In the past few years, adults have been experiencing something known as a loneliness epidemic. Feelings of loneliness are increasingly common among adults of different demographics, so this isn’t just a problem for one subset of people, but it’s a problem for everyone. We’ve seen the degradation of the village, as we all live more disconnected lives.
The only real antidote to this is to try to see each other more often. Even simple things like doing chores with your friends have been shown to make people feel less lonely. Every meetup doesn’t have to be a big deal, but it can just be a way to be there for each other.
Saying this, arranging parties and get-togethers is a great way to solidify your friendship group and get to know each other better. You can even meet a few new people this way, and you never know, others might end up planning things of their own.
With this in mind, here are a few tips to help you plan a successful games night with a few friends, while keeping the pressure and your stress levels as low as possible.
The Guest List
The guest list can be the hardest part of arranging anything, whether you know a lot of people or just have a few close friends. If you don’t have any friends at all, it can feel even harder. Look for ways to make connections with people in your daily life.
While there are some downsides to befriending people you work with, if you do get on with someone at your workplace, it can be worth the risk of reaching out, especially if you don’t see your current job as your permanent career. This is because it’s easier to separate your work life from your social life if you aren’t too attached to your existing job.
Otherwise, consider joining classes or groups and meeting people that way.
It can be scary to be the one to hand out invitations and make the first step, but remember that the worst thing anyone can say is no. So approach a few people who you think might be interested, and remember that they might also be looking for friends but haven’t made the first step yet.
If you do have a friendship group or at least a group of friendly acquaintances, reach out to a few friends who you think would enjoy a gaming night. It could be nice to invite spouses as well, as this can fill up the guest list and introduce you to new people.
The Venue
If this is your first time hosting any event, it’s best to keep it small. Your home can be a perfectly good venue, especially for something as simple as a games night. If you do want to host a larger event later down the road, then finding a separate venue could be a great idea.
The good news is that it can be really easy to set up your home for a games night. If you have a theme, a few decorative pieces will really bring it together. Otherwise, focus on making sure your home is tidy (especially in the living room) and consider a few decorative pieces. Mood lighting is a must, for example, and it’s really easy to set up.
You can also create a vibe for your venue by playing background music that suits your guests and the event. Classical music or even jazz can be nice to listen to without taking too much attention.
Food and Drinks
One of the most important parts of any get-together, as well as something a lot of people get wrong, is the food and drinks. If you take things too far, all you manage to do is to stress yourself out. A dinner party is a great way to spend your evening, but game nights tend to be more about finger food and picky bits rather than a slap-up meal.
You can easily buy some pretty impressive-seeming party food that’s really easy to throw together and cook before people come. Or, if you’d prefer to make things from scratch, come up with a few easy bits and pieces and make sure to include very simple snacks like chips and dip.
Ask your guests about any allergies or other restrictions they have, so you can either provide options they can eat or they can bring some of their own food without feeling left out. An honest conversation can forestall any issues like hurt feelings or worse, allergic reactions.
As for drinks, soft drinks are honestly fine, although you can provide beer and wine or ask your guests to bring some if they want to drink alcohol. If you fancy cocktails, consider making a couple of pitcher cocktails that are easy to mix and serve, or you might spend the whole evening playing bartender rather than spending time with your friends.
Choosing Your Games
The games you choose will play a huge role in setting the vibe for your evening. If you want a classy games night that’s also relatively easy to set up, a deck of cards and a poker set could be a great way to start a casino-themed evening.
You can bet with chips and have just as much fun. Just be sure to hone your skills when playing poker or similar games before the evening, so you know how to play the game and how to teach others. Keep it casual, especially if you’re not playing with people who play poker or other card games often.
Other games might include tabletop RPG games like Dungeons and Dragons, strategy games like Warhammer 40k, or other modern classic board games like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Pandemic.
There’s no right or wrong way to play tabletop games. But make sure that people know what to expect before they come, because a D&D session has very different vibes than a few quick card games.
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