Mastering the Art of Hosting a (Successful) Game Night

It's not only about grabbing tables, chairs, and slapping food out

“In the kingdom of game night, we are all royalty. Crowns tilted, but spirits bright, ruling over boards with sheer delight.”—IQ Hashtags

“Parties grow out of an idea, a provocative mixture of people or a mood.”— Good Housekeeping, 1937 edition

This week, I was asked to help host a 1930s classic card game night for a fundraising event. It got me into that researching mood to figure out the nuts and bolts of a successful game night.

My experience comes from working in the casino gaming industry.

“Playing games all night for a living was always consuming, sometimes fulfilling, and occasionally exciting. It was the “exciting” part that sucked me in. Stepping into the bright lights and playing games in an artificial world of high energy all night made work exhilarating. The cast of characters, the gamblers, and trashy tourists, the poor, the homeless, the sex slaves, even the bums were as (much) a part of what added to the excitement of counting out piles of money, seeing luck work its magic, and the probabilities just as quickly taking it all away.”

When asked to participate I hesitated. How could I use today’s experiences in gaming and incorporate them with a period piece event? It turns out certain details are as relevant as they were almost 100 years ago.

The players

Fund raising events don’t typically attract orangutan players from the casinos. In gaming we don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing our players. As a dealer it takes reading and running interference between clashing personalities and temperaments. That comes with the job.

After researching the guest list, I found a rather genteel crowd who were planning to attend.

Temperaments matter. And there are four to consider.

• Sanguine - enthusiastic, overly talkative, and social

• Melancholic - perfectionism, and those who will go strictly by the rules

• Choleric - strive for the best, driven, can be over-bearing

• Phlegmatic - friendly, calm, and patient

Another important consideration is whether to put married couples at the same table. Here are a few reasons why to avoid doing so.

• Reduced Social Interaction: Part of the fun of a gaming event is meeting and interacting with new people. If a husband and wife are seated together, they may be less likely to engage with others.

• Keeping the peace: In the heat of a competitive game, disagreements may arise. Spouses might be more likely to argue with each other, which could create tension at the table. (This is especially true if there is already trouble at home, or if one is more skilled than the other.)

• Win/loss purses: In events where there are rewards, maintaining a separation between spouses can help ensure the integrity of the games, and that payouts are seen as fair and earned, and that no collusion is involved (unintentional) or otherwise.

The perfect guest never gloats or whines, keeps his mind on the game, and has a temperament that fits the mood of the party.

The worst guest offers unsolicited advice, criticizes not only their partner but also the other players, and is snide about everyone else in the room.

The games

For the fund raising event we chose period appropriate games, leaving Bridge out.

• Whist: Whist was a precursor to Bridge. Both games share similar elements, such as trick-taking and partnership play.

• Euchre: Euchre is a trick-taking card game typically played with four players in two partnerships. (It’s popular here in Michigan, and the Midwest, I’ve never seen it played outside of the region.)

• Rummy: Rummy is a group of matching-card games notable for similar gameplay based on matching cards of the same rank or sequence and same suit. Variants of Rummy include Gin Rummy, Indian Rummy, and Canasta.

• Cribbage: Cribbage is a card game traditionally played by two players, though it can also be played with three or four. Cribbage is known for its strategic depth and the unique cribbage board used for scoring.

Food and refreshments

We will serve coffee, tea, and ice water. Additionally, we will offer refreshing citrus drinks such as lemonade and grapefruit juice, beer and wine optional. Toothpick treats and sliders should stave off hunger.

Most everyone gets plenty to eat at home, so there’s no point in serving bar food that makes games and digestion suffer in an aftermath of agony.

Host your own game night

Hosting your own game night can be a fantastic way to socialize the old fashioned way. Creating a fun and memorable game night is all about preparation and thoughtful planning. Here are some essential tips to help you set the stage for a successful game night that caters to all personalities and preferences, ensuring everyone has a great time.

Your guest list

Here are a few types of personalities that can enhance the experience and the games they might enjoy:

• The Strategist: Analytical, thoughtful, enjoys complex games.

  Suggested games: Settlers of Catan, Risk.

• The Social Butterfly: Outgoing, conversational, enjoys social interaction.

  Suggested games: Codenames, Apples to Apples, Pictionary

• The Rule Master: Detail-oriented, organized, enjoys understanding and explaining rules.

