A games night with friends or family is a great way to relax, unwind and spend quality time with your favourite people. If you’ve never hosted one, it can be a little daunting at first. However, with careful planning and preparation, you can enjoy the fruits of your labour. Let’s go through how you can organise an unforgettable games night, hopefully for all the right reasons!
Pick a theme
Some hosts like to set a theme for a games night to create unique and engaging experiences for all. This can influence your choice of games, food, drinks, costumes and the ambience you create in your hosting space.
Whether you like the sound of a fantasy setting, futuristic backdrop or a glamorous 70s experience, a theme can really tie a games night together. Alternatively, running without a theme can keep things nice and simple for you as the host. Everyone can then bring their own styles along for the ride!
Choose games wisely
The key to a successful games night is, of course, the games you play. You can opt for variety to keep things fresh as the night progresses or dive into a long-format game or adventure that keeps players on tenterhooks all evening.
If you’re going for variety, consider games that can be set up and put away easily such as Monopoly, Scrabble or Uno. There are plenty of long-format gaming experiences to indulge in, including D&D and Civilization. Games don’t all have to be physical either. You can have just as much fun playing online casino games or multiplayer video games together.
Set up the space
For a games night that everyone can stay engaged with, you need to provide the right atmosphere. Comfort, ambience and appropriate lighting are all key elements to consider. Creating dedicated game stations with enough space for players to play without feeling cramped should be a priority to ensure longevity.
If you’re infusing some creativity, adding decorative elements in line with your chosen theme or game choices can set the tone for an atmospheric games night.
Introduce rewards or incentives
The aim of the game should be fun and quality time spent with friends or family, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring rewards and incentives into play. This doesn’t have to be money. Instead, it could be pre-determined prizes organised by you or forfeits involving the night’s events. These can just spice up the night a little further.
Get the food and drink spot-on
Finally, a memorable games night should leave no one hungry or thirsty. Think of food and drink as the lubricant that keeps the evening’s entertainment running smoothly. People can always contribute or bring their own if you ask!
