There’s something magical about putting away phones + iPads, switching off the TV, and pulling out a favorite board game for family game night. With game night, you and your loved ones can take a break from mindlessly scrolling through social media or sitting silently through a movie or TV show.

Think back to the last time you divided your family into teams for a rousing game of Pictionary, a limb-twisting round of Twister, or a nail-biting game of Jenga. Can you picture the smiles? Can you hear the belly laughs? We’re smiling just thinking about it!

Now, consider the consequences of disconnection due to technology. One study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 46% of teens blame phones for distracted parenting, pulling their parents’ attention away when they’re trying to talk to them. Meanwhile, Internet matters research shows that 63% of parents say screen time negatively affects their children’s sleep and health. 

At Elegant Simplicity, we believe we can turn these numbers around simply by committing to being present, connecting authentically, and enjoying a little healthy competition *wink*! It’s all possible when you create spaces that encourage bonding + savoring every moment. After all, home is not simply a place to hold your stuff; it should be a space for deepening relationships and, as a result, building a happier, healthier home.

Let’s explore the possibilities together with this guide to game night fun, with insights into the powerful benefits of unplugging + engaging in shared family activities. Ready, set … play!

The Power of Play: Benefits Beyond Fun

Carving out time for play isn’t just about taking a break from day-to-day stressors like work, school, and responsibilities at home. It’s about creating both the physical and emotional space needed to celebrate the “wins” and acknowledge one another’s unique talents and special traits. Here are some of the benefits of family game night that go beyond the simple action of playing a game.

Strengthening Family Bonds and Communication

When you remove distractions like phones and tablets, you open the door for stronger family bonds and better communication. Game night can become a sacred time everyone looks forward to — an evening reserved just for immediate family and dedicated to promoting teamwork and cooperation. 

The laughter, shared challenges, and playful banter make everyone feel included, strengthening family relationships in ways that isolated screen time cannot. With family members plotting their game strategies and giving subtle nonverbal cues, everyone wins! 

Enhancing Cognitive Skills and Emotional Well-Being

Research shows huge benefits for children whose families engage regularly in game night and other bonding activities, including: 

• Larger vocabularies

• Better peer relationships

• More positive perceptions of the parent-child relationship

• Better emotional health and life satisfaction

• Greater motivation in school

• Higher reading scores

It’s easy to understand why. The problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning involved with many games rival the work of a Fortune 500 company *wink* — just ask anyone who’s ever outsmarted their parents at a game of Monopoly! 

Whether you’re building words in Scrabble or engaging in online games like virtual escape rooms, playing games as a family is a great way to melt away stress, boost moods, and get everyone laughing, talking, and feeling the love. 

Designing Your Game Night Haven

Planning your game night shouldn’t feel like an extra chore on your to-do list, friend. Think of it as an opportunity to curate the perfect space that feels like a warm hug every time you pull out your board games. 

Choosing the Right Space

Your game space needs to be comfortable and inviting if you want to get the whole family on board (see what we did there *wink*?). You don’t need an entire room to create the perfect gathering spot; for example, you can set up an area of your family room for game night, adding select furniture pieces to stay organized. A media center or a set of shelves with big baskets can help you keep games out of sight when they’re not in use. 

Having a place for everything and labeling designated areas also makes it easy to get your kids involved with pulling out their favorite games when game night rolls around — and cleaning up afterward.

Don’t forget comfortable seating, a dedicated game table, and proper lighting — the better to see your cards with, my dear *wink*! A cushy area rug is also essential when plopping down on the floor; add a few poufs or big pillows, and voila! You have a game-night retreat. 

Curating Your Game Collection

Like any family, you have a mix of age groups in your home — whether it’s just you and one kiddo or you, a spouse, and a gaggle of kids. When curating your game collection, compile a range of games catering to various ages, interests, and skill levels, including

• Board games: From classics to modern options, board games are a game-night staple.

• Card games: Card games are often simple and easy to learn for even the youngest gamers.

• Cooperative games: Working together toward a common goal is a great way to encourage family bonding.

• Creative games: Use your imagination to come up with unique games requiring critical thinking and very little equipment, like a scavenger hunt or a game of hide-and-seek.

• Family-friendly video games: While solo screen time can be isolating, a group gaming experience can be interactive + fun!

Game Night Ideas: From Board Games to Video Game Adventures

Want to keep everyone engaged and excited about game night? Of course you do *wink*! Here are some options to ensure your game collection stays fresh and inviting.

Classic Board Game Fun

Everyone loves a good board game — try to convince us otherwise! You can’t go wrong with any of these family-friendly classics when it comes to prompting lots of laughs, friendly competition, and strategic thinking for people of all ages:

• Battleship: This classic partner game of boards, pegs, and battleships requires some cognitive skill as players try to sink their opponent’s boats. For ages 7 and up. 

• Candy Land: This simple, timeless game is perfect for little ones learning to take turns, identify colors, and experience the joy of reaching the Candy Castle. For ages 3 and up.

• Catan: Anyone looking to stake their claim on an uncharted island will love playing Catan, a game of strategic resource management and land development. For ages 10 and up.

• Clue: From the Classic Mystery Game to various editions, like the Star Wars version, Clue is a favorite “whodunnit” game whereby players try to identify the culprit of a crime. For ages 8 and up.

• Jenga: Stack the wooden blocks, and pull them out one by one without toppling the tower in this game of physics, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. For ages 6 and up.

