A board games night is a fun way to socialise with a group of friends, ensuring conversation never runs dry. Here is our guide to making memories with a games night.
Which games are best for a fun night with friends?
When you’re proud of your masterfully curated games collection, it’s so tempting to impress your guests with a towering pile of fifteen impressive game boxes. But too much choice will lead to party paralysis where no one can agree what to play.
Better to decide which games you’ll be playing in advance – perhaps by drawing up a long list for discussion in a party WhatsApp group. Then you can offer a small menu of three to four games suited to different ‘acts’ of the evening.
Games parties tend to fall into three acts, the start, where everyone is arriving and milling around getting to know each other; the main game; and the end of the evening, where everyone is tired but not yet ready to go home.
- an ice breaker is helpful for act one
- act two needs a single centrepiece game
- act three needs a funny, chaotic game
You might also want to put out some two-player games for guests who drift out of the main group, either because they’ve gone out of play or because they need a break from peopling.
The best sociable games are easy to teach, quick to learn and a little bit competitive. Here are some recommendations.
Ice breakers
The best icebreaker games can be picked up quickly as people arrive. The stacking game Jenga can work well, or The Fuzzies , which uses fuzzy balls instead of wooden blocks. Another easy to learn game that suits a crowd is Magical Athlete , newly available in the UK for 2026.
Poetry for Neanderthals is a silly sociable guessing game in which teams must describe things using single-syllable words. Another guessing game that might suit a wordy crowd is Hues and Clues , in which one player has to give hints to help other players identify a colour on a huge grid.
Centrepiece games
Hot Streak (brand new in 2026) is a racing game with gambling and lots of shouting at mascots that struggle to run in the right direction.
Also new to the UK boardgames market in 2026 is Smoothie Wars , a business simulator with a tropical theme that promises plenty of laughs for a group of competitive friends.
Another centrepiece game to try is Harmonies , a beautifully tactile landscape building game with an environmental theme.
And of course, the games night classics like Trivial Pursuit, Catan and Ticket to Ride are still very much in play.
Chaotic closer
Towards the end of the evening, when everyone is tired but happy, try games like Wavelength , or Blank Slate which can reveal interesting similarities and differences in the way you and your friends think.
Two hander games
A few packs of cards or a Yahtzee set can be a lifeline for those who need a quick break. Other fun two handers are Pass the Pigs and the beautifully illustrated Sea Salt & Paper.
Where’s the best place to store board games?
The best board games collections are comprehensive and constantly evolving. This means that most enthusiasts are always just about to outgrow their storage space.
Rather than risk spoiling game boxes by packing them tightly into cupboards at home, some gamers keep them outside the home in a storage unit. Of course, you’ll want to keep old favourites that you play often close at hand – but by putting games you play less often, particularly party games, in storage, you can free up space. And by rotating your collection, you’ll keep games fresh and interesting for years to come. See our post on board game storage for more tips.
If you’re interested in trying self-storage to allow expansion of your game collection, it’s best to get quotes for a storage cupboard from a few facilities that meet your needs. To learn more, check out our post on costing up self-storage. Board games in storage will be covered by a Store and Insure self-storage insurance policy. Get a quote today to check you aren’t overpaying for self-storage insurance.
