Making plans with friends can be difficult., From matching schedules, figuring out what to do and where, it can be an impossible juggling act. A simple alternative is game nights.
Let’s put an end to the crutch of using online resources to hang out. As college students, we are on our computers and phones an average of 8 to 10 hours a day, for both academic and entertainment purposes.
Game nights allow us to put away our screens for a moment. During my childhood I had many long, chaotic but wonderful nights with family members while playing games, so I want to share some advice on how to make a game night work for you and your friends.
There does not need to be a large group of people, some of the best times are when you only have two to three people who get together once a week to catch up over a game of cards. For game nights like these I recommend having a wide variety of card games to choose from. A couple of my favorites are Uno and Skip Bo. Nothing beats a traditional deck of cards though, there are endless card games to explore and a majority are flexible on how many people are needed to play.
Game nights can be a small event, but they can be enjoyed equally with a big group of people. This style is normally harder to coordinate with friends but there is nothing wrong with meeting up once a month when it comes to playing with five or more people.
For nights like these, I recommend picking out one, longer game that can be played throughout the night. For example, I would pick Monopoly, The Game of Life, Sequence or WingSpan. These are a few games that enthusiastic players can get really invested in, while others are running through the motions because they want to catch up and talk with people.
Keep in mind however that energy levels can vary from player to player. I know I have to watch my competitive nature when I play with friends that are chatting. The chatty friend will always forget it is their turn.Remember to be nice, your friendship is more important than a game, I promise.
There can be a drawback with bigger game nights that you want to keep in mind. Some board games are not cheap, I understand not justifying a $30 purchase on one game. I recommend checking out online board game retailers, like Miniature Market for cheaper options.
Alternatively, if you do not want to build your own collection, check out Cal State Monterey Bay’s Rookery located on the third floor of the OSU. They have a wide range of board games, card games and even sports games like pool and table top tennis for you to check out with friends.
However, if you are looking for people to start game nights with, look no further than the Board game club at CSUMB.
Connecting with people in person should not need to be a struggle, find what works for you and the people in your life because you deserve to have fun even with a busy schedule.