• Monopoly: No list of classics would be complete without this game of property trading, negotiation, budgeting, and passive income creation that can easily last several days at a time. For ages 8 and up.

• Scrabble: Wordies, unite! Challenge each other to build words from letter tiles, and keep a dictionary handy for the obscurities. For ages 8 and up.

• The Game of Life: We might not know what the future holds, but The Game of Life will have you taking your best guess as you spin the wheel through different life stages. For ages 8 and up.

• Trivial Pursuit: Test your knowledge in different categories, from history to arts and literature, in this mind-bending trivia game that has more than 50 special editions. For ages 16 and up.

• Wits End: If you love riddles, brain teasers, and critical thinking, this board game will keep you on your toes with questions spanning pop culture, science, history, and more. For ages 16 and up.

Card Games for Quick Connection

Whether played one-on-one or with a crowd, card games are the perfect addition to family game night night. Not only are they fun and engaging, but they’re also a cinch to store, pack for a trip, and pull out at a moment’s notice when the threat of boredom looms. Added bonus: Card games promote turn-taking, rule-following, and patience.  

Here are a few favorites to add to the game-night rotation:

• 99: A fast-paced game, 99 will get the whole family adding numbers in their heads as players attempt to pile up cards in the middle without the value going over 99. 

• Go Fish: Little ones learning to identify four of a kind will love this simple game of “fishing” for matching sets of cards.

• TableTopics: This conversation card deck accommodates up to 20 players (ages 12 and up) who ask questions to spark dialogue.

• Talking Point: Similar to TableTopics, Talking Point is well-suited for players 5 and up, encouraging deeper chats on a range of topics.

• Uno: Players attempt to match colors and numbers, with extra action cards and wild cards adding excitement to this lively game. 

Cooperative Games: Teamwork Triumphs

Squabbling siblings are no match for cooperative games, where teams have to work together toward a common goal. Try these family-friendly games to get people communicating, collaborating, and solving the world’s problems — one hypothetical quandary at a time:  

• Dead of Winter: Think “The Walking Dead,” only there’s no actual zombie threat. Dead of Winter encourages teamwork as players work together to defend against the undead, manage their resources, and weed out any traitors. 

• Forbidden Island: Part of a series of “Forbidden” games, the island version has players solve problems collectively, collecting treasures as the island “sinks” around them.

• Letter Jam: Players receive cards with letters on them and face them toward their teammates, who then take turns spelling words using the letters. The card-holding player attempts to deduce which letters are on the cards based on their teammates’ clues. 

• Magic Maze: Shoplifting wizards in a mall? Sign us up. In Magic Maze, players work together to attempt an escape without getting caught. 

Video Games: A Digital Adventure

While video games get a bad rap, they can be family-friendly options for game night under the right circumstances. Playing video games as a family encourages cooperation, bonding, and skill-building as players work to overcome hurdles and problem-solve their way out of sticky situations. For younger players, there’s an opportunity to build hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking (don’t worry; we won’t tell *wink*!). 

Also, when you play as a family, you create opportunities to explore digital worlds together — like venturing out into unknown territory and taking a momentary break from the real world. Check out Just Dance, Mario Kart, and Minecraft for a few family-friendly options.

Making Game Night a Cherished Tradition

Game night is typically a no-brainer for younger kids. However, there’s always a chance you’ll get a bit of grumbling when you first suggest family game night to tweens or teens. To start a game night that sticks, follow our suggestions below.

Establishing a Routine

If a weekly game night feels like too much, try for biweekly or monthly to start. Pick a day of the week, like Friday or Saturday night, and put it on the calendar. Having a regular schedule will get everyone accustomed to the game-night routine. 

Involving Everyone in the Planning

Get everyone involved in game-night planning so all family members feel seen and heard. You can try having younger children select a game one week and older children the next. Or, play a couple of games targeting different age groups in the same night. 

Keeping it Fun and Lighthearted

Remember, this is game night — so it’s supposed to be fun *wink*! Keep the focus on connection and joy, not winning or losing. Being playful and supportive regardless of the outcomes of games can help everyone enjoy the evening without anyone’s feelings getting hurt.

Celebrating Victories and Learning from Losses

While you’re building connections, you’re also teaching children good sportsmanship, resilience, and the value of teamwork. Even in losses, there are lessons — and the example you set can help your children navigate real-world challenges.

Connect With Your Family on a Whole New Level

Once you start a regular game night with your family, you’ll wonder how you ever went without it. From fortifying relationships to promoting communication and lasting memories, there are so many benefits to playing games with your household loved ones.

If you think about it, family game night is a smart play of its own — a method of cultivating relationships despite the hectic pace of modern life. It’s a way of slowing down, breathing, enjoying each other’s company, and simply saying “no” to the hustle culture that tells us to go, go, go.

With time and dedication, family game night can become one of the cherished traditions you and your family wouldn’t trade for the world. The simple act of coming together and honoring each other’s time can help you build a beautiful home on a foundation of healthy relationships (even if you haven’t quite gotten to that laundry room decluttering project or kitchen remodel *wink*). 

Do you have any favorite family game night memories or traditions? Please share in the comments! And follow @elegantsimplicityinteriors for more tips on creating a joyful, connected home.

Now, we’ve got some games to pick out, so we’ll sign off for now. Thanks for “playing” with us today!

Oh, and if you’re in the preliminary stages of your next project, let’s chat.

P.S. If you loved this article, then you’ll love the 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.