are young and gradually move from simple games into ones that require more strategy, planning, problem-solving, and decision-making. I’m not necessarily looking to turn them into hardcore gamers. I just like the idea of having a family game night once a week or even a couple of times a month that can grow with us as the kids get older.

Hopefully, years from now, sitting around the table playing games becomes one of those family memories they remember. Maybe it is even something they eventually introduce to their own kids.

So for the board game people here: Where would you start with younger kids? OR maybe you started doing this with your family.

What are the games you would recommend that provide a good progression from simple into more strategic ones?

Also, would anyone be willing to share on the games your family started playing when you were younger or your kids were younger that you are still playing together years later? Pics would be great here too!!

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I started with checkers. Simple to play, each game doesn’t take long to play, and the rules are easy to understand. I’d play lots of games in a short amount of time.

As I got older I played chess for a while. I think I only even won one game. But I could stay in the game with more experienced players. I think chess is more psychology then strategy though. You can tell which pieces the opponent is going to play later on from their eye movements. Also their surprise moves comes from the places they avoid looking at.

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Played monopoly and game of life and other simple games (snakes and ladders, battleship, clue) where you move around the board or solve something but don’t have a lot of strategy involved. Also taught my kid to play backgammon. (If you invest in a wood board and heavy play pieces, the sound of the pieces as they move is quite satisfying too).

I think card games like uno (and variations of it) are still very popular as well.