How to Create the Perfect Games Night at Home

Everybody loves a game night with their closest friends and/or family. There is so much versatility in creating a game night, and it truly is endless. So, how can you create the perfect games night? What distinguishes a good one from a great one, and what can you do to impress your guests? Let’s dive in.

Understanding What Your Guests Want

Before anyone arrives at your abode, before you even start to organize the event, you need to understand your audience and what they want out of a games night. Is it going to be a nice and cozy board game session where everyone is wrapped up in blankets? Or are you going for something a little more boisterous? Everyone must know where they stand and what the vibe is going to be, so they aren’t disappointed when they arrive.

Making Sure Everybody Knows the Rules

Have you ever been to a game night to realize that you don’t know how to play the game everyone is so excited about? It can be very frustrating, so even if some people already know the rules of your chosen game, making sure everyone is on an equal playing field is important.

For example, poker can be a tough game to get the hang of, with many asking the question: what is the worst hand in poker? Making sure everyone knows what to do if they find themselves in that situation can help avoid certain stresses.

The Perfect Environment

We live in an age of technology where smart homes are becoming more frequent, and these can absolutely be used to your advantage when setting the atmosphere for the perfect game night. The opportunities are nearly endless, but here are a few quick things you can do to set your night apart from your friends’ nights.

Smart lightbulbs that can change color can greatly impact how a game night will feel. These can be used to set or alter the mood of the game. This could work especially well if you are playing a role-playing game such as Dungeons and Dragons. If your band of characters is out and about in a sunny environment, you could utilize a brighter tone; and when they enter a dangerous dungeon, this could change into a more foreboding color, such as a deep red.

Using audio devices like Amazon’s Alexa could also massively improve the atmosphere of the night. If you are playing a more traditional game, it can be used as background noise if that’s what the vibe demands. If you are role-playing, this could be paired with your lighting system to create a great level of immersion for your players.

Different Kinds of Game Nights

There are many different kinds of game nights, the term is rather broad and can be taken in a number of directions. So here are some different types of games you could play to make the most of your evening of fun:

Starting with a classic, having a board game night could be a big hit with your friends, whether you go head-to-head and potentially do irreparable damage to friendships over a drawn-out game of Monopoly, or prefer a more relaxed approach. There is something for everyone, and if you avoid Monopoly, you may have the chance to play a fair few games in one night.

Another classic is a poker night, which has the potential to either be a fun way to catch up with friends over a not-so-serious game of poker or an intense match-up where very few words are exchanged, with everyone glued to their own cards. Because of its versatility, a poker night is always a good option.

Digital games

Maybe you want to take the night down a more digital road, and there is plenty of room to do just that. Again, there is a lot of versatility to be found here, from classic head-to-head games like a Mario Kart title to the classic Wii Party, which could result in fierce head-to-heads. Or you could go the couch co-op route, depending on your party size. This path allows for a more light-hearted approach, whether that be solving puzzles or going up against AI-controlled foes.

And, of course, the aforementioned Dungeons and Dragons, or another role-playing game, could make for an incredible game night. This one does require an extra level of commitment for your guests, so it is best if they have some prep time. But this could be a great time for you and your friends, allowing your imagination to go wild with what antics your unlikely band of characters may go through.

Conclusion

But whatever game you decide to play, a game night can be a great way to connect with your friends, whether that be through a head-to-head battle for victory or working together to solve a problem. All can be fun if the company is great.