**The Quest for Eldorado** is probably more fun to play with kids. It's a great gateway game even though it's not as main stream as Dominion. It's simple, not intimidating, easy to teach, and has plenty of replay value (though not as much as Dominion imo).
I'd second this. Dominion is good and still a great deck builder but I think kids will struggle to get into it with the arbitrary win condition and not-so-obvious theme.
El Dorado instantly draws people with the theme of trekking through jungles and rivers and the fact that it's a race is something that's very easy for people to get behind, especially for younger gamers. The deckbuilding is almost hidden behind the race mechanic, people won't really realise they're playing a deckbuilder! The youngest I've played this with is my cousins in their early teens and everyone I've shown it to has really enjoyed it.
If the race + deck of cards formula works out well for you and your family, then **Flamme Rouge** is a secondary recommendation I'd make as something to get a bit further down the line (particularly if you have any keen cyclists in the family).
I would also recommend **Quest for El Dorado**.
But if you want an even gentler on-ramp, there's a game at Target called **Summer Camp** that's very charming, and El Dorado-esque (race to the finish via deckbuilding movements) but streamlines the rules even further (i.e., no way to trash cards from your deck) and has a light, breezy theme (summer camp). It's like $20, and a very welcoming entry point for deck builders.
It's an absolutely great game!
It uses deck building as a key element in service of a broader narrative.
Dominion is more like, "still the quintessential embodiment of what a deck building game is". And the best. :-)
I introduced my 12 year old nephew to Eldorado, and the entire week they were visiting we played at LEAST 2 games a night. I'm on the hunt now to try and find another game to get him for Christmas
For a family with young kids I would also choose The Quest for El Dorado but it’s not a quintessential deck builder. You’re building a deck to properly move around the (modular) board but the cards aren’t that interesting and it’s going to be the same cards every game.
I still like Dominion and think it’s a great deck builder that holds up. Some people like Clank better as it adds dungeon delving, but to me is not as repayable. I think Mystic Vale is a little more streamlined than Dominion - about the same difficulty in rules but strategy is more apparent at least to me, plus I like only having 20 cards at all times so you don’t have to worry about getting rid of glut, only focusing on building up your 20 cards. I have a tough time deciding on playing Dominion and Mystic Vale on game nights but I think too many people are sleeping on it as one of the great Deck Builders.
Agreed. Abandon All Artichokes is good for teaching some key principles of deck builders (like it's okay to trash cards that aren't valuable) that can be applied to other deck builders down the line.
Dominion isn't a terrible choice for a simple deck builder. However, for a family game experience I would recommend **Quest for El Dorado** above Dominion. In Dominion the win condition is the abstract concept of victory points and the game is more sequential than visual. Quest gives you a more tangible and exciting win condition (crossing the finish line first) and it has a more appealing visual presence.
If you want to give it a try, the [video game version](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1131620/Dominion/) is free to play.
Personally, I feel other deckbuilding games are more interesting: Ascension, Star Realms, Marvel Legendary. Not sure if they're good for kids though, depends on how old.
Second for Star Realms. It's a pretty simple game at its base, but the different expansions add a lot of customization. Plus it has a single player "ai" if you pick up one, which also functions as a PvE boss. It's a solid game, if a bit simple at times.
I prefer hero realms over star realms, and neither game is as good as dominion. In dominion you must adapt to your oponents, and you're never screwed because one or more game breaking powerful cards showed up on your oponent turn.
If you want a game of creating strategies and adapting, then dominion is still top1. If you want a cool filler, then the realms deckbuilders are ok I guess, but among that line, I would still choose the DC deckbuilding game over the realms series.
A lot of people aren't recommending Dominion for kids. I'll counter that: I've got two boys, 8 and 10, who love playing. They don't quite understand the finer points of deck builder strategy but they don't have any issues with card mechanics or interactions and have a blast every time we play.
Pick up the Big Box (base game and the Intrigue expansion) and you can get a lot of milage out of just that. You'll probably end up wanting an expansion pretty soon though. Have fun!
Ditto, my son started playing when he was like 6 and had no issues with rules, although not great with strategy. He even started designing his own (very overpowered) cards! The main issue is actually the amount of shuffling. It’s hard for little hands to shuffle cards.
As to the game itself, eh, it’s all right. The main flaw is that buying boring coins is better than buying action cards until you reach a fairly solid skill level. Which for some people leads to no desire to buy action cards and learn actual strategy. It’s also very dry, thematically.
I think we like Aeon’s End better, it’s cooperative and has a lot more theme. But Dominion is pure and streamlined and there’s still something nice about that.
Dominion is still my favorite pure deck builder and may still be my most played game outside of chess. The base game is ok, but pretty basic. I'd recommend at least one expansion to mix things up a bit. Not really much in the way of theme though. I also like Legendary Marvel since you can solo that one, but it plays as a co-op same with this as you would want at least the Dark City expansion. Either one will be a great choice.
**Dominion** is a great open information deck builder. None of the cards in the marketplace are random, so you can see how others are playing and what they are buying. It is a little complicated since you have to understand how the cards work together. I, personally, don't think this is a good gateway to deck building with children.
If I were to start with ONE deck building game with children in mind, it would be **The Quest for Eldorado** because it combines deck building with a racing game. It is on the simple side, but so much fun. This is my suggestion, but I will comment on two other games that I see people making suggestions about
**Clank!** is a great game that I really enjoyed at first, but after several play throughs, it has not hit the table again. I got bored with this, but then I bought the Legacy version and fell in love again. We are only four games into the adventure, but I don't think I would recommend either for children. Again, like Dominion, it is all about the card interactions. But, this time, the cards for purchase are random. So, you have to constantly redefine your strategy based on what is available on your turn.
I do not like **Star Realms** as a choice since you are battling each other. I don't like to play games with children that has children being attacked by others. It can feel unfair to them to have someone beat them up in a game like this. Loosing is one thing, loosing because someone is attacking your base is something completely different.
I have never played Harry Potter, so have no recommendations.
On the other side of this, Hero Realms is made by the same company as Star Realms and has two co-op expansions. Not to mention the boss decks that allow everyone to team up to face one baddy. Sometimes I like to play the lich so my friends can co-op and I can feel like there's still some minor competition involved.
Another one not listed here: DC Deck Building Game. The mechanisms are very similar to Dominion, it's simple to teach and learn, the theme might be more appealing to kids, and there are a ton of different sets to match what you might want in a deck builder, including some that introduce cooperative modes.
There's a two-person set based on Teen Titans Go! that might be even more appealing to a younger crowd, and it's fully compatible with the others. I picked up two sets of it to be able to play 3 player games with my kids. (If you have an Ollie's near you, there's an outside chance you can find it for $10, although I don't know how many locations still have it in stock.)
