Picture this: You're at your weekly board game night and one of your friends says, "I don't feel like overthinking. Let's play some casual games." What do you slap on the table?

While sometimes a lot of gamers enjoy playing games that put our strategy and tactical skills to the test for hours, sometimes we just want to play a game without an overabundance of rules and complications. This is where the more casual games come into play. If you're having trouble deciding which laid-back games to add to your collection, check out these casual games for a lighter experience.

Bananagrams has the same basic idea as Scrabble: Use letter tiles to spell words in a crossword-style formation. What makes Bananagrams better than Scrabble is the fact that you can just make words. You don't have to worry about making sure that "z" falls on the triple letter score. Each player has their own grid of words they are building.

Once they use all the letters in their initial draw, the player says "peel" and all players take another facedown🌌 letter from the pile or "bunch." Another great thing about this game is if you cannot add to an already made word on your grid with the letter you drew, you can take wo♉rds apart and make new ones.

Lanterns is a simple abstract strategy game that is not only pretty, but it isn't overly complicated. The tiles have colors on all four sides of them. Once someone lays a tile, each person collects the color of the lantern that faces them on the tile. Lanterns are then turned in to collect end game points. While you can play it with two players, the game is better with three or four. This game is light and non-confrontational.

Most card games are just so-so with only two players (unless they are specifically designed for two.) But Lotus is surprisingly stellar with only two players. It causes a little꧂ tug-of-war with controlling the flowers, but it never gets confrontational or "in your face." Even though it is about area control, it is still a lovely zen game about making flowers꧂ and gaining the knowledge of completing them. This is a great entry-level and casual way to introduce someone to the concept of area control.

What's great about Just One is that, unlike most party games, Just One is more laid back. A lot of party-style games have a tendency to have frantic and anxiety-driven gameplay with timers or shouting or the need to get everything right. Just One takes away that aspect for people who just want a chill, but robust game experience.

This game is great for families too. Just One is also a cooperative game. There are no teams or intense competition. Players try to get their teammates to guess the correct word using only one-word clues, while trying to get as close to 13 points as po꧟ssible.

The premise of Splendor is that you are trying to acquire jewel mines in order to become the wealthiest person in the land. However, the theme does shine through at all in this game. Despite the lack of theme, this is one of the most simple, yet engaging, casual games. Players collect jewels and buy cards with them in order to build up their supply that can be used towards bigger gem card purchas🌟es. And the poker-style chips a𝐆re so satisfying!

Tokaido is the ultimate zen, non-stressful casual game. As players move along the path on the gameboard they can stop at locations such as the temple, hot springs, souvenir shop, farms, and more. The point is that each player is trying to have a fulfilling journey by trying to do as many activities as possible. Even though there are limited spots for each location, it doesn't feel like a punishing situation because each location gives the players some kind of victory points. The trickiest part of the game is making sure you don't spend your money too quickly and can earn some back at the farm locations. This game is the sweet spot; not too simple, not too complex.

FAQ

Is there a collection of games that is more than casual but not too complex?

Yes, there are a bunch of games that aren't too "heavy" but are not overly simple. Some of those games can be found on the link below.

What kind of board games can I play at a party?

Specially created party games or drinking games are perfect for such occasions, as they'll get your guests to mingle.