  Suggested Games: Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic

• The Comedian: Humorous, lighthearted, enjoys making others laugh.

  Suggested Games: Cards Against Humanity, Dixit, Jackbox Party Pack

Here are some personalities that might not mix well and why:

• The Serious Gamer vs. the Distracted Player: Focused and immersed in the game, expects others to be equally engaged.

  The Conflict: The serious gamer may become irritated with the distracted player, leading to frustration and potential arguments. (You know that person who's always glued to their phone, constantly texting or gaming, and needs a prompt each time to take their turn?)

• The Dominator vs. The Introvert:

  The Conflict: The dominator might overshadow the introvert, making them feel excluded or uncomfortable. This is particularly annoying when games are chosen that cater to attention seekers, ignoring those who prefer not to put themselves in the spotlight. (My personal deal-breaker!)

• The Know-It-All vs. The Beginner:

  The Conflict: The know-it-all might overwhelm or discourage the beginner, creating an intimidating environment. (This is particularly frustrating for the new player. Recently I hit a Euchre game before getting coached and it was humiliating. I am looking forward to the next match with this clown—practicing and understanding strategy has built my self-confidence.)

• The Rule Stickler vs. The Rule Breaker:

  The Conflict: The rule stickler may become annoyed with the rule breaker, leading to arguments and disruptions in the game flow. (This is particularly annoying when the host announces house rules and the Stickler goes off the rails spending time arguing his point.)

Food and refreshments

It’s absolutely necessary to consider dietary restrictions women seem to battle such as 'I’m on a diet, I’m keto, I’m gluten intolerant, and I can’t control myself,' although some men may also fall into this list of dining caveats.

Here are a few suggestions for what NOT to serve:

Chicken wings, barbecue ribs, creamy casseroles, heavy or greasy chips.

Recently, I attended a game night at a friend’s house where they served chicken and sausage gumbo with Slap Yo’ Mama’s Ass spice in it. That, coupled with mac and cheese, made for a very heavy and messy meal. Guess what desserts were brought? Deep-fried Oreos and cheesecake. The two bathrooms were extremely busy that night, and the lull time between hands was excruciatingly painful, making the night seem endless.

Some of Americans' favorite snacks and classic candies could be banned in several states due to cancer-causing chemicals in their ingredients. These foods include cereals such as Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops, candies including Skittles, Nerds, M&M's and Swedish Fish and snacks like Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Doritos.—New York Post

Snacks

Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

• Prosciutto wrapped melon

• Finger sandwiches or sliders

• Charcuterie Board

• Toothpick treats

• Veggies and hummus or guacamole

• Bowls of lightly salted nuts

• Grapes

Choosing the right games

If hosting 16-20 people the last thing you want to do is choose games where only one person can act at a time. It’s better to split people up in smaller groups so attention doesn’t wander and boredom sets in.

Age and gender do matter.

“Board game enthusiasts are a slightly older cohort lot with better female representation. Just under half of those who enjoy playing board games or cards are aged between 18-34 (47%). By comparison, members of this young bracket form 57% of the gamers’ cohort. On the other hand, people aged 55 and over make up nearly twice the size of the board games cohort (18% vs 10%).”—YouGov Global Profiles

Suggested games for extroverts

• Exploding Kittens

• Charades

• Catan

Suggested games for introverts

• Rory’s Story Cubes

• Sushi Go

• The Mind

Games for a mixed crowd

• Rummicub

• Five-Crowns

• Skip-Bo

Hosting games in the morning

I’m toying with the idea of changing up game night to game morning. Here are a few reasons why.

A night of gaming winds me up. And evenings aren’t the strongest time of day for me.

• Energy Levels: Most people are well-rested and have high energy levels in the morning, which can lead to more enthusiasm and engagement in the games.

• Productive Atmosphere: Starting the day with a fun activity and the right people can set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

• Casual Setting: The informal atmosphere of a morning gathering can be less intimidating and more relaxed, making it easier for even the less-than-awake to participate.

• Balanced Day: Hosting games in the morning leaves the rest of the day free.

• Mental Sharpness: Many people find their cognitive functions, such as problem-solving and strategic thinking, are at their peak in the morning.

• Better Performance: Higher alertness levels can lead to better performance and enjoyment of more complex or strategic games.

I talked myself into it!

See you next week!