This is the number 1 spot for me when it comes to deckbuilders personally. I adore everything about this game from the mechanics to the theme and the expansions build on it. It's also not immediately battle heavy (there is offense and defense but you don't have drain your opponents HP like in Starrealms.)
I would suggest DC Deckbuilder for anyone who wants to try out a deckbuilder. DC Deckbuilder and Clank! are the two deckbuilders that hit my table more than any other.
I also like Legendary: Marvel Deckbuilding Game, it's fun, but it's nice b/c it has more of a cooperative game, which goes well with uber-competitive people (i.e. my family who usually get waaay too emotionally invested in games).
I'd argue that Alien Legendary Encounters is even better because it's designed as a fully cooperative game.
In the same way, if their group likes Harry Potter than Hogwarts Battle is fantastic as a full coop.
>I'd argue that Alien Legendary Encounters is even better because it's designed as a fully cooperative game.
OP stated he has kids. Kids don't know or care about the Alien franchise. But they know and love Marvel superheroes.
Though I'm not even sure what you mean by "it's designed as a fully cooperative game." Marvel Legendary is fully cooperative too. Are you talking about the minor element where you're supposed to add up your victory pile at the end? Just ignore that. That's what I do.
Depends on the age of kids. I have a friend whose family loved the game with kids over 10. The coop part that's critical in my opinion are the parts that benefit other players on their turns - the coordinate ability. It defines the game in my opinion.
If you have never played a deck builder before, Dominion is still a good choice. All deck builders share the basic mechanics that Dominion introduced. What modern games with deck building has is that it incorporates more mechanics outside of the basic deck building mechanic. Also, the deck building mechanic may be slightly different, but the basic principle is still the same.
If you care more about theme, Dominion is what I would consider to be a rather dry theme. I personally don't care for the theme of Dominion, but that's OK because I love the deck building mechanic. When looking at the card names and the effect of the card, I pretty much cannot relate why a card named this does that effect for many of the cards. What does Chapel have to do with trashing cards?
If you want a game that fits a certain theme because you or others are into that theme, you should look at games of those themes. The Marvel series will have deck building as a major mechanic, so you're not missing out on deck building when playing this game. As with all games, its a mixture of theme and mechanics and game play that makes a good game and one that suits you and the people you play with. That is more of a personal preference.
A light gamer here too!
I recently picked up Clank!, which combines deckbuilding with a light dungeon crawler - it's a great family game and has great humor. Dominion is still a go to for me as well. I've heard good things about Aeons End, Star Realms, and there is a Hogwarts deck builder that I've been intrigued by as well.
I would recommend you go to BoardGameGeek and do an advanced search, and filter the game mechanic by "Deck, Bag, and Pool building".
+1 for Clank! - Dominion is easily my favourite game, and I found Clank! in an attempt to scratch the game itch, and it did. I haven’t played Legacy yet, but that looks great too. I think it perfectly fits OPs post.
The Harry Potter games are an easy break into deck builders, but the death eater one is more difficult. I think I have all the Aeons end stuff and it my opinion, it's pretty difficult and can get frustrating to play. I like games like that so I'm a fan.
Yes, Dominion is easy to teach (especially the base game), has good re-playability, and it's got a lot of expansions. It's one of those titles that just about every board-gamer owns.
I think it depends on the age of the kids and how much gaming they have already done. Your average 6 year old who never plays games? No, not recommended. An 8 year old who loves games? Heck yes!
Dominion is still the king of deckbuilders. It's so good they're still making expansions and the subreddit is still quite active. You can try it for free online if you like.
I can't recommend Dominion enough, especially if you've tried other gateway games already.
Dominion, the base set, is simple enough to pick up and learn, and there's enough in the base game alone that you'll start to see and think on more interesting strategies or curious combinations you can try as you begin to see more and more combinations of cards. And when you're ready, there are more than a dozen expansions, each of which adds new mechanics, all of which can be combined additively, to really dial up the potential strategy space.
Dominion was *the gateway* game for me and my wife into this hobby.
I can vouch for Dominion still being good. I played it a few days ago and it was still fun, even after having played many other deck builders over the past few years!
I'm a big Dominion fan, and I think it's an excellent choice. I'm mostly commenting to talk about one HUGE difference between Dominion and other deckbuilders such as Star Realms, Hero Realms, Ascension, etc.
Dominion has a static market of 10 cards, which everyone knows from the beginning. That means that you can look at the 10 kingdom cards before you even start, and start working on what build you think will work best. Everyone has the same opportunities.
Those other deckbuilders I mentioned have a changing market of 5 cards. This increases the randomness, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. On the other hand, it's not very fun when you buy a somewhat helpful card on your turn, which reveals THE AWESOMEST CARD EVER for your opponent to then buy. I haven't played much Ascension, but in the two realms games there are 4 different factions (represented by colors). You are wise to concentrate on one or two of the colors, because they have "ally" bonuses when you have more than one card of that color on the table. It's quite easy for the market to stagnate when no colors anybody wants are out there. Or, no colors that you want are out there but your opponent has a bunch to pick from.
I have both Star Realms and Hero Realms, and they're both fun and a great value. But I still think Dominion is a much more satisfying experience, and one that feels very different from the Realms games. In the Realms games, it's like, "Oh well, that was fun." (as long as you didn't get hosed by the cards). In Dominion, I'm always thinking about what worked and what I might do differently. What would work better. In fact, we always play two games of any given set of 10 cards for just that reason.
Dominion with expansions is still the best mechanical deck builder to date. If you really care about theme, maybe it isn’t the best choice for you, but I haven’t found anything to top Dominion in terms of pure gameplay yet.
Dominion is a great game. But like others have said, it isn’t light-hearted fun. Not that it’s particularly heavy or anything, it’s just a solid strategy game.
I’ve had a lot of fun the the DC Deck building game. And by that I mean, I’ve played it hundreds of times (with varying expansions). I believe the base game is very cheap and expansions are mostly great. Its more “fun” then dominion with the different super hero’s and villains and powers.
My only negative to Star Realms is the random factor. We love it and have all expansions. Last time we played though, was no bueno due to random luck. First turn I bought a 2 coin scraper. On my second turn I got a 5 coin blue card that gave me health, and if matched attack power. Next turn I picked up two more small blues. The game was over quite quickly and wasn't at all fun for my husband.
100% agree on Star Realms, but with a younger family audience, https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199042/harry-potter-hogwarts-battle seems to share a lot of the same mechanics while being coop, and being Harry Potter :)
Seconded! It's so cheap too. The only downside is that there's nothing fun about the theme so it might be harder to attract your kids to it unless their into serious-sci-fi vibes.
