If you’re looking for a fun night in with a group of friends or your family, a tabletop games night is a great idea. Here’s everything you need to know about hosting the most entertaining games night ever.
Contents
The Benefits
Tabletop games are experiencing a resurgence in recent years due to the benefits associated with them. These benefits include face to face social interaction, with the additional benefits of improved communication skills and forming or strengthening relationships.
Increased brain function, with studies showing that that tabletop games reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are another benefit Tabletop gaming stimulates the brain areas responsible for complex thought and memory formation. This allows the brain to practice problem solving and decision-making skills.
Then, there’s the stress relief these games offer, as playing promotes the release of endorphins. These foster a sense of happiness, contentment and even lower blood pressure.
Last but not least is the enhanced confidence and creativity they encourage.
The Games
When choosing games for the night, use these tips to guide you.
Know the crowd and plan accordingly:
Consider the age group attending, their interests, gaming experience and the time available. A complex strategy game may not be the way to go if you only have a couple of hours with beginners.
Provide a variety of options:
From a quick game of Snap! to a longer thinking game like Rummikub or Scrabble, or a more active game like Jenga, give your guests some options.
Where time is limited, you may want to substitute a quick game of Bananagrams for Scrabble, as they are both word-based tile games.
Mix it up:
As strange as it sounds, games can be combined, providing the rules are made clear to everybody. For example, use the UNO! cards instead of dice when moving around the Monopoly board or play the children’s version of Pictionary with adults.
Recommendations: Depending on the group and time available, here are some tabletop games to appeal to a wide variety of ages, tabletop gaming experience and interests:
Word-based: Scrabble, Bananagrams, Balderdash.
Strategy: Root, Brass: Birmingham, Ark Nova, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Catan.
Number-based: Rummikub, UNO!
Games of chance: Exploding Kittens, Snakes and Ladders, Snap!
General knowledge: Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, 30 Seconds.
Old favorites: Cluedo, Monopoly, Backgammon, Mahjong, traditional card games like Go Fish, and Rummy.
Active: Fingerboard, Jenga, Mini pool, Crokinole.
If you have a party that’s all adults, you can also introduce some card games to the mix, just like you’d find at Jackpot Wheel casino. Blackjack and poker are always big hits, and you can even introduce small stakes for added excitement and rewards.
The Preparation
Benjamin Franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” These simple steps should ensure that your games night runs smoothly.
Send out invitations at least a week before. This will also help you to plan the evening in terms of space and the types of games to include. Most games have a minimum or maximum number of players which will need to be taken into consideration.
Invite participants to bring their favorite game if your repertoire is limited.
If on a budget, ask each guest to bring a snack or drink, or club together to buy a few pizzas on the night. If you are providing snacks and refreshments, check first if there are any specific dietary requirements.
Lay out a separate snack area and coffee and tea station that will not interfere with the games area.
Check the game instructions beforehand and have them to hand on the night. Confirm that the necessary tools, such as dice or pencil and paper are to hand.
If the game requires or comes with cards, tokens or pieces, count and organize these to prevent issues later.
Space permitting, set up separate gaming tables with the necessary seating and room to move around the table. Ensure good lighting at each station.
Arrange a comfortable time out zone.
The Extra Mile
Time and budget permitting, the following ideas can make your gathering of gamers one to remember.
- Plan a themed games night with associated dress up and décor.
- Give out small, silly or fun prizes for games won, lost or played enthusiastically.
- Hide quiz and trivia questions or riddle cards at the game stations for extra prizes.
- Issue fun penalties for screen time or swearing infringements.
- Play background music, providing that it does not distract gamers and put them off their game.
The Games Night
Play your cards right on the night!
After introductions and ice breakers, explain the games set up. If time allows, play a practice round with players that are unfamiliar with a particular game. Where necessary, mix up the groups from different social spheres to avoid cliques. Diplomatically move players that are dominating a game to another games table.
Engage stragglers by offering to team up with them and show them the ropes, if they are not familiar with a game.
Be flexible and open to changing the games night plan. If gamers are not enjoying a particular game, you may need to offer to switch. Or if a game is taking longer than expected but players want to finish it, you may not get to play another game.
Break for snacks and refreshments often.
To keep it fresh, rotate between games. Remember to switch between types of games, to allow different players to show off their skill set and to prevent lethargy.
Ask for help cleaning up and putting away the games neatly once done with them. There’s always that one pedantic friend who will make sure the tokens are put into the right slots in the box.
When guests leave, remember to thank them and offer to share memorable photos, if appropriate.
Don’t forget to enjoy the event too and to participate in the games! A relaxed and engaged host will put others at their ease.
A Fun Night In
Whether resources and space are limited or not, planning a games night does not need to be stressful if these tips are followed.
Remember to pick suitable games for the group and keep the energy high by rotating games and players, allowing opportunities for breaks and socializing.
Don’t delay! Go play!
