How to Host a Grown-Up Game Night

Tired of the classic night out with your friends? Organizing a grown-up game night can be a fun and relaxing alternative to going to the cinema. However, gathering everyone and organizing the evening for your group can be a bit challenging, especially if you have little experience with hosting such an evening.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you plan a special night at home with your friends, playing some exciting games and eating finger food without making a mess of your old board games.

Choose the Right Group

The game night takes out the best and the worse in people — depending on who’s winning. That’s why it’s wise to plan the evening with people who know each other. Otherwise, your guests are more likely to feel uncomfortable with being themselves around strangers.

Let everyone know the guests’ list ahead, to avoid embarrassing situations. To make communication easy, you create a group on Facebook or WhatsApp, where your guests can get the details about the big night — who else is coming, what games you’re planning to play, whether you need help with organizing the evening.

Keep the group small, to make sure everyone gets a place at the table. There’s nothing worse during the game night than one or two people who get impatient as they have to watch others playing.

Remember that game night isn’t for everyone. Just because you love board games, it doesn’t mean all people are fond of this type of entertainment.  If you have friends who prefer watching a movie rather than throwing dices during a game of Monopoly, don’t invite them to your special evening.

The Game Makes All the Difference

Should it be a board game, a guessing game, or a talking game? It mostly depends on the guests’ list and the number of people who will make it to your party. Most games need between four and six people. Remember this significant detail when choosing the right game for the evening.

Choosing the right entertainment can become a challenge, especially if your group has more than one favorite game. From Settlers of Catan and StarWars Battleship to Monopoly and Twister, there’s a wide range of games you can pick from.

The best way to handle this is by discussing options with your guests. Ask them what they prefer and vote. This way, you make sure you don’t create expectations you won’t meet. Maybe not everybody gets to play what they want, but at least no one can complain about your choices.

If you want to play a specific game, you should mention it in the invitation right from the beginning.

Food and Drinks Are Essential

When you host a grown-up game night, you need to plan a menu that can keep your guests happy and full. However, choosing the right snacks can be tricky, especially if you’re playing a board game and you don’t want any sauce spots on your Monopoly dollars. In simple words, you need the minimum mess, without quitting on taste.

Among the food that can be eaten with little or no effort with one hand, you can include pretzel bites, spring rolls, mozzarella skewers, flatbreads, mini quiches, popcorn, chicken bites, meatballs, chips, salted and sweet muffins, or sandwiches. You can find inspiration and easy recipes on Pinterest or with a simple search on Google.

Since you’re organizing an entertaining night for adults, you shouldn’t forget about drinks either. Depending on what your friends like, you can choose between beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. Just make sure you have enough drinks for everyone.

Create a Relaxing Atmosphere

The last part of hosting the perfect game night for your friends consists of preparing your home for guests. Make sure you have enough chairs (soft, preferably) and a large table, where you can place the game, the snacks, and everyone’s glasses. Extra pillows, blankets, and poufs can help you create a relaxing atmosphere, without turning the entire house upside down.

Lightning is another detail that can make the difference for your evening. If you’re going to play a game that employs strategy or writing, for example, you should set the table in a room with enough light. In this case, choosing the dinner table on behalf of the coffee table in the living room can be the right thing for your guests to stay comfortable.

Make the evening special with some themed decorations and party supplies. From tableware to favors, these small details can make your guests feel comfortable and part of the game.

Share Your Plan with All Guests a Few Days Before the Game Night

Once you have everything planned, share your ideas with all the guests. This way, everybody knows when the evening starts and how long it’s going to last. This way, you don’t risk having guests arriving late or leaving too soon.

Also, always have a plan B for emergencies. Have a second game ready, if your things don’t move in the direction you’ve expected. Plus, be prepared to order pizza if you forget the snacks in the oven while being captured in the mystery of a murderer.

Above all, stay relaxed and enjoy the evening. The game night should be fun for everybody, host included.