Growing up, my family and I used to play games almost every night after dinner. There were countless Monopoly marathons, Uno matches that would rival competitive sports, and more than a few domino games that included ‘friendly wagers.’ And while admittedly, I needed a long break before I could eagerly jump back into the game night frenzy, as an adult, I’m happy to keep the tradition going. To help you do the same, I’ve rounded up my favorite game night games that are guaranteed to keep you laughing well into the night. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
The Best Game Night Games
Before you scroll through, here are a few tips to take game night from an obligatory commitment to something everyone will look forward to. I love making a special but stress-free meal (or putting together a varied spread of appetizers), popping open a bottle of wine, and setting the scene with a curated playlist that has something for everyone.
Not one for competition? No worries. While you can certainly catch me *aggressively* engaging in all of the games below, when you get down to it, I’m simply happy to be surrounded by my favorite people without any screens among us. And, of course, we certainly don’t need excuses to make that happen. If we’ve learned anything from the past two years (and my goodness, we’ve certainly learned a lot), it’s this: Coming together, connecting, and offering up your presence alone is always enough.
But with that being said, after the greetings and hugs are given, it’s always good to have an activity or two that’ll help you further facilitate the fun. Whether you’re a player who’s all about strategy or someone who loves leaning into their luck, you’ll have your pick of all the best game night games below.
This isn’t just another party game—it’s a clever way to transition from small talk to deeper conversations. Each round, a player draws a card with two questions—starting with the top one and then diving deeper with the follow-up. We played it recently at the Camille Styles Editors’ Summit, and I was surprised by how quickly we peeled back layers and shared meaningful insights. If you want to strengthen your connections and truly understand the people in your life, this game is a must-have.
Was trivia night at your local bar the highlight of your week? Bring the fun home with Smart Ass, a game where you have to shout out the answer to each who, what, or where question first to win the round.
Where Should We Begin – A Game of Stories
This game isn’t just about sharing surface-level anecdotes; it invites you to delve into the stories that shape who we are. I found myself in conversations with that felt both refreshing and revealing, uncovering layers of our experiences that I never knew existed. Each prompt opened doors to deeper understanding, bridging gaps I didn’t even realize were there.
Cultivating Conversations Card Deck
These 70 prompts spark discussions that go far beyond small talk. Each question invites you to share and explores deeper aspects of yourself, helping you connect more meaningfully with those around you. You’ll be surprised by how much you learn about your friends—and even yourself—with every round.
We’re Not Really Strangers Game
Carefully curated, purpose-driven, and meaningful questions make for a next-level game night, and help you grow closer to your friends, family, and anyone who’s willing to play.
While I love getting competitive, sometimes a cooperative game is more my speed. Just One is the perfect blend of Catch Phrase and Monikers. Players work together to give their teammates clues that help them guess the mystery words. Just One forces you to think quickly and get creative. Trust me, the effort is worth the fun.
It’s not game night without the mother of all game night games. Cards Against Humanity is a ridiculous, adult-themed take on the card game Apples to Apples, and it’s quickly worked its way to the No. 1 best-selling spot in the toys and games department. Arguably the best way to get to know your fellow game night attendees.
When The New York Times calls something “The perfect party game,” you believe it. It’s simple to play. In three rounds, players give clues and try to get their team to guess as many of the names as possible from the deck. Round one: Say whatever you need to get your team to guess the name on each card (without, of course, using the name itself). Round two is a little more challenging. Using the same cards from the first round, you can only offer up one word as your hint. Round three? Charades, my friends.
Hot Seat: After Dark Expansion
Want to get to know your friends better? Then you have to play the Hot Seat card game, which will help you find out who your friends really are—you may even discover a few things you didn’t want to know! There’s no telling what stories or answers your friends will come up with, and I guarantee you’ll break this one out for every single game night to come.
Admittedly, because of my proud cat lady status, I was initially turned off by the name. But because of Exploding Kittens’ popularity, the Russian Roulette-style game piqued my curiosity and found its way into my game night rotation. Contrary to what you might think, it’s a family-friendly option that’s fun for kids and adults alike. And while I love welcoming almost any game into my life, my patience wanes when I have to leaf through ten pages of instructions.
Only serious game players are allowed! There are two spymasters and each spymaster is trying to get their team to guess which word or picture cards are theirs by only saying one very strategic word. Codenames is a word game that will force you to use your brain, but it feels so good when you win!
I recently played this game on vacation and it was way more fun than I remembered (it helps that I kept winning!). Sorry! is proof that sometimes, the best games are the ones we loved but haven’t played since childhood. All the more reason to break out your favorite, classic game night games. It’s time to give Sorry! a second chance and bring it out at your next game night
In this cross-country train adventure game, you and your friends will collect cards and grow your railway across America. If you can connect two cities and have the longest railway, you’re the winner. If you want your array of game night games to keep the party going all night long, this is a great pick to include.
Bananagrams is simple: build your own crossword with the tiles you’re dealt with, and the first player to complete their grid is the winner. Honestly, though, this is one of the few games where I forget all about the competition, rewrite the rules, (hey, it’s my game night), and throw the timer away. Instead, I love focusing on trying to use up the whole bag of letters and seeing all the creative combos people can come up with.
I. Love. Scattergories. End of story. It’s one of my favorite game night games for a reason. While Scattergories has been around for years, it never gets old. The classic, category-based game puts your creativity to the test. Each round only takes about three minutes to complete, so you can fill your game night full of Scattergories.
While this is less about competition and more a game meant to inspire meaningful conversations, it nonetheless gets to the heart of game night: connecting and coming together with family and friends.
Okay, everyone is familiar with this game since it’s been around since the ’60s, but we think it has been unjustly forgotten over time. The great thing about Twister is that it is just as appropriate at an eight-year-old birthday party as at a grown-up party. Because after all, the greatest game night games can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
Like Catan, but different (and IMO—better). With 2-5 players and a bit of strategy in your back pocket, your goal is to place tiles to construct the landscape around the medieval French city of Carcassonne. Build, create, and claim roads, fields, and monasteries with your followers to win the game. When it comes to the best game night games, you’ll want to be sure you have this one on hand.
