As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, heading out for dinner or drinks on a Friday night can suddenly start to feel far less appealing, and even the prospect of a glamorous night at the casino seems less attractive when compared with a cosy night in.
But if you don’t want to lose out on your social life in the dip between now and Christmas, then there are plenty of ways to enjoy the best of both worlds and get together with friends in a way that works for you. Our favourite? Hosting a lavish games night at home.
A chance to show off your luxurious abode and gather your favourite people for an evening of adrenaline fuelled fun – all washed down with plenty of champagne, wine or cocktails – a games night means that you can still enjoy all of your favourite sociable pursuits without leaving the warmth and comfort of your home. A chance to get dressed up to the nines and feel like the million dollars that you are, there are lots of options to keep your guests entertained, from board and tabletop games to roulette wheels and poker tables. If you’re really keen to create an authentic feel at home, then you can even incorporate some online slots or live casino games into the evening’s activities
If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to planning a games night that everyone will be talking about for weeks to come, then we’ve got you covered. Here’s all you need to consider to ensure the evening goes off with a bang.
The guests
Obviously, you’ll want to put your friends on the guest list, but how big a group you decide to invite is a key consideration. If you’re keen to keep things intimate, then a small, select group is the way to go – but if you’re hoping to create more of a party feel then the bigger the list of attendees, the better.
The games
Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that when choosing your games, you’ll need to ensure you have enough activities to keep people entertained – and with larger parties, this might mean having a few different games stationed around the room for people to play in smaller circles. This can, however, make it more difficult to catch up with and chat to all of your guests throughout the night, so if that’s your main aim then choosing one game a small group of you can all play together – like Roulette or Monopoly – is a better way to go.
If you’ve got an even number of guests, then team games are a great option, but make sure that all your invitees know exactly what they’re in for, as not everyone enjoys them – especially if they’re not expecting them!
Getting all your guests to agree on a game can be difficult, so give them a few options (ideally no more than three or four) ahead of time that you know will appeal to everyone. Then when people arrive, they can choose which one sounds the most fun. Various party games, including card games, board games, and possibly a couple of trivia or guessing games can all work well, and by offering up a variety you’ll be sure to find something that will suit everyone, with a backup or two in case you run out of time, or your guests change their minds.
For a cozy game night, consider playing Hearts together, a strategic card game perfect for small groups. With its simple rules and engaging gameplay, Hearts offers an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, fostering friendly competition and lasting memories.
Not all games are created equal. The more rules you have to explain, the more likely your guests will lose interest before the game starts – so, if possible, it’s a good idea to provide links to demonstration videos ahead of time.
The scheduling
If you’ve identified a likely group of people, the next step is to decide when to host your game night. It’s important to remember that people have busy lives and may not always be as available when you’d like them to be, so be prepared to do a lot of schedule-juggling! Likewise, it’s a good idea to channel some assertive energy when deciding on a suitable date, as many people prefer to follow rather than lead when it comes to organising. To begin the conversation, create a message group on a platform everyone uses.
Friday and Saturday are typically the best days for a games night, enabling you and your guests to relax and have fun without worrying about going to work the next day. The best time to start your game night is around 7 to 8pm., which is early enough that you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the evening, but not so early that your guests won’t have time to prepare if they’re coming after work. Plan your game night to last about three hours. This gives you plenty of time to play games, eat some delicious food, and catch up with friends.
The food and drink
There are numerous benefits to serving appetisers, finger food, or hors d’oeuvres for any type of party, but especially for game night. Nothing kills an event like this faster than losing momentum because people aren’t spending time at the gaming table, and the same goes for the host if they’re stuck in the kitchen trying to perfectly time the dinner. In addition, people will be more inclined to graze and fill their plates at their own pace, keeping everything moving, rather than having a formal sit-down meal.
To keep things as sophisticated as possible, bring in a catering service to do the hard work for you, and some waiting staff to circulate with the canapes and drinks throughout the night. You’ll of course need something to wash it all down with and having freshly poured glasses of champagne handed around to ensure everyone is kept well topped up, as well as having jugs of water and soft drinks available to those who are opting not to drink alcohol, will ensure that everyone is having a good time.
The setting
The obvious place to host a games night at home is around the dining table, but this can be restrictive for games that involve standing up and moving around, like roulette or some team games. These can often work better in a larger living room or drawing room space, where there will also be plenty of room for guests to stand and chat over a drink on arrival.
To create a more relaxed atmosphere, shift the centre of a smaller party to a coffee table. To make your guests feel comfortable, bring in as many chairs as possible and scatter a colourful assortment of cushions around on the floor. You could also create a bespoke game night lighting scheme to save you from rushing around your living room and turning lights on and off throughout the evening and use a smart app on your smartphone to control it.
The bottom line
If you want to spend an evening with friends that is rich in social interaction, without doing the same thing over and over again, then a games night is a great option – particularly when the weather outside is less than inviting. And you never know; you might just discover a new form of entertainment to add to your repertoire. Almost everyone enjoys playing games, eating and drinking, and socialising with friends and family, so for a fun evening in at home this winter, it’s a win-win.
