What age is appropriate for a child's first board game?

Most reviewers and the boxes themselves point to age 3+ for true first games (Candy Land, simple color-matching titles), age 5–6 for games introducing basic strategy or reading (Sorry!, math-based games), and age 7+ for party and deduction games like Herd Mentality or picture-based guessing games. Verified-purchase reviewers consistently note that listed ages run a bit conservative if an adult plays along.