Reconnect, unplug, and rediscover the joy of a little friendly competition around the table

Story by Brooke Peck

Whether your family cozies up around the coffee table, with a fireplace glowing nearby, or gathers around the kitchen table with hot cocoa, game nights are an easy way to make holiday memories. With extended family in town or kids home from college, extra players are plentiful, which often leads to laughter, competition and quality time together. Meet some local families who make game nights part of their gatherings year-round and might inspire you to start a few traditions of your own this festive season.

Pizza & playtime

The Davis family is a young household of four on Hilton Head who stays busy with full-time jobs, school, sports and community activities. Mom, Leah, treasures the connection that comes from game nights, saying, “For us, it’s like putting the screens away — iPads and phones — and connecting on a more personal, present level.” Leah’s mom, Linda Barcellona, frequently joins the friendly competition, and Leah affectionately calls her “the queen of games.”

Vienna, age 9, loves to play What Do You Meme?, where a photo is displayed, and players choose captions to match. It always leads to plenty of laughs. Game nights often coincide with pizza night, which makes dinner easy and cleanup minimal, leaving more time for fun.

Five-year-old Jackson’s favorite is Jumanji. He loves how the players must act out different challenges. Recently his parents found themselves walking toward each other with blankets over their heads, trying to touch hands.

The family also shares fond memories from Christmas Eve celebrations hosted by Barcellona. Last year she created a game using strings attached to cups that hid valuable surprises inside. The activities followed a traditional Italian feast of lasagna and salad for the whole family.

Game on, rain or shine

Diane and Bruce Carter of Bluffton enjoy relaxing on their back porch while playing a round of Azul. The newer board game requires players to select tiles and strategically create a colorful quilt pattern. “When it’s just the two of us playing, there’s something very zen about that game,” Diane says.

However, the couple can get quite competitive when playing Dune: Imperium with their son, Harrison, and daughter-in-law, Victoria. During a recent vacation, the family played for several hours on an outdoor patio. When heavy rain began to blow in, they simply shifted farther from the edge and kept playing. “We weren’t going to let the rain stop the game,” Bruce says.

Snacking is an essential part of their game-night ritual. Cheese and crackers, lemonade, sandwiches and grapes are Diane’s go-to favorites. When Bruce handles the food, creativity takes center stage. He recently crafted a dragon-inspired charcuterie board for a game night with friends.

Laugh lines & doodles

On Hilton Head the Campbell family loves to play Pictionary together because it guarantees laughter and friendly competition. “Even though not all of us are the most talented artists, that’s what makes the game so fun,” says DeAnna Campbell. “The silly doodles, wild guesses and inside jokes make it unforgettable.”

DeAnna often hosts these intergenerational game nights, which bring together different perspectives, ideas and plenty of creativity. Guests are encouraged to bring new games which are quickly added to the lineup of favorites like Taboo and Uno. At a recent gathering a family member introduced a fast-paced cup game. “The night ended in a sibling showdown, with everyone cheering, laughing and already plotting the next rematch,” DeAnna says.

In the competitive Campbell household, victories are never forgotten. “Winning earns you bragging rights that last until the next game night,” she says.

Cards & cracks

The Tompkins family of Hilton Head includes mom and dad, Rebecca and Jonathan, and teenagers Mary Elizabeth and Edward. They love playing Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition because it keeps everyone laughing and works well for groups of all sizes. With different maturity levels in the mix, the jokes hit on many levels. During the holiday season they also enjoy Christmas Categories, a game that challenges players to come up with holiday-themed words starting with specific letters.

Sometimes it takes a little encouragement to get everyone on board. “Like most teens, they tend to groan when we say we’re sitting down to play a family game,” Rebecca says. “And then, once we get going, they have a great time, as do we.”

Their dining table, which has been in Rebecca’s family for generations, hosts each game night. The table belonged to her great-great-grandmother, and the chairs once belonged to her grandmother. Playing at that table reminds Rebecca of childhood nights spent gaming with her parents and sisters and connects her to generations past.

Recently Edward laughed so hard during a round of Cards Against Humanity that he leaned back and accidentally broke his great-grandmother’s chair. The family laughed it off and was relieved to learn it could be repaired. “I hope my children remember how our game nights made them feel when they have their own families,” Rebecca says.

Host a winning game night with five simple tips

Whether your guests are kids, cousins or co-workers, the right setup can turn an
ordinary evening into a highlight of the holidays. Here’s how to make your next game
night one for the books.

1. Set the stage. Create a cozy, well-lit space where everyone can see, hear and move comfortably. A big table works best for board games, while a sofa setup makes party games feel relaxed. Turn off the TV, or use it to set the mood, such as a crackling fireplace loop or a silent tour of Italy streaming on YouTube. Keep background music soft and distractions like phones out of reach.

2. Match the mood. Pick games that fit your group’s energy and attention span. Start with something quick and easy to get everyone laughing, such as Catch Phrase or 5 Second Rule. Once everyone’s warmed up, move into longer or more strategic games like Carcassonne or Splendor. For big group fun, try Wits & Wagers or Blank Slate. Both are perfect for mixing generations and keeping the laughter going.

3. Feed the fun. Snacks are just as important as the score. Keep it simple with easy, mess-free bites like popcorn, pretzels, cheese cubes or a themed charcuterie board. Add a few crowd-pleasers such as mini sliders, veggie cups, fruit skewers or flatbreads cut into small squares. Sweet treats like brownie bites or chocolate-covered pretzels are always a hit. 

4. Keep it light. Game night is about connection, not competition. Celebrate the funny moments, cheer big wins, and skip the scoreboard if it takes away from the fun. Encourage teamwork by pairing up players of different ages or mixing up the teams each round. Choose cooperative games like Just One, Forbidden Island or Mysterium if your group prefers to work together instead of going head-to-head.

5. End on a high note. Wrap up while everyone is still smiling. Leave one favorite game unplayed so your guests will be eager to come back for round two. Finish the evening with something lighthearted and quick, such as Apples to Apples, Sushi Go! or Pictionary Air. If your group prefers a team challenge, try a short round of Trivial Pursuit Party or a cooperative escape-room card game.

More great games for every age group

Looking to level up your own game night? Whether you’re playing with little ones, teens or a crowd of adults, here are a few tried-and-true favorites that guarantee laughter, strategy and a little friendly rivalry.

For young kids (ages 4-8):

• The Floor Is Lava: Turns any living room into an obstacle course of imagination.
• Candy Land: A colorful classic that’s perfect for early players learning how to take turns.
• Guess Who?: Players use deduction to figure out the mystery character first.
• Connect 4: Easy to learn and surprisingly strategic for both kids and adults.
• Zingo!: Like Bingo, but with picture tiles that keep younger players engaged and moving fast.

For tweens and teens (ages 9-16):

• Exploding Kittens: A hilarious mix of strategy and luck featuring cats, chaos and suspense.
• Codenames: Teams compete to find secret agents using clever word clues.
• Throw Throw Burrito: Combines dodgeball and card play for energy-packed fun.
• Ticket to Ride: Build train routes across the country while planning your next move.
• Telestrations: A drawing and guessing game that always ends in laughter.

For adults and all-ages gatherings:

• Wingspan: A beautifully designed strategy game for nature and bird lovers.
• Catan: Settle new lands, trade resources and test your negotiation skills.
• Sequence: Combines cards and chips for a fast, easy-to-learn group favorite.
• Trivial Pursuit: Family Edition: A mix of questions for every generation.
• Jackbox Party Pack: Digital party games you can play together using phones or tablets.