It’s finally here. The evening you’ve been waiting for. Your calendar circled on the date. It’s been whispered at friend dinners and in group texts since last month.
Game night.
Whether it’s a couple’s night in, singles get together, or a mixture of married folks and singletons, game night is always a roaring good time.
But now you’re the host. This pressure hasn’t been put on you before. You’ve always been able to adore the fantastic decorations, delectable food, and game board set up without worrying about creating it yourself. What are you going to do?
First, relax. Breathe. It’s going to be OK.
We’ve assembled all the best tips from the very best game night pros to make sure you are ready for the big night. Follow these tips, and the group will want you to host every month.
Ready?
Choose the Game Prior to the Night.
Don’t put it to a vote, because you know what? Somebody is going to feel left out. If you put it to a vote, the first thing people will say when they walk in the door is “Why did you pick that game?”. It’s not a great way to start the positive and happy vibes of a game night.
No, you’re the host. You pick the game. Make sure you have the idea in your head before your guests arrive. Different games necessitate different setups, locations, and table space. Keep this in mind. If you’re playing some card games, it’s going to require a table. If you’re playing Twister, however, you’re going to need ample floor space.
Right hand, blue, anyone?
Pick a Good Game
There are good games, and there are rubbish games. There are innocent games, and there are raunchy games. You have to make sure that you are picking an appropriate game for the people that are playing.
If Timmy, the 10-year-old, is coming with Martha and Stu because they couldn’t find a sitter, maybe Cards Against Humanity can wait a month or two.
Additionally, there’s probably a reason you haven’t heard of games such as Twin Peaks, Poleconomy, Capital Punishment, or Trump The Game (yeah). These games are bad. Just don’t try it.
Some games we recommend are:
- Cosmic Encounter
- Apples to Apples
- Wise and Otherwise
- Pandemic
- Wavelength
- Trivial Pursuit
- Twister
- Mysterium
- Card games
Have a Backup Game
Games will flop. There’s nothing you can do about it.
As game master and game host, there’s a possibility that your first game option will be about as exciting to your guests as watching paint dry, and that’s OK!
There’s a reason why American baseball players get three strikes before they’re forced to take a seat on the bench. You’re allowed a second go.
So make sure that your favorite game is laid out on the table or floor before your guests arrive, but maybe make sure you’ve got your second favorite game to hand in case of emergency.
Don’t forget this part.
Clean Your House or Flat
It’s just good manners to make sure your guests have a clean environment. People have been cleaning their homes in anticipation of guests for thousands of years. It’s just what humans do. You’re human; get cleaning.
Pro tip: Accentuate some of your home’s best features, such as a mantle, chef kitchen, or jumbo screen TV with a little something extra.
Finger Food
You’re hosting a game night, not doing the entire community’s dishes. Be smart about food offerings. If you’re offering up lasagna with a tiramisu dessert, you’re doing it wrong.
Depending on how many people you have invited over for a game night, you could spend an hour cleaning up after people. Remember that you also want time to be able to enjoy the night as well.
Think, chips and dips, pizza, pinwheels, nachos, or something that can be put on the end of a cocktail stick, like meatballs. And don’t forget about dessert. You don’t have to go overboard. Some simple cookies are all you need – after all, who doesn’t love cookies?
Now no one said you had to spend hours slaving over the stove to make all of this. If you want to, that’s fine, but it’s equally acceptable to go down to your local store and see what finger foods they have to offer.
But remember to check with your guests for any allergies or food requirements beforehand.
Buy Drinks
What goes well with games? Booze.
Yup, you’re going to have to foot the bill for a few cases of beer, a few bottles of wine, or a big bottle of liquor for the evening. For our sober friends, make sure you have some tasty soda as well.
In contrast to keeping the game of the night a secret, you can ask your guests what they would like to drink for the evening.
Play some chill music
Music sets the mood, gets the energy flowing, and removes awkwardness between guests who may not know each other. But you can’t just pick anything.
Maybe you like heavy metal where it sounds like the lead vocalist is severely damaging his vocal cords. That’s great! However, other people might not like listening to death metal while playing some Scrabble. Ditto for lyrically-intense rap.
A relatively loose but useful rule of thumb is to play current hits or music resembling elevator music with some words sprinkled in. You want background music. Music where you know it’s there, but it accentuates the evening instead of dominating it.
There you go! You now have the tools to become the best game night host in your social circle. You’ve worked hard for this. Now have fun!