GAME NIGHT GUIDE

How to host a family game night using just phones

Everything you need to run a great game night when the only equipment is the phones already in everyone's pocket.

Board games are great, but they come with set-up time, missing pieces and rulebooks nobody wants to read aloud. Phone-based party games remove almost all of that. Everyone already has the equipment in their pocket, the game keeps score for you, and new players can join halfway through without anyone shuffling cards. This guide covers how to plan and run a game night that works for everyone, from the eight-year-old to the grandparent who “doesn't do apps”.

1. Decide how people will play

There are two ways to play on FamGames, and it's worth choosing before people arrive.

One device each. The host creates a room and everyone joins with a short room code on their own phone, tablet or laptop. This is the best option for groups of four or more, and the only option when people are in different houses.
One phone, passed around. One-phone mode turns every game into a pass-and-play game. It's ideal for younger children who don't have a phone, for car journeys, and for when the Wi-Fi is unreliable.

You can mix the two over one evening: start with everyone on their own device, then switch to one phone for a game like Word Rush, where physically passing the “bomb” is half the fun.

2. Pick a running order, not just a game

The biggest mistake hosts make is starting with the most complicated game. Energy is highest in the middle of the evening, so plan a simple arc:

Warm-up (5 minutes): something that needs no explanation while people are still arriving. Emoji Decode and Great Minds both work because anyone can understand them in one round.
Main event (20–30 minutes): a game with discussion and drama. Imposter is the classic choice; Hot Seat is better if everyone knows each other well.
Creative break (10 minutes): a drawing game resets the mood. Guess the Drawing is competitive; Sketch Relay is pure laughter.
Finale (10 minutes): end on something with a clear winner, like Trivia Sprint, so the evening has a natural ending.

3. Match games to your group

Not every game suits every group. A few rules of thumb:

Young children (6–8): drawing games and Would You Rather? work best. Use Easy difficulty and pair them with an adult if they're not confident readers yet.
Mixed ages: pick games where knowledge doesn't decide the winner — Imposter, Great Minds and Sketch Relay all level the playing field between kids and adults.
Teenagers: bluffing games like Liar's Dice and Imposter tend to be the favourites. Hard difficulty keeps them interested.
Big groups (10+): Trivia Sprint, Would You Rather? and Great Minds all scale up to 20 or more players without slowing down.

4. Set up before anyone arrives

Check the Wi-Fi password is easy to find — stick it on the fridge.
Make sure phones are charged, or put a multi-plug charger where everyone can reach it.
Create the first room in advance so you can read out the code the moment everyone sits down.
If you have a TV, join the room from a laptop plugged into it so everyone can watch the reveals together.

5. Keep everyone included

A good host watches the people, not the scoreboard. If someone is quiet, give them a role: let them pick the next game, the difficulty or the category. Rotate who hosts the room. If one player is winning every round, switch to a cooperative game like Mind Dial, where the whole group scores together.

It also helps to agree a few house rules out loud: no looking at other people's screens, phones face-down between rounds, and the loser of each game chooses the next one.

6. Know when to stop

End while people are still having fun. A game night that finishes with everyone asking for “one more round” is the one people want to repeat next week. Ninety minutes is a good target for families with children; adults will happily go longer.

Quick checklist

Phones charged and Wi-Fi password visible
Running order planned: warm-up, main event, creative break, finale
Difficulty set for the youngest or least experienced player
One-phone mode ready for anyone without a device
A clear end time

More guides

Published by FamGames · Last updated 2026-10-21