Family gatherings: games for young and old
At a family gathering, the players range from eight to eighty. What works are games with rules people already know or that fit in one sentence, and rounds where nobody gets knocked out early and has to sit and watch.
- for 4–10 people
The tech shouldn’t get in the way. Anyone who doesn’t want an account or an app scans the QR code on the game table and plays in the browser – easiest with every phone on the same Wi-Fi as the Apple TV, iPad or Mac.
Games that fit
Crazy Mau
2–8 players5–15 minworks without a TVCrazy Mau is the common ground almost every generation knows. The special cards take a moment to explain, and the kids will reliably notice when someone forgets to call “Mau!”.
Quiz Night
1–10 players5–10 minIn Quiz Night, the phone shows nothing but four big coloured answer buttons – grandparents get it without explanation. Pick categories that aren’t home turf for just one age group.
Sketch Round
3–10 players10–20 minSketch Round evens things out: experience doesn’t help with drawing, and the kids are often the fastest guessers. From seven players, everyone draws once, so the round stays manageable.
Letter Hunt
2–10 players10–25 minLetter Hunt with the “Family” preset asks for a name, animal, food, thing, job and plant. That’s doable for children, and the adults score with unusual answers.
Thirty-One
2–9 players10–20 minworks without a TVThirty-One is an old favourite for many grandparents. At the end of the day, when the kids are in bed, it runs at the table with an iPad as host.
How it can go
Coffee and cake
A round of Crazy Mau at the table while people are still eating. It doesn’t need a TV and can be paused at any time.
Everyone to the screen
Then Quiz Night and Sketch Round for the whole family. These are the games where every generation really plays at the same time.
A breather
Fifteen minutes of Letter Hunt when the room needs a break from the noise. Everyone writes quietly, then you all laugh together at the answers.
In the evening
Thirty-One for the grown-ups once the kids are in bed. Three lives, short rounds, and whoever is tired drops out.
Tips
- Give grandparents without a smartphone a fixed partner from the grandkids’ generation – it’s often the nicest way to play together.
- In Crazy Mau, explain beforehand that a reverse card with two players works like a skip; otherwise it will spark debate.
- With a living room full of people, use the biggest screen in the house – on a Mac, the game table opens its own window for a TV or projector.
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
- 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
- Cabin weekend: games for several evenings
- An evening on your own: games against the computer