Seniors’ club: familiar games on a new table
At a seniors’ club or a games afternoon in the community hall, most people have known their favourite games for decades. Nobody needs new rules here – what works are classics where only the cards and pieces are digital and the game itself stays familiar.
- for 2–6 people
The advantage of a big screen: people with poor eyesight can still see the board. Players need no account and no app; the QR code on the game table opens the game in the browser. A tablet is often more comfortable than a small phone.
Games that fit
Rummy
2–6 players15–40 minworks without a TVFor many, Rummy is the game of the afternoon. The app checks the 30 points for the first meld and adds up the penalty points at the end – no more arguments over the arithmetic.
Thirty-One
2–9 players10–20 minworks without a TVThirty-One with 32 cards and three lives is familiar from the pub and family parties. Up to nine can play, a whole table.
Nine Men’s Morris
2 players10–20 minworks without a TVNine Men’s Morris is the quiet duel for two while the others play cards. Anyone without a partner plays against the computer.
Checkers
2 players10–25 minworks without a TVCheckers with compulsory captures is for those who like things a bit stricter. The app enforces captures and multi-jumps by itself.
Quiz Night
1–10 players5–10 minA Quiz Night with History or Geography brings everyone to the screen at the end of the afternoon. The device shows nothing but four big coloured buttons.
How it can go
Getting started
Helpers connect the participants’ devices to the Wi-Fi and open the QR code link. The first time takes a few minutes; it’s quicker at the next meeting.
Card rounds and duels
Rummy or Thirty-One at one table, Nine Men’s Morris or Checkers for two next to it. Anyone who likes can switch tables after each game.
Finishing together
At the end, a ten-question Quiz Night for everyone. The leaderboard after each question gives people something to talk about over coffee.
Tips
- With community-hall Wi-Fi, make sure in advance that it isn’t a guest network with client isolation – otherwise the devices won’t find each other.
- Anyone without a device, or who finds tapping hard, plays with a partner: one watches, one presses.
- For card games, an iPad works better than a phone as a player device because the cards appear larger.
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
- 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