Playing a game before, during or after a dinner is a classic that has been around for centuries. You can choose to buy a board game or make up your own game.
No board games at home? Below you will find a list of various options:
1. Describe, portray and above all LAUGH!
- Have everyone write down 5 words on separate pieces of paper (this can be a name, a thing, a concept,...). You can also determine a theme for this. Put all the notes in a jar and divide your guests into different groups. Make sure there are at least 2 people per group (usually the rule applies: the more souls per group, the merrier).
- Decide who starts. Each group has 1 minute to guess as many words.
- In the first round, the player takes a note from the jar and describes the word that the other group members have to guess. Of course, he is not allowed to use parts of the word, translations, rhyming words or spelling the word. Continue until each group has had a turn. Notes that have been guessed are put aside, notes that have not been guessed go back into the pot. At the end of the round, all notes go back into the pot.
- In the second round you do the same thing, but this time the player can only use 1 single word as a description to keep the group guessing. 1 word!
- In the third round the player must act out what is written on the note (without talking!!), and in the fourth and final round the player must act out the note with one. Single. Gesture.
2. Two truths and a lie
A nice one for guests who don't know each other very well (yet): have all guests write down 2 truths and 1 lie about themselves on a note at the beginning of the evening. At the beginning or throughout the evening, the other guests have to guess what is the lie and what is the truth.
3. Who am I?
Another classic!
- Write the name of a famous person or character on a note. Make sure the person next to you doesn't see it.
- Stick the note on the forehead of the person next to you (or have them pin it in their hair). The idea is that everyone has a note on his/her forehead, but you don't know who is on your note.
- Now the game begins: each person in turn can ask the group 1 question to find out which name is now on the note.
4. Handing out presents, always fun :-)
This is a nice one for after dinner but does require some preparation. This is what you need:
- a few rolls of plastic cling film
- small gifts (e.g. gadgets, candy, household items, gadgets, ...)
- a die
Start with 1 present and wrap it in cling film. Continue wrapping foil and add a new gift here and there. The goal is to end up with a ball of cling film with small gifts wrapped in it. To make it extra fun, it is good to tear off the plastic foil in between so that it is not one long piece.
After dinner, sit in a circle and decide who goes first. The person who starts may start unwinding the ball. The person to his right continuously rolls the dice. When he/she rolls a six, the ball must be passed to him/her and the die goes to the next person.
Play continues until the ball is completely settled. And of course everyone wants to get as many presents as possible (yes, adults too :-)).