What pulls individuals together while also separating them? What transports you to a plethora of new locations in record time? That’s correct. A simulated gaming night. A virtual game night is an evening of shared enjoyment provided through online games, ranging from professionally hosted virtual trivia nights to a bingo night to traditional board games that have been given virtual makeovers.
Virtualization is an excellent fit for games. Some smartphone adaptations of classic board games compress gameplay and offer in-app instructions, making it easier to follow the rules. As a result, you and your guests will be able to spend more time having fun and less time reading instruction manuals. With that said, there is more to a great game night than simply selecting a great game (although that obviously helps). Here are some great tips for setting you on your way to becoming the hostess with the mostess.
Set a Time & Date
Setting a date and time will make it more formal and something everyone will look forward to. Include the time required to teach the game and ensure that everyone is on the same page. It’s more difficult to convey things over video or phone calls than in person. Remember to keep your friends in other time zones in mind as well!
Planning Ahead
Determine the game(s) you want to play ahead of time and inform your pals if they need to download an app or view a YouTube video with the rules so that everyone is prepared for your virtual game night. Make sure all your devices are charged—for many of these games, you may need one smartphone/laptop for the game and another for FaceTime/zoom.
Choosing Your Game
Consider the interests of the individuals you’re hosting for the virtual game night and try to come up with games that everyone will like. Perhaps you have a dynamic group of pals who will enjoy competing in virtual teams, or maybe you have people who are a little more reticent and prefer more individualized games such as trivia activities. If your pals like music or movies, modern trivia games could be a lot of fun. Maybe you have a lot of word fans at your party, and traditional word games will keep everyone entertained.
Choosing Your Platform
Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet support up to 100 individuals in a video chat simultaneously, but their time limits differ. Skype has a four-hour time limit, while Zoom’s free version disconnects you after 40 minutes. Google Meet is now free.
Explain the Rules
When players are co-located and do not understand the game, it is easy for them to ask casual questions – sometimes of the group or the person sitting next to them. Because of all the tangible indications, they can do so without disrupting the game’s flow. However, on Zoom, for example, it is more difficult for players to ask even small clarifying questions. So instead, take the time to explain the game thoroughly in an organized manner.
Be Flexible
You can’t predict everything, as with any planned event. Guests may arrive late or not at all. You may end up with more players than you anticipated. There is always the possibility of technical difficulties or miscommunications with online platforms and virtual games. You can still make it a pleasurable experience for everyone involved if you plan to make adjustments as needed.
We may not be able to get together in person all the time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun together. Virtual game evenings are the ideal opportunity to reconnect and have fun with friends and family no matter where they are. Use our collection of virtual game night ideas to plan a memorable event for your guests.
To create a remarkable virtual experience, combine old games, video games, and essential classics like bingo and quizzes. Hosting a virtual gaming night may appear complicated, but it is no more difficult than preparing an in-person gathering. Indeed, the increased flexibility technology gives may make it even easier for your visitors to attend and enjoy themselves.