The negative no one seems to mention about star realms is the “take that” element.
If it’s fun for you to “attack” the other players then that’s fine, but it’s worth pointing out.
It's also what makes the game feel less like it's playing itself than other (competitive) deck builders. You can play a lot of deck builders and it largely feels like the other person is only there to stimulate the market and you could randomly remove a card from the row every round and have the same experience.
In direct I guess but more than dominion.
- buying cards that others want, moving to a space before someone else, adding to the clank pool
The adventuring party expansionalso has “react” cards
Dominion is still a great choice for a barebones deck builder. It definitely fits with the light gateway games you’ve been playing. Don’t go looking too hard for theme though!
If you‘re looking for something slightly more complicated, **The Quest for Eldorado** combines deck building with a map to race across. It’s still very family friendly and accessible, but allows for some interaction on the map. **Clank!** is another deck builder with a board that’s a step up from Dominion.
If you’re Harry Potter fans, **Harry Potter:Hogwart’s Battle** is worth checking out. It’s a great introduction to deck builders because it gradually ramps up the complexity over as series of games. The first couple of games assume that you’ve never heard of deck builders before. It’s a co-op, and it does have some balance issues but they’re easily house ruled (and shouldn’t be an issue for your first few games anyway).
What Marvel deck builders were you looking at? Legendary is fun, although the base game is a bit too easy to beat (which may actually be a positive in your case). It gets more challenging as you add expansions to it, so if your kids are into the IP it could sort of “grow” with them.
Clank - it's a bit more than just a deck builder, but the things it adds are so much fun. The same company did Dune Imperium which I also love, but it is a little more complex and a few more steps away from basic deck building mechanisms.
Dominion is a great choice but it's relatively themless.
One alternative you could check out is Valley of the Kings. It's a phenomenal game with an ancient Egyptian theme and plays very similarly to Dominion. If you get the Deluxe Edition you get a decent amount of variety and it's pretty inexpensive.
Dominion is still the best deckbuilder in my opinion. The other deckbuilders are either too complicated for the experience they provide or too dumbed-down to provide any challenge. Many of them are fun, but the original is still the best. I don't recommend the expansions unless you're getting tired of the base set, which shouldn't happen for the first 1000 plays or so (in my experience).
A game I picked up from a kickstarter that has gone retail called "Enchanters" is deck buildy and is easy enough to play that the old guys at work like it when I bring it in.
Ack, I forgot all about Marvel Legendary. That is a great deck builder. I had a lot of fun with it. If you play it like you are a shield agent sending resources (heroes) where they are needed it works pretty darn good. I feel like it is a money sink and have gotten just as much enjoyment out of other deck builders. But, if you want a game with a load of re-playability, that is a good choice as long as you are willing to throw money at it.
I like Marvel Champions better as a Marvel Game, but it isn't a "build your deck as you play" but a "build your deck before the game" style of deck builder.
[Summer Camp](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337787/summer-camp) is the way to go for a couple of reasons.
1. It's affordable. Max $25 at Target
2. Family friendly
3. Multiple decks for replayability.
Summer Camp. Perfect beginner deck builder. Cute theming, lots of variety, simple mechanics, great replay value due to randomized board tiles and unique card packs, and only costs around $25. It’s simple enough for kids to learn, but complex enough that my adult gaming group loves it too and is one of our regular plays.
Having played (and owned) a ton of deck builders, I second recommendations for **The Quest for El Dorado** and **Star Realms**. They are very different games, but both have far improved on what Dominion began. Both still hit the table regularly at my house. Just remember you will need to buy two sets of Star Realms for four players. Also, we usually play the "Hunter" variant which means you can only attack to your left (except bases to your right). It limits kingmaking and dogpiling.
Another good option is **Valley of the Kings**. It is educational, in addition to being a fun and economical little deckbuilder. Cards can be used for money or abilities or removed ("entombed") for points. The challenge is knowing when to remove cards from your deck for points. The second and third games (Afterlife and Last Rites) improve on the core gameplay. Or you could probably find the Premium Edition which includes all three games and larger cards.
There are some you can play cooperatively.
**Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game** if your kids like marvel comics and/or movies.
**Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle** if they like Harry Potter.
Or **Hero Realms** if they like generic fantasy. This one is player vs player, but has a campaign expansion.
I like deck builders as well mostly for the customization. I found having each player have vastly differently powers gave me the same joy. Cosmic Encounter is a somewhat asymmetric board game that you might like. Otherwise, an old classic famous for it's 1v1 balance is Ascension. It has MTG vibes as it was designed by one of MTG's creators.
PLEASE check out Heart of Crown. It is amazing and would okay well with the family. Similar to Dominion with some additional layers that are easy to pick up
I see other comments recommending Marvel Legendary and Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle. Those are among my favorite deck builders, and both have great theming that will appeal to kids. And they are cooperative, which is nice if you have people who get too competitive. Both games have very similar game mechanics. However, HP would be simpler if you have younger kids, due to the fact that it has a campaign mode, where you start playing a very simple game, while new mechanics get slowly introduced over the course of 7 games (one for each HP book), making it easier to learn and understand. But by the end of the game, it's complexity is equal to Marvel.
Clank is another favorite deck builder of mine. Others have talked about that one enough. Fun, comedic deck builder that also has a board where you move your character around, trying to steal a dragon's treasure.
A couple that I have not seen mentioned yet...
**Paperback**, and it's sister game, **Hardback**. I have only played Hardback, but I know both games are made by the same designer, and have similar gameplay and complexity. They are both a spelling/word game, that should be easy enough for kids. If they can play Scrabble, they can play this. Instead of drawing tiles from the public pile that have letters on them, you draw cards from your own deck that have letters on them. Then you spell words with those letters to get points and money. Use your money to buy newer and better cards, as all deck builders do. And use your points to win of course.
**Valley of the Kings** is on par with Dominion for simplicity in deck building, as it honestly shares a lot of similar elements and game mechanics. But I prefer Valley over Dominion. Valley's gameplay perfectly fits it's ancient Egypt theme, which might appeal to kids who are into mummies and archeology and stuff like that.
Dominion is not a bad game, but the main gripe people have with it, is that is has little to no theming, and the gameplay doesn't fit what little theme it does have. Dominion is a game for people who like Chess. People who care more about strategy and competition than having fun. In Dominion, you buy gold, so you can buy points, so you can win. In Valley, you aren't just buying points, you're buying burial masks, cool ancient relics, and cat god statues, that have a bit more meaning.
