There are many different ways to connect with your loved ones, and one of these is gaming. For as long as humans have had games, they’ve been a way to socialize with others and connect with our communities. If you’d like to tap into some of this magic, you might want to host a game night of sorts for your friends.
However, while it may seem like a lovely practice, some logistical efforts are required to plan and execute it effectively. Luckily, we are here with some helpful tips that will take you from idea to execution in no time:
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Choose the Guest List and Location
The next thing you want to do when planning again is to decide who will attend and where the event will be held. The most likely outcome is that you will host at your own home, but this might not be the case. If your house cannot accommodate, feel free to ask the group that will be attending if someone is willing to host. Alternatively, you could host in a neutral location like a bar or a coffee shop that will allow for your party size. Either way, make sure that you know where the game night is going to be hosted.
Then, you will want to decide on the number of people who will attend. Consider your own capacity as a host and how many people you can comfortably accommodate. This could mean a very intimate game night of four people or something bigger. After knowing the number, you will want to invite people individually and communicate information. A good idea would be to create a group chat on Telegram or WhatsApp for this purpose and disperse the information as needed. In these chats, your guests can vote on the days they are available, as well as the times.
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Choose the Games
The first thing you want to do is choose the games and questions. Gaming is a broad concept that encompasses everything from board games to video games and casino games, and depending on your choice, you may need to perform some setup.
Consult with the group to determine the type of games they would like to play, and ideally, focus on a single genre for the night. If the group decides they want to play casino games, for example, look for both in-person and online options. In-person options can be buying kits from platforms like Amazon and setting them up in your home. If you’d rather play online games, you can search for options for American players and let them know ahead of time which platform will be used. This way, they can set up accounts and have fun on the day. But as long as these are taken care of well ahead of time, it should be easy. The last thing you want is to scramble on the day to set up player accounts or figure out how to set up a roulette wheel at home.
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Provide Catering
What’s a game night without catering? As part of your game night set-up, you should consider what catering options will be given to your guests. You can choose to have a potluck, with everyone bringing a little bit of something. If you choose to do this, discuss it within your group chat and have everyone say ahead of time what they are bringing. It’s also an opportunity to have a discussion about allergies and dietary requirements. If you feel so inclined, you can also make food for your guests ahead of time, as this is an opportunity to show off your culinary skills.
If you don’t have the time or desire to do this, you can always order takeout on the day. Multiple apps allow you to split the bill so everyone can contribute to their own meal. Some options let everyone place their own food delivery orders at once, so they are catered for.
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Decide on the Rules
Anyone who has played games with others will know that setting up and figuring out rules can eat into your enjoyment time. So, ahead of time, decide on the rules of the game and how you will play. If you’re going to have a poker table, for example, discuss it with the group and pair people off to play before the day. This way, everyone knows who they are playing against, and there is no back-and-forth. Also, decide which order certain games will be played and even create an order of events if this will help. This means that once everyone arrives, you can proceed to enjoy your games with little confusion.
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Enjoy
Once you’ve done all of these, you should be well-equipped to host your game nights with friends, whether it’s a one-off or an ongoing thing.
Conclusion
Hosting a game night with friends can be a logistical challenge, but luckily, we’ve offered tools to help. A lot of the challenges you face can be overcome by simply having a platform where everyone can decide certain details ahead of time. This includes the dates the games will be played, the specific games that will be played, and how the group will be fed, among other details. Apply all of these next time you plan to have friends over, and you should have a world of ease.
