How to Host a Board Game Night for People Who Don't Play Board Games

It has often been said that it’s easier to find friends who play board games than it is to turn non-gamer friends into board gamers.

That may be some people’s experience, but it hasn’t been ours.

We’ve had both successes and failures in hosting board game nights for people who don’t play board games. And we’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way.

#1 – Identify Why They’re Interested

There are two reasons you’re thinking to host a board gaming night for these non-gamers.

The best reason? These friends of yours know that you love board games. Maybe they’ve heard your stories of adventures around the table and are curious about if they’d like to play. Or maybe they saw your game shelf and thought, if he has so much passion for this, it must be awesome. Even better if they’ve done a little research into the hobby and come to you with questions. These potential gamers might be interested in a particular game, and would love for you to introduce it to them. But these are people who are coming to play games, and you have a high likelihood that you can get a real strategy game to the table.

Either that, or you’ve invited them without them expressing interest. This isn’t necessarily bad, but you should ask yourself: are they coming for the games, or the companionship? Chances are, its the latter. And this doesn’t mean that the game night is doomed. It just means it’s going to look a lot different – people first, games second. This is a game night that will be dominated by party games, social deduction, or maybe even role-playing games. Fun, but you’re unlikely to get something more strategic to the table.

#2 – Pick Easy Games.

You probably have an idea of what games to play.

That’s not the right game.

Pick something easier.

No, easier than that.

Is it one step above a children’s game? That’s where you start.

Every board gamer gets into a flow where they suddenly start to grok games more easily. When you’ve seen one drafting game, you’ve seen most drafting game, and the rules become obvious. But to your friends who have never picked-and-passed, they’re going to be confused when you hand them ten cards and they only get to pick one.

What feels obvious to you is a completely foreign way of thinking to a non-gamer.

So pick something you think is really simple. No, simpler than that.

#3 – Party Games are Your Surefire Winner

Party games are sometimes maligned by gamers, but they are going to be the most surefire play in your collection.

Non-gamers can be easily intimidated by rules. They often assume that strategy games are about winning. They generally think that winning is based on their intelligence, and they believe that you will crush them, or think less of them. Gamers know this isn’t true. And the best way to prove it is to pull a game like Wavelength or ito off the shelf and let the hilarity ensue.

Then, if this goes well, maybe you can try something more strategy focused.

#4 – The Games Aren’t the Draw

The theme of almost all of these tips is the same: a game night for people who don’t play board games is not going to look and feel like a very typical board game night.

So you need to put a little more effort into the atmosphere than you usually would.

Gamers often believe that the games are the draw of game night.

And that’s true for the gamers.

The non-gamers are more interested in the camaraderie and the snacks.

They want a story, not a BGG account.

So play short games. Take frequent breaks. Have great snacks. Build atmosphere.

The draw of the night is the friendship more than the love of the game. If you want your love of the game to shine, we recommend doing it in more subtle ways, like through what you wear.

BoardGamingTees makes shirts for people who actually play board games — strategy-inspired designs, inside jokes, and designs that tend to get a knowing smile from the right person.

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You’ll play fewer games, and that’s OK.

#5 – Know the Rules

One of the surest ways for game night to fail with this group is to reference the rulebook.

On a game night with gamers? No problem. Check those rules. Those people are used to complexity, and want to know that they’re doing it right.

On a game night with non-gamers?This sends the message that is the one doubt that most of your friends are walking into the room with – board games are too complicated.

If the master of board games can’t figure this out, how am I supposed to figure this out?

Knowing the rules beforehand is essential.

Bonus Tip – if they ask about a hard game…

So your non-gamer friends just went to Target, and they saw Root on the shelf, and were drawn in by the art and the little creatures on the cover.

Hey, do you know about that game? It looks really fun!

The biggest mistake is jumping right into Root. They won’t get it.

But, if they’ve asked…

Yes, you should probably try to get them into Root on game night. Here’s how to do it:

• Invite the minimum number of people possible to game night. Ideally, it’s just this person, but if you need to include a significant other, then do it. But a group of five is not a good choice.

• Start the night playing a game that has a similar mechanism. For example, in Root, I’d identify which faction would suit them best. For example, I’d likely start with a deckbuilding game like Dominion, with the intention of giving them the faction that utilizes aspects of deckbuilding in Root.

• Get into Root, with the caveat that they might not like it and you can all quit before the end of the game.

• Offer to quit as soon as you start to see their eyes glaze over in confusion.

• Hold back. I basically never recommend this, but in this case, it’s important to keep the game close to maintain their interest.

This is a bad news, good news situation.

The bad news is that people who request a really hard game and cannot be dissuaded are not likely to love this experience.

The good news is that if you do a good job of guiding them through their first hobby game, this is the person who might become your next gamer friend.

Remember, the goal isn’t to turn everyone into a hobby gamer.

Some people are going to want to play one game, eat snacks and laugh, and then never ask about your game shelf again.

That’s fine.

But every once in a while, something will click. It could be the game, or the mechanic, or just the right blend of immersion, mechanic and story. And when that happens, you haven’t just taught someone a board game.

You’ve found another person to play with.