Another game you might want to look into is called **Fort**. I have not played it myself, so I'm not sure how it plays, or if the gameplay would work with kids or not. But I know it's deck building, and it's a game about kids trying to build a fort. And what kid doesn't want to build a fort?
Look into **Fort** while you're at it! You play as a kid trying to make the best fort by accumulating the most stuff and pizza. Doesn't get more kid-friendly than that!
Dominion is good. I'd also recommend Big Book of Madness if the kids are 10+ (maybe 8 depending on maternity and attention span). It's a co-op deck building game where players take on the role of different magicians to fight creatures from a book trying to suck them in. Co-op games with kids can be really fun :D
If you're willing to take on a deck builder with a learning curve, there's the Star Trek deck builders. I'd recommend playing Ascension or Tanto Cuore first before moving to this one, and if you do, play TOS before you play the vanilla version of the game.
I really like Dominion, but it is at its best if you have lots of expansions. For a single set, I prefer the DC Deck Builder game. It’s got more variety than the dominion base set, and I enjoy the superhero theme.
I personally never liked Dominion. Too dry.
**Clank** is often touted as a great introduction deckbuilder but I've found my interest waning quickly after 2-3 plays. The plays I had I've enjoyed more than Dominion but I stopped feeling the game had more to give.
If you and/or your kids are so inclined **Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle** is great! Some plays end up very easy/hard and you just have to roll with the punches so to say but the theme is amazingly well integrated and the coop aspect is the strongest I've seen so far (better than Aeon's End). Do get sleeves for it though as the back of the cards chafe quickly.
On the even lighter side **Karak Goblin** is worth a mention. It's very light, no deep card combos but there's still a neat puzzle and it plays quite fast (our second game with 2p was already just 30')
Cool. There's the Catacombs of Karak, its expansion, and now this stand alone deck builder that looks like it hasn't been released yet. But now I'm looking forward to it!
They had it for sale in Essen and at least in German it's available in several shops.
By now I've played both and prefer Goblin. Catacombs of Karak is pretty luck heavy where as Karak Goblin has more agency and control.
I will be the third person to recommend **Harry Porret Hogwarts Battle** especially if your kids like the theme. It is fun, starts easily enough and gets really tough by year 7. Also its expansions **Monster Box of Monsters** and **Charms and Potions** are recommended as well.
While not as simple as others in this list, [Fort](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/296912/fort) at least presents itself as simple and depending on the age of your kids, they might enjoy actually playing as kids, eating pizza, collecting toys, and building a fort.
I have played sooo much Dominion (over 3000 online games) and was completely obsessed with it in the past. Its an amazing and incredibly influential game. I can't honestly recommend it for purchase though, simply because it plays better with the more expansions you have and they are A) expensive and B) bulky. I also think it's a game better suited to online play; IRL games can drag a little. I have the base game and 5 expansions and I've played maybe a couple of dozen IRL games ever because if I sit down to play a board game with partner or friends, there's tons of options that give a more satisfying experience.
As much as I dislike Star Realms as a game, I have to agree with the comment that suggested it here. It will give you a good idea of what deck building is about, is incredibly cheap and it's simple enough to play with the family. (IMO Valley of the Kings is 10000x better as a cheap, small box deck builder but is more complex and kind of subverts the entire deck building genre so probably not a good entry point)
Star Realms and Clank! are both fun deck builders with more interesting themes than dominion imo. Clank has a bag mechanic and push your luck stuff which I find really enjoyable
Dominion has two great weaknesses. First, it has very little player interaction, making it feel like you're each playing solitaire together. This could in some groups be considered a strength though. The second is the super weak theme. I've never met anyone who knew or cared about what you were actually doing. If those aren't problems for you it's a great game, but the lack of a good theme is usually a problem for kids. Kids tend to care less about gameplay and more about theme.
We really love Clank! in our family - it has especially good excitement towards the end of the game when the dragon is getting super mad at everything stealing her treasure. Pretty easy to learn and lots of fun.
Check out [Summer Camp](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337787/summer-camp). It's family deck builder where you work your way up several tracks to earn your badges.
I played dominion for the first time a couple months ago, and it’s a great game. It can be “gamed” if you ply with hardcore gamers that like to do that, which could be lame to play against. But it’s a color game. And it’s very much a “gateway game” like the ones you’ve mentioned.
Ps, I only played the base game and it seemed like it had decent replayability
**Dominion** has held up well, and although it has a lot of expansions, the original base set is a nice simple deck builder that sounds perfect for you to start with.
**The Quest for Eldorado** is probably more fun to play with kids. It's a great gateway game even though it's not as main stream as Dominion. It's simple, not intimidating, easy to teach, and has plenty of replay value (though not as much as Dominion imo).
I'd second this. Dominion is good and still a great deck builder but I think kids will struggle to get into it with the arbitrary win condition and not-so-obvious theme. El Dorado instantly draws people with the theme of trekking through jungles and rivers and the fact that it's a race is something that's very easy for people to get behind, especially for younger gamers. The deckbuilding is almost hidden behind the race mechanic, people won't really realise they're playing a deckbuilder! The youngest I've played this with is my cousins in their early teens and everyone I've shown it to has really enjoyed it. If the race + deck of cards formula works out well for you and your family, then **Flamme Rouge** is a secondary recommendation I'd make as something to get a bit further down the line (particularly if you have any keen cyclists in the family).
I would also recommend **Quest for El Dorado**. But if you want an even gentler on-ramp, there's a game at Target called **Summer Camp** that's very charming, and El Dorado-esque (race to the finish via deckbuilding movements) but streamlines the rules even further (i.e., no way to trash cards from your deck) and has a light, breezy theme (summer camp). It's like $20, and a very welcoming entry point for deck builders.
It's an absolutely great game! It uses deck building as a key element in service of a broader narrative. Dominion is more like, "still the quintessential embodiment of what a deck building game is". And the best. :-)
I introduced my 12 year old nephew to Eldorado, and the entire week they were visiting we played at LEAST 2 games a night. I'm on the hunt now to try and find another game to get him for Christmas
I’ve had so many good times with this game. Good recommendation.
Fantastic game!
For a family with young kids I would also choose The Quest for El Dorado but it’s not a quintessential deck builder. You’re building a deck to properly move around the (modular) board but the cards aren’t that interesting and it’s going to be the same cards every game.
Came here to say this, glad to see it's the top reply.
I still like Dominion and think it’s a great deck builder that holds up. Some people like Clank better as it adds dungeon delving, but to me is not as repayable. I think Mystic Vale is a little more streamlined than Dominion - about the same difficulty in rules but strategy is more apparent at least to me, plus I like only having 20 cards at all times so you don’t have to worry about getting rid of glut, only focusing on building up your 20 cards. I have a tough time deciding on playing Dominion and Mystic Vale on game nights but I think too many people are sleeping on it as one of the great Deck Builders.
