New things to try for games night

Keen to mix up your next games night? Whether you’re getting together to celebrate a birthday, celebrating a ‘Galentine’s Day’ get-together or you simply want an overdue catch-up with friends, a night in playing games is the perfect way to socialise. Increasingly, more people are expressing a desire to socialise without alcohol and this set-up is ideal for this.

Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling.

A Murder Mystery

Murder mysteries are timeless activities – and you can go all out by creating themes if you like. Stick with a classic 1920s theme or create one of your own and get your costume-making skills in order. Make sure you set the scene too, whether with candles or other props to bring the space to life.

The premise is to find clues and dig deep into people’s stories to piece everything together and build a bigger picture. If you’re looking for a lively, interactive evening, this is a great shout.

Go virtual

If you and your friends live further away from each other, you could go for a virtual games night. Technology like Jackbox, Houseparty and table-top simulators can be used to make the experience more interactive. You can also use video calling platforms like Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

You might decide to play online bingo as a group, or go for other popular options like Pictionary, Charades, Scrabble or Scattergories. If there’s a much smaller group, you might want to go head-to-head with chess or similar games. Make sure you have a good internet connection ahead of playing.

Plan a scavenger hunt

You could always add a sense of adventure to the night by creating a scavenger hunt. There are several variations of the game, but it typically involves creating and hiding clues that lead to a prize at the end. It’s comparable to orienteering and can be made into more of an escape room experience.

A theme is a great way of getting everyone more invested in the game – and you could even introduce fancy dress. If the weather is in your favour, you can utilise the space outdoors as well as indoors.

Pick themes

If you’re unsure of a direction to take your games night in, you could always lean on a theme to get things started. Whether you choose a movie genre, or an era-based theme, you’d be surprised at the inspiration that can spark from this.

It can help everyone narrow down the types of games they want to play, plus, you can go all out by dressing up and serving food that links to your chosen theme. It can be a great way of instigating a more collaborative approach to your games night.