How to Host a Game Night

     What turns a good game night into a great game night is amazing food and drinks – but if you really want to make a great game night into the perfect game night then you want to make a themed and immersive experience for your guests.

     The first thing you are going to want to think about is when your party is. Certain games make sense for a certain time of year; if you were wanting to host something around the Day of Giving that party would look different from a party around Halloween or Valentine’s Day. A game night in the Month of Sleeping will likely look vastly different from one in the Month of Swimming. That might inform your guest list, the types of games you select, even what food is in season. Perhaps you want to start by putting your feelers out and see who from amongst your friends and family would be interested; not everyone is always readily available nor does everyone like every type of game. This might also make you pivot your plans. This initial step is what is really what will launch your idea into a fully formed plan.

     From there you can start thinking a little deeper about your menu and any decorations or party favours to your game or games you select as well as any potential dietary restrictions. If you plan on having multiple games throughout the event then you may want to set up your Neohome in a way that naturally flows from one game to the next, or plan one course of the meal to a game, or if the weather is nice simply turn everyone loose outside with a bunch of tables to let them decide how their time will be spent. Maybe if you plan to have a mystery night you want to send out some fancy invitations to help get them into the spirit of the event.

     Lastly, you are going to have to think about the set up and then the tear down. Every host dreads these steps but the more detailed you are in your planning the easier it will be to execute. There is no right or wrong way to do this and some have an easier time at doing this part than others.

     So now that you have the basics down let’s get into some examples of specific themed game nights to help you learn to host the perfect game night.

     NeoQuest II The Board Game

     This is a long game and probably is one that you either will want to start early in the day or have it built into a regular session, meeting weekly or monthly if your group can allow it. It requires 2-4 players. NeoQuest is an adventuring game full of creativity and wits where you and your crew adventure through Neopia and beyond. It requires the group to work together to defeat all sorts of evils. Through collaboration, magic, and pure brute force will your crew be able to save the day?

     Since NeoQuest II takes place in multiple different locations, you can have multiple different themes or bring them all in at once. Meridell, Terror Mountain, Lost Desert, Haunted Woods,and Faerieland are all featured in the game; it only makes sense to offer a sampling throughout the lands at your party.

     Loaded Baked Potato Soup, Skeith Ice Cream Sandwich, Tchea Fruit Bowl, Ectoplasm Nachos, and Fyora Day Fizz will get you around Neopia just like Rohane and the crew. Feel free to mix it up or do one land per session. Really, there are so many possibilities with hosting a NeoQuest party that the only limitation may be your budget.

     And as a bonus if you’re looking for a fun cup that can double as a party favor:

     The NeoQuest II Mug will put the "fun" in "functional" for your guests. Pour your beverage in here and you and your crew can toast to your adventure.

     Yooyuball Pro Edition Board Game

     Everyone loves the Altador Cup. It is so much fun cheering for your favorite team and playfully rooting against your rivals; of course it is the most fun when your favourite team wins. But sports are not for everyone, or even if someone is a fan of a sport they may not be able to play it or play it well. So the ultimate fun compromise comes in with this game. See how well you can score in this game!

     Altador Cup Cheese Platter, Yooyuball Pizza, Yooyuball Burgers, Yooyuball Ice Cream and Yooyuball Smoothie will get you and your guests into that competitive spirit.

     If you are feeling further inspired:

     Decorate your NeoHome with a Yooyuball Topiary, a Yooyuball Lamp, one of the many garlands such as Altador Cup Pennant Garland, perhaps even an Altador Cup Neon Sign if you really want to get lighten up the mood, or treat your guests to some Yooyuball Tattoos. Or simply show off your favourite team and go all out with the decorations of that team, letting everyone know who you root for each year.

     Snow Wars II - The Board Game

     First you set up your pieces around the board in a strategic manner. Then you fling snowballs at your friends and try to take down their structures. The first one to successfully destroy all of your opponent’s structures is the winner! Sink their battle igloo and be crowned champion of the snow!

     This is a fun game to play in the winter or summer. It is in theme when you look out the window and shudder at the familiar cold nights or will cool you down on the hottest of days. With these two extremes in mind it naturally leads to two opposite menus.

     For the cold nights:

     Strawberry Snowball, Snow Enchiladas, Magma Slushie, Snowager Cake, and Snow Faerie Borovan will warm you and your guests right up.

     For the hot days:

     Try Snowmuncher Salad, Pineapple Snowball, Icy Snowager Noodles, Fyora Snowcone, and Pink Lemonade Slushie to cool you and your guests off.

     World Domination Board Game

     Are you as calculating as Dr. Sloth? Are you as manipulative? As evil? Well, you don’t actually need to be. World Domination Board Game is a simple strategy game based upon Neopians’ biggest fear: total takeover of Dr. Sloth. In this game you compete for total takeover of Neopia domination just as Dr. Sloth would.

     Neopia Negg, Sloth Day Nachos, Dr. Sloth Summer Fruit Salad, Space Faerie Doughnut, and Sparkling Space Cocktail offer a variety of fun options to this party, touching on all of the key elements of this game.

     Since Dr. Sloth is a scary figure, why not have a little Haunted Woods style fun and make it a costume party?

     Dr. Sloth’s Infamous Cloak, Dr. Sloth Beanie, Slothy Smile, Sloth Clone Robe, or Sloth Clone Make-Up are fun ways to terrify your fellow game players.

     Dice-n-Ruki Board Game

     Can you beat your opponents and get to the top of the mountain? Roll the dice to find out. First Ruki to the top wins; last one is a rotten egg!

     Gummy Dice Salad, Rice Dice, Ruki Veggie Sandwich, Delicious Ruki Crackers, and a Ruki Juicebox combine the themes of this game for a flavorful night.

     To immerse your players in this game you can get them all feeling like mountaineers and/or Rukis with a little scene setting and cosplay.

     A Mini Mountain and Blue Ruki Character Garland can help set the scene while some Cosy Ruki Pyjamas, Fancy Ruki Dress, or Foot Soldier Ruki Armour will get you and your opponents ready like a Ruki.

     These are just some of the many types of board games available and the types of ways to theme your party to your game night. You can combine them, mix and match, add to it, take away from it, really do anything you want. The most fun part about board gaming is that it is endless in terms of creativity and possibility – both on the board and off.