try this at home: let the games begin

If you’re anything like me, having the rules of a board game explained might make you want to eat a plate of habanero chillies or jump into crocodile-infested waters just to escape the torturous pain of having to listen to someone read from the tiny book of instructions. However, once I’m into a game, I’m fully in and as competitive as they come (I have road rage but for board games), because games are actually a roaringly good time. You just need a little bit of organisation and the tiniest sprinkle of patience and games nights will soon become your favourite activity.

As part of my New Year’s resolution to be more social – while still being stuck at home with two tiny agents of destruction – I’ve started organising game nights, and what felt like a chore has now become the highlight of my monthCOMFORT IS KEY I’m not getting any younger, so sitting on the floor hunched over a coffee table isn’t going to do me any favours the next day when I get out of bed. In order for all brains to stay in the game, a comfortable, well-lit space is essential. Take the time to clear your dining room table, find enough supportive chairs for your guests and check your lighting is nice and bright. Friends with achy joints or vision issues will thank you for making the game enjoyable for everyone. Trying to accommodate everyone’s different needs before they have to ask will have your guests feeling all soft and mushy, and that energy will radiate during the eveningCHOOSE ONE GAME BUT HAVE A BACK-UP The whole point of a game night is to have fun with friends (and to win, but we keep that part to ourselves), so make sure there’s plenty of time for catching up. If there are too many games on the menu, chatting can feel rushed, and the night won’t feel as relaxed as you’d hoped. Choose one game you think everyone will enjoy and let them know in advance, but keep a back-up handy in case a) the game finishes quickly, and people are as keen as beans for more competitive cahoots, or b) the group changes their mind at the last minute and wants to take a different direction. Dumping a whole pile of games on the table and trying to choose in the moment is akin to spending the night scrolling Netflix for the perfect show, only to realise it’s bedtime. Narrowing it down to just two options means there’s no arguing, no decision fatigue and you can get on with the task at hand

GUESTS ARE FUN BUT OPTIONAL As fancy as you can make a game night, my favourites are the ones between my husband, my eight-year-old daughter and myself (my two-year-old is banished lest we lose any more of our Monopoly pieces). You don’t need more than the folks in your house to play a game (yes, I’m talking to you, solo travellers  – ever heard of the wonderful game of solitaire? It’s a classic that never goes out of fashion). When life feels busy and you’re not up for full-scale hosting, don’t let that stop you from enjoying a games night. Plenty of great games work just as well with two players. Some of my favourites for a smaller crowd include Monopoly, The Game of Life, Guess Who, Scrabble and Cluedo (and if you’re feeling particularly flexible, Twister).

To read the rest of this story and discover more rad game night tips, nab a copy of issue 131 from the frankie shop or visit one of our lovely stockists. For future issues, subscribe here.