6 Ways To Spruce Up Your Family Game Night

If your family game night is coming up, you're probably super excited! However, you may also be a little anxious. After all, you don't want the night to get boring. Fortunately, there's a lot of ways to make a game-based hangout more exciting. If you want to make some improvements, here are six ways to spruce up your family game night. 

1. Try Online Games

Family game night doesn't need to consist of cards and board games. If you want to branch out, you could play online games. There's a wide array of things you can play on the internet, many of which are interactive and made for groups. For instance, you could try solving an online escape room! Just be sure that the activities you choose will allow for conversation. It's also important to ensure everyone's safety. Make certain that the site you're on is secure. If the game asks for any personal information, try to avoid giving it.

2. Create Prizes

Unless you're playing a less competitive game, there'll probably be a winner at the end. Instead of acknowledging the win and moving on, you could add excitement by making prizes. These prizes can be a lot of different things. In order to decide on one, you'll need to think about your family. If you have a lot of small children, you could let the kids make trophies out of art supplies. On the other hand, an older group might enjoy using food or adult beverages to inspire the players. 

3. Decorate the Space

While games are certainly the focus of a game night, the ambiance is also something to consider. Your living room, however stylish, might not be the most exciting place to have a party. So, try to spend some time decorating. If you want to have even more fun, consider creating a theme. For example, you could have a mystery game night. This might consist of dimmed lights and old-fashioned decor. Whatever you want to try, be sure to match the decorations with the games you're playing. 

4. Invite Friends

Family game night is usually reserved for relatives. Despite this, you might have more success by inviting friends. Many games, especially ones meant for groups, are better with several players. If friends or family live far away try to include them by video calling them on your Smartphone. You can also use the extra guests to split up your games. Since your family probably has varying tastes, you could satisfy everyone by playing two things at once. This is especially helpful if you have a lot of young family members. 

5. Leave the House

You don't have to hold the family night in your basement or living room. In fact, you guys might have more fun in a different space. If everyone's comfortable with it, you can brainstorm new places to play. One option that's easy to try is a backyard! This lets you combine camping with playing games, which might be exciting for younger players. You could also consider renting a spot or visiting a public hangout. Before deciding on a location, remember to factor in your intended games. A large board game won't work very well at a restaurant.

6. Add Extra Rules

Rules are important when it comes to playing games. If there were no rules, there would be no game to play. However, you don't necessarily have to use the predetermined ones. In fact, you might find that adding new guidelines makes a game more interesting. It could result in a longer playing time, an extra hurdle or even a hilarious problem. You'll likely get the best results with a favored board game. Before implementing new rules, make sure everyone's aware of the changes. Otherwise, you could create a lot of confusion.

Despite the importance of tradition, your game night doesn't need to be the same every time. If you make some changes, you may find yourself enjoying the experience more than usual. Get creative and enjoy hanging out with your loved ones!