Cabin weekend: games for several evenings
A cabin weekend means two or three evenings in a row with the same group. It pays not to play the same thing every night, but to plan one big evening of team games and a quieter one with cards.
- for 6–12 people
Sort out two things beforehand: is there a screen in the cabin, or are you bringing an iPad or Mac as the game table? And is there Wi-Fi? Without a shared network, joining only works through gathergames.de, and that needs internet on the host and the phones. In remote cabins you’ll need your own setup, such as a travel router, which you should try at home first.
Games that fit
Village at Night
5–12 players15–30 minVillage at Night is made for a cabin: a big group, a long evening, darkness outside. With up to twelve players, the Hunter is in the game too.
Cover Word
4–12 players15–30 minCover Word carries the team evening, because six against six develops real team dynamics. Over a weekend you can keep an overall score across several games.
Say It Different
4–12 players10–20 minSay It Different is the loud counterpart to Cover Word. By the second evening, the group knows each other well enough that references to the day before work as clues – allowed, as long as no forbidden word slips out.
Letter Hunt
2–10 players10–25 minLetter Hunt with the “Classic” preset and eight categories is for the afternoon when the weather turns. Up to ten play at once.
Stack Rush
2–6 players20–40 minworks without a TVStack Rush is the card game for the quiet evening, when the group splits into smaller tables. It needs no game table and runs on one phone as host.
How it can go
Arrival
Right after unpacking, check that the devices find each other on the Wi-Fi: one person starts a game, another joins with the code. Then a round of Letter Hunt for everyone.
The big night
Cover Word and Say It Different in fixed teams, later Village at Night with everyone. Choose the evening when nobody needs an early night.
The quiet night
Stack Rush in small groups while others sit by the fire or cook.
Tips
- Pack a charger for the device acting as game table; if it runs out, the game ends.
- If you bring your own network, check at home that all devices can find each other through it – a test in the living room saves frustration at the cabin.
- Keep an overall score on paper for Cover Word and Say It Different across the whole weekend – the teams will play more competitively.
More occasions
- Game night with friends
- Birthday games for grown-ups
- Kids’ birthday party: games with little reading
- Games for Christmas
- New Year’s Eve with games
- Family gatherings: games for young and old
- Office parties and team events with games
- Game night for two
- Bachelor and bachelorette party games
- Flatshare night with games
- Rainy day: what to play when you’re stuck inside
- Holiday rental evenings: games without a TV
- School trips and youth camps: evening games
- Seniors’ club: familiar games on a new table
- Pre-party: quick games before you head out
- Getting-to-know-you night: games for new groups
- Halloween: games for a dark night
- Easter: games for the long weekend
- Family game night: playing with your kids
- Grandparents and grandkids: games for two to four
- Match night: games before kick-off and at half-time
- An evening on your own: games against the computer