I’m skeptical of all game and movie adaptations. The fact is, the IP owner almost always a megacorp that specializes in taking as much as possible while giving as little as possible in return. I know that the games are frequently made by known board game designers, but ultimate power over the projects is held by the IP owner and they aren’t interested in a good game, only a profitable one.

I usually do the setup, then play a mock game by myself as I read through the rules and if the rules are very unclear I will watch a how to video. I find I have a more thorough understanding of the game doing it this way rather than by reading straight through the rules first. I frequently teach games so, getting this sort of understanding, though more time consuming now, means less looking at the rules while teaching and a smoother experience for everyone.

This is a difficult question for me to answer. I have many perfect games, each perfect for their specific situation. If I had to go with most universal game, probably Ticket to Ride. Simple enough to be taught to pretty much anyone and has enough depth to entertain without being overly complicated or excessively long.