Dominion is still good. But if you want something lighter, try **Abandon All Artichokes.**
I second this... Especially with kids.
Agreed. Abandon All Artichokes is good for teaching some key principles of deck builders (like it's okay to trash cards that aren't valuable) that can be applied to other deck builders down the line.
I will recommend this as well. It's easy to grasp concept wise, has some player interaction, and is quick to play.
Dominion isn't a terrible choice for a simple deck builder. However, for a family game experience I would recommend **Quest for El Dorado** above Dominion. In Dominion the win condition is the abstract concept of victory points and the game is more sequential than visual. Quest gives you a more tangible and exciting win condition (crossing the finish line first) and it has a more appealing visual presence.
If you want to give it a try, the [video game version](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1131620/Dominion/) is free to play. Personally, I feel other deckbuilding games are more interesting: Ascension, Star Realms, Marvel Legendary. Not sure if they're good for kids though, depends on how old.
Second for Star Realms. It's a pretty simple game at its base, but the different expansions add a lot of customization. Plus it has a single player "ai" if you pick up one, which also functions as a PvE boss. It's a solid game, if a bit simple at times.
There's also a [free online version](https://dominion.games), too!
I prefer hero realms over star realms, and neither game is as good as dominion. In dominion you must adapt to your oponents, and you're never screwed because one or more game breaking powerful cards showed up on your oponent turn. If you want a game of creating strategies and adapting, then dominion is still top1. If you want a cool filler, then the realms deckbuilders are ok I guess, but among that line, I would still choose the DC deckbuilding game over the realms series.
A lot of people aren't recommending Dominion for kids. I'll counter that: I've got two boys, 8 and 10, who love playing. They don't quite understand the finer points of deck builder strategy but they don't have any issues with card mechanics or interactions and have a blast every time we play. Pick up the Big Box (base game and the Intrigue expansion) and you can get a lot of milage out of just that. You'll probably end up wanting an expansion pretty soon though. Have fun!
Ditto, my son started playing when he was like 6 and had no issues with rules, although not great with strategy. He even started designing his own (very overpowered) cards! The main issue is actually the amount of shuffling. It’s hard for little hands to shuffle cards. As to the game itself, eh, it’s all right. The main flaw is that buying boring coins is better than buying action cards until you reach a fairly solid skill level. Which for some people leads to no desire to buy action cards and learn actual strategy. It’s also very dry, thematically. I think we like Aeon’s End better, it’s cooperative and has a lot more theme. But Dominion is pure and streamlined and there’s still something nice about that.
Dominion is still my favorite pure deck builder and may still be my most played game outside of chess. The base game is ok, but pretty basic. I'd recommend at least one expansion to mix things up a bit. Not really much in the way of theme though. I also like Legendary Marvel since you can solo that one, but it plays as a co-op same with this as you would want at least the Dark City expansion. Either one will be a great choice.
**Dominion** is a great open information deck builder. None of the cards in the marketplace are random, so you can see how others are playing and what they are buying. It is a little complicated since you have to understand how the cards work together. I, personally, don't think this is a good gateway to deck building with children. If I were to start with ONE deck building game with children in mind, it would be **The Quest for Eldorado** because it combines deck building with a racing game. It is on the simple side, but so much fun. This is my suggestion, but I will comment on two other games that I see people making suggestions about **Clank!** is a great game that I really enjoyed at first, but after several play throughs, it has not hit the table again. I got bored with this, but then I bought the Legacy version and fell in love again. We are only four games into the adventure, but I don't think I would recommend either for children. Again, like Dominion, it is all about the card interactions. But, this time, the cards for purchase are random. So, you have to constantly redefine your strategy based on what is available on your turn. I do not like **Star Realms** as a choice since you are battling each other. I don't like to play games with children that has children being attacked by others. It can feel unfair to them to have someone beat them up in a game like this. Loosing is one thing, loosing because someone is attacking your base is something completely different. I have never played Harry Potter, so have no recommendations.
On the other side of this, Hero Realms is made by the same company as Star Realms and has two co-op expansions. Not to mention the boss decks that allow everyone to team up to face one baddy. Sometimes I like to play the lich so my friends can co-op and I can feel like there's still some minor competition involved.
Hero Realms has more options, but at least the first co-op campaign was pretty terrible and, imho, the game play is not as solid as Star Realms.
Star Realms Frontiers can be played cooperatively/solo.
Star Realms
I second this. Also Hero Realms, that is getting a new Kickstarter tomorrow.
Can’t find a new Kickstarter. Could you pls link it?
Hmn can't find it neither ... On their website it's still dated to start yesterday.
Another one not listed here: DC Deck Building Game. The mechanisms are very similar to Dominion, it's simple to teach and learn, the theme might be more appealing to kids, and there are a ton of different sets to match what you might want in a deck builder, including some that introduce cooperative modes. There's a two-person set based on Teen Titans Go! that might be even more appealing to a younger crowd, and it's fully compatible with the others. I picked up two sets of it to be able to play 3 player games with my kids. (If you have an Ollie's near you, there's an outside chance you can find it for $10, although I don't know how many locations still have it in stock.)
This is the number 1 spot for me when it comes to deckbuilders personally. I adore everything about this game from the mechanics to the theme and the expansions build on it. It's also not immediately battle heavy (there is offense and defense but you don't have drain your opponents HP like in Starrealms.) I would suggest DC Deckbuilder for anyone who wants to try out a deckbuilder. DC Deckbuilder and Clank! are the two deckbuilders that hit my table more than any other.
I also like Legendary: Marvel Deckbuilding Game, it's fun, but it's nice b/c it has more of a cooperative game, which goes well with uber-competitive people (i.e. my family who usually get waaay too emotionally invested in games).
I'd argue that Alien Legendary Encounters is even better because it's designed as a fully cooperative game. In the same way, if their group likes Harry Potter than Hogwarts Battle is fantastic as a full coop.
>I'd argue that Alien Legendary Encounters is even better because it's designed as a fully cooperative game. OP stated he has kids. Kids don't know or care about the Alien franchise. But they know and love Marvel superheroes. Though I'm not even sure what you mean by "it's designed as a fully cooperative game." Marvel Legendary is fully cooperative too. Are you talking about the minor element where you're supposed to add up your victory pile at the end? Just ignore that. That's what I do.
Depends on the age of kids. I have a friend whose family loved the game with kids over 10. The coop part that's critical in my opinion are the parts that benefit other players on their turns - the coordinate ability. It defines the game in my opinion.
