How To Throw a Board Game Party

Hosting a Board Game Party

Hosting a board game party is a fun way to bring together a bunch of friends for something besides a drinking party or cookout, where the group can take part in game activities, instead of standing around talking about work. Read how to throw a board game party and take some notes. Assuming you and your friends enjoy board games, you’re likely to own most of the tools you need for hosting.

There are some things to keep in mind, mainly revolving around the idea of keeping the night entertaining, fast-paced and inclusive. So here’s how to host your own board game party.

1. Take a Board Game Survey

Ask around with your party-goers and ask them which board games they enjoy. You don’t want to stock the party with board games the players aren’t going to want to play. All it takes is one or two people not being on board to make a board game night a beating.

2. Avoid Lengthy Games

There are some great games, like Diplomacy, Monopoly or Dungeon Quest, which take far too long to play at a board game party. The idea of the party is to play several games, so try to find games that can be played in 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. This way, your celebrants will be able to fit in 3-5 games for the evening.

If you later want to throw a Monopoly Party or a Risk Party, then plan one and bill it as such.

Here’s a list of random games, if you’re having trouble thinking up a list of shorter board games. There’s no real rhyme nor reason to these games, except that they are highly rated, I enjoy them and they tend to be shorter than Twilight Imperium or other such games.

• Backgammon (5-30 minutes)
• Chinese Checkers (10-120 minutes)
• Kill Dr. Lucky (40 minutes)
• Stratego (30-120 minutes)
• Blokus (20-30 minutes)
• Puerto Rico (90-150 minutes)
• 221B Baker Street (fun game, can’t remember the time frame)
• The Settlers of Catan (60-90 minutes)

3. Avoid 2 Player Games

Along the same lines, avoid two player games, since this is supposed to be a party. You might have a couple of 2 player games in reserve, in case your group plays games of elimination, so those eliminated can continue to participate in fun until the next round of games.

4. Divide Up into Gaming Parties

If you are starting to approach the double digits in number of guests, consider having two game tables and two simultaneous games running. This might divide the time you get to spend with certain friends, but no one wants to play a game that gets bogged down with two many players, or sit and watch others play.

Simply get a second table and set it up in the same room.

5. Serve Snacks

Remember to serve some finger foods and other snacks at your party. Avoid too many dips and sauces, since these will get onto cards and game boards. Cheese and crackers and other such light snacks will be perfect.

Also, have refreshments on hand, including soft drinks, juices and water. Always include a non-sugar drink, in case you have people who can’t or don’t want to drink sweet drinks. Stock some beer, if appropriate.

6. End With a Party Game

After an evening full of strategy and resource management, end with a fun party game to send everyone home in a festive mood. Loaded Questions, Battle of the Sexes, Taboo or Cranium are what I have in mind.

Related Posts

How To Win a Chess Game Fast
Popular Learning Games
How To Play Better Checkers
How To Win at Chinese Checkers
How To Win at Checkers

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Board Games, Party Games. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “How To Throw a Board Game Party”

1. Popular Video Games says:

   January 27, 2010 at 4:26 pm

   [...] « How To Throw a Board Game Party [...]
2. How to Plan Office Party Games says:

   January 28, 2010 at 2:12 pm

   [...] Video Games How To Throw a Board Game Party How To Win a Chess Game Fast Popular Learning Games How To Play Better [...]

Search Games Information Depot 

Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Other Sites - Yahoo Games - BOTW Games