A perfect planning guide awaits those who live for gaming and excel in orchestrating epic events. If you are one of such people planning to host a smashing games night event, here are a few tips that can make your planning journey easier.
Plan extensively
Any person who’s ever hosted an event, let alone a game night, is well-versed in the importance of strategic and in-depth planning. Planning is crucial since you need to get a few things right, like choosing various games relevant to your crowd, different games catering to skill levels, games for kids, etc.
Choose a variety of games to cater to different tastes and skill levels. Party games are always a crowd favorite, so you can opt for cards against humanity or social sabotage, which are both outstanding and unconventional options for a game night.
Don’t overlook the importance of traditional board games, and make sure you have Monopoly, Scrabble, and Sequence on board. If you want to make it more fun, consider throwing in a Pictionary and letting your crowd pick their favorite.
Create a guest list
Before inviting everyone, write down the names you wish to be involved in your game’s party. Consider the number of people you want to have on the night and the space where you’ll be hosting your games night. A dozen is generally enough to ensure everyone has fun and there is no overcrowding.
Once you’re happy with the list, send out formal invites including all necessary information, like date, venue, kind of games to be played, timing of the event, and so on.
Offer light snacks and food
Your guests will need fuel to keep the night and their spirits high, so decide on your menu wisely. If you wish to play more games and waste less time with idle conversations, try to offer quick finger foods. Finger food is relevantly easy to cook, manage, and devour, allowing you and your guests to keep their eye on the prize!
You can offer charcuterie boards, grazing platters, chips and dips, and mini desserts. If someone wishes to pitch in with the food, let them know. Doing so will lower your efforts and give you time to ease up before the event.
Focus on the ambiance
If you wish to go all out and sweep everyone off their feet, focus on setting the right mood. To add a cool touch to the event, you could decorate the room with LED lighting or hang gaming posters across the room/lounge.
You can use simple gaming poster templates from PosterMyWall for inspiration and to cut your décor designing and preparing time in half. If unsatisfied, you could even rent dice-shaped bean bags to throw into your décor. With creative décor ideas, you’ll have everyone looking forward to the games and keep excitement and anticipation at an all-time high.
Set clear guidelines
Everyone plays games differently, which can cause many differences during playtime. To avoid conflicts, make sure you have a pamphlet explaining the rules and guidelines before the game starts.
Handing out guidance pamphlets can help reduce confusion during a gaming session and overcome any difference of opinion. There will be minimal confusion, less fighting, and no arguments, guaranteed! Written guidelines are a game changer for games night, and you’ll thank us for this tip once you practice it.
Pro tip: As the host, your job is to ensure everyone has fun, and bickering over the rules and timing is not fun! Don’t forget to set a time limit for each game to avoid extension and boredom among your guests, especially for games like Monopoly, which can be never-ending!
Eyes on the prize
While everyone you invite would be excited about socializing with you and their other friends, throwing in a few prizes tends to boost excitement to another level. You don’t need to offer anything fancy. Just the sense of getting rewarded can raise excitement and keep competition healthy.
There is no need to go fancy or expensive with the gifts; instead, opt for small items like trophies, candies, packs of chocolates, or a fun mystery surprise. Offering winning prizes can help create a sense of accomplishment and friendly competition, making the night even more enjoyable.
Games night can be fun for hanging out with friends and creating new memories. If your friends are the kind to enjoy a good party, make sure to have some music on and play the night away. Just be sure to do your due diligence and try planning everything well in advance to avoid any last-minute hiccups or confusion. Lastly, stay safe and have fun!