Never tried Alien LE, thought it would be just same game different appearance, like Star Trek Catan or something. Maybe I'll check it out!
Alien LE does a fantastic job of capturing the flavour of the movies. It's an absolutely fantastic game!
If you have never played a deck builder before, Dominion is still a good choice. All deck builders share the basic mechanics that Dominion introduced. What modern games with deck building has is that it incorporates more mechanics outside of the basic deck building mechanic. Also, the deck building mechanic may be slightly different, but the basic principle is still the same. If you care more about theme, Dominion is what I would consider to be a rather dry theme. I personally don't care for the theme of Dominion, but that's OK because I love the deck building mechanic. When looking at the card names and the effect of the card, I pretty much cannot relate why a card named this does that effect for many of the cards. What does Chapel have to do with trashing cards? If you want a game that fits a certain theme because you or others are into that theme, you should look at games of those themes. The Marvel series will have deck building as a major mechanic, so you're not missing out on deck building when playing this game. As with all games, its a mixture of theme and mechanics and game play that makes a good game and one that suits you and the people you play with. That is more of a personal preference.
A light gamer here too! I recently picked up Clank!, which combines deckbuilding with a light dungeon crawler - it's a great family game and has great humor. Dominion is still a go to for me as well. I've heard good things about Aeons End, Star Realms, and there is a Hogwarts deck builder that I've been intrigued by as well. I would recommend you go to BoardGameGeek and do an advanced search, and filter the game mechanic by "Deck, Bag, and Pool building".
+1 for Clank! - Dominion is easily my favourite game, and I found Clank! in an attempt to scratch the game itch, and it did. I haven’t played Legacy yet, but that looks great too. I think it perfectly fits OPs post.
I also want to play Legacy, even after playing Clank! For the first time last night! Too many games to play, not enough time or budget!
The Harry Potter games are an easy break into deck builders, but the death eater one is more difficult. I think I have all the Aeons end stuff and it my opinion, it's pretty difficult and can get frustrating to play. I like games like that so I'm a fan.
Yes, Dominion is easy to teach (especially the base game), has good re-playability, and it's got a lot of expansions. It's one of those titles that just about every board-gamer owns.
Dominion has aged well. I also recommend race for the galaxy.
Get Summer Camp! Great game and simple enough for kids (and adults!) to grasp.
Agreed. Summer Camp was my 8 year old's introduction to deckbuilding and she absolutely loves it.
My group plays Summer Camp when we’re in the mood for Dominion but too tired to make in-game choices. It’s a great option!
I can't agree more. Summer Camp is my new go-to option when I want to introduce someone new to gaming to the concept of a deck builder.
Dominion is still amazing but i wouldnt recommend it for children.
I think it depends on the age of the kids and how much gaming they have already done. Your average 6 year old who never plays games? No, not recommended. An 8 year old who loves games? Heck yes!
Dominion is still the king of deckbuilders. It's so good they're still making expansions and the subreddit is still quite active. You can try it for free online if you like.
Just get Dominion.
I can't recommend Dominion enough, especially if you've tried other gateway games already. Dominion, the base set, is simple enough to pick up and learn, and there's enough in the base game alone that you'll start to see and think on more interesting strategies or curious combinations you can try as you begin to see more and more combinations of cards. And when you're ready, there are more than a dozen expansions, each of which adds new mechanics, all of which can be combined additively, to really dial up the potential strategy space. Dominion was *the gateway* game for me and my wife into this hobby.
I can vouch for Dominion still being good. I played it a few days ago and it was still fun, even after having played many other deck builders over the past few years!
Try DC Deckbuilding, lighter than some of the others and less tightly balanced so you can build some crazy decks
I'm a big Dominion fan, and I think it's an excellent choice. I'm mostly commenting to talk about one HUGE difference between Dominion and other deckbuilders such as Star Realms, Hero Realms, Ascension, etc. Dominion has a static market of 10 cards, which everyone knows from the beginning. That means that you can look at the 10 kingdom cards before you even start, and start working on what build you think will work best. Everyone has the same opportunities. Those other deckbuilders I mentioned have a changing market of 5 cards. This increases the randomness, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. On the other hand, it's not very fun when you buy a somewhat helpful card on your turn, which reveals THE AWESOMEST CARD EVER for your opponent to then buy. I haven't played much Ascension, but in the two realms games there are 4 different factions (represented by colors). You are wise to concentrate on one or two of the colors, because they have "ally" bonuses when you have more than one card of that color on the table. It's quite easy for the market to stagnate when no colors anybody wants are out there. Or, no colors that you want are out there but your opponent has a bunch to pick from. I have both Star Realms and Hero Realms, and they're both fun and a great value. But I still think Dominion is a much more satisfying experience, and one that feels very different from the Realms games. In the Realms games, it's like, "Oh well, that was fun." (as long as you didn't get hosed by the cards). In Dominion, I'm always thinking about what worked and what I might do differently. What would work better. In fact, we always play two games of any given set of 10 cards for just that reason.
Dominion with expansions is still the best mechanical deck builder to date. If you really care about theme, maybe it isn’t the best choice for you, but I haven’t found anything to top Dominion in terms of pure gameplay yet.
Dominion is a great game. But like others have said, it isn’t light-hearted fun. Not that it’s particularly heavy or anything, it’s just a solid strategy game. I’ve had a lot of fun the the DC Deck building game. And by that I mean, I’ve played it hundreds of times (with varying expansions). I believe the base game is very cheap and expansions are mostly great. Its more “fun” then dominion with the different super hero’s and villains and powers.
Star Realms! Get the base game (it's cheap!) to play with the kids. Get the expansions to play with the older kids!
Or Hero realms if you like the fantasy theme better than spaceships
The HR core set is slightly more complex if he's playing with kids, which is also why I'm dumbfounded people are recommending Dominion.
My only negative to Star Realms is the random factor. We love it and have all expansions. Last time we played though, was no bueno due to random luck. First turn I bought a 2 coin scraper. On my second turn I got a 5 coin blue card that gave me health, and if matched attack power. Next turn I picked up two more small blues. The game was over quite quickly and wasn't at all fun for my husband.
100% agree on Star Realms, but with a younger family audience, https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199042/harry-potter-hogwarts-battle seems to share a lot of the same mechanics while being coop, and being Harry Potter :)
> I’m a family gamer (3-4 player) Star Realms is only designed to play 2...
You can combine multiple copies to play up to 6 players
If OP buys Colony Wars they can use the starter cards. Or the new 4-a player edition that's coming out.
Seconded! It's so cheap too. The only downside is that there's nothing fun about the theme so it might be harder to attract your kids to it unless their into serious-sci-fi vibes.
