As a lover of tabletop games, having game nights are an essential way to spread my enjoyment and have a fun night with friends or family. But it takes more than just a stack of board games to make an awesome game night.
To Theme or Not To Theme
It can get really boring playing the same game over and over again with no other reason but because you can. Why not give a theme to what your night will play like? By giving the night a theme, it can help you choose new and different games to play. For example, a zombie night where all of the games are related to zombies and the apocalypse (Dead of Winter and Zombie Dice are some options).
Pick Your Style
Think about what kind of games are you going to play. Will it be card games, board games, or tile-laying games? Will it be co-operative play or not? Will they be mini games that take little time to play, or a marathon of a game? It all kind of depends on your players, but I would suggest a good mix of different types, and both mini games and longer ones, so you can warm up with the minis or take a break between the longer ones.
Pay Attention To Your Guests
Obviously, if your guests are not enjoying a game, you should probably stop playing it. And if players are getting confused over the game, make sure you can easily explain or help them out so they can have fun. The whole game night will go south if your guests are not enjoying themselves, so try your best to help them have fun.
Keep It Going
What I love about game nights is that you can have them often, like a weekly tradition. Make it a routine to have game nights every so often, maybe changing locations on rotation and playing different games every time. Plus why have a bunch of tabletop games with no one to play with? Keep it going and keep on playing.
What are your favorite games to play with friends? Let me know in the comments!
We love game nights and host a lot of them during the summer. These are great ideas for ensuring that it goes off without a hitch.
Thank you!
Channel A is awesome. Think Cards Against Humanity, but proposing anime series. Also Tsuro. We’ve even taught our dog how to play, but she only picks moves to let ‘Daddy’ win.
I should probably be disturbed by how smart she is, really.
I really want Tsuro. I like Tsuro of the seas where you avoid the dragons in boats, and the dragons move. It looks super cool!
Ooh, that sounds neat too!
Tsuro is awesome. We used to play the original one every time we had a game night. Good starter/in betweener.
Pictionary is one of my favourites!
I love this idea. Now that my sons are older, I really want to host more game nights at our house. Games are expensive aren’t they! I’m going to check out some of the ones you mentioned – thanks!
They can be. I know there is a subscription box that sends games and isn’t too bad. I try to stay cheaper cause I’m a broke college student after all.
These are really great tips! I want to plan a game night now! <3