I live in Chicago and there are at least 3 game stores that have open games that people can play in the store to try out. There are game nights for people to play in groups as well. For free! You may want to check around and see if there is something like this around you so you can play before you buy.
I love board games and card games.
You can also find games at the thrift store, it can be fun to try out old games, too.
I like to play trivial pursuit-the first and second editions are pretty good, even today.
I also recently got Colorku which is sudoku with colored marbles.
For two players I like: Quirkle (cubes), Jaipur, Lost Cities, Colorku, Quoridor, Risk. Tapple.
For card games: Karma, Set, Five Crowns, Skipbo, Iota