Make a Sunday of it.
A good game afternoon need not fill the whole afternoon. Give it a comfortable place between the other things you want to do.
Clear enough table for the whole game.
A board needs a shared centre. A tile game needs room to grow. Before choosing between Creekside Catch and Patchwork Meadow, look at the space you actually have and where people can sit comfortably.
Put cards and small pieces where they are easy to reach, with a separate spot for drinks. Leave the rules nearby. If a young player is joining, check the age guide and the action they will need to perform, then show one example at their pace.
Think about what everyone enjoys noticing.
Someone who likes changes on a shared board may enjoy following the fish in Creekside Catch. Someone who likes making a pattern may prefer the paths and pastures of Patchwork Meadow. Market Pennies brings a different pleasure: making a small purse serve a shopping list.
The market also seats a fifth player, while the creek and meadow go up to four. A solo afternoon belongs to Patchwork Meadow and its included challenge sheet. These practical details are worth deciding before a favourite picture makes the choice for you.
Let the first decision be visible.
Place a catch card beside a matching fish, trace the edges of a field, or put the required produce beside a shopping list. Let the newcomer describe what they see. This connects a printed rule to the objects on the table without taking over their later decisions.
The play-time estimates run from 20–30 minutes for the meadow to 30–40 for the market. Leave more time on a first opening, especially if you want a break between reading and playing.
Put the pieces away ready for next time.
Sort the cards and markers, check chairs and the floor, and make a note of a question you would like to settle before another round. If a part is damaged or absent, send the shop its name and the game title so the issue is clear.
Ask which moment someone would like to try differently next time. That is enough of an invitation; the next game does not have to happen immediately.