Game nights with kids are fun; there’s no doubt about that. It is always entertaining and exciting to watch their reactions and how thrilled they are playing with games and puzzles. They want to win so badly and understand the rules, but they’re also so excited to be playing that the rules don’t matter much to them, and winning becomes secondary to enjoying the game. Kids know how to do it. But what’s even more fun than game nights with kids is game nights with adults. Imagine: having a nice dinner party — good food, good drinks — everyone enjoys themselves and has a blast, and then you pull out the games. And it gets ten times more fun! And more heated because no one does competition like tipsy grown-ups do. I try to have at least one game night a month post-COVID, and this list has some of my favorite game night choices so you can share the joy around at your game night.
Everyone’s Talking About This Game
Cards Against Humanity is a fan favorite, to be sure. It’s easy to see why! It’s funny, easy to understand, and great for any number of players. I’ve played this with fifteen people before. We had three expansion packs, but still! That’s a lot of players and a lot of fun.
You Need a Beer Pong Float
I love being outdoors. I would love it even more if I had a pool, but alas. No pool for me. This beer pong float is the perfect pool-based game. It definitely falls in the “grown-ups only” category, but you can always have a grown-ups-only pool day, or just call Adult Swim and kick the kiddos out.
Family Fun For All Ages
Maybe the kids haven’t quite fallen asleep yet — this is the game you should pull out. It’s family-friendly so the kids won’t overhear anything too bawdy for their tender ears. But it’s still fun and sure to get some interesting conversation going, not to mention a competitive spirit brewing before the more hardcore games come out.
One For Date Night
It’s always fun to test your partner. This game can be played just by the two of you or played with your other couple of friends. I always like to play it with our couple friends so my husband and I can show off how well we know one another. But that’s just me.
Days of Fun
A thousand-piece puzzle takes forever, even if you’re good at puzzles. I don’t recommend this for game nights, but I do recommend this for what my husband and I call “quiet evenings” when we have a nice dinner and then hang out and talk after. It’s fun, and the finished project is gorgeous.
Get Set For Hours of Fun
One of the best game nights I’ve ever participated in was at my grandma’s house with my husband and siblings. We played Mexican Train for hours at a time, which is a dominos-based game, and my grandma said there were endless more games we could learn to play, so there’s plenty you can do with it.
Jumbo Jenga is Endless Fun
Jenga is great, but what about jumbo Jenga? Even better! It’s an entertaining game for game nights. Whoever knocks the towers over has to drink? You could just run forever with this. Drinking game, or a fun sober game if you’re living that clean life.
Keep the Party Going
This title is pretty self-explanatory, you know? “You Laugh, You Drink,” and honestly, it’s a pretty tough challenge because these cards are hilarious! The cards prompt you to perform some hilarious act or the other, and you have to do it the best you can; you want to get your friends laughing.
Jenga But With a Twist
Jenga’s fun on its own, but you can make it even more fun by adding this funky twist. You have to follow the directions of the blocks you pull. It’s easy to turn this into a fun drinking game if you wanted to, but it’s still pretty dang fun without the drinking.
Keeps the Laughs Rolling
This is such a fun game! It’s a favorite during my game nights. The rule is; you’ve only got five seconds to respond to the prompt. It has to be whatever pops into your head! No cheating or it’s no fun! The prompts are definitely grown up only, and so funny it’s ridiculous.
Big Game Night
You can play this with many players, so it’s excellent for bigger game nights. The fastest answer wins, and you’re all trying to answer first. The prompts are an effortless way to start fun conversations and get to know your friends better.
Live Out Your Law & Order Fantasy
Who doesn’t dream of being Olivia Benson?
This game is great because it can be played solo if you’re so inclined, with a partner on a date night, or with a big group of friends. You’ve got to use the clues you have to discover the murderer and it’s a fun time to get everyone involved in the guessing game.
A New Way to Text
Phones are fun, but they’re no fun when everyone’s on them during game nights! This game lets you text without actually texting; best of both worlds. The goal is to play the funniest reply card to the received message card played for the group. The most amusing answer wins, so prepare to laugh!
Start Healthy Debate
Debating can be pretty fun, well my family seems to think so, but it’s also enjoyable with friends. You never really know what your friends believe until you bring up odd and off-topic conversations. This game gives you the chance to have some healthy debates and extreme fun with those you love.
Play Sotally Tober or Totally Sober
This is a wild game designed to get you drunk by the end. It’s hilarious and just generally a good time. *This game is slated as a drinking game, but you can play it with a points system if you or your friends are sober folks.
Support Black-Owned Businesses
Black Owned has the most incredible card game specifically designed to test your knowledge about Black 80s and 90s movie and TV trivia. This game is a great way to celebrate the culture. You can invite your non-black friends to play too, but don’t be surprised when they ask you, “Martin, who?”
Not Just for Kids
Who says Twister is just for kids? Twister is the most fun when you’re tipsy or flat-out drunk. I wouldn’t ever play Twister with kids — they’re too limber and bendy. Much better to save this for when they go to bed. It’s more fun to see your drunk friends forget which is their left foot.
