Hosting a game night can be a fun and educational way to catch up with friends and spend time with family. But with so many different board, card, and video games on the market, you might be wondering where to start. Should you fish those Scrabble letters out from the back of the sofa? Or should you try and learn the rules of Texas Hold ‘Em (again)?
Don’t worry though, because help is close at hand. Our resident party planners and gamemasters have nominated their favorite activities and grouped them together in the article below. If your weekly bonding session with the kids has begun to stagnate, these family game ideas are bound to liven things up!
Now, collect $200 and advance to GO!
Classic Board Games Night: Nostalgia and Strategy in Every Turn
Relive childhood memories (and create some new ones) by digging into classic Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers games. These time-honored favorites, such as Ludo, Battleship, and Snakes and Ladders, have a low barrier to entry and are widely available. Another reason these games have never gone out of style? They improve social skills and promote good psychological health. That’s right – on our game nights, you walk away with more than just prize money!
Interactive Games Night: Get Up and Play!
If you’d rather play something more dynamic and animated than counting cards or rolling dice, there are plenty of hands-on alternatives. You could gather your guests around a Topple Tower, and task them with building the tallest column on record. Or you could have a Fast Four tournament in the backyard, complete with chunky colored counters and decorated panels. There’s an old-school appeal to games like Charades that require nothing other than your body language and improvisational skills to play. That all sounds like a three-syllable word to us: Zamazing.
Video Game and VR Night: Dive into a New World
Video game consoles have been a staple of home entertainment ever since the release of Atari 2600. While most multiplayer games are played online nowadays – Fortnite and League of Legends, for example – you can’t beat a game like Mario Kart for some chaotic action and friendly rivalry. Budget permitting, equip your guests with a VR headset, and have them try a few particularly immersive, coffee table-jostling party games. VR games can be more accessible, too, as there aren’t any traditional controllers, and they certainly have a ‘wow’ factor!
Family Olympics: Let the Games Begin!
Perhaps the Olympics have you feeling sporty and motivated. In that case, host your own mini championship with any of the sports that featured in the Games, such as basketball, tennis, soccer, and golf. For maximum entertainment value, experiment with the lesser-known additions to the Olympic itinerary, like breakdancing and skateboarding! Or, work your way up to more demanding pursuits with a casual game of pickleball. This is a great way to make the most of the dog days of summer, whatever you end up playing!
Adult-Friendly Game Night: Adding a Twist to the Fun
Right, now that the kids have been put to bed, proceed to the next phase of game night with some adult-only favorites. Poker chips, custom decks, and green baize tables are the order of the day here, as you pit yourself against the high rollers in your family and social circle. To enhance the cool casino ambiance, break out the tailormade shot glasses and engraved beer mugs at this point, too. Oh, and there are also a lot of NSFW games available, like Cards Against Humanity, which are bound to prove, um, illuminating…
Child-Friendly Game Night: Fun for the Little Ones
On the other hand, the night is still young, and chances are your participants might be too. To prevent kids from getting bored or overwhelmed by complicated rules and conditions, play a few games that are simple and easy to understand. Put together a word game or two, or create some jigsaw puzzles to keep them occupied throughout the night. Or why not deck out the backyard in cornhole boards and scavenger hunt items? With friendly, entertaining games like these, well, everyone’s a winner!
Themed Game Night: A Night to Remember
Finally, if you want to go all out with family games night, host a themed party, complete with costumes, music, and even some of our branded goods. Fans of thrillers and crime shows can encourage their guests to don a hat and trenchcoat for a game of Clue, or you can have everyone pull their best Superman pose for a comic book-themed quiz. Our only caveat here is to check with your attendees before you decide on a theme, so that they’re all equally invested!
With the above suggestions in mind, you are primed and ready for the ultimate game night. If the only thing missing is a suitable location, then take a look at our “Game Room Ideas – How to Create Your Own Game Room at Home” article for inspiration and décor tips. Then invite your family, friends, and neighbors, and get your game on!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
