How to Host a Game Night

A new generation of games has emerged over the last decade or two, and with it, a new generation of players. With local game stores, tournaments, and gaming apps, there is no shortage of places to go to get your gaming fix, but nothing compares to a good old-fashioned game night with friends and family. Before you unbox your go-to game and get playing though, you may want to dress up your evening. Don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas to help you throw a legendary game night that will leave your friends begging for more!

The Games

There really aren’t any hard and fast rules about what games you should play at your gaming event, but there are a few things you’ll want to consider before pulling boxes off the shelves. Start by looking over the game box, which usually provides three key pieces of information: age recommendation, player restriction, and game time. Depending on your game audience, the size of your event, and how much time you have, these will help narrow down your pool of games.

Age recommendations are especially helpful when children will be present, indicating whether the content is appropriate and game components safe for players of a given age. Next is the suggested number of players, which is generally inflexible because game mechanics do not work well (or at all) with fewer or more players. Finally, whether you plan to play all day, just for an evening, or play a bunch of games in a row, game time will help you fill your event appropriately. Keep in mind that the more players in a game, the longer it may take due to breaks, chatting, and number of turns.

Once you’ve narrowed down the possibilities, consider your guests' preferences. If they have never played modern board games, you may want to choose games that are easier to learn or more broadly enjoyed. Also keep in mind the themes your players may love or really dislike. Ideally, you want to choose a game that can not only be followed by every player, but also has a theme to which they can connect. A wide variety of players with an even wider variety of interests may enjoyparty games, which are light on theme, incredibly social, and can captivate a large number of people. Whatever you play, keep an eye on your audience. If they don't seem to enjoy what you’re playing, you could ask what’s frustrating them to get a sense for a better option and try something different. Not everyone will love every game, but exposing them to lots of choices is the best way to find something they will adore!

The Food

The games are, of course, the core of your event, but a truly outstanding game night will likely have a few more elements, not the least of which is food. Even if you’re playing between meals, your guests will likely want something to munch on. While it could be as simple as opening up a box of crackers, you could blow your friends away with a few quick ideas and a little consideration.

When you decide what food to include, you want to think not only about what your guests would like to eat, but what works well when your hands are busy playing the game. If you eat before or after you play, the food selections aren’t as important, but if you want to eat while you play, it’s important to consider preservation of your game components. Any handheld snacks doused in grease or any kind of powder will likely leave you with dirty pieces. Similarly, eating soupy foods or dips while you play can increase the likelihood of spills on your cards, dice, or game board. So this may not be the day to break out your fondue pot, but there are tons of delicious options out there.

Your best bet for keeping guests happy and games clean are toothpick appetizers, so you don’t even have to touch the food! Quick options include meat and cheese skewers or stuffed olives. If you have a bit more time to prepare, pigs in a blanket or bacon-wrapped anything are always crowd favorites! Any bite-sized foods are best for avoiding a mess, and some of these options can even constitute a full dinner, such as chicken nuggets or pizza pinwheels. Feel free to experiment, but think ahead if you don’t want your favorite game to be covered in grease.

The Atmosphere

Your game night is shaping up to be full of thrills (and devoid of spills), but there’s one big piece of planning yet to do: set-up. Where are you going to host this grand game night? Whether you intend to play in your own home or at a local pub, you have plenty to think about. Most importantly, do you have a space to play? You want to make sure there is plenty of seating for your guests, table enough for your game, and that the space is accessible to any players with special needs. Additionally, you’ll need space for whatever food and beverages you’re serving. Having a designated space for these things, such as a separate surface or small TV trays, can help you avoid flooding your game with a player’s drink of choice. If your space doesn’t work well for the needs of your game night, you might consider going somewhere else.

Holding the event in your home is certainly the most convenient option if you’re serving food, but it’s also not the only one. Public spaces such as parks, libraries, schools, game stores, and some bars, breweries, and restaurants could serve the function quite well! If you plan to step outside your own front door for gaming, you should still consider the space, as well as food offerings (do they have food, are you allowed to bring your own), reservations (do you need to plan ahead), and weather (if you’re going outside, wind and rain are not your friend). And wherever your game night will be held, you'll want to consider noise and ambiance. Will you be able to hear each other in the space? Do you want music while you play? Will your friends feel comfortable playing in a public space? As a final caution, be careful of candles. Cardboard and open flame don't often mix…

The Ultimate Game Night

If you really love hosting game nights, you might even want to organize an ongoing weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly event. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t so you can improve for the next time. If you love going to game nights, but don’t necessarily want to plan them all the time, you could also rotate responsibilities within your gaming group. If you don’t have a regular group right now, local game stores are a great way to meet others who love games, and a game night is a great reason to invite over a new friend!

This article was originally published on www.asmodee.com.