Games For Non Gamers

Find games that are easy to explain and fun to play with family members who don't normally play games, and get tips on how to make game night a success.

Games to play with family who don't play games are usually simple, short, and based on words or basic concepts. You want something that doesn't need a lot of explanation or setup, and where everyone can join in easily.

For example, we played Games With Words at a family gathering with six people and one shy cousin. The cousin was hesitant to join in, but the games were easy to understand and didn't require any special knowledge or skills. In one round, a player had to describe a secret word without using certain "forbidden" words, and the room had to guess what it was. The cousin was able to participate and even contributed a few ideas.

Keeping it Simple

The key to a successful game night with non-gamers is to keep things simple. Choose games that have few rules and are easy to explain. You don't want to spend a lot of time teaching people how to play, as this can be boring and may put them off.

One game that fits this criteria is Say Less, where one player has to describe a word using as few words as possible. The room then has to guess what the word is. This game is great for non-gamers, as it doesn't require any special knowledge or skills, and everyone can join in.

Another game that works well is Ghost Writer, where everyone answers a prompt on their phone, except for one player who has to bluff an answer. The room then reads out the answers and tries to guess who the "ghost" is. This game is great for encouraging participation and can be a lot of fun.

Dealing with Common Issues

One common issue that can arise when playing games with non-gamers is that some people may not want to participate. This can be due to shyness or a lack of interest in games. To deal with this, try to make the games as inclusive as possible, and encourage everyone to join in.

For example, if someone is struggling to come up with an answer, you can offer to help them or give them a hint. You can also try to make the games more relaxed and casual, so that people feel more comfortable participating.

Another issue that can arise is that some people may argue about the rules or try to cheat. To deal with this, try to establish clear rules and consequences for cheating before the game starts. You can also appoint someone to be in charge of the game and make decisions if there are any disputes.

Making it Fun

To make game night fun for non-gamers, try to create a relaxed and casual atmosphere. You can do this by playing music, serving snacks and drinks, and encouraging people to chat and socialize.

For example, we had a game night where one player's phone was running out of battery, so we had to pause the game and charge it. This actually ended up being a good thing, as it gave everyone a chance to take a break and chat. We also had a player who was arguing about the rules, but they ended up being a good sport about it and even joked about being the "rule police".

Getting Started

To get started with game night, try to choose a game that is easy to explain and requires minimal setup. You can also try to establish a regular game night, so that people know what to expect and can look forward to it.

For example, you can set up a TV or laptop as the "board" and have everyone join in on their phones. This way, everyone can participate and you don't need to worry about setting up complicated equipment. You can also try to make the games more interactive, by encouraging people to participate and contribute their ideas.

In one game night, we had a player who was the "host" and controlled the pace of the game. This worked well, as it allowed everyone to focus on the game and not worry about the technical aspects. We also had a player who was the "ghost" in Ghost Writer, and they did a great job of bluffing an answer that fit the prompt. The room was able to guess that they were the ghost, and they even got to guess what the prompt was.