Bring Vegas to You
Shots roulette! Who heard of such a thing? I saw this and immediately put it in my cart. We don’t have it yet, and it’ll make an excellent addition to our poker nights. We’ll turn it into a Vegas-themed party at that point. Play it just like roulette, but you have a drink if you lose!
Never Have I Ever…
Bad Choices says this is a combo of ‘Never Have I Ever’ and ‘Uno’, and I honestly don’t know what more I could say to convince you that you’ve got to get it! We love this game. It brings us talking and gets us learning some fun dirt on each other, which is always a fun time.
The Ultimate Pack of Fun
This is truly the best buy out there. There are two hundred and thirty-seven different games you can play! And they’re all around a minute long. You can keep the party going all night with this pocket-sized set that’s sure to entertain and engage everyone.
Better Than Scattergories
Scattergories is already pretty fun, but make it dirty, and it’s even funnier (Legally Blonde, anyone?). This is a game of absolute adult fun with all the dirty jokes you can handle. It’s a crowd-pleaser at our game nights. Just make sure the kids are asleep before you start this one!
This is So Easy
This is the best-designed drinking game I’ve ever played! It’s so simple you can do it no matter how much you drink, which is how you get the best answers. Drunk people are honest people. You can play this one with a large group, so it’s best for game nights.
Interactive Murder Mystery
This is such a terrific murder mystery game! A super interactive portion requires you to go through a police officer’s inbox! You can do this yourself, or have a spaghetti dinner and get everyone involved in dinner and a mystery fun.
Set Yourself a 3D Challenge
3D puzzles are a favorite in my house. We’re also LEGO people, so it makes sense that we would enjoy something with some depth to it, puzzle-wise. This fantastic, classic car from ages ago will challenge you but will be so rewarding when you see the finished product!
It’s Like Jeopardy, But Dirtier
This one goes out to all my trivia fans out there! My husband and I are in our mid-twenties, but we watch more Jeopardy than our grandparents, so this game is our favorite. The trivia in this one is pretty filthy, so you can show off your skills and have a laugh at the same time.
Duel It Out
This game is like war (the standard style, played with a 52-card deck), except the “war” is a fun duel with toy guns. It adds a fun twist to the already super fun game. It’s just a little extra fun you can add, but a quick game for those nights you’re trying to get to bed on time.
Escape Room
Escape rooms are fun, but you know how hard it can be to get somewhere without the kids and enjoy yourself for a few hours if you’re a parent. This escape room game will let you enjoy the fun of an escape room without having to leave the house.
Drop Cup
We all know how messy and destructive beer pong can get. It’s hard to keep the game from digressing to ping pong balls knocking things over and cups of beer all over your floor. With this Drop Cup game, you roll the ball instead of tossing it, so there’s no mess and no poorly thrown ping pongs to worry about.
Not Strictly for Kids
Kids’ games are some of the most fun to play, but you never get the chance while the kids are still awake! This game is great to play with once the kids have released it from their greasy grip and gone off to dreamland. Try your hand at sharpshooting, and have a blast!
Classic Darts
Darts are a game that doesn’t need to be played around kids. They get so excited, but then the darts go everywhere, and the last thing you want is small children tossing pointy objects like this. This dartboard is a terrific addition to anyone’s home and any laid-back game night.
Treat Yourself
Building bricks are so fun; there’s no question about it, even if they’re designed for kids. They’re enjoyable to complete when as complex as this kit. This kit will help you create a gorgeous, ever-blooming bouquet you can share or keep for years to come.
Better Than the Real Thing
Real orchids are hard to keep alive. They’re beautiful! But a little temperamental, to be honest. This gorgeous LEGO kit gives you the chance to have the most low-maintenance orchid around while also enjoying a fun project after the kids have gone off to bed.
This One is a Challenge
I just grabbed this one for my husband. I have never seen a puzzle quite this challenging. It’s more than a little challenging to manage, given that every piece looks the same. But imagine how satisfying it would be to see it once it’s finished! One to frame.
Get to Know New Friends
We’ve all played ‘Never Have I Ever’, even if we weren’t drinking at the time. It’s such a fun way to get to know your friends and maybe confess some of the cooler, crazier things you’ve done. This version is a card game, so it’s got all the prompts!
Pictionary With a Twist
The classic party game is even more fun now that it comes with dirty and inappropriate prompts. Our friends are huge fans of this, mainly because all of our friends are twelve at heart. But also because it’s hilarious and a great group game for those bigger game nights.
Strictly Politics
But not the politics you’re thinking of! This game plays on group politics. You have to vote based on the prompts, and it brings out the hidden truths in your friend group. It’s a great game, but I suggest only playing with those you know well to avoid hurt feelings.
Challenge Your Friends with {{This Game}}
{{This card game}} is a great way to get game night going. It’s more family-friendly than solely for grown-ups, so you could even include the kids in this if they want to play before bed. You draw a card and try to complete the challenge it gives you, whoever does the best job wins!