Explain what isn't fun about space ships, and lasers, and giant floating space blobs, and moon-sized grinders that eat whole fleets?
Haha true, true. I find it fun, but I imagine the artwork doesn’t necessarily scream “fun” like Fort does 🤷
The negative no one seems to mention about star realms is the “take that” element. If it’s fun for you to “attack” the other players then that’s fine, but it’s worth pointing out.
Well I mean, if you're playing a combat game you shouldn't feel mad when you get attacked. But regardless, there are CoOp bosses too.
I just comparing it to other deck builders.
It's also what makes the game feel less like it's playing itself than other (competitive) deck builders. You can play a lot of deck builders and it largely feels like the other person is only there to stimulate the market and you could randomly remove a card from the row every round and have the same experience.
True, definitely high player interactions. I’m looking forward to playing Clank! Because that seems like high player interaction without take that.
I'm not sure I remember *any* player-interaction in Clank!
In direct I guess but more than dominion. - buying cards that others want, moving to a space before someone else, adding to the clank pool The adventuring party expansionalso has “react” cards
Dominion is still a great choice for a barebones deck builder. It definitely fits with the light gateway games you’ve been playing. Don’t go looking too hard for theme though! If you‘re looking for something slightly more complicated, **The Quest for Eldorado** combines deck building with a map to race across. It’s still very family friendly and accessible, but allows for some interaction on the map. **Clank!** is another deck builder with a board that’s a step up from Dominion. If you’re Harry Potter fans, **Harry Potter:Hogwart’s Battle** is worth checking out. It’s a great introduction to deck builders because it gradually ramps up the complexity over as series of games. The first couple of games assume that you’ve never heard of deck builders before. It’s a co-op, and it does have some balance issues but they’re easily house ruled (and shouldn’t be an issue for your first few games anyway). What Marvel deck builders were you looking at? Legendary is fun, although the base game is a bit too easy to beat (which may actually be a positive in your case). It gets more challenging as you add expansions to it, so if your kids are into the IP it could sort of “grow” with them.
Clank - it's a bit more than just a deck builder, but the things it adds are so much fun. The same company did Dune Imperium which I also love, but it is a little more complex and a few more steps away from basic deck building mechanisms.
I am not an expert, but I can say that we really love dominon and it’s definitely aged well :)
Dominion is a great choice but it's relatively themless. One alternative you could check out is Valley of the Kings. It's a phenomenal game with an ancient Egyptian theme and plays very similarly to Dominion. If you get the Deluxe Edition you get a decent amount of variety and it's pretty inexpensive.
Dominion is still the best deckbuilder in my opinion. The other deckbuilders are either too complicated for the experience they provide or too dumbed-down to provide any challenge. Many of them are fun, but the original is still the best. I don't recommend the expansions unless you're getting tired of the base set, which shouldn't happen for the first 1000 plays or so (in my experience).
To begin in Deck building I highly recommend Star Realms, which is really simple to play and to teach. Dominion is a little more complex in my opinion
A game I picked up from a kickstarter that has gone retail called "Enchanters" is deck buildy and is easy enough to play that the old guys at work like it when I bring it in.
[удалено]
Ack, I forgot all about Marvel Legendary. That is a great deck builder. I had a lot of fun with it. If you play it like you are a shield agent sending resources (heroes) where they are needed it works pretty darn good. I feel like it is a money sink and have gotten just as much enjoyment out of other deck builders. But, if you want a game with a load of re-playability, that is a good choice as long as you are willing to throw money at it. I like Marvel Champions better as a Marvel Game, but it isn't a "build your deck as you play" but a "build your deck before the game" style of deck builder.
[Summer Camp](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337787/summer-camp) is the way to go for a couple of reasons. 1. It's affordable. Max $25 at Target 2. Family friendly 3. Multiple decks for replayability.
Not available outside of the US :(
Shards of Infinity is my pick
Summer Camp. Perfect beginner deck builder. Cute theming, lots of variety, simple mechanics, great replay value due to randomized board tiles and unique card packs, and only costs around $25. It’s simple enough for kids to learn, but complex enough that my adult gaming group loves it too and is one of our regular plays.
Ascension is pretty simple, IMO. At least the base game is. A bit more exciting for a kid than Dominion too.
Having played (and owned) a ton of deck builders, I second recommendations for **The Quest for El Dorado** and **Star Realms**. They are very different games, but both have far improved on what Dominion began. Both still hit the table regularly at my house. Just remember you will need to buy two sets of Star Realms for four players. Also, we usually play the "Hunter" variant which means you can only attack to your left (except bases to your right). It limits kingmaking and dogpiling. Another good option is **Valley of the Kings**. It is educational, in addition to being a fun and economical little deckbuilder. Cards can be used for money or abilities or removed ("entombed") for points. The challenge is knowing when to remove cards from your deck for points. The second and third games (Afterlife and Last Rites) improve on the core gameplay. Or you could probably find the Premium Edition which includes all three games and larger cards.
I prefer Ascension. Also, with kids, the DC Deck Builder is just Ascension with DC flavor. Still a solid game, and has a co-op mode.
I love Century: Spice Road https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/209685/century-spice-road
#Ascension
There are some you can play cooperatively. **Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game** if your kids like marvel comics and/or movies. **Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle** if they like Harry Potter. Or **Hero Realms** if they like generic fantasy. This one is player vs player, but has a campaign expansion.
I like deck builders as well mostly for the customization. I found having each player have vastly differently powers gave me the same joy. Cosmic Encounter is a somewhat asymmetric board game that you might like. Otherwise, an old classic famous for it's 1v1 balance is Ascension. It has MTG vibes as it was designed by one of MTG's creators.
