Hosting a game night is a great way to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest – after all, what’s better than some healthy competition?

If you’re keen to throw the ultimate game evening, it requires a bit of thought and preparation. Here, we offer several tips for planning and executing a game night to remember.

Get organised in advance

Firstly, you need to set a date and time for your game night. Then invite your guests.

Try to establish exactly how many people will be attending far enough in advance that you can purchase the right number of snacks and drinks for everyone.

This will also help you set up the most appropriate seating and dictate which games you’ll be able to play as individuals or teams.

Choose your games

Think about the types of games you want to play. For instance, do you want a board game bonanza where you tackle long games like Monopoly or Ticket to Ride?

Do you want to host a quiz night and play Trivial Pursuit? Or would you rather play quick and simple online games like mobile slots?

If you’re hosting a large gathering, you could choose some fun party games for adults like charades, Head’s Up or Pictionary.

Set up your space

Once you’ve chosen the types of games you want to play, think about how to set up your space.

If you’re playing board games with friends, this may involve clearing your dining table and setting up enough seats.

Or if you’re going for a more relaxed vibe you could set up your living room with various seats and cushions on the floor.

If you’re playing with cards or small playing pieces, think about your lighting and whether people will be able to see clearly. If not, use task lighting like lamps as well as overhead lighting.

Provide snacks and drinks

We recommend providing a range of finger foods that are easy to eat and cause little mess.

It’s best to avoid foods in sloppy sauces or items prone to dripping. Instead, opt for grazing boards with things like crackers, pretzels, crisps, cured meats, olives, popcorn, pickles, dried fruits, nuts, sausage rolls, finger sandwiches, cookies and fruit.

Dedicate a portion of the evening to eating either before or after games. This will help to avoid greasy residue getting on playing pieces.

Establish rules and guidelines

While it can be tempting to dive straight into your game(s), take some time to go through the rules.

This may include how to score, how to get points or progress on the board, the overall aim of the game and any guidelines or rules players should be aware of.

This will make sure everyone is clued up on how to play, giving each player a fair shot at winning. It will also avoid any friendly disputes arising during the game about the rules.

We hope these tips will help you host a fun-filled and memorable game night. Good luck!