Last Updated: April 3, 2025 by Michael Kahn. Published: April 3, 2025.
Family game nights are a fun way to connect together with your loved ones and enjoy a bit of entertainment. Whether that’s competing against one another or working in teams, family game nights prove to be a highlight for any family who is looking to spend more time together beyond just the general day-to-day coexistence.
With that being said, if you’re looking to enjoy a fun family game night, here are all the tips and tricks to get it right.
Choose your games wisely
Choosing your games wisely is something to be mindful of when it comes to everyone who is getting involved in the family game night.
From checkers to Monopoly, it’s important to find a game that you can all enjoy. So to start off, you should be looking at what games you like playing as a family and not simply because one person likes it in particular.
It’s good to give everyone an input into what games they’d like to play and what games might not really be their preference. If you’re not listening to certainly family members dislike of a game and you end up playing it anyway, they’re likely to disengage from playing.
Set up the family game area
Setting up the family game area is definitely something that is worth doing when it comes to throwing the best family game night.
Think about where you want to set it up, whether that be in the living room, cramming together all of your armchairs and couches around one table, or trying it out on the dining room table after dinner.
The game area should be a space that’s functional and enough for all of the family to fit around. There’s nothing worse than playing a game that no one can’t see, whether it’s a board game or a game being played online.
When it comes to multiplayer online games, you should make sure that there are enough devices for everyone to use and play on.
Organize the snacks and drinks
Snacks and drinks are a must-have when it comes to family game night. Make sure to think about what types of snacks and drinks you want to serve. Sometimes, you may want to order in food so that you’ve got something more substantial to enjoy.
Some game nights can often go on for a while, which is why having the snacks and drinks organized is a great way to help get the most out of your games night while not feeling too hungry.
It might be that you get your family members involved in the making of the food and drinks, especially if you’re having themed food and drinks. For those coming to your house for game night, you could always set a theme where everyone brings along something different to the table and that way you’ve got a wide assortment of snacks and beverages to choose from.
Plan breaks to relax or calm down
Consider taking some breaks when it comes to your family game night. This is especially the case if you’re a family that takes game nights seriously and spends hours playing the game or games chosen.
Think about planning breaks to relax or take a moment for a toilet break or snack break. You may also want to think about taking a break when things get a little heated. This is to be expected when it comes to your family game nights. Not everyone gets along when someone is winning and that family member is purposefully rubbing it in the other one’s face.
Try to find moments of calm, and if it gets too heated, consider calling it a night. No game is worth any sort of argument or falling out.
Make sure everyone knows the rules
To help get the most out of the family game night, you want to make sure that everyone knows the rules of the game. There are going to be games where it’s a new one that someone hasn’t tried, and therefore, you want to ensure everyone involved has a clear understanding of how the game works.
The reason for this is that there can often be confusion on games that are only being played for the first time. If someone is a little unclear on what the rules are or how to play the game, then it’s definitely worth checking back into the instructions and going over them until everyone is on the same page.
There’s nothing worse than playing a game and not having a clue how you should play it.
Encourage participation and friendly competition
To help with family game night and it being a success, you should make sure to encourage participation in whatever way possible. Friendly competition is also really important to stress and to ensure everyone is doing when it comes to playing together as a family.
It can be easy to get into heated arguments over competitive family members, so it’s good to make sure everyone is playing fairly and, at the end of the day, it’s just a game.
You also want to make sure that everyone is participating in the family game night so that it’s something that everyone is involved with. While it might not last long, if everyone is participating, at least it’s somewhat a success.
Switch it up every week
Make sure to switch up your family game nights every week. This is important because you don’t want to just play the same game every week. Even if you love the game or all the family members love it, eventually it will become boring. That’s why it’s good to switch it up and try something new that hasn’t been done before.
Consider what games you’ve not played, what snack and drinks combinations you have not tried, etc. That way, you make every family game night a fun opportunity.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your family game night, use these tips to make it a good one every time.
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