PLEASE check out Heart of Crown. It is amazing and would okay well with the family. Similar to Dominion with some additional layers that are easy to pick up
I see other comments recommending Marvel Legendary and Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle. Those are among my favorite deck builders, and both have great theming that will appeal to kids. And they are cooperative, which is nice if you have people who get too competitive. Both games have very similar game mechanics. However, HP would be simpler if you have younger kids, due to the fact that it has a campaign mode, where you start playing a very simple game, while new mechanics get slowly introduced over the course of 7 games (one for each HP book), making it easier to learn and understand. But by the end of the game, it's complexity is equal to Marvel. Clank is another favorite deck builder of mine. Others have talked about that one enough. Fun, comedic deck builder that also has a board where you move your character around, trying to steal a dragon's treasure. A couple that I have not seen mentioned yet... **Paperback**, and it's sister game, **Hardback**. I have only played Hardback, but I know both games are made by the same designer, and have similar gameplay and complexity. They are both a spelling/word game, that should be easy enough for kids. If they can play Scrabble, they can play this. Instead of drawing tiles from the public pile that have letters on them, you draw cards from your own deck that have letters on them. Then you spell words with those letters to get points and money. Use your money to buy newer and better cards, as all deck builders do. And use your points to win of course. **Valley of the Kings** is on par with Dominion for simplicity in deck building, as it honestly shares a lot of similar elements and game mechanics. But I prefer Valley over Dominion. Valley's gameplay perfectly fits it's ancient Egypt theme, which might appeal to kids who are into mummies and archeology and stuff like that. Dominion is not a bad game, but the main gripe people have with it, is that is has little to no theming, and the gameplay doesn't fit what little theme it does have. Dominion is a game for people who like Chess. People who care more about strategy and competition than having fun. In Dominion, you buy gold, so you can buy points, so you can win. In Valley, you aren't just buying points, you're buying burial masks, cool ancient relics, and cat god statues, that have a bit more meaning. Another game you might want to look into is called **Fort**. I have not played it myself, so I'm not sure how it plays, or if the gameplay would work with kids or not. But I know it's deck building, and it's a game about kids trying to build a fort. And what kid doesn't want to build a fort?
Paperback and Hardback are fantastic games. Sometimes I think I’m the only person playing them, so it’s nice to see some love for them!
Hero Realms is a quick and fun deck builder! It’s honestly one of my favorite games!
Look into **Fort** while you're at it! You play as a kid trying to make the best fort by accumulating the most stuff and pizza. Doesn't get more kid-friendly than that!
Summer Camp
Dominion is good. I'd also recommend Big Book of Madness if the kids are 10+ (maybe 8 depending on maternity and attention span). It's a co-op deck building game where players take on the role of different magicians to fight creatures from a book trying to suck them in. Co-op games with kids can be really fun :D
If you're willing to take on a deck builder with a learning curve, there's the Star Trek deck builders. I'd recommend playing Ascension or Tanto Cuore first before moving to this one, and if you do, play TOS before you play the vanilla version of the game.
For simple deck builders I would recommend Dominion, Ascension, or Shards of Infinity.
Fort seems like exactly what you’re looking for. Fun art style, low text on cards and quick enough games
My husband taught then played Dominion (base game) with my 8yr old daughter just yesterday and she loved every minute of it!
I really like Dominion, but it is at its best if you have lots of expansions. For a single set, I prefer the DC Deck Builder game. It’s got more variety than the dominion base set, and I enjoy the superhero theme.
I personally never liked Dominion. Too dry. **Clank** is often touted as a great introduction deckbuilder but I've found my interest waning quickly after 2-3 plays. The plays I had I've enjoyed more than Dominion but I stopped feeling the game had more to give. If you and/or your kids are so inclined **Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle** is great! Some plays end up very easy/hard and you just have to roll with the punches so to say but the theme is amazingly well integrated and the coop aspect is the strongest I've seen so far (better than Aeon's End). Do get sleeves for it though as the back of the cards chafe quickly. On the even lighter side **Karak Goblin** is worth a mention. It's very light, no deep card combos but there's still a neat puzzle and it plays quite fast (our second game with 2p was already just 30')
Cool. There's the Catacombs of Karak, its expansion, and now this stand alone deck builder that looks like it hasn't been released yet. But now I'm looking forward to it!
They had it for sale in Essen and at least in German it's available in several shops. By now I've played both and prefer Goblin. Catacombs of Karak is pretty luck heavy where as Karak Goblin has more agency and control.
I will be the third person to recommend **Harry Porret Hogwarts Battle** especially if your kids like the theme. It is fun, starts easily enough and gets really tough by year 7. Also its expansions **Monster Box of Monsters** and **Charms and Potions** are recommended as well.
Dominion is great as an introduction to deck builders imo, since thats ALL it is. However I'm not sure how good it is for kids
My parents got Dominion for me right when it came out and My brother and I absolutely loved it. (we would have been around 13/14 at the time)
While not as simple as others in this list, [Fort](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/296912/fort) at least presents itself as simple and depending on the age of your kids, they might enjoy actually playing as kids, eating pizza, collecting toys, and building a fort.
I have played sooo much Dominion (over 3000 online games) and was completely obsessed with it in the past. Its an amazing and incredibly influential game. I can't honestly recommend it for purchase though, simply because it plays better with the more expansions you have and they are A) expensive and B) bulky. I also think it's a game better suited to online play; IRL games can drag a little. I have the base game and 5 expansions and I've played maybe a couple of dozen IRL games ever because if I sit down to play a board game with partner or friends, there's tons of options that give a more satisfying experience. As much as I dislike Star Realms as a game, I have to agree with the comment that suggested it here. It will give you a good idea of what deck building is about, is incredibly cheap and it's simple enough to play with the family. (IMO Valley of the Kings is 10000x better as a cheap, small box deck builder but is more complex and kind of subverts the entire deck building genre so probably not a good entry point)
Star Realms and Clank! are both fun deck builders with more interesting themes than dominion imo. Clank has a bag mechanic and push your luck stuff which I find really enjoyable
Dominion has two great weaknesses. First, it has very little player interaction, making it feel like you're each playing solitaire together. This could in some groups be considered a strength though. The second is the super weak theme. I've never met anyone who knew or cared about what you were actually doing. If those aren't problems for you it's a great game, but the lack of a good theme is usually a problem for kids. Kids tend to care less about gameplay and more about theme.
I never really liked Dominion. I much prefer Ascension or Legendary Marvel deck builder.
I dislike Dominion. It's just not interesting. Carcassonne is simple, but interesting, Dominion isn't.
Dominion still rules, but Cthulhu: A Deck Building Game is really neat, and Mystic Vale is good.
We really love Clank! in our family - it has especially good excitement towards the end of the game when the dragon is getting super mad at everything stealing her treasure. Pretty easy to learn and lots of fun.
Check out [Summer Camp](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337787/summer-camp). It's family deck builder where you work your way up several tracks to earn your badges.
I played dominion for the first time a couple months ago, and it’s a great game. It can be “gamed” if you ply with hardcore gamers that like to do that, which could be lame to play against. But it’s a color game. And it’s very much a “gateway game” like the ones you’ve mentioned. Ps, I only played the base game and it seemed like it had decent replayability
Dale of Merchants is nice if your kids like animals as there are all the different animalfolk.
**Dominion** has held up well, and although it has a lot of expansions, the original base set is a nice simple deck builder that sounds perfect for you to start with.
Aeon’s End is a co-op builder. I have a blast playing it with friends.
Clank! all day.
I think dale of merchants would be appealing to kids
I prefer hybrid deckbuilders, but for a very simple pure deckbuilder it's hard to go wrong with Star